This week on Pontoon’s Reimagine Now podcast, Shannon Robertson, Director of Strategic Insights at Pontoon and host of the podcast, speaks with Ross Emerson, Executive Coach and Board Advisor, who shares his profound understanding of human dynamics within corporate structures and highlights the need for future-fit leaders to be purpose-oriented and people-centric. Shannon and Ross discuss the challenges of cultural evolution, particularly in high-pressure and traditional settings, and the strategic pathways to fostering inclusive and adaptive cultures.

Quotes

• "Culture sometimes is imperfect... It can be either something that can be very traumatic for human capital, or it can also harness their potential and enable people to thrive.” -Ross Emerson [03:49]

• “Leadership is really about skills and capabilities that are equally important with mindsets and behaviours. The core of any leader is a human being, not an idealised object to satisfy the fantasies projected onto her or him." -Ross Emerson [19:00]

Key Topics

• Company cultures are complex, fluid, and influenced by diverse team dynamics and individual behaviours.
• Successful cultural change requires a clear understanding of its necessity, involves everyone in the process, and relies on a systemic approach.
• Leadership is more than a title; it's a lifestyle anchored in skills, capabilities, mindsets, and behaviours.
• High-pressure environments require a balance between inducing healthy stress and ensuring psychological safety and trust within teams.
• Future leaders need to be future-fit, embracing traits like being purpose-oriented, people-centric, and driven towards progress and principles.

Timestamps

[03:14] Impact of high-pressure environments on company culture 

[08:37] Applying principles to improve team dynamics and employee engagement 

[11:55] Balancing business performance with a healthy company culture 

[13:20] Setting boundaries and flexibility in organizational culture

[14:19] Challenges of multi-generational workforces and the need for adaptability 

[15:35] Leadership development in the face of hybrid and remote work models 

[17:30] Future fit leaders and their key criteria

[17:59] The challenges faced by the younger generation in the evolving world of work 

[18:32] Leadership as a lifestyle: Skills, mindsets, and behaviours 

[20:10] The role of mentorship, professional development, and deep reflection in organizational culture 

Connect 

Pontoon Solutions

Shannon Robertson

Ross Emerson