The world of work is changing faster than ever and leadership has to keep up!

In this episode of Always Be Connecting, host Linsey Houston talks with leadership strategist Trudy MacDonald about the shifts transforming how we lead teams, grow businesses, and shape culture. From the rise of AI to the demand for flexibility and the challenge of burnout, Trudy shares why the old models of HR and leadership no longer work.

She unpacks the skills every leader needs right now including emotional intelligence, resilience, and agility, and how to use them to build high-performing, future-ready teams. You’ll hear why psychological safety is no longer optional, how generational change is redefining the workplace, and what business owners can do today to prepare for tomorrow.

Packed with practical insights and forward-looking strategies, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to thrive as a leader in 2025 and beyond.

Subscribe to Always Be Connecting:

https://storytellersaustralia.au/always-be-connecting/

Connect with Storytellers Australia:

🌐 Website: https://storytellersaustralia.au/

📞 Phone: 02 8096 5767

📧 Email: hello@storytellersaustralia.au

👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storytellersau/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytellers.au/

Connect with Linsey Houston:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linseyhouston/

Connect with Trudy MacDonald:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudy-macdonald-tchr/

🔗 Website: https://www.talentcodehr.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do your beliefs about your team help them grow or hold them back?

In this episode, we explore the powerful concept of the Pygmalion Effect with Sophie Firmager from the Realised Potential Group. This psychological phenomenon reveals how a leader's expectations can directly shape team performance, influence morale, and impact workplace culture. Sophie unpacks how belief, whether positive or negative, can become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the workplace, and what leaders can do to create an environment where people truly thrive.

We cover:

✅ The psychology behind the Pygmalion Effect

✅ Common leadership traps and how to avoid them

✅ How belief shapes behaviour in teams

✅ Practical ways to build a belief-driven culture

Subscribe to Always Be Connecting:

https://storytellersaustralia.au/always-be-connecting/

Connect with Storytellers Australia:

🌐 Website: https://storytellersaustralia.au/

📞 Phone: 02 8096 5767

📧 Email: hello@storytellersaustralia.au

👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storytellersau/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytellers.au/

Connect with Linsey Houston:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linseyhouston/

Connect with Guest Name:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-firmager-0b95813/

🔗 Website: https://www.realisedpotentialgroup.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Racism in the workplace isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it hides in policies, hiring decisions, or everyday interactions that go unchallenged.

In this frank and honest conversation with Gloria Tabi, she shares her lived experience as a Black woman in Australia and explains how structural racism shows up at work.

From being overlooked for roles she was qualified for to feeling pressure to hide her natural hair, Gloria highlights the hidden barriers that many still face. This conversation offers a reality check for managers who genuinely want to do better but may not know where to start.

We explore practical steps leaders can take to create more inclusive and equitable environments. If you're building a team or leading a business in Australia, this is essential listening.

Could your decisions be limiting someone's opportunity without you realising it?

Subscribe to Always Be Connecting:

https://storytellersaustralia.au/always-be-connecting/

Connect with Storytellers Australia:

🌐 Website: https://storytellersaustralia.au/

📞 Phone: 02 8096 5767

📧 Email: hello@storytellersaustralia.au

👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storytellersau/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytellers.au/

Connect with Linsey Houston:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linseyhouston/

Connect with Gloria Tabi:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriatabi/

🔗 Website: https://everydayinclusion.com.au/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriabinks/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.