Shows
Generative LeadersHow do you fix a broken system?Systemic change may feel like a daunting challenging, but when we break it down into smaller parts using a purpose-led approach, it becomes achievable. Change needs persistence, allyship, and strategic thinking to drive it, but focusing on symptoms rather than root causes can blind us to meaningful solutions.Dame Caroline Mason CBE is Chief Executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, an organisation that aims to improve quality of life, particularly for people who face social and economic disadvantages. Caroline has a background in financial services and has lead other organisations that provide money to charities and s...2024-06-1130 minGenerative LeadersLeading with authenticityAuthentic leadership, driven by personal beliefs and a genuine concern for the impact one's decisions and actions have on others, is crucial for building strong relationships and a sense of purpose and belonging in the workplace.Brendan McCafferty has run large insurance companies and broking businesses, and with smaller, more entrepreneurial ventures. After stepping back from the executive world, he now serves as a non-executive chair for the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), which manages retirement savings for about 13 million people in the UK.In this episode, Julia and Brendan discuss authenticity in leadership and...2024-05-1430 minGenerative LeadersRemembering Loughlin HickeyThe power of leadership lies in genuine humility, active listening, and a commitment to support others in their personal and professional growth. Generative leaders value and bring about participation, respect the dignity of individuals, and create environments that allows for robust debates, personal agency, and collective decision-making.Loughlin Hickey was a cofounder of Blueprint, a charity dedicated to helping create a better world through business. He passed away in November 2023, and in this episode, Julia has conversations with some of the people he led, coached, influenced, and was friends with.LinksBlueprintIn loving memory...2024-04-2342 minGenerative LeadersHuman-centred leadership in the age of AIEffective leadership means more than just acquiring knowledge and seeking growth. It means understanding the human condition, simplifying our understanding of life, and realigning our priorities towards transformation. It means harnessing the unique aspects of humanity that can’t be replicated by AI, like intuition and the capacity for non-linear creativity and insight.Jonathan Armes is a psychologist and chartered occupational psychologist who focuses on leadership, team, and personal development through coaching. He helps leaders in reducing the amount of noise and interference created in the workplace due to the growing digital landscape, and works with them to...2024-04-0927 minGenerative LeadersHolding a space for generative thinkingUnderstanding different thinking styles can make teamwork smoother and facilitate powerful change. Generative listening means creating environments that encourage independent thought and respect individuals’ perspectives. This means holding a space where each individual's unique thinking process is acknowledged and valued.Servane Mouazan is a 'thinking partner' for people who are interested in investing in social and environmental change. Her work revolves around listening to and collaborating with people who are working to make the world a better place.From this discussion, you’ll learn how generative thinking can improve teamwork and facilitate powerful change, understand the...2024-03-2635 minGenerative LeadersEmpowering a team in a changing climatePeople receive and interpret information differently. By understanding how thinking styles and perspectives differ, leaders can create a space where everyone can contribute their best and thrive. This includes being open to feedback, seeking honest input from others, and adapting leadership approaches to suit different situations and team members' strengths.Effective leadership is not about being directive or controlling, but about empowering others, being transparent, and providing purpose-driven guidance that aligns with the broader goals of the organisation.Simon Merriweather is a physicist with a background in accounting and experience in the power industry. He...2024-01-3038 minGenerative LeadersCreating award-winning luxury products from wasteOur current definitions of success and the pursuit of more – more wealth, more things – are not sustainable and do not lead to true fulfilment. We need to shift our orientation towards a more interconnected and accountable approach, where success is measured by the positive impact we have on society and the environment.Kresse Wesling is the co-founder of a social enterprise that’s been at the forefront of the B-Corp movement. It was initially setup with the goal of rescuing London's decommissioned fire hoses and turning them into luxury bags. They’ve since expanded to rescue and transfor...2024-01-1631 min
Simple Reflections PodcastOur innate capacity to change with Julia RebholzI'd love your feedback, send me a messageJulia Rebholz is a consultant and part of the Insight Principles Team, as well as the host of the Generative Leaders Podcast.In this episode Julia and I discuss how we have an innate capacity for change as human beings and the hope that has to offer an increasingly divided world.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliarebholz/Website: https://insightprinciples.com/Podcast: https://generativeleaders.co/Support the showThe Simple Reflections Podcast is a collection...2023-12-3134 minGenerative LeadersLeading with Simplicity in MindLeadership is not about having all the answers, but about drawing the best out of people, allowing them to flourish, and creating a container for them to experiment and try new ideas.Generative leadership involves listening, creating psychological safety, removing barriers to growth, and adapting to changing circumstances. Generative leaders learn from mistakes, are open to feedback, and foster a culture of resilience and flexibility.Dave Hill is a transformational coach who has been on the front lines of the battlefield and in the boardroom. He’s the founder of Simplicity in Mind, an organisation ai...2023-12-1928 minGenerative LeadersPower, agency, and influencePower, agency, and influence interplay at individual, group, and systems levels. Understanding their dynamics can help us navigate uncertain times and make better decisions.Tony Fish is a writer and researcher whose upcoming book delves into the complexities of these concepts. The episode delves into the complexity of power, the ability to act (agency), and the role of influence in shaping outcomes. It also highlights the importance of questioning our own framings and asking better questions to break free from biases.Tony's work aims to help individuals and organizations make better decisions in uncertain and...2023-12-0537 minGenerative LeadersBuilding trust and connection for radical community changeBuilding trust and connecting with communities on a human level can bring about powerful and positive change. By approaching communities with an open mind and genuinely listening to their needs, leaders and organisations can tap into the abundance and resources within.This takes a shift in perspective and a willingness to challenge the status quo, rethinking traditional approaches to community development.Gary Loftus is a community developer who works with organisations and communities to bring about positive change. He believes in building trust and connections within communities and challenging traditional approaches to community development. Gary...2023-11-2127 minGenerative LeadersLeading by listeningEffective leadership requires understanding that not everyone thinks like you and has the same perception of a situation. Effective leaders listen, communicate clearly, and ensure the message is consistently understood and aligned throughout their organisation.Slowing down to plan, communicate, and involve key stakeholders can help drive successful change and avoid inconsistencies. Trust, genuine passion, and embracing diversity are also crucial elements in leading a business and achieving desired outcomes.Alastair MacDonald is a retired CEO who spent over six years as the CEO of Syneos Health, which grew from a 300 person organisation to over 30,000...2023-11-0740 minGenerative LeadersAre you Drama Club or Chess Club?Embracing neurodiversity and different ways of thinking, more often than not leads to innovative and successful organisations. One simple clue to understanding your own thinking style is to ask whether you’re “drama club” or “chess club”.The "chess club" represents an analytical approach to problem-solving, while "drama club" is about big picture and storytelling. Implementing both thinking styles makes for a more balanced and effective approach to leadership and decision-making.Sally Bridgeland has a unique perspective and ability to bridge the gap between approaches, and in this discussion with Julia, highlights the importance of understand...2023-10-2434 minGenerative LeadersBuilding environments for new ideas and emerging leadershipGenerative leadership means pushing beyond the status quo and creating something new. It means building environments where new ideas, new confidence, and new leadership can emerge. It needs us to face the realities and complexities of the problems we’re here to tackle, and to engage with collective intelligence.For this episode’s guest, Loughlin Hickey, effective leadership isn’t about intellectual prowess, but about being in service, building relationships, and navigating the tensions between tasks and relationships. By recognising and questioning our own assumptions and being curious about the assumptions of others, we can create a space...2023-10-1035 minGenerative LeadersHow do you help a billion people?According to the WHO and UNICEF, more than 2 billion people lack access to safely managed water. But it may be as high as 4 billion. Jonas Pilgaard is the CEO of a company that’s working on a product that will dramatically reduce those numbers. But it’s not an easy feat, and requires a lot of nuance and diplomacy in order to build trust with communities of people who are rightly suspicious of drinking water.In Jonas’ experience, listening and learning from others helps us to be less judgmental and to find solutions to complex problems. It takes...2023-09-2632 minGenerative LeadersHow to avoid burnout and lead with resilienceSo many leaders face burnout, but there’s an alternative to pushing through it. By understanding the deeper nature of who we are and learning to slow our busy minds down, we can tap into our innate creativity and resilience.Barbara Patterson has worked with thousands of leaders. She discovered that understanding one's inner world and who they ultimately are will transform the way they make decisions and show up.This leads to a more fulfilling and successful approach to leadership that doesn't sacrifice our mental health or wellbeing. By letting go of old constructs of...2023-07-2536 minGenerative LeadersAccepting wisdom from beyond our own mindGenerative leadership involves being present, connected, and adaptable to emergent situations. It requires a willingness to let go of one's own ideas and preferences, and instead be guided by a deeper wisdom that arises when we are open and accepting.Shruthi Vijayakumar is a coach and mentor who teaches people to be comfortable with the unknown and to listen for wisdom. She helps people simplify their lives by examining their fundamental drivers and parts of their identity. Shruthi encourages leaders to work with, listen to, and be guided by nature.Her journey towards generative leadership...2023-07-1135 minGenerative LeadersHow to Lead GenerativelyThere are lots of different leaders and lots of different leadership styles - But then there's this category of generative leadership. It's an ordinary but special category. Ordinary in the sense that it's a capacity that lives within all of us. But special in the sense that when you can generate something inside another human being to get them to be who they really are, to get them to be their potential, that is a special thing. That's what generative leaders do. They bring out what's true. In us and what's true in humanity. They see something they may...2023-06-2733 minGenerative LeadersHow to lead like an OlympianAfter being injured and out for four months, former Olympic fencer Laurence Halstead was unsure if he would be able to qualify. A sports psychologist helped him see that if he was giving his best effort in a performance, he didn't need to beat himself up if he made mistakes.This was a breakthrough for Laurence, who had always been incredibly hard on himself and struggled to get over a bad loss or mistake. He had thought that being hard on himself was what had helped him get to the elite level, but the psychologist helped him...2023-04-1850 minGenerative LeadersTransforming consciousness to solve the world's biggest problemsWhen faced with a terrible loss, Mara Gleason found her connection to the life force: the mother of creation. This would see her directly influencing the lives of inner city kids whose role models taught them that the only way to fight violence was with violence.Following the sudden death of her brother's wife and children, Mara experienced a profound shift in consciousness. She describes this experience as living without the untruths on her mind. She felt that her ego made everything so much more complicated, and that after coming to terms with her loss, she was...2023-04-0454 min
Medical Sports Nutrition#27 - Bacon bad beetroot good? The confusing world of nitrates and nitrites.Send us a textIn this episode we look at an excellent review that attempts to help us understand nitrates. We get frustrated by studies jumping into the 'fasting vs exercise' debate and the 'plant vs fish' debate with very selective use of their data.References:Podcast 27Gibbons TD, Cotter JD, Ainslie PN, Abraham WC, Mockett BG, Campbell HA, Jones EMW, Jenkins EJ, Thomas KN. Fasting for 20 h does not affect exercise-induced increases in circulating BDNF in humans. J Physiol. 2023 Jan 11. doi: 10.1113/JP283582. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36631068.2023-03-2814 minGenerative LeadersThe surprising power of not believing everything you feelNothing in the world can make you any more whole than you already are. That’s the single insight that set Anna Debenham on her journey working with people in prison.Anna is the founder of Insight Alliance, an organisation that helps incarcerated individuals turn their lives around. Anna’s realisation led her to stop putting her worth and value on anything outside of herself and to follow her intuition.Anna's story shows us that we don't always have to pay attention to our feelings. By following our intuition and being in tune with our bodi...2023-03-2141 minGenerative LeadersHow to lead with purpose“Every business needs a maniac and a minder.” Following a friend’s advice, Liam Black has been how to train the manic and feed the minder.Liam is a mentor, with a wealth of experience to draw on, who provides practical advice for generative leaders who want to make a difference in the world. In his conversation with Julia, he discusses understanding one's purpose, navigating difficult bureaucracies, and staying healthy while achieving great results.His book, How to Lead With Purpose provides detailed, practical guidance as well as real-world examples that illustrate how purposeful leadership can have...2023-03-0751 minGenerative LeadersHabits and happinessHabit change starts in the mind, before any other change can happen. That’s what fat loss coach Joe Robinson discovered for himself, that he now helps others understand.Joe Robinson is an agent of change, empowering women to take back control of their health and happiness. Through an understanding of human behavior, Joe has created a program that helps people to recognize, analyze, and modify the underlying causes of their behaviors. By guiding clients to make informed decisions, Joe is confident that his program can create lasting changes that will result in a healthier and happier li...2023-02-2153 minGenerative LeadersThe answer is staring you in the face“Whether we are dealing with children's services, domestic violence, nursing, arts and culture, gambling, care services; so often the answer is staring them in the face. But they don't see it, can't see it, have convinced themselves that the answer isn't there and they can't find it.”When faced with problems, Jim Clifford OBE helps people reframe and reimagine what’s possible. He does this by challenging assumptions, turning obstacles into assets, and harnessing the power of the story.Key takeawaysA problem is only a problem because of the way we look at it.Whe...2023-02-0753 minGenerative LeadersLead like nobody’s watchingLeadership is a dance. For Darragh and Julietta of SAP, too much leadership advice focuses on the head and not the heart. They created their retreat to help leaders tap into their own source of courage and resilience, even – or especially – when they didn’t think they had any.Darragh Power and Julietta Stotz have both had moments of realisation that their thoughts were just a movie projection. Along with Julia, they share some of those moments of serenity when – even in the darkest times – they realised that their experience wasn’t shaped by the world, but the reverse...2023-01-2454 minGenerative LeadersOur mind is a movie projectorWe so often think of our minds as capturing reality like a camera, whereas in reality it works much more like a film projector, creating its own reality that we then perceive. That insight helped Belu Water co-CEO Charlotte Harrington step into her role as a generative leader, and remove some of her self-limiting barriers.Putting that into practice for Charlotte meant saying yes to more opportunities, and using that positive response to gain momentum. But it’s not always an easy process, and we can still fall back to old habits.Towards the end of...2023-01-1046 minGenerative LeadersYou’re good as you areBe a good team player. Don’t ask questions. Don’t cause trouble. These were the rules professional and Internationally capped Scotland rugby player Grayson Hart told himself he should live by in order to succeed. But this was at odds with his own sense of curiosity about the world.Today, Grayson is the founder of Puresport, a brand of natural healing products for sportspeople. During his 14-year rugby union career, he began to discover how many athletes were becoming addicted to painkillers, so started work on natural alternatives using mushrooms and CBD. Combined with his growing inte...2022-12-2748 minGenerative LeadersEscaping your fixed mindsetThe mind has an innate ability to bring us answers. It’s this ability to listen for those insights that makes someone a generative leader.Rena Loizou had a moment of insight while she was trapped underground during the attacks on London of July 7, 2005. This encounter, and the lightbulb moment she experienced in her tube car, catalysed a change in frame of mind from a fixed mindset to a generative one.Things to considerFear can make us feel stuck, but we can begin to unstick ourselves by being curious about the situation, and gi...2022-12-1337 min