The Future Talent Learning Podcast

Access the podcast transcript here.

How much do you trust your colleagues? Do you need them to trust you? And how can we re-build trust once it's broken?

To answer these questions, we're joined by Dr. Brennan Jacoby, philosopher and founder of Philosophy at Work - an organisation that helps businesses think their best. Brennan holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D in philosophy, and his doctoral work analysed trust in the context of interpersonal relationships and corporate character.

We discuss:

• Different perspectives on 'trust'
• The things that damage trust within teams
• What to do when trust is broken.

Episode Timestamps

• Defining trust and its importance [00:00:52]
• Characteristics of trustworthiness [00:14:02]
• Factors that damage trust [00:17:32]
• Rebuilding broken trust [00:26:54]

Additional Information

You can find out more about Brennan at: https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/

Ross G referenced Brené Brown's 'marble jar'. See this video for an overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6442YcvEUH8

Other useful resources include Brennan's article 'How Trust Enables Great Collaboration and Innovation': https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/how-trust-enables-great-collaboration-and-innovation/

Also, 'Who can you trust in a post-truth world?': https://philosophyatwork.co.uk/who-can-you-trust-in-a-post-truth-world/

Connect with Brennan at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brennan-jacoby-51807790/

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Ross G discussed whether the 'Great Resignation' is over: https://theconversation.com/the-truth-about-the-great-resignation-who-changed-jobs-where-they-went-and-why-180159

Ross D discussed the pros and cons of Rotten Tomatoes: https://aestheticsforbirds.com/2017/09/21/against-rotten-tomatoes/

Access the podcast transcript here.

Why is sustainability important to Anglo American? What challenges do we face? And how are we adapting?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Ross G are joined by Anglo American's Rob Greenberg (Head of Sustainability Integration, Governance & Performance) and Mariana Abugattas (Government Affairs and Sustainability Manager in Peru).

We discuss

• The extent to which investors, governments and communities care about sustainability
• Actions taken by Anglo American's Quellaveco project in Peru
• The importance of sustainability to Anglo American's ongoing operations.

Additional Information

In 'One Thing I've Learned This Week', Ross G shared a Twitter thread on Cadbury's 'gorilla' advert: https://twitter.com/unclebernbach/status/1494665971155582984?s=21

Access the podcast transcript here.

How do we measure personality? What is the difference between 'type' and 'trait'-based psychometric assessments? And what impact does the 'H' factor of personality have on you and your career?

To answer these questions, Nathalie and Ross G are speaking to Lucie Ilbury, a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Head of Client Enablement at Sova Assessment. Lucie specialises in the psychology of leadership, assessment and learning and development, while Sova provides a fully customisable assessment platform which delivers evidence-based assessment via cutting-edge digital technology.

We discuss:

• What makes a psychometric assessment valid and helpful
• Why some people are manipulative, self-entitled, materialistic and exploitative
• What we mean by 'good psychopaths'.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction to Psychometric Assessments [00:01:15]
• Type-based vs. Trait-based Personality Models [00:08:10]
• The HEXACO Model and the 'H' Factor [00:11:05]
• Leadership Derailment and Lopsided Leadership [00:17:55]
• Organizational Culture and Personality Fit [00:16:54]
• Blended Assessment Approach [00:39:04]

Additional Information

For reference, the two models discussed are:

OCEAN = Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism

HEXACO = Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience

Note that in the HEXACO model, 'Honesty-Humility' is new, and neuroticism has been re-named 'emotionality'.

For more on HEXACO, read The H Model of Personality, by Kibeom Lee and Michael C. Ashton.

To find out more about Sova and gain access to thought leadership, complementary training courses and a network of experts in assessment: join our community.

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Ross G discussed 'Web 3': https://www.wired.com/story/web3-paradise-crypto-arcade/

Nathalie discussed the 'Internal Family Systems Model': https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

Access the podcast transcript here.

Should we be trying to have more conflict at work? What is conflict? Should we really be trying to avoid it? Or can it be helpful?

To answer these questions, Ross D and Nathalie are joined by conflict coach Richard Savage.

Richard is an entrepreneur with a 15-year career in advertising, who now works as Managing Director of Savage Macbeth, where he trains people to help manage conflict at work. He's also a self-trained butcher and pilot!

We discuss:

• The difference between conflict and negotiation
• The three foundations of resolving conflict (objectivity, empathy and creativity)
• Examples of how we have personally handled conflict.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction and Defining Conflict [00:00:59]
• Constructive Conflict and Social Media [00:03:10]
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution [00:10:59]
• Conflict in Management and Teams [00:17:12]
• Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution [00:24:22]

Additional Information

You can find out more about Richard and Savage Macbeth at: https://www.savagemacbeth.com/

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Nathalie discussed the book Bringing Back the Beaver: https://chelseagreen.co.uk/book/bringing-back-the-beaver/

The study Ross D discussed was: Musicus, A., Tal, A., & Wansink, B. (2015). Eyes in the aisles: why is Cap'n Crunch looking down at my child?. Environment and Behavior, 47(7), 715-733. Online at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916514528793

Access the podcast transcript here.

Should we all be working a four-day week? How do we do this while remaining profitable? And what actions do we need to take to prevent a fifth day creeping back in?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Tash Walker, founder of market research agency The Mix. The Mix have been working a four-day week for five years, and Tash is sharing her team's experiences.

We discuss:

• Why The Mix work a four-day week
• The benefits of a four-day week, to colleagues and customers
• Advice for making a four-day week a sustainable business practice.

Additional Information

During the show, Tash referenced the 'toast' exercise. You can see it described on TED: https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_got_a_wicked_problem_first_tell_me_how_you_make_toast

For more on Panasonic's experiences with a four-day week, see: https://mashable.com/article/panasonic-four-day-work-week

And for details of Iceland's four-day week experiment, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57724779

You can find out more about Tash at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashawalker1

Find out more about The Mix at: https://themixglobal.com

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Ross D discussed the book Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Chouinard: https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/let-my-people-go-surfing-revised-paperback-book/BK067.html

Ross G discussed the book Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/292/292318/only-dull-people-are-brilliant-at-breakfast/9780241251805.html

Access the podcast transcript here.

How do I give an (adequate) presentation? How should I think about structuring my presentations? And are there any differences to presenting online versus offline?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Nathalie Nahai are joined by writer, performer and illustrator John-Paul Flintoff, a former writer and associate editor on the Financial Times, the Sunday Times and other papers and magazines. He's also the author of six books, in 16 languages, including: A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech

We discuss:

• Why only an 'adequate' speech is required

• The 'Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, Delivery' approach to rhetoric

• How to prepare physically for a presentation.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-01:20

• Overcoming Anxiety and Aiming for 'Adequate' – 01:20-09:15

• Focusing on Audience Needs – 09:15-18:02

• Preparing Physically and Mentally for Presentations – 18:02- 32:34

• Wrap up – 32:34-35:10

• One thing I learned this week – 35:10-40:00

Additional Information

You can find out more about John-Paul at: https://flintoff.org/

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Nathalie fascinated us with the fact that many species of bees can't fly in the dark: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/03/20/honey-and-bumble-bees-cant-fly-night-tiktok-has-shown-us-that/7042738001/

And Ross G was even more interesting, with his slightly tedious 'history of time zones' story: https://www.timeanddate.com/time/time-zones-history.html

Access the podcast transcript here.

Is sustainability just about saving trees? What do we even mean by 'sustainability'? And what can you do to make your organisation more sustainable from the ground up?

To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Darshita Gillies, the CEO of Maanch: an impact-platform for philanthropy, impact investors and corporates, that helps those stakeholders re-allocate capital and resources towards achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Darshita is also a director of Blu Dot Advisory, and regularly appears in the press, talking about impact investing and sustainability.

We discuss:

• How organisations can think holistically about sustainability
• The relationship between environmental sustainability and social impact
• How to overcome decision-making paralysis, when it feels like nothing we do matters.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-01:16
• Defining Sustainability and Its Application - 01:16-03:30
• Environmental Impact of Technology and Digital Services - 03:30-10:20
• Business Strategies and Responsibilities for Sustainability - 10:20-19:23
• Challenges and Solutions in Addressing Sustainability Issues - 19:23-24:26
• Industry Collaboration and Collective Action for Sustainability - 24:26-30:25
• Wrap up – 30:25-31:53
• One thing I learned this week – 31:53-37:20

Additional Information

You can find out more about Darshita at: https://www.darshitagillies.com/

You can find out more about Maanch at: https://maanch.com/

The 'mosquito net' problem that Ross G referenced was covered in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/world/africa/mosquito-nets-for-malaria-spawn-new-epidemic-overfishing.html

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Ross D shared that he'd been using Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees: https://www.ecosia.org/

Ross G discussed the actor Tom Mix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Mix

Bonus learning on the gunfight at the O.K. Corral: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral

Access the podcast transcript here.

What is your personal brand, and why is it important?

To answer this question, Nathalie Nahai and Ross G are joined by consultant, speaker and author Dorie Clark. Dorie was named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, and teaches executive education at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Columbia Business School.

We discuss:

• How you can find out how others perceive you
• Alignment of your brand with your experience and values
• The concept of a 'managed' personal brand vs authenticity at work

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-00:52
• Defining Personal Brand and Its Importance – 00:52-06:19
• Practical Steps to Understand Your Brand – 06:19-12:44
• Identifying a Path for Your Brand – 12:44-22:24
• Managing Your Brand While Being Authentic – 22:24-32:58
• Wrap up – 32:58-35:41
• One thing I learned this week – 35:41-42:50

Additional Information

You can find out more about Dorie at: https://dorieclark.com/

The book Reinventing You is available now, and a free tool to accompany the book is online at: https://dorieclark.com/reinvent/

We also discussed Amy Cuddy's TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are

Herminia Ibarra wrote about the authenticity paradox for Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-authenticity-paradox

Carol Dweck's book was Growth Mindset.

Dorie Clark and Christie Smith's article, 'Help Your Employees Be Themselves at Work', is online at: https://hbr.org/2014/11/help-your-employees-be-themselves-at-work

Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life was written by William Green.

In 'One Thing I Learned This Week', Ross G discussed spoon theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory

Emma Gannon's website is: https://www.emmagannon.co.uk/

Dorie recommended The Drama Bookshop, in New York, owned by Lin-Manuel Miranda: https://www.dramabookshop.com/

And Nathalie recommended the book This Is Your Mind On Plants, by Michael Pollan: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665612/this-is-your-mind-on-plants-by-michael-pollan/

Access the podcast transcript here.

Should we be winging it more at work? To answer this question, Ross G and Ross D are joined by comedian, playwright and author Max Dickins. We discuss:

• What improvisation is
• The differences between improvising and planning
• How improvisation is the ideal skill to help you succeed at work.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-00:27
• Improv, planning and collaboration – 00:27-13:49
• The power of listening and "Yes and" – 13:49-19:41
• Introverts, Extroverts and overcoming nerves – 19:41-25:29
• Making Mistakes and statuses – 25:29-33:25
• Wrap up – 33:25-35:50
• One thing I learned this week – 35:50-41:51

Additional Information

Max's book is Improvise!: Use the Secrets of Improv to Achieve Extraordinary Results at Work. You can find out more about him at: https://www.hooplabusiness.com/copy-of-our-team

Change Board covered improvisation and agile mindsets at: https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/17294/nutshell-expecting-the-unexpected-developing-an-agile-mindset

In 'One Thing I've Learned This Week', Ross G shared insights into the conditions that set up creative hot streaks: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/13/scientists-identify-key-conditions-set-up-creative-hot-streak

Max discussed the process of writing his new book, Billy No Mates, out in July 2022.

And Ross D discussed the 'eating the frog' technique, which has been covered by Todoist: https://todoist.com/productivity-methods/eat-the-frog

Access the podcast transcript here.

Is it better to see the glass half empty? Is stoicism the answer? To answer these questions, Ross G and Ross D are joined by practical philosopher Julian Evans, author of The Art of Losing Control, Philosophy for Life and Holiday from The Self. We discuss:

• What stoicism is
• How stoicism can help us navigate life's challenges
• The impact of stoicism at work.

Episode Timestamps

• Introduction – 00:00-02:15
• Common Perceptions of Stoicism – 02:15-06:21
• Core Stoic Teachings and Techniques – 06:21-19:23
• Introducing Workplace Stoicism – 19:23-22:43
• Applying Stoic Resilience Today – 22:43-30:38
• Wrap up – 30:38-33:20
• One thing I learned this week – 33:20-36:49

Additional Information

The books that Jules mentioned were Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, and Discourses by Epictetus.

You can find out more about Julian at: https://www.philosophyforlife.org/

Change Board covered stoicism at: https://www.changeboard.com/article-details/17160/nutshell-stoicism-a-practical-philosophy-for-life-and-work/

And Derren Brown discusses 'strategic pessimism' on YouTube, at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKfUK1Gd6YM

In 'One Thing I've Learned This Week', Ross D recommended Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle.

Jules recommended the Netflix series Midnight Mass, the music of Neil Diamond, and Will Sharpe's TV series Flowers and Landscapers.