The 11th Thing Podcast

Episode 27: Building a Learning Organisation

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Matt DiGeronimo

In this fourth episode in the series, focusing on the culture of accountability, the 11th Thing podcast explores the benefits of ‘building a learning organisation’ with special guest, senior business executive, adjunct professor, author, former radio talk show host and retired US Navy officer Matt DiGeronimo.

Reflecting on his diverse and in-depth experience, Matt DiGeronimo sets the scene by describing the characteristics of a learning organisation, the role that accountability plays in organisational learning and the unique values of learning leaders.

In addition, DiGeronimo describes how organisations balance accountability with a culture that encourages experimentation and risk taking and explains why failure is evidence of organisational maturity.

Episode 26: The Transforming Power of Ethics

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Dr Raynolad W. Alorse

In this third episode of a new series focusing on the culture of accountability, the 11th Thing podcast explores ‘the transforming power of ethics’ with special guest, distinguished public servant, academic, speaker and leader Dr Raynold W. Alorse.

Drawing on personal and professional testimonies, Dr Alorse brings to life the topic of ethics. As part of this, Dr Alorse defines the relationship between ethics and accountability, explains how ethics can be used for leadership development and describes how organisations can ensure that ethics do not become a casualty of the ‘bottom line’.

In addition, Dr Alorse underlines the importance of ‘ethical equality’ across the organisational hierarchy and describes the role that ethics can play in business branding.

Episode 25: The Secret to Building Successful Teams

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with Special Guest Dr Laura Stout

In this second episode of a new series focusing on the culture of accountability, the 11th Thing podcast explores ‘the secret to building successful teams’ with special guest, leadership development and improvement expert Dr Laura Stout.

Drawing on her senior level public service experience and in-depth expertise as an improvement consultant, Dr Laura Stout explains why accountability matters in collaborative environments and describes practical strategies that leaders can deploy to encourage ownership of actions.

Delving deeper, Dr Stout explains how leaders can help their teams to navigate the fine line between accountability and blame, the important role that accountability plays in productivity and the function of technology in enhancing accountability within the modern workplace.

Episode 24: The Characteristics of Accountable Organisations

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with Special Guest Leadership Coach Jon Antonucci

In this first episode of a new series focusing on the culture of accountability, the 11th Thing podcast explores the characteristics of accountable organisations with returning special guest, leadership coach and founder of the Servant Minded Leadership Consultive, Jon Antonucci.

Leaning on his decades of experience in leadership and learning, Jon tackles the difficult challenges of accountability in relationship dynamics. As part of this, he describes how accountability is an intristic part of the growth process and sets out how it can be used to neutralise negative perceptions of failure. Turning his attention to group settings, Jon explains how accuntability drives positives outcomes and improves organisational effectiveness.

Episode 23: Book Review

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Colonel G. Damon Wells [US Army]

In this special episode of the 11th Thing Podcast, we review ‘You Don’t Know Sh*t About Leadership’, the new book by US Army Colonel G. Damon Wells.

Delving into part one of the book, Colonel Wells spotlights the dangers that are inherent in bad leadership and the reasons why organisations are so often inclined to tolerate it.

Then, in part two, Colonel Wells uses practical examples to describe the relationship between neuroscience and leadership, explains why the Five Factor Model is the best way to facilitate leadership development and deconstructs complexity theory for the uninitiated. Finally, in part three, Colonel Wells expands on his Ballistic Leadership Framework and its four key pillars [people, partnerships, practice and purpose].

This special episode of the 11th Thing Podcast, is not to be missed.

Episode 22 The Psychology of Integrity

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Professor William G. Pietersen

In this sixth episode in the series focusing on organisational integrity, the 11th Thing podcast explores the thinking, reasoning and logic that shape the psychology of integrity. Our special guest for this episode is distinguished Columbia University Professor and author of numerous books including ‘Leadership: The Inside Story’, William G. Pietersen.

Drawing on his vast experience as a former Chief Executive of several multi-billion dollar companies, Professor Pietersen sets the scene by defining the key components of the integrity framework. Thereafter, he explores the subtleties and complexities of integrity as well as the attitudes and behaviours required of those in organisational leadership. Delving deeper, Professor Pietersen shares powerful first-hand testimonies that underscore his personal and professional commitment to integrity.

Episode 21 Business Standards

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Rhona Y. Williams MBA MSN RN

In this fifth episode in the series focusing on organisational integrity, the 11th Thing podcast takes an in depth and detailed look at ‘business standards’. Our special special guest on this episode is Chief Executive and Founder of Above the Ground Leadership, Rhonda Y. Williams MBA MSN RN.

Reflecting on her experience as a former hospital Chief Executive and her current role as a business leader and innovator, Rhonda Williams explains how standards play a critical role in cultivating leadership capability and establishing an organisation’s identity.

In her brilliant exposition, Rhonda Williams also describes the unique relationship that exists between business standards, values, succession planning and the organisational hierarchy.

Episode 20 The Anatomy of Trust

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Colonel G. Damon Wells

In this fourth episode in the series focusing on organisational integrity, the 11th Thing podcast undertakes a forensic examination of ‘the anatomy of trust’. Our special special guest is the decorated and distinguished Deputy Chief of Staff of the United Sates Africa Command, Colonel G. Damon Wells.

Drawing on his decades of active service across multiple continents and illustrations of first hand experience, Colonel Wells explains why integrity is built on trust.

As part of this, Colonel Wells highlights the critical building blocks of trust, offers nuanced insights into how organisations can prevent trust from becoming transactional and describes how leaders can identify where ‘trust deficits’ may exist in their workplace. In addition, Colonel Wells explains how trust can help to deliver better organisational results.

Episode 19 The Foundations of Integrity

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Dr Marilyn Gist

In this third episode in the series focusing on organisational integrity, the 11th Thing podcast explores ‘the foundations of integrity’, with special guest, renowned academic, speaker, consultant and award-winning author Dr Marilyn Gist.

Sharing powerful insights and first hand testimonies from decades in senior leadership and management development, Dr Gist deconstructs the building blocks of organisational integrity.

In particular, she explains how organisations can create an integrity ecosystem, how integrity can be utilised as an organisational improvement tool and how a culture of integrity can help organisations to navigate their way through difficult times.

Drawing insights from her award-winning book, ‘The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility’ Dr Gist also highlights the importance of dignity as a critical building block of integrity.

Episode 18 Leading with Integrity

Hosted by Paul Aladenika with special guest Mike Targos

In this second episode in the series focusing on organisational integrity, the 11th Thing podcast delves into the subject of ‘leading with integrity’, with returning special guest, retired US Marine Lt Colonel and leadership coach, Mike Targos.

Reflecting on his decades of leadership experience in the military and corporate worlds, Mike sets out the specific roles of leaders in embedding integrity into organisational habits, behaviours and ways of working. In addition to this, Mike describes the ‘dividend’ for organisations that are built on a foundation of integrity, as well as the risks and costs for those that are not.