The Mind Takeaway Podcast

In this thought-provoking episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we welcome back Paul Rosenberg for a deep dive into the turbulent waters of startup and scale-up ventures. As one of our earliest guests, Paul returns to explore the intricate reasons behind the failure of many ambitious companies. While market factors such as product-market fit and competition often take the blame, we peel back the layers to reveal the internal challenges that impede success: Leadership, communication, and culture.

Join us as we dissect the essence of effective Leadership, the transformative power of active listening, and the critical importance of nurturing a supportive culture from the get-go. We share our experience on the value of authenticity and vulnerability in Leadership while we discuss the vital role of internal reflection and the courage to engage in challenging conversations.

As we navigate the complexities of rapid growth and innovation pressures, we uncover the hidden costs of neglecting the human element in business. We'll tackle the misconceptions about startup support in Europe and offer insights into how seeking external guidance can provide an impressive return on investment.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, leaders, and anyone involved in the dynamic startup ecosystem. Discover why introspection, employee engagement, and a commitment to continuous learning are not just nice-to-haves but essential ingredients for long-term success. Take advantage of this chance to rethink your approach and strengthen the foundation of your venture with The Mind Takeaway Podcast.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Peter: we're excited to have Paul Rosenberg back on the show

(01:54) Why do many startups and scale-ups fail, and where should we start?

(03:42) Paul: If entrepreneurs focus on outside things, startups fail easily

(05:15) Peter: Without a solid foundation, the whole house falls down

(11:25) Leadership is a critical ingredient in the startup environment because it is dynamic and challenging

(18:47) An important part of Leadership that is missing in startups is the ability to say no

(30:53) For startups, if you have too many people leaving, you're not going to get off the ground

(39:48) Peter: It is the perfect time to start trying to change your company culture

(42:25) Leadership, communication and culture are the three most essential pillars for companies to get right

(43:55) Paul: authenticity comes from interconnectedness

(52:15) Peter: One of the biggest lessons in Leadership is to be of service

(57:37) Every client we work with is different: we always conduct an assessment to gain clarity about what skills are required to develop

In this thought-provoking episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we're broadcasting from a rooftop in Belgrade, with the bustling city below us, to tackle the transformative concepts of learning, unlearning, and relearning in leadership. As the business landscape evolves at a breakneck pace, we explore why the most important trait for today's leaders is the ability to rapidly assimilate new information, shift perspectives, and adapt to change.

We unpack the distinctions between passive and active learners, emphasising the significance of active roles in professional development. Our discussion highlights how leaders who embrace trial and error and are willing to be vulnerable in learning ultimately flourish and make a lasting impact.

We confront the barriers that ego presents to personal growth, exploring how defensiveness and a reluctance to be wrong can stifle learning. Conversely, we celebrate the power of embracing discomfort, recognising that feeling unsettled is a natural part of acquiring new skills and expanding one's horizons.

Join us as we explore the delicate balance of slowing down to speed up, the importance of curiosity in leadership, and the courage required to step out of one's comfort zone. We share insights on how leaders can foster a culture of continuous improvement within themselves and among their teams by demonstrating a willingness to experiment and evolve.

Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this episode serves as a compelling reminder that the journey of learning is never complete and that the willingness to embrace the uncomfortable truly defines transformative leadership.

Tune in for an episode that will challenge your assumptions, inspire you to reflect on your learning style, and empower you to become the leader that the future demands.

Episode Highlights:

- The essential nature of adaptability and continuous learning in modern leadership

- The difference between passive and active learning and the role of ego in hindering growth

- Strategies for embracing discomfort and the benefits of doing so for leaders and their teams

- Real-world examples of how leaders have successfully implemented new skills and the positive impact on their teams

- Remember, when you feel discomfort creeping in, it's a sign of potential growth. 

Episode Chapters

(00:00) The Mind Takeaway podcast comes from the rooftop of The Office Belgrade.

(00:54) learning, unlearning and relearning are essential for leaders to grow and have an impact.

(04:04) To be a great leader, you must be a great learner simultaneously.

(07:43) The most critical thing in leadership is being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

(13:06) If you are feeling stuck right now, it's time to take the first step. Look at the Leadership skills you want to learn more about and start there.

In this episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we invite you to join us as we broadcast from the heart of a forest close to Warsaw, Poland. We share the profound benefits of slowing down, a practice essential for gaining clarity, boosting energy, and enhancing our ability to achieve our goals.

We discuss the societal pressures and internal struggles that often lead us to a frenetic pace, causing us to overlook the importance of pause and reflection. We reveal how high performers and leaders grapple with the fear of changing direction, the burden of judgment, and the illusion of productivity that comes with constant busyness.

The episode unfolds the paradoxical truth that to accelerate progress and foster high performance; one must first embrace the art of slowing down. We explore how we support leaders and teams in creating space for reflection, allowing for a recalibration of priorities and focusing on impactful, intentional action.

Listeners will learn the value of setting aside time for self-examination, celebrating successes, and acknowledging missteps without judgment to cultivate a culture of learning and innovation. The discussion also touches upon the transformative power of retreats for leaders and teams, offering a unique opportunity to disconnect from the daily rush, confront challenging beliefs, and emerge with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts invite you to an intimate retreat in the picturesque southwest of France. The retreat promises to be a haven for Leaders seeking to master the skill of slowing down to speed up their personal and professional growth.

Episode Keywords

Slowing Down, Clarity, High Performance, Reflection, Leadership Retreats, Personal Growth, Professional Development, Innovation, Creativity, Vulnerability, Nature, Mindfulness, Decompression, Intentional Action.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Peter and Mira discuss the benefits of slowing down.

(09:45) Taking time to reflect is the only way to achieve high performance.

In this new episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we sit down with the dynamic Stephanie von Behr, Managing Director and Co-founder of Founderland, to explore the multifaceted challenges faced by women of colour founders in the tech ecosystem.

Stephanie takes us behind the scenes of Founderland, a community dedicated to empowering underrepresented founders by providing them with resources, education, and networking opportunities. With less than 0.5% of VC funding going to women of colour, Stephanie and her team are on a mission to level the playing field through innovative initiatives like their pitch AI mentor, Pam, which uses cutting-edge technology to help founders refine their pitches and gain investor confidence.

Our conversation delves into the power dynamics of pitching, the pervasive effects of imposter syndrome, and the importance of setting professional boundaries. Stephanie shares her journey as a founder, including the tough decision to leave her first company, highlighting the importance of aligning with the right co-founders and the transformative power of coaching for startup teams.

We also discuss the significance of bringing one's whole self to work and how creating a culture of authenticity and collaboration can lead to more effective teams and stronger organisations. Stephanie's insights on leadership, the role of culture in fostering diversity, and the impact of personal growth on professional success are a testament to the resilience and creativity of founders who dare to challenge the status quo.

Join us for a heartfelt and enlightening discussion that offers hope, practical strategies, and a reminder that small, intentional changes can have a profound ripple effect on our communities and the world.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Stephanie von Behr and Founderland

(01:25) The birth of Pam, the pitch AI mentor for founders

(01:36) Founderland is the fastest-growing community for women of colour founders

(04:38) The emotional journey of pitching to investors

(07:50) Stephanie's story of becoming a founder and the importance of co-founder relationships

(08:19) Let's talk about your experience being a founder

(12:15) The role of coaching in strengthening startup teams

(16:30) Setting fluid boundaries and the power of vulnerability

(17:27) Stephanie: I can give myself praise; I don't need others

(18:33) You've set some professional and personal boundaries with your team

(20:45) The impact of culture and leadership on diversity and inclusion

(23:08) Setting boundaries can also be a collaborative effort, Brene Brown says

(25:32) Stephanie's commitment to personal growth and community engagement

(29:02) I committed myself this year to getting more into my art background

(34:50) Only 2% of venture capital funding goes to women, according to Forbes

(39:10) It's about working on yourself first. And going back to earlier in our conversation

(43:53) Well, this has been a great conversation. Thank you so much, Peter

Episode Keywords

Stephanie von Behr, Founderland, Women of Color Founders, Venture Capital, Pitch AI Mentor, Imposter Syndrome, Coaching, Co-founder Relationships, Professional Boundaries, Authenticity, Company Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, Personal Growth, Community Engagement, Leadership.

Embark on a journey to conquer the common yet daunting fear of public speaking in this insightful episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, recorded in the heart of Poland's capital, Warsaw. Join us as we delve into the anxieties that shroud the art of oration, from the nervous anticipation to the post-presentation self-critique that can often feel like a hangover from the vulnerability of being exposed to an audience.

Our hosts share their personal battles with the fear of public speaking, revealing how they creatively dodged speaking engagements early in their careers. Despite being comfortable in roles like musicians or DJs, the transition to speaking in front of groups, small or large, presented a unique challenge. But as they peel back the layers of their experiences, we learn that the key to overcoming this fear lies not in avoiding it, but in embracing the discomfort and leaning into vulnerability.

With candid anecdotes, they discuss the transformation from avoidance to anticipation, the strategies they tried (and which ones actually worked), and the realisation that the audience is often more forgiving than we anticipate. Whether it's the fear before taking the stage or the critical self-reflection that follows, they explore how acceptance and presence can turn public speaking from a source of dread to an opportunity for connection and growth.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt their voice wobble with nerves or their confidence shaken by the spotlight. Discover how to navigate the fear, build resilience, and perhaps even find joy in the act of sharing your voice with the world. Tune in to this encouraging discussion and remember, as our hosts affirm, no one has ever perished from public speaking – it's all about taking that first step and allowing yourself to be imperfectly human in front of an audience.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) How to overcome the fear of public speaking.

(02:24) Peter and Mira discuss how to overcome the fear of public speaking

(09:44) Mira says being present is vital when giving a public speaking gig

(12:46) Public speaking seems to be a big achilles heel for many people

(18:35) As always, we love to hear what your thoughts and feelings are about this episode

Episode Keywords

Public Speaking, Overcoming Fear, Warsaw, Poland, Performance Anxiety, Communication Skills, Personal Growth, Vulnerability, Stage Fright, Confidence Building, Self-Improvement, Professional Development, Leadership, Speaking Tips, Audience Engagement, Personal Experiences, Mental Resilience, Nlp Techniques, Self-Reflection, Personal Empowerment

In this fascinating episode of The Mind Takeaway Podcast, we delve into the intricacies of leadership with the insightful Martin Gutman, a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and author of "The Unseen Leader." Together, we unpack the provocative themes of his book, praised by Adam Grant for its critical look at what history can teach us about effective leadership.

Martin challenges conventional wisdom by questioning the glorification of historical figures like Ernest Shackleton, whose dramatic failures are often overlooked in favour of Hollywood-esque heroism. We contrast this with leaders like Raul Amundsen, whose quiet success and authentic leadership style offer more valuable lessons.

We also explore women's powerful, yet often hidden, influence in leadership through the story of Gertrude Bell, whose strategic brilliance shaped the modern state of Iraq. Despite her significant impact, her contributions remain largely unrecognized—a testament to the gender biases of history.

As we navigate the pitfalls of leadership, such as the busyness trap and the action-oriented bias, we discuss the importance of humility, integrity, and the courage to embrace vulnerability. Martin shares his insights on the future of leadership, emphasizing the need for diverse leaders who embody emotional intelligence, strong communication skills, and the ability to foster genuine connections.

This episode is a treasure trove for anyone seeking to understand leadership's true essence beyond conventional narratives' noise and drama. Join us as we redefine leadership for the modern era and consider how unique individuals can experiment and find our path to impactful leadership.

Episode Chapters

(00:43) Adam Grant wrote a lovely introduction to your leadership book

(02:11) Martin says Shackleton is the wrong person to profile in leadership books

(09:00) You write about Gertrude Bell and her excellent leadership

(09:53) Why do we celebrate certain historical leaders and not others?

(13:54) Martin: Leaders should be comfortable being who they are, really

(20:07) Adam Grant says ego stops leaders from learning and being proactive

(25:12) You're looking into some different things when it comes to leadership

(30:47) You mentioned the busyness trap in your book

(34:23) We mentioned loudness and talking, uh, and then we mentioned busyness

(40:57) Peter Schulz: When we look at the leader for the future,

(46:56) Martin will be giving a talk in Berlin at the beginning of next month

(47:49) Running is an experiment of one, and so is leadership, Peter says

Episode Keywords

Martin Gutman, Lucene University Of Applied Sciences And Arts, The Unseen Leader, Leadership History, Adam Grant, Polar Expeditions, Ernest Shackleton, Raul Amundsen, Colonialism, Action Fallacy, Gertrude Bell, Lawrence Of Arabia, Middle East Politics, Diversity In Leadership, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Emotional Intelligence, Humility And Confidence, Busyness Trap, Future Of Leadership

What do you do first when you start a new leadership position? 

*You want to be efficient and prove to your colleagues that they have made the right decision to hire you. 

*You want to jump into making some changes you see necessary.

That is great, but you also will benefit significantly from building some foundations first, and by foundations, we mean building, cultivating, and developing relationships.

*We also know that some leaders consider building relationships a slow and inefficient process that is not a priority when they join a new company or take on a new role.

By getting to know your colleagues and allowing them to get to know you by building relationships first: 

• You will be more efficient in the long run
• You will be a more influential and impactful leader
• You will be more effective in implementing any change 

This episode explores why building relationships first is essential instead of jumping into action and making changes. We share some good examples about building relationships and engaging with your people and some not-so-good stories where leaders got it wrong. 

This episode explores how, over time, our ideas change and evolve.

Takeaway 1: All of the entrepreneurs and founders we have helped or conversed with had changed their minds at least two or three times from their original ideas for their products or services. We all like to be sure about things; we want to know what will happen to prepare ourselves for the future, but that can also be a trap!

Takeaway 2: Changing your mind or pivoting will give you something more viable because you will have more clarity about your ideas than your previous iterations and be more precise on the value proposition.

Takeaway 3: It is only sometimes a good idea to rush to market and get funding for something unless you have spoken to as many people as possible and done your research and testing. Have you noticed that being first to market with a product sometimes means your competitors can leapfrog you, take advantage of your initial ideas, and learn from your mistakes?

Remember: We learn, we evolve, and we change.

The fear of making mistakes can affect creativity, collaboration and your ability to trust people and delegate opportunities for growth and learning from their experience.

See also this episode, as this topic links well with the fear of failure.

https://www.themindtakeaway.com/podcast/episode/2e00af6b/micro-episode-44-how-to-overcome-the-fear-of-failure

Irrational Retaliation: When we make decisions from a space of fear, urgency, and frustration, we still have an emotional charge attached to a situation; those decisions are often ones we can come to regret, and there will be learning opportunities.

It's our 50th Micro Episode (our 121st episode), which we recorded for you on location in Bordeaux a few weeks ago!

This new episode explores the importance of being yourself as a leader and at work, as the alternative to being inauthentic takes too much energy when you think you cannot be yourself around others.
Biggest Takeaway:
It takes twice as much energy to wear a mask; it is stressful, and your team cannot properly connect with you on a human level.

How to give feedback is one of the most requested topics for us to unpack when we have conversations with companies about leadership development and when we coach and develop leaders, so we packed a lot of value for you into this 15-minute episode, where we explore how to overcome the challenges of giving feedback.

We talked with K Rajeev Narayan, CEO of Leadership Elements, Inda, about why leaders need to read more books and how investing time into your professional development is a good use of time and will always be a good return on investment in the future.

Experiences are created when we read books and stories about other people's challenges and achievements. Leaders who read more books are wiser, easily connect with others and show a greater ability for empathy.

Sometimes, when leaders don't believe in what they are saying, they make it louder so it sounds more true. In the context of a meeting, that can often lead to others speaking with a louder voice, and everyone stops listening. 

We were in Belgrade a few weeks ago watching a live news channel and wondering why the prime minister was practically shouting at the news anchor and people watching at home. There was nothing to defend; nobody was objecting to her opinion. Interestingly, we thought she just wanted to be heard and listened to. 

The solution: Be that same person in the room, the calm and reflective person who isn't shouting, by stepping back and listening to what is happening. This leads to curiousity in the group and more people listening to each other.

Do you want to have an impact and stand out above the noise? The best thing you can do is listen to understand; you are more likely to have a human connection. 

In this episode, recorded at Ada Lake in Belgrade, Serbia, we talk about why being present with your team is essential to building trust and psychological safety, developing relationships, dealing with challenges before they become problems, and driving innovation and creativity.

The most challenging relationships often offer us significant growth and learning. We recorded this episode with love on the Balearic Island of Ibiza when we were there recently to do work and have some natural downtime.

What do the fear of failing, the fear of making mistakes, and the fear of being criticised have in common? It feels to us that the world will end, and there won't be any life after, so we stay stuck in our comfort zone and miss opportunities for growth and learning.

Chances are that we will fail, be criticised and make mistakes; it would be ignorant to think that we will not experience any of these situations in life or that somehow we can prevent them from happening.

In this episode, we explore the fear of failure and questions like; what if it was OK to fail and make mistakes? What if it didn't mean that life will end, and what if it is just another step in our experience as a human and another step in our personal and professional growth?

Peter also shares one of his significant failures during an important performance at a music showcase and how it became a valuable learning experience and sparked more opportunities in the future.

The name of the four-member band Peter played with was MASS. Tune in to hear the whole story.

Change and uncertainty are two constants in today's business world. As a leader, it's not only essential but also vital to navigate these challenges and guide your team through them.

Great leaders acknowledge that change and uncertainty are inevitable. By doing so, they can prepare for opportunities rather than resist them or be caught off guard when an opportunity presents itself. They stay proactive and open-minded and embrace change to create a competitive advantage for their team and organisation.

Join us as we explore the topic of change and uncertainty and how you can guide your team to thrive in times of ambiguity. Let's build a future-proof organisation together.

Looking to improve your decision-making skills, overcome your fear of failure, and build resilience? Check out our latest podcast episode!

We all face tough decisions in life and at work, but fear of making the wrong choice can hold us back. In this episode, we talk about the role of our emotions in making decisions, how resilience works, and making better decisions even when feeling scared.

From knowing how to avoid making rash decisions under pressure and when to seek advice from others, we share stories of leaders making tough choices under pressure and learning from the outcomes. Plus, we explore the role of fear in decision-making and how to manage it effectively.

Take advantage of this episode if you're looking to improve your decision-making skills and build your resilience for a successful career and life!

We were inspired to make this episode last week, where we took time out to get creative, and what better place to do that than Venice?

In this 16-minute episode, we explore female virtuoso performers of the 18th century, the Figlie Del Coro, whom Vivaldi trained and supported in his musical laboratory at The church of S. Maria della Pietà, known as the "Church of Vivaldi. These women were the pop stars of Europe at that time.

We also talk about Leonardo Da Vinci's brief stay in Venice due to an invasion of Milan and explore the connection between creativity and curiousity; plus, Mira shares her experience of what get's in the way.

Provincial Institute for Childhood Santa Maria della Pietà of Venice

https://www.pietavenezia.org/myportal/IPISM_/home

https://dailydosedocumentary.com/figlie-del-coro/

Vivaldi and the Figlie Del Coro

The Power of Silence in Leadership 

Who would have thought that getting comfortable with silence in conversations could positively impact human connection and bring out the best in people?

When we get comfortable with being uncomfortable with silence, we invite insight, realisation and curiousity into our conversations.

We were working with a trail-blazing group of leaders last week, checking in to see how they explored silence's impact in their work. One leader said: "When I spoke less in my 1:2:1's and became comfortable with silence, my team members had much more to say, and our conversations were more productive and impactful. Previously, I would over-prepare and fill those uncomfortable gaps of silence, which led to too much work from my side and fewer results.

In this episode, we invited Sunday Times Bestselling Author and Executive Coach Jamie Smart back on the show to talk about the principles behind clarity and his 10th Anniversary edition book with the same name.

We came across the principles behind clarity back in 2015. Since then, it has transformed our personal lives and allowed us to have more impact in our work with leaders, teams and organisations.

This episode explores the importance of being compassionate towards ourselves and others and why we need to start with ourselves first.

When you learn to be compassionate towards yourself during challenging situations, showing kindness towards others becomes second nature.

What Makes a Great Leader?

In this episode, we explore

- Being comfortable with being uncomfortable

- The benefits of listening to understand

- How being authentic can increase your impact 

🚀 Stepping up into a senior leadership role? Set yourself up for success and avoid burnout with these three key areas:
1:Reassess your boundaries: It's a common challenge faced by our Executive Coaching clients. Your new position demands new boundaries, and ignoring this can lead to future difficulties.
2: Energy exploration: Discover what fuels and drains you. This awareness allows you to recharge efficiently and minimise energy-zapping tasks.
3: Prioritise self-care: Don't neglect yourself! Schedule breaks, create downtime, and nurture your creativity. Remember, you will only be the leader your teams deserve with self-care.

Listening to understand is probably one of the most impactful and profound skills you can master as a leader.

In this episode, we explore what gets in the way of becoming a better listener and what practical steps you can take to improve. 

What gets in the way of feeling safe in leadership roles?

In this second series of what gets in the way episodes, we explore what gets in the way of having more women in leadership roles and, when they are in senior positions, what stops them from feeling safe, valued and being themselves. We also share some practical tips and suggestions for the future.

What gets in the way of collaborating and working together effectively?
In this first series of what gets in the way episodes, we explore what stops us from being able to collaborate effectively and being part of a team.

We also share some practical tips to make it more enjoyable to work together.

Our business relationships and teams will benefit from embracing our intercultural differences.

We were at a friend's wedding in Portugal last week, and my friend's father said something interesting about the secret to lasting relationships. He mentioned embracing intercultural differences. We looked around our table, and In our conversations, we realised all eight of us were from different countries, each with unique cultures, and we were in four relationships, each with intercultural differences.

Self-doubt is a typical experience of being a great leader.

Learning new skills and becoming aware of how your feelings can impact your ability to lead will be messy sometimes; you will feel uncomfortable, and you might feel like an imposter some days.  That doesn't mean you are heading in the wrong direction, and it's part of learning from your experience.

If you are not doing the work, pushing the boundaries, or are unwilling to change. You cannot expect to grow or become a better leader.

This episode explores self-doubt,  imposter syndrome, and why growth requires us to feel whatever we feel. 

Do you celebrate your milestones?

If so, how do you celebrate with your team?

This episode explores the importance of celebrating milestones and enjoying the journey.

• You can quickly lose your way if you do not reflect on how you got to where you are now.
• When you don't take time to reflect, it is challenging to stay on track and know your purpose.
• Celebrating small incremental wins can make all the difference in getting the desired results.
• If you haven't been celebrating those milestones, the good news is that it's never too late to start.
• We must start to enjoy the journey and celebrate what we do, or we can quickly lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing.

In this 10 minutes episode, we explore a story about one leader's challenge with getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in front of his team and sharing when he got things wrong or did not always answer.

The positive impact of sharing your learnings and challenges with your team is this:

- It builds trust, compassion, and empathy.

- You go there first, allowing others to do the same.

- Transparency reduces people second-guessing you behind your back.

- Collaboration and creativity improve when you work together to find solutions to challenges.

The flip side of the above is that the leader usually feels uncomfortable, then tries to ignore their feelings or push any discomfort away so they can get on with their work. This behavior only leads to more suffering for everyone. The best gift you can give your people and yourself is to get comfortable with noticing when you feel uncomfortable and being curious about the source of those feelings.

Do you need a tight, rigid plan and structure to succeed with your business idea?

In this 10 minutes episode, we explore planning vs. preparing for opportunities and how learning about our resilience and creative we are is much more helpful than being strategic or being able to build a detailed plan.

• We stifle innovation and creativity when we think our plan should be one way or another.
• When doing something new, we often believe that having a specific plan is a way forward; however, this blinds us from seeing opportunities.
• By having a more open and fluid plan, you allow the possibility of things being better than you envisaged.
• Having unrealistic timescales can also be another way of talking ourselves out of doing something we want to achieve.

Do you feel valued by your team and colleagues?

Do you feel you need to talk more to be heard by your colleagues?

In this 10 minutes episode, we explore what gets in the way of having an impact as a leader and allowing others to do the same.

• You must get to know yourself to be a great leader and positively impact others.
• If you are not listening to yourself and not seeing your value,  you are more likely not to have a positive impact.
• You cannot force people to listen to you; they must first feel safe around you and the team.
• When you feel like you are not enough, you may talk more and try to force people into your way of thinking instead of listening to others.
• There is real value in getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
• When you stop overthinking, you drop back into a space of clarity and will not know what to do next.

Did you know that your perception of reality shifts depending on how you feel?

In this 10 minutes episode, we share a valuable thing to know regarding how we feel about any given situation that can shape our perception of reality at that moment.

• How we feel in any situation can change depending on our mood.
• Being curious about how our perspective in any given moment can impact our work, the better results we will experience.
• The trap of reacting or changing things when we feel uncomfortable, just because we have thoughts in the moment.
• The more awareness you have of this will improve your relationships, improve your ability to make better decisions, and cultivate lasting relationships.
• However, we are feeling can overlay our reality from moment to moment.
• Once you notice this trick of the mind, it is easier to show compassion for others when they get uncomfortable in meetings.

Living a life with purpose.

In this 10 minutes episode, we share some of the insights from our work supporting leaders.

• You can not find your purpose as it is not something outside of us; it shapes through our life experiences.
• The more you connect with yourself and listen to your inner voice, your decisions and actions will be aligned with your purpose.
• You cannot find your purpose and then live your life aligned to it; it's quite the opposite; the more you connect with yourself and the more time you spend in clarity of mind, the more you will live your life on purpose.

When it comes to mental health in the workplace, Sheila Lord, by her own admission, has learned from her mistakes. She saw first-hand how businesses and organisations weren't taking mental health seriously and the detrimental impact on the industry as a whole.

To tackle this head-on, Sheila started BMR, and today the company leads the way in mental health support programmes, all of which have a definitive return on investment.

Well known for her ability to 'cut to the chase', Sheila believes that workplace wellbeing isn't just about fruit bowls and yoga and that you can't simply magic away employee stress by 'fixing' people. The problem is often more complex, but BMR is designed to help.

Takeaways and Timestamps

02:40 Pressure builds on CEOs and business leaders to deal with workplace mental health, and they don't know where to start. 

05:20 Workspace mental health is a shared responsibility; as individuals, we need to take ownership of our mental health, and in the workplace, we need to create a culture where we can have support when we need it. 

8:00 Often, one thing that gets missed is leaders; after conducting engagement surveys, they do not follow up with conversations with employees to get the complete information about the required changes and next steps.

10:33 Why do workplace wellbeing programs and initiatives have relatively low uptake and engagement? 

16:53 What are the dangers of implementing a wellbeing strategy to tick a box and not ask yourself why you need it?

21:18 The benefits of implementing a systemic workplace wellbeing approach even if your company is doing great.

23:32 Employees are a vital part of any organisation; they drive your business forward every day, and having good mental health in the workplace is not an employee perk or reward.

26:31 What are the visible signs of mental health issues, and how having a risk-based approach can help prevent problems occurring in the future and know what to do when someone needs help?

30:42 Everybody has a shared responsibility for mental health and workplace welling, so let's work together to create happy workplaces.

35:43 Fear is often the root cause of inaction when addressing mental health and wellness in the workplace. 

When we blame others, we stop listening and give away any chance of finding solutions.

In this 12 minute Micro Episode, we explore the transformative power of taking responsibility and ownership for our actions.

Timestamps and Takeaways

01:12 When we were kids, we learned that if we blame someone else, we won't get punished, whether we had something to do with the situation or not.

01:48 It's not that we are bad people; we often blame others as a protective mechanism; however, we understand the impact of blaming others on our teams, the company and ourselves.

02:14 When we blame others, we disempower ourselves, and it stops people from being able to trust you as a leader (it's the opposite of psychological safety)

02:29 Your people will copy your behaviour, both the positive things you would like them to continue and the negative things you might want them to stop.

03:08 When you take responsibility for your actions and show a willingness to look for solutions, you create the right conditions for others to do the same in your team.

04:27 You may not be the cause of an issue, but you are more likely to resolve it as an individual, as a team, as a company if you are willing to look at the options with other people and think ok what we can do?

04:42 When we are angry and fearful in the moment, it can look like there are no options, and that is when we need to slow down, take a step back and breathe.

05:24 It can be painful to accept responsibility when looking back into the past; however, this is the only way to resolve trauma. And avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

06:43 By blaming others, we stop listening to others, stifle creativity and limit the possibility of finding solutions to problems.

08:04 When we take the role of victim and blame others, we resolve ourselves from any power to anything about it.

08:16 Playing the martyr and taking responsibility for absolutely everything can lead to isolation and create a toxic environment.

10:38 Blaming others also prevents your team from growing as they will not feel safe enough to learn from their own mistakes.

In this episode, we speak to Giulia Iannucci, a  social entrepreneur and founder of KnowThyBrand dedicated to helping women in business build sustainable ventures and career paths. Always curious and inquisitive, Giulia has worked and lived in Spain, Belgium, Australia, Singapore, the UK and Luxembourg.

Timestamps and Takeaways

02:15 Not knowing what we want to do, exploring our curiosity and accepting opportunities over a long period, we can find our passion and purpose.

07:50 How sometimes the jobs we are the most passionate about can have the most significant impact, we're not paying the most money.

08:42 What is a social enterprise and how to turn an existing for-profit business into one, where the proceeds are invested into something good for society.

10:43 Resilience does not mean working too many hours to the detriment to your personal life.

12:09 The more you take care of your own needs first for your mental and physical health, the more it reflects positively on your team, your business, and your family.

14:39 We often forget we have a conscious choice of whether to work more hours than we really need to.

19:18 If you care for your team's results, spending time on too many tasks might not get you where you want to go with regards to more creative solutions and often leads to burnout.

20:41 There is still this badge of honour of smashing too many hours, and even though you might not say, hey, you should do that too,  your team will copy your behaviour and feel under pressure to do the same.

29:59 How can we all be tricked by a feeling of urgency, that feeling when you receive an email and think you have to act straight away, and where does that come from?

31:29 The common mistakes startups make as they grow and build a bigger team are thinking they have to follow what everyone else is doing, which can be dangerous.

34:15 One trap entrepreneurs often take every opportunity that comes their way and suddenly realise it's not their business anymore or it evolved into something they didn't want.

36:45 It really all boils down to who you are, what you want to achieve as a business and why are you doing it?

44:05 Accepting your own vulnerability as a leader, we are humans after all and being ok not to have all the answers.

Your manager's and peers' behaviour can positively or negatively impact your self-confidence and belief in your ability to do great things.

Sometimes leaving a toxic company can be as challenging as ending an unhealthy and abusive relationship.  All because our self-confidence, self-belief and self-esteem are shattered, and we can't see better options.

In this 14 minute Micro Episode, we explore how to leave a toxic workplace.

Timestamps and Takeaways

01:24 How can your manager's and peers' actions impact your self-confidence and belief in your ability to do great things.

02:51 There is no special feeling of confidence that you have to build; it is the absence of discomfort, doubt and over-thinking.

05:06 One practical action you can take for yourself is to do a self-inventory and get it all out of your head and on paper.

06:09 We can't always see what we are capable of when we are in a low mood; just knowing that can save you lots of time and worry.

07:28 The trap of self-sabotage and how to get out of it and take meaningful action.

12:02 No matter how much self-confidence you may think you have, you have to start somewhere and take the first step.

Dissent is essential in leadership.

If you are not comfortable with differences of opinion in your team, then you cannot really call yourself a leader.

Leaders often shy away from open dialogue and differences of opinion because it feels uncomfortable to have someone not agree with you, even though diversity can only flourish if you are open to differences of opinion.

If you want to innovate, solve problems and create a safe and inclusive environment, then it's time to allow your people to express disagreement without fear of retaliation.

Timestamps and Takeaways

00:54 Dissent is required if you want to cut through groupthink and have high performance in your team.

01:23 The meaning of Dissent is to publicly disagree with an official opinion, a decision or set of beliefs.

01:58 Contrary to popular belief, if your team feels safe enough to express their opinions, this is a great thing because the opposite of that can stifle creativity, create fear, and give up voicing their concerns.

02:35 Allowing Dissent allows you as the leader to relax (you don't have to have all the answers) and gain different perspectives that you didn't have before.

03:37 The reason leaders are not comfortable with Dissent is because they have the mistaken belief that if someone doesn't agree with them, they are wrong, and there is this push back to prove that they are correct, instead of listening to what people are saying.

04:30 When you create a space where Dissent is ok, where other people's opinions are ok, it becomes a conversation.

06:56 What we noticed is that Dissent can often look personal, but it's usually not and the means of an individual or team expressing their opinions.

07:30 Having open dialogue can result in an agreeing on a consensus with your team which results in trust, psychological safety and high performance.

07:56 There will always be a few people who argue for the sake of it, but as you get more comfortable with dissenting opinions, you will quickly notice who has the right intentions and who doesn't.

09:07 If you listen to everyone's point of view, the noise will decrease because your team will not have to shout to be heard.

09:49 If you ignore and marginalise your team and don't allow people to express their opinions, you create a toxic environment where trust is eroded.

10:14 if you are not listening to someone, you force them around to our opinion or the company's views without facilitating a safe space to discuss things openly. The result with always a power struggle.