In this episode of the Curious Advantage podcast, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones engage with Margaret Heffernan, a renowned author and speaker, to explore the themes of curiosity, leadership, and organizational culture. Heffernan shares her diverse career journey and emphasizes the importance of questioning conventional wisdom in fostering innovation and collaboration within organizations.

The conversation delves into the concept of willful blindness, the intersection of playwriting and research, and the challenges leaders face in navigating accountability and certainty. Heffernan advocates for creating environments that promote curiosity and productivity, highlighting the need for organizations to rethink their approaches to work and collaboration. In this engaging conversation, Margaret Heffernan discusses the importance of curiosity and helpfulness in the workplace, emphasizing how these traits can enhance productivity and collaboration. She shares insights from her experiences in various organizations, highlighting the detrimental effects of excessive competition and the benefits of fostering a culture of learning and connection.

The discussion also touches on the concept of 'super chickens' and how a focus on individual performance can undermine overall team success. Heffernan advocates for creating environments that encourage curiosity and collaboration, ultimately leading to more innovative and productive organizations.

Margaret Heffernan website: https://www.mheffernan.com/#modal-close 

The Curious Advantage Podcast series, hosted by the authors of The Curious Advantagebook – Paul Ashcroft (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group), Simon Brown (Global Learning & Development Leader, Partner, EY), and Garrick Jones (co-founder & partner, Ludic Group) – explores how curiosity is a driving force for success in both individual lives and organizations, particularly in our evolving digital landscape. This podcast distills insights from neuroscience, anthropology, history, art and behaviorism to make the concept of curiosity accessible and applicable to everyone.

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The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing is expertly by Danny Cross. Video editing by Jessica Wickham.