Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast

We are all about the pursuit of workplace happiness this week with my guest Lori-Ann Duguay.   LorAnn is the owner and founder of People Powered Solutions, and the author of The Happiness Factor, a delightful book filled with actionable insights for creating happy cultures drawn from Lori-Ann’s extensive experience in the HR space.  She shines a light on the 10 fundamental needs of employees that are key to fostering a joyful and productive work environment. We discuss how effective communication and a robust onboarding process are not just nice-to-haves but essential for long-term success. The heart of our conversation centred on the importance of purpose, how as leaders we demonstrate and communicate purpose in a way that resonates across the organisation. That’s a big ask but Lori-Ann’s insights make it feel achievable for all. Press play for a hit of happiness!    Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-strategies-lori-ann-duguay Key Moments  Planet Human: The Intersection of So

My guest this week, Nadeem Ahmad, believes that mindset is everything. He's a testament to how shedding limiting beliefs can unlock our true potential and provides powerful insights into how we can create a growth mindset. Nadeem is a visionary tech leader who has taken his extensive experience as a CTO and pivoted to helping entrepreneurs and start-ups to embrace innovation and technology. He shares his leadership journey, from burnout to bouncing back, and insights from his fantastic book, Becoming an Innovation Navigator. We explore how innovation isn't just for products or services – it's for personal growth too.  So, are you ready to foster a culture of innovation, embrace a growth mindset, and navigate the exciting journey of curiosity and learning?    Shownotes See more at: http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-innovation-nadeem-ahmad   Key Moments  Planet Human: Democracies have been shrinking and authoritarianism has been on the rise - this is problematic because abuse of power is rife.  Planet

Are you listening to what your body is telling you? And what has that got to do with how you show up as a leader? My guest, somatic leadership expert and educator Dr. Pavini Moray, and I explore how tuning into the body's signals can guide better decision-making, boost leadership empathy and prevent burnout. Our conversation also covers the significance of creating trauma-informed workplaces and developing skills to process triggers. I love this idea of the body as a continuous source of wisdom and insights. Helping us to process what’s going on internally and giving us little external signals - a tightening of the shoulders, a clench of the jaw, a shallow breath.  What’s happening below our necks? Let’s find out!   Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/somatic-leadership-pavini-moray Key Moments  Planet Human: What does Microsoft’s market capitalisation valuation of $3 trillion tell us about where wealth and power - unelected - really lives?  Planet Zoë: Embarking on an outdoor experiential

My guest this week is the insightful Russel Lolacher, a fellow Canadian with a background steeped in communications and leadership before an employee experience epiphany in 2018 ultimately led to the creation of his fantastic podcast, Relationships at Work.  Russel shares his wisdom on fostering better organisations through stronger relationships. He takes us on his personal journey into the realm of relationship building at work, highlighting the power of personalisation, connecting work to value, and empowerment. It's all about creating a workplace culture that thrives on positive connections. We delve deep into how power dynamics and leadership styles influence workplace relationships and culture. Russel underscores the responsibility that comes with power, advocating for leaders to be more accessible and engaged. It's a call for intentional and meaningful interactions—something every leader should hear. Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-relationships-russel-lolacher Key Mome

In this solosode I’m advocating for reading fiction to enhance and broaden our leadership perspectives - and then using this new outlook to increase curiosity and creativity in our leadership. It's not just about thinking outside the box; it's about reshaping the box entirely. By developing fresh ideas, we can tackle the challenges that come our way with a renewed vigour and rigour. This segues into the seven early warning signs of power abuse - a slippery slope in any organisation. I walk us through the red flags and how to mitigate them, from the complicity of organisational systems to speaking truth to power.  Shownotes See more at: http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-power-abuse-zoe-routh Key Moments  Planet Human: Intuitive Machines recent moon landing, its underwhelming broadcast, and how art and life collide.  Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound is with the typesetter and Zoe is looking for advance readers email zoe@zoerouth.com with ARC in the subject line and you could be getting an early look at the e

Have you ever encountered someone in your professional life who seemed charming at first, but turned out to be a bit too self-centred for comfort? This week on the podcast we're diving deep into the world of narcissism with my guest, the insightful Lindsay Ruiz who has deep experience in this area and focused her doctorate in organisational development and change around narcissistic behaviour. Together, we unravel the complexities of narcissistic behaviour and its impact on the workplace. It's a conversation filled with personal stories and research that will arm you with the knowledge to navigate these tricky waters.  Press play for a thoughtful exploration of the human psyche, the complexities of workplace dynamics and the nuances of narcissism.  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-systems-lindsay-ruiz   Key Moments  Planet Human: NASA's discovery of building blocks of life on the asteroid Bennu in the Osiris-REx mission and the use of artificial intelligence to decode chicken

My guest this week is a former lawyer turned empathy guru, and she's here to share her secret sauce for creating a more connected workplace: storytelling. Dr. Ann Kowal Smith and I explore how stories aren't just for entertainment—they're powerful tools for challenging our assumptions, widening our circles of empathy, and sparking those "aha" moments that bring us closer to our colleagues. We delve into the magic of literature, from short stories to essays, and how they create safe spaces for us to share and grow together. Imagine expanding your imagination, seeing the world through different lenses, and finding common ground in the most unexpected places. That's the power of storytelling in action, and Dr. Smith is here to guide us through it. It feels counterintuitive, but we can make our workplaces more ‘real’ through fiction.  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-stories-ann-kowal-smith   Key Moments  Planet Zoë: Zoë has swapped skiing for running as she settles back into her r

Do you want more influence? What about more power? It doesn’t feel quite the same to pursue power does it? Power and power structures don’t have a great reputation, and history is littered with abuses of power, but what if we reframe our understanding of power and use it to make us better leaders? That’s interesting, that’s exciting! We can dismantle the ‘power pyramid’ and turn it into something much more organic and collaborative with humanity at its heart. This is something I’ll be exploring in depth this year, so let’s get started!  Shownotes See more at: http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-power-zoe-routh Key Moments  Planet Human: Zoë is just back from Japan, where they have just landed a spacecraft on the moon - which is exciting news! Another development is the ability to create virtual loved ones that we’ve lost - that’s happening over at Project December  Planet Zoë: After a blissful time skiing, Zoë is back writing, thinking and delivering. The  Leadership Conclave is fast approaching and O

This is a conversation that's close to my heart as I first met Benny Callaghan way back in 1999 when he joined Outward Bound as a trainee and I was his first trainer. His potential was obvious from day one and I couldn’t be more thrilled at his trajectory since then and to have him on the podcast!  Benny is a leadership coach and facilitator extraordinaire who excels at seeing complexity and the dynamics at play between human relationships. We discuss the challenges of leadership and organisational dynamics, the difficulty of breaking down silos within organisations and how high workloads can prevent leaders from engaging in crucial relationship-building.  It’s a time travelling episode where we reflect on our shared past and ponder the future of leadership and what that means today. We tackle some tough questions about power dynamics, the challenges of organisational systems, and how to maintain trust and collaboration in complex environments. Benny shares a powerful story about overcoming competing prioriti

We are welcoming back for the third time on the podcast, because he’s just that good, Dermot Crowley - a maestro of efficiency and author of several productivity books including his latest, Lead Smart. This episode is chock full of productivity and prioritisation insights that will especially appeal to busy leaders looking to build highly productive teams.  Dermot explains the different productivity types that exist within our teams – and how each brings a unique flavour to how work gets done. Understanding this will be a game-changer for reducing friction and boosting team synergy. We also tackle the ever-present challenge of maintaining personal productivity boundaries as a leader. Dermot shares some golden nuggets on how to protect and honour your time, and we explore a subtle yet powerful shift in prioritisation.  Shownotes See more at: http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-prioritisation-dermot-crowley Key Moments  Planet Human: We continue to be mired in conflict and that weighs heavily. In better

My guest this week has evolved from punk rock protester to common ground champion, she is a fearless Indian American activist and a beacon of hope for racial justice. Meet the truly inspiring Nisha Anand as she shares her remarkable story, from being arrested in Burma for her pro-democracy efforts to leading transformative change with DreamOrg, a social justice nonprofit where she is CEO. We learn about the pivotal moment that changed Nisha’s relationship to power and get her insights into building inclusive solutions and finding the all important common ground that can turn perceived enemies into unlikely allies. Collaboration is a must-have leadership skill and Nisha’s unique experiences and wisdom will help you approach it from a fresh perspective.  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-collaboration-nisha-anand Key Moments  Planet Human: Reflecting on the current unrest and remembering to look for the good in the world.  Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound is with the editor and the cover

Happy new year and welcome to the first episode of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast for 2024!   In this solosode I explore seven critical areas for leadership reform: democracy, healthcare, food production, education, wealth distribution, climate change, and urbanisation. Additionally, I identify three key trends that leaders need to navigate this year: redefining the employee work contract, incorporating AI in leadership, and shifting from command-based to collaborative power dynamics. These topics offer a roadmap for leaders to effectively traverse challenges and build leadership capabilities that are fit for the future. Are you ready? Let’s go… Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-revolution-zoe-routh   Key Moments  00:02:28 Planet Human: Advancements in science: lab-grown human organs and protein production from air. Check out the Future Normal end of year reflection and prediction article.  00:04:41 Planet Zoë: Updates on Zoë's book projects and forthcoming event, The Leader

We have made it to the end of the year! And this is the wrap up episode for the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast. I'm going to do my best to summarise the highlights, the insights and the awesomeness that was this year's show. We did a lot of great interviews and I'm really keen to showcase some of the awesome highlights from the year.  Of course I’m already planning and recording interviews for 2024 and we will continue our journey of leadership exploration, musing on the future of leadership, the intersection of leadership and technology and how we can expand our perspectives to be the leaders we need right now and in the future. I’m also thinking a lot about leadership power and the power structures we cling to. Do they really serve us? This also ties in with culture, teamwork and the workforce of the future - we need to think more creatively about all these aspects of work. Thank you for listening in 2023 and we’ll be back with a new episode on January 16th 2024!  Shownotes See more at: http://www.zoerouth.co

Grayson James is a former CEO, author of Full Contract Performance The Internal Art of Organizational Collaboration and he's a sixth Dan black belt in Aikido - a particular interest of mine as I often use the term emotional Aikido in my programs to help people master the difficult conversations that are part of leadership.  Together we go deep on the embodied experience of leadership and especially how that applies to working effectively with others. We explore somatic awareness in leadership - paying attention to our physical intention and interactions. Expanding our field of vision, checking our blind spots - there is so much we can be better aware of and utilise for enhanced collaboration.   Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-framework-grayson-james Key Moments    Planet Human: The self-checkout falls from favour - sometimes the human touch is best.   Planet Zoë: I’m taking a fresh perspective on 2024 with the Leadership Conclave, a beautiful day of reflection and connectio

Get ready for an amazing, inspiring and enlightening conversation with my guest this week, Alysia Silberg - author and Venture Capitalist. She is so many things: a natural entrepreneur with insatiable curiosity and courage. She sees a challenge and she wants to solve it. She is a prolific reader and assimilates knowledge at an incredible rate. She's a survivor with a harrowing and inspiring story. Alysia shares her journey from South Africa to Silicon Valley, where she is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, and now author of Unemployable: How I Hired Myself. An early adopter of AI, we also get to dip into Alysia’s amazing AI-enhanced daily routine, from analysing her leadership weaknesses to making sure she takes a yoga class. So much to gain from this conversation - enjoy!  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-journey-alysia-silberg Key Moments  Planet Human: Nasa is mapping water on Mars. An exciting development for the ultra long-term future.  Planet Zoë : Easing into summer

Human resources specialist Kimberly Williams is extremely dedicated to building safe, inclusive cultures and she joins me to explore the challenges of dealing with toxic CEOs and workplaces, generously sharing her own experiences of speaking truth to power.  Kimberly arrived at HR via an unconventional route: first as a history professor and then a diplomat in the US Foreign Service before falling ‘head over heels in love’ with HR and all the messy people stuff it brings.  We discuss the many ways a toxic workplace can show itself, the difficult power dynamics that impact managers, and the role of HR in shaping corporate culture. It’s a remarkable, candid conversation full of practical actions we can take to protect ourselves, our teams and our company cultures.  Shownotes See more at:  http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/toxic-corporate-culture-kim-williams   Key Moments  Planet Human: Marc Andreessen's Techno Optimist Manifesto and the advent of techno-topia city projects. Planet Zoe: Back from Canada and happ

There is no hiding in this solosode as I share how I approached a leadership mistake with a focus on being proactive and rebuilding trust. I took full accountability - and it hurt! But it was the right thing to do and the only way to move forward. In this episode I also talk about above and below the line leadership behaviours and their ripple effect, role modelling ethics and values as a leader and what we can learn from a ‘mystery poo’!  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-integrity-zoe-routh Key Moments  Planet Human: The heaviness of a world at war; connecting the micro to the macro  Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound update with fantastic feedback from my beta readers, travel, family and working with clients in WA.  The Mystery Poo (00:04:44) Discussion about a situation involving a mystery poo in a wilderness expedition and the challenges of taking ownership and responsibility. The Missing First Aid Kit (00:08:24) An example of taking ownership, accountability, and responsibility for

If you’re looking for a leadership perspective that is not only relatable but also grounded in the reality of our current times, my guest Dr Karuna Ramanathan has some vital insights for you.   An ex naval warship captain, formerly the Senior Principal Change Consultant in Singapore Government and, prior to that, Deputy Head of the Center for Leadership Development in the Singapore Armed Forces, Karuna is the author of Navigating the Seas of Change, a concise guide to leadership and change management with a maritime metaphor. Karuna compares the unpredictability of change to the sea, emphasising the crucial role of leadership in navigating these tumultuous waters. Karuna shares his experiences of driving large-scale organisational change, the challenges of positional power, the tension between having a transformative vision and taking incremental steps and the importance of managing different risk appetites. Karuna also reflects on his time in the military and how hierarchy and accountability have a huge impa

Work-Life Balance or Work-Life Bloom? My guest, award-winning author Dan Pontefract, argues that the traditional concept of work-life balance is a zero-sum game that sets us up for failure and the data backs it up. Instead, he introduces the idea of "work-life bloom," a gardening metaphor that encourages personal growth and fulfilment in both work and life. In this episode Dan explains his unique ‘two-by-two’ framework for work-life balance, which includes four quadrants: blooming, budding, renewal, and confusion. He then identifies six life factors we should be aware of for an evolving and fulfilling life as well as the characteristics of a positive work environment. If you’re looking to move beyond the notion of simply ‘balancing’ life then this episode is for you!  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-framework-dan-pontefract Key Moments  Planet Human - The rise of celebrity AI chatbots (00:00:29) Discussion about meta creating AI chatbots of celebrities and the potential of v

I’ve known my guest, Bernard Desmidt, for several years and it has been wonderful to see his success and impact in the world of work. A corporate coach, facilitator and author obsessed with the importance of team dynamics and the factors that contribute to high-performing teams, Bernard emphasises the significance of moods, language, and the body in team dynamics and introduces the concept of the five disciplines of flourishing teams. He is fascinated by the paradox of teams - where great things can be achieved but where we’re also stuck in the day-to-day tactical work. Many teams are just ‘fine’, but Bernard wants to make them flourish and that means less leadership focus on results and more on relationships. Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/flourishing-teams-bernard-desmidt Key Moments  Planet human - Co-working spaces are struggling as the future of work is still unclear. Creative ideas are needed for the real estate left empty. Planet Zoë - I’m off to Canada for a big family celebrat