Episodes

  • episode 84 - the word is mechatronics

    episode 84 - the word is mechatronics
    Aug 24 2025
    Join me on "The Word is Leadership" as I explore the fascinating world of mechatronics - the fusion of mechanical engineering, computing, and electronics. This episode isn't just about technology; it's about how different fields come together to create something innovative and impactful. Drawing inspiration from mechatronics, I look into the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary teams. How do you maximize their potential? I share with you four key tactics: 1. Define Roles and Focus on Value 2. Develop Communication Strategies 3. Erect Scaffolding for Collaboration 4. Shape Team Behaviours Tune in to discover how these tactics can transform your team's effectiveness and unlock new possibilities and help our community by sharing your own strategies at thewordisleadership.com. Don't miss this insightful episode!
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    19 mins
  • episode 83 - the word is boo

    episode 83 - the word is boo
    Aug 17 2025
    Another week and another thought-provoking random word on "The Word is Leadership." For this episode the focus is on the word "boo." Beyond its common use to startle or express dissatisfaction, "boo" offers valuable lessons for leaders. When you stand for something, you'll inevitably face both cheers and boos. The question is, how do you respond? The episode explores four strategies: Ignore, Confront, Explain, and Change. However, it challenges these approaches by suggesting that leaders should not be surprised by boos but instead welcome them as opportunities for growth. By reframing boos as "sense checks," leaders can turn criticism into a catalyst for improvement. Tune in to discover how embracing boos can transform your leadership approach.
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    17 mins
  • episode 82 - the word is lightsome

    episode 82 - the word is lightsome
    Aug 10 2025
    Join me for episode 82 of "The Word is Leadership" as I explore the concept of "lightsome," a term that embodies producing and reflecting light and is our random word of the week. This poetic idea reveals the essence of effective leadership, emphasising the importance of relationships and social interaction. Leadership isn't just about personal traits; it's about how those traits impact others and create a mutual exchange of energy. I use the ideas of charisma to illustrate this concept and show you three key strategies to become "lightsome": identify your unique strengths, understand how they are perceived by others, and ensure your impact aligns with your intentions. Remember, leadership is not about shining brightly alone but about reflecting the light of those around you. Tune in to find out how to balance producing and reflecting light and unlock the true potential of your leadership.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • episode 81 - the word is futile

    episode 81 - the word is futile
    Aug 3 2025
    Discover how to avoid actions that yield no results and learn from the insights of Rita Gunther McGrath on the importance of learning faster than the rate of change. I introduce you to the "Luck Maximiser Framework," a practical tool to ensure your decisions aren't futile. This framework focuses on four dimensions: Alignment, Accountability, Alternatives, and Achievement. By integrating these elements, you'll be able to make more informed choices and maximize your chances of success. Tune in to find out how these simple yet powerful strategies can elevate your leadership skills and help you achieve your goals. Share your thoughts and join the conversation on how to minimise futile actions in your own journey. Listen now and take the first step towards more effective decision making!
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    20 mins
  • episode 80 - the word is train

    episode 80 - the word is train
    Jul 27 2025
    Join me this week for a heartfelt episode of "The Word is Leadership" as I explore what insights we might get from our random word "train." I take you on a personal journey through my childhood, growing up in a train community where my father was a proud train driver. From the nostalgia of toy trains to the high-speed TGV, I look into how identity and community can transform a job into a vocation. Discover how training and identity intertwine to create peak performance and learn how even the most unexpected roles can become a source of purpose and passion. Whether you're a leader or just starting out, this episode will challenge you to rethink your relationship with your work and ask: "How would you make a young you fall in love with your job?" Tune in for a what I hope is a thought-provoking episode that blends personal stories with leadership insights, all set to the rhythm of life's journey!
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    21 mins
  • Episode 79 - the word is muddle

    Episode 79 - the word is muddle
    Jul 20 2025
    In this episode I reframe "muddle" as a leadership strength rather than weakness. I challenge the myth of perfectly coordinated organisations and reveal why most grand conspiracies fail the organisational behaviour test, while trying to make a compelling case for embracing muddle as the foundation of agility in our VUCA world. I outline how "sense and respond" trumps "plan and control" in volatile environments and offer the two critical conditions that elevate muddling from chaos to advantage: maintaining a "bias for action" that prioritises progress over perfection and cultivating a "learning mindset" that transforms every action into data for improvement. Using Jeff Bezos's elegant "two-way doors" concept that distinguishes between truly consequential decisions and those easily reversed, I argue that leaders consistently overestimate how many decisions are truly irreversible, creating unnecessary organisational paralysis. As usual, I conclude with a question based on this week’s insight that leadership isn't about pretending certainty exists in an uncertain world but rather True leadership embraces muddle while maintaining clarity of intent: "Do you feel strong enough to muddle?"
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    21 mins
  • Episode 78 - the word is monument

    Episode 78 - the word is monument
    Jul 13 2025
    In this episode of "The Word is Leadership," I explore the connection between monument (our random word) and leadership. I am in a thoughtful mood today as I ask myself, and you, the question: who would you immortalise as a leader worthy of a monument? I challenge you to consider not just famous figures, but the everyday leaders who've shaped your own leadership approaches. The episode unveils what I hope is a powerful insight – we don't build monuments to commemorate people, but rather to honour the feelings these individuals stirred within us. Great leaders aren't remembered for what they said or did, but for how they made others feel. The most impactful leaders make people feel stronger and more capable, nudging them toward growth they didn't believe possible. Through a guided thought experiment involving Trafalgar Square's empty fourth plinth, I encourage listeners to reflect on their leadership heroes and why these figures resonate so deeply. The episode concludes, as usual, with a question. This week I ask "Would they build a monument to you?" This introspective journey reminds us that leadership isn't about grandeur – it's about the lasting impression we leave on others' hearts and minds.
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    19 mins
  • episode 77 - the word is hooligan

    episode 77 - the word is hooligan
    Jul 6 2025
    For this episode, our randomly selected word is "hooligan" (a rough lawless young person") which gives me the opportunity to challenge everything we think we know about generational differences in the workplace. I dismantle three pervasive myths about workplace generations. First, the "foundational myth" suggesting each generation possesses unique values and motivations, when research shows humans across generations share similar core desires. Second, the "labelling myth" that assigns broad characteristics to arbitrary age brackets spanning 15+ years. Third, the "static myth" ignoring how life stages, rather than generational identity, shape workplace attitudes. I argue that generational stereotyping represents "the management consultant's equivalent of clickbait" - simplistic theories based on questionable research leading to ineffective leadership approaches. Instead of obsessing over generational differences, effective leaders should focus on universal human needs while respecting individual differences. My aim with this episode is to challenge you to reconsider your assumptions about workplace dynamics. By shifting focus from generational stereotypes to individual understanding, leaders can create more inclusive environments. I invite you to identify additional myths in how we approach generations at work, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of workplace relationships.
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    20 mins