More Than a Lumpy Jumper

Play isn’t just for children! It’s a secret weapon for creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. But somewhere along the way, many of us started treating it like a luxury rather than a necessity.

In this episode, we’re flipping that narrative. We’ll explore why play matters in leadership and life, uncover the science behind it, and dive into Stuart Brown’s play personalities, because yes, you have one! And if you’ve ever Googled ‘adult play’… well, you might have found more than you bargained for!!

So, let’s get into it, because what if play wasn’t something tomake time for, but something that made time better?

Stuart Brown: Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul | Amazon.co.uk

Stuart Brown: Play is more than just fun | TED Talk

The Importance of Play for Adults - National Institute for Play

The 8 Play Personalities that illustrate how we have fun

Dr Stuart Brown on The 7 Properties of Play | Human Performance

Can We Actually Develop Leadership Through Play? | Psychology Today

What is LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®? | Official LEGO® Shop CC |Official LEGO® Shop US

Stories shape how we see the world and how the world sees us. But are we telling the right ones?

This week on More Than a Lumpy Jumper, we dive into the power of storytelling. How the narratives we craft influence our confidence, decisions, and leadership. From bedtime stories to boardroom strategy, we explore what makes a story stick and how to frame experiences in a way that resonates, persuades, and lasts long after we've left the room.

So, grab a cuppa and get comfy, because it’s time to Be the Story.

What Makes Storytelling So Effective For Learning? - Harvard Business Publishing

Influence Through Stories: The Leadership Power of Narrative

The magical science of storytelling | David JP Phillips | TEDxStockholm

Chip Heath & Dan Heath: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die | Amazon

Storytelling Can Make or Break Your Leadership

The Importance of Stories | Simon Sinek

The Wise Crone's Cottage in the Woods: The Crone as theStoryteller

"Pentamerone: The Tale of Tales" Explained - Owlcation 

So many leaders wear exhaustion like a badge of honour. But what if sleep and self-care weren’t indulgences, what if they were leadership strategies?

This week on More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bridget and I dive into the power of rest in honour of World Sleep Day. We’re tackling the myths, the science, and the impact of sleep onleadership, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Plus, we make a strong case for the noble art of napping (with a special shoutout to the 26-minute NASA nap!).

If you’ve ever pushed through fatigue thinking it was just part of the job, this one’s for you. Time to rethink what it really means to lead well, starting with a good night’s sleep.

Come and take a listen to Being Your Own Retreat

Want to Become a Better Leader? You Need to Sleep on It

8 Leadership Practices to Optimise Sleep and Productivity | CCL

Why Sleep Is Crucial For Good Leadership

Matt Walker: Sleep is your superpower | TED Talk

Matt Walker: 6 tips for better sleep | TED Talk

7 Reasons You Should Be Taking Daily Naps At Work In 2024

Actions Organisations Can Take to Improve Employee Sleep and Work Performance from Centre for Creative Leadership.pdf

This week, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, we’re diving into the stories of six extraordinary women; leaders, visionaries, and change-makers whose impact still ripples through history.

From courtroom battles to political trailblazers, from radical educators to artistic revolutionaries, each woman’s story holds powerful lessons for leadership today. But which iconshave we chosen? And what unexpected insights do they reveal?

Tune in as we unpack resilience, influence, and what it really means to be a catalyst for lasting change.

Cornelia Connelly - Wikipedia

Stacy Schiff: Cleopatra | Amazon

Cleopatra: Stacy Schiff in conversation with Tim Gunn | 2020-05-21 | LIVE from NYPL

Remembering bell hooks and her Enormous Legacy | YouTube

Frida | Official Trailer (HD)

Frida Kahlo's Art in 8 Minutes: What Makes it So Special?

Frida Kahlo: Feminism's Influential Leader - had.com

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Who was she and why was she so important? - BBC Newsround

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Remembering Her Life And Legacy | YouTube

Madeleine Chapman: Just how cool was Jacinda Ardern in high school? | The Spinoff

Leadership or management - are they really that different?

Or do we just love to put them in neat little boxes? In this episode, Bobby and Bridge attempt (with varying success) tobring some structure to the conversation, diving into mindset, skills, and the sometimes blurry lines between the two.

Expect metaphors (hello, glaciers!), a few rogue interruptions, and the big question: Can you be a leader without also being a manager? Or are the best leaders actually just really good at knowing when to roll up their sleeves and when to step back?

Oh, and if you ever wondered what’s worse - being on mute or snuffling like a badger in the background - we cover that too.

Hit play and join us!

What Leaders Really Do (HBR) - John P Kotter

Simon Sinek: Leaders Eat Last | Amazon

Peter Drucker: The Effective Executive | Amazon

Simon Sinek: Start With Why | Amazon

Simon Sinek: Start with Why | TED Talk

Seth Godin – Leadership vs. Management - What it means to make a difference

Roselinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader | TED Talk

Moneyball: Building a Winning Team Through Numbers | Film

Invictus: The Poem that Inspired a Nation | Film

Resilience and flexibility - are they two sides of the same coin, or do we just like overcomplicating things? In this episode, Bobby and Bridge dive into what it really means to bounce back and bend without breaking (hello, bamboo analogy!), why being too resilient can backfire, and the tiny habits that make a big difference.

Expect real talk, a few questionable metaphors (boats, trees, and maybe some unexpected fairy lights), and a deep dive into how your body holds resilience just as much as your mind.Plus, what happens when all your frustration ends up… on a tennis ball?

Join us for Being Flexibly Resilient!

Links

The Secret to Building Resilience | HBR

Dr Carol Dweck: Mindset - Changing The Way You think To Fulfil Your Potential |Amazon

Carol Dweck: Developing a Growth Mindset | TED Talk

Richard Strozzi-Heckler | The Embodied Leader

Teaching Grit Cultivates Resilience and Perseverance | YouTube

Simon Sinek: Build for Resilience | YouTube

Simon Sinek: Strength through Resilience and Accountability

Angela Duckworth: GRIT | Amazon

David Epstein: Range - How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World | Amazon

James Clear: Atomic Habits | Amazon

Bessel van der Volk: The Body Keeps the Score | Amazon

For this final week of reflections on our MTALJ library Bridge is thinking about love in the run up to Valentine's Day. Why do we often struggle to talk about leadership in terms of love when all of the actions of a good leadership are really the manifestation of love? - patience,care, kindness, humility, emotional balance, and honesty. While the general advice on speaking is to avoid politics and religion there's a little hint of both, but the focus is all on love with not a chocolate or a cupid in sight.

Links

Corinthians 13 v4-7

Love and Leadership - NCO Journal

Servant Leadership - James C Hunter

This week Bridge is reflecting on blame and accountability. How blame can undermine teams, trust, innovation, problem-solving and avoiding making the same mistakes again. It's a ranty episode because lessons learned episodes that are simply blame exercises are a bug bear of both Bobby and Bridge. Both Bobby and Bridge admit they they are recovering blamers but they are in the good company of St Brene Brown. However with a little mindfulness and reflection it is possible to change your mindset from blame to reframe, focus on facts rather than fault and systemic causes rather then pointing the finger at people. If you want to improve your team's approach to lessons learned come and join us for Being Blame Free with Accountability.

This week on More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bridge revisits the “Being a stand for self-compassion ,” from June 2024. Self-compassion isn't selfish and it isn't a luxury. It's actually part of your job as a leader to ensure you have the resilience to be the leader your team need during a crisis. Check out the self-compassion guru Kristin Neff and Bobby's resilience practices and remember that you need to be reflective and proactive to be able to start being compassionate with your self. You ready to treat yourself with the same kindness, consideration and care that you would a dear friend? Have a listen

Links

This week on More Than a Lumpy Jumper, Bobby revisits the mini-episode, “Cultivating Play and Rest… but Mostly Play,” from Christmas 2023. Inspired by Brené Brown’s work and the National Institute of Play, she reflects on why play is essential for creativity, problem-solving, and leadership, how to rediscover play as adults (hint: it’s not lost, just forgotten!) and the fascinating “Play Personalities” and what they reveal about how we lead and connect. Play isn’t a luxury—it’s the key to joy, alignment, and even better leadership. Ready to bring more play into your life? Take a listen to this mini of a mini now!

 Links

The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition: Brené Brown

Infographic for the 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living by Brene Brown

Stuart Brown: Play is more than just fun | TED Talk

The Importance of Play for Adults - National Institute for Play

The 8 Play Personalities that illustrate how we have fun

Hook - Food Fight Scene