Thriving in Complexity Podcast

We all make decisions but how often do we consciously think about how to make good decisions? Ask a group of people to make a decision together and it either gets more challenging or people look for the quickest means of reaching an agreement. In this episode of Thriving in Complexity, Susanne chats with Samantha Rush about why structure is powerful when making decisions in complexity.  Samantha is currently studying for her Ph.D. in decision-making. She knows from her research that using a structured process encourages individual contributions from team members, and helps to surface minority and diverse opinions that might otherwise be missed.  Making use of a structured process in decision-making amplifies the quality and the quantity of information available to teams before they make a decision. If this sparks your curiosity and you want to learn how you can utilize a structured process in decision-making, make sure you listen to the episode.   WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:        

• What most people don't know about Samantha (01:40) 
• The structured process of decision-making in teams (05:19) 
• How to make decisions in complex situations (07:55) 
• Powerful techniques to employ in structured decision-making (10:02) 
• Why it's important for every team member to be heard and seen (11:48) 
• Three things to consider when making decisions (13:45) 
• What are The Marvellous Women cards and Samantha's inspiration behind them (21:00) 
• The connection between Marvellous Women cards and thriving in complexity (23:37) 
• What does Thriving in Complexity mean for Samantha (29:52) 
• Advice to her 25-year-old self (32:30) 
• The value of making conscious decisions (34:50) 

    Quotes    "Thriving in complexity means finding a way to make movement around constraints." - Samantha Rush  "Don't limit yourself, think bigger." - Samantha Rush  "Just because you have access to something and you know that it works, doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to get the benefit of it." - Samantha Rush  Resources  Everything Is Figureoutable  The 10 components of a thinking environment – Nancy Kline    WHERE TO FIND SAMANTHA RUSH      

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-rush-mba/    
• Website: https://www.marvellouswomencards.com/  

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Susanne’s experiences on a recent trip suggest that the universe has a sense of humour when it exacted revenge after she launched the podcast.   In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne provides a simple definition of complexity and shares a story about how the universe decided to teach her a lesson in complexity.  Even if you don’t realise it, complexity is a part of life. It affects how your decisions - from the small to the large - are made. With understanding and practice, you can learn to find your way through complexities and thrive despite them.   So what are you waiting for? Join Susanne on this journey of learning about the different ways of managing in the face of complexity. Gain insights and find out how to thrive in a complex world.    WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:        

• Susanne’s definition of complexity (01:13) 
• How a series of random events can create a complex situation (02:04) 
• What is the complexity theory, and how can it affect you (10:59) 

    Quotes    “A series of random events can all join up to create a very complex situation.” -Susanne  “Complexity is what emerges from the interactions between different parts of a system or interactions between systems.” -Susanne 
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When faced with complexity we tend to try and predict what will happen in the future rather than embrace the possibility adjacent to our current situation. In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne speaks with Helen Palmer about holding space so people can be present,  embrace our past in ways that serve us into the future, learn from the people around us, let go and allow new possibilities to emerge.  Helen believes that people have a lot of potential locked up and unavailable to make a positive impact and she’s motivated to do something about this. Helen helps people learn so something different is possible. She is also the founder of the company Questo and the co-organiser of the premier Cynefin Meetup in Australia.  There are certain novel situations that only arise in complexity and when we’re present in the moment, we can be curious about what’s going on in reality. Although we have no control over the future, we can explore how we influence it in the present. However, if we focus too much on a specific goal, or destination, we turn our filters in such a way that will only see certain things, which is the antithesis of curiosity.  If you’re curious, have a listen to this episode!   WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:      

• A surprising fact about Helen Palmer (02:40) 
• The importance of embracing the past and using it for the future (06:12) 
• How does learning together help to successfully work together (11:40) 
• Tips to successfully holding spaces (18:39) 
• The benefits of being in the present when working in complexity (21:29) 
• The value of self-care in navigating complexity (32:18) 
• Using the Cynefin framework to help explore human complexity (41:08) 
• What does thriving in complexity mean for Helen? (50:30) 
• Helen’s advice to her 25-year-old self (01:04:18) 

   Quotes   "It's not just watching for what's emerging around you. It's understanding what's going on within you, at the same time." -Helen Palmer  " Look for the adjacent possible." -Helen Palmer  "Be the guide from the side, not the sage from the stage” – Helen Palmer   "Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success." -Henry Ford  Resources Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps: How to Thrive in Complexity Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights   WHERE TO FIND HELEN PALMER  

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenp/  
• Website: https://www.questo.com.au/  
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenmpal   

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Our struggles help us get stronger, whether lifting weights at the gym or finding our way through a big challenge at work. Embracing that struggle as an opportunity to learn helps us develop our anti-fragility.  In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne talks to Paul Atherton, an ex-Wall Street adviser on a mission to help people win back their financial power. Paul worked for Wall Street for 25 years before deciding to found That Wall Street Guy.   Paul shares insights from the complex world of finance that anybody can apply to help them thrive in the complexity of everyday life.  So check out this episode if you want to know how to be open to opportunities and respond when they come along.  WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:      

• What it’s like working on Wall Street (03:12) 
• The most common challenges in the finance world (08:01) 
• One financial lesson that can be applied in your daily life (11:19) 
• Why is personal accountability important (17:54) 
• Why it is great to remove something at the end of the year (20:27) 
• The importance of communication in various roles (26:07) 
• Thriving in complexity, according to Paul (28:22) 
• Paul’s advice to his 25-year-old self (36:36) 
• One thing Paul want you to remember (41:07) 

  WHERE TO FIND PAUL ATHERTON    

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-atherton-944a8a2/  
• Website: https://thatwallstreetguy.com/  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatwallstguy  

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Many organisations have a proud history. However, there’s a big difference between being wedded to history and being respectful of it. Holding onto the past and ignoring the richness emerging around you can stop new possibilities in their tracks.  In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne talks to Chris Tanti, an accomplished CEO both in Australia and the United States who has worked across mental health, disability and aged care. Currently, he is the CEO of the Leukemia Foundation.   Chris shares his insights on how to thrive in complexity and how we works towards a better vision of the future.. He also talks about how important it is to have a clear purpose in life and shares his own personal story of how he found his purpose.  With his extensive experience in the corporate sector, Chris is sure to provide some valuable insights on how to thrive in complexity. Listen to this episode to find out more!  WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:    

• One thing most people don’t know about Chris (02:16) 
• What attracted Chris to build a career around mental health (05:58) 
• How Chris’ background has shaped him as a leader (11:55) 
• How can leaders bring their people along with them (19:11) 
• Dealing with the changing expectations of others (26:03) 
• The importance of having your finger on the pulse of your business (31:58) 
• How to get valuable insights from previous experiences (34:53) 
• Thriving in complexity, according to Chris (38:46) 
• Focusing on your organizational goals (41:09) 
• One thing Chis wished he handled differently (42:39) 
• Chris’ advice to his 25-year-old self (49:48)  

WHERE TO FIND CHRIS TANTI 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-tanti-352279b/ 
• Website: https://www.leukaemia.org.au/ 

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Middle Managers who remember that as a leader, the way you race is the way you pace, also know the value of role modelling behaviours that will help their team thrive in the face of complexity.  Great leadership starts with self-leadership. And it shows up when you don’t have a strong foundation which means understanding who you are, from your values, through to your emotional intelligence, your self image, your self talk, through to the way in which you communicate, and the way your communication style impacts others, and your willingness to speak up or take a seat at the table.  In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne talks to Sally Foley-Lewis, a global, multi-award-winning speaker, facilitator, author and coach. With her extensive leadership background, Sally has been helping middle managers around the world to lead with impact.  Sally shares her insights on how to help middle managers embrace influence over control, avoid delegation traps, ask questions and give their teams the gift of time to think.   With her passion for leadership, Sally is someone you don't want to miss. Tune in now to learn why self-leadership matters. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:  

• One hidden truth about Sally Foley-Lewis (03:56) 
• Embracing cultural differences (05:30) 
• The importance of self-leadership for middle managers (10:57) 
• Risks middle managers are facing (15:50) 
• The difference between controlling and influencing (17:49) 
• How delegating can help middle managers (24:05) 
• Seeing the positive side of failing (28:13) 
• The importance of effective communication (35:01) 
• Thriving in complexity, according to Sally Foley-Lewis (41:21) 
• One thing Sally wished she did differently (43:28) 
• Sally’s advice to her 52-year-old self (46:23) 

 RESOURCES 

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey 

WHERE TO FIND SALLY FOLEY-LEWIS 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyfoleylewis/  
• Website: https://www.sallyfoleylewis.com/  

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Since before COVID, the face of complexity challenging Board Directors has shifted. 

Their operating environment is increasingly complex and dynamic. A big part of this is being driven by increased societal expectations of what boards do, how companies should operate, and their role in society. 

In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne talks to Kerryn Newton, the CEO of Directors Australia, a board performance specialist firm. Kerryn has over 25 years of experience working in different legal, management and commercial roles in both private and public settings. 

Kerryn shares her insights on the role of directors, the challenges they face, and how they can create value for their organizations. She also provides advice on how to build an effective board that can thrive in today's complex business environment. 

Given her line of business, it is only fitting that Kerryn offers some tips on how you can get the most out of your board meetings. Listen to this episode to find out more. 

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:  

• Kerryn’s story of wanting to be a pilot (01:15) 
• The most common challenges boards are facing now (03:19) 
• What is the board skills matrix? (06:29) 
• The shift in the board’s role in strategy in recent years (10:51) 
• All about Directors Australia (15:31) 
• Common traps, that boards can fall into (17:07) 
• Enabling constructive disagreement in the workplace (20:28) 
• What does thriving in complexity mean to Kerryn (24:58) 
• How to get people on board (29:08) 
• One thing Kerryn wished she did differently (32:14) 
• Kerryn’s advice to her 25-year-old self (35:55) 

CONNECT WITH KERRYN NEWTON 
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrynnewton/ 
Website: Directors Australia 
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When things go wrong, you must make space for the voices of the silent because they often have good insights into complex situations. In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne talks with Helen Poropat, an experienced mediator with extensive experience in governing non-profit organisations, including Domino’s Give for Good, Relations Australia (Queensland) and the National Education and Employment Foundation.  Helen shares her insights about how to help non-profit organisations achieve impact by building strong teams and focusing on the value of voices and relationships. According to her, having people with the right mix of skills and perspectives on board is essential, as they are the ones who will make things happen. So if you’re interested in learning more about what it takes to help a non-profit make a difference, this episode is for you!  WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:  

• The challenges of running a non-profit organization (05:18) 
• Maintaining boundaries between various roles (11:32) 
• How to develop and maintain trust within an organization (13:56) 
• Dealing with conflicts correctly (17:41) 
• All about Domino’s Give for Good charity (22:40) 
• How is success measured? (27:44) 
• Thriving in complexity, according to Helen (29:37) 
• Learning as a group (33:36) 
• Helen’s advice to her 25-year-old self (40:22) 

RESOURCES MENTIONED 

• Give for Good 
• National Education and Employment Foundation 
• Relationships Australia Queensland 

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• Email: [email protected]  
• LinkedIn: Helen Poropat 

Life is full of uncertainties, complexities, and constant changes. It can be compared to a battlefield where one must be trained and prepared to face whatever happens next.
With all the complexities that surround our lives, we can forget there is still value in developing a plan, while we keep looking for available options and ultimately, keeping it simple. 
In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne chats with Clifford Morgan, who is an Organisational Psychologist who also served in the Royal Australian Air Force. His wealth of experience helps clients achieve personal and corporate goals and fulfil the potential of their organisations.
Clifford’s expertise is strengthened by his military background and psychology training, and he shares how this knowledge can help people become effective and transformational leaders in a changing environment. He believes that leaders have the capacity to make others a better version of themselves while helping them to navigate complexity. 
If you want to know more about how you can apply proven military techniques to respond to complexity and become a coaching leader, this episode is for you!
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:

• One interesting trivia about Clifford Morgan (02:34)
• The influences of his military background and psychology training in developing better leaders (04:00)
• The benefits of knowing how to navigate complexity (06:17)
• What is the OODA loop and how it helps deal with complex situations (09:13)
• The difference between reacting and responding (14:14)
• The value in being agile and being able to adjust (16:41)
• The challenges of transitioning from military life to civilian life (21:53)
• Major influences in Clifford’s life (23:49)
• How to become an effective leader in changing environments (25:09)
• The Coaching Leader (28:08)
• What can leaders do to become transformational leaders? (33:49)
• What does thriving in complexity mean for Clifford? (36:59)
• Clifford's advice to his 25-year-old self (42:03)

WHERE TO FIND CLIFFORD MORGAN
Website: Clifford Morgan
LinkedIn: Clifford MorganCONNECT WITH SUSANNE
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It’s important to establish a learning culture where an organization acknowledges mistakes and a certain level of openness is enforced so processes are improved and mistakes are worked on. 
We want people who make mistakes to own up and learn before it becomes a bigger issue. However, it does not mean we should not hold people accountable for mistakes when that is warranted.
When people, including the media, make a big deal about all the mistakes that have been made, we encourage people to push them under the rug and pretend they did not happen. When that happens, people do not learn and improve. 
In this episode of the Thriving in Complexity podcast, Susanne speaks with Kathy Campbell, an experienced non-executive director. Kathy is currently a Director on the Board of the Brisbane North Primary Health Network (PHN) and the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (HHS). She is also qualified accountant (FCPA and FCA) and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health.
Kathy shares her learnings from working across complex health systems. We cover the challenges associated with scaling projects, the benefits of thinking systemically, avoiding blame cultures, and engaging with consumers and other stakeholders.
If you’re wanting to get a better understanding of how people governing our health systems think, you should enjoy this episode.
 WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:  

• Complex challenges Kathy faces working across competing areas (03:54) 
• The things that make a difference in healthcare systems (08:11)
• The impact of support on workplace culture (09:01)
• Why leaders need to avoid blame culture? (14:38)
• What leaders need to focus on? (17:40)
• How we ensure meaningful connections in the workplace? (22:16)
• Lessons learned while working to establish the Victorian Cancer Center (31:13)
• What thriving in complexity means to Kathy? (35:17)
• What would Kathy tell her 25-year-old self? (36:10)

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