Leading People

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveUnlock the art of ethical persuasion as we sit down with Simon Horton, an award-winning author and negotiation expert. Simon reveals his six-step process, based on modelling the approaches used by hostage negotiators, addiction therapists, and billionaires, to change minds and reach their objectives. His book, Change Their Mind: Six Steps to Persuade Anyone, Anytime, is a treasure trove of practical advice, stories, and detailed models. The power of this approach lies in its ability to forge enduring relationships while achieving the desired outcome. Simon also provides real-world examples - whether you're trying to negotiate a salary increase or convincing your kids to clean up their toys, his strategies are applicable in numerous scenarios.Not limiting ourselves to persuasion, we'll also venture into negotiation strategies, exploring the crucial roles of ambition, research, and active listening. Learn from a billionaire's story about using ambition to seize opportunities for mutual benefits in deals. Discover how research helps in understanding your counterpart, and how active listening opens doors to meaningful conversations. And, as we tread the path of ethical persuasion, we'll delve into effective communication, focusing on how to maintain the highest ethical standards, and how to avoid the fundamental attribution error. With Simon's guidance, be prepared to equip yourself with a versatile toolkit and the confidence to aspire big in your goals.Curious?So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and listen to what Simon has to say...Show LinksConnect with Simon on LinkedIn Connect with Simon on X (Twitter)Visit the Negotiation Mastery Website Buy Change their mindLearn more about Leadership InfluenceConnect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent Decisions with Wide CircleFollow Leading People on LinkedIn Leading People on X (Twitter)Leading People on FaceBook

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveHow would you like to be able to consistently bring out the best in yourself and others? How could using a coach approach in your daily life bring hidden benefits? As a Coach, how could you take your coaching skills to the level of Mastery? As a Leader, how could you better look out for the well-being of your people? These are just some of the many questions we explore in this episode of Leading People. My guest is Paula King, an award-winning Master Coach, CEO, Coach Trainer and author of Becoming a Master Coach: Learn the Essential Tools, Techniques, and Approaches used by Master Coaches to Create a Successful Coaching Practice.This episode is about Coaching. This not only includes professional coaches but also anyone who wants to incorporate coaching into their style of leadership be this at work, at home or in the community. During our fascinating conversation, we touch on a wide variety of topics including:The unexpected benefits of coach trainingHow to become comfortable with your own discomfortHow to prepare for a coaching conversationHow to be the best version of yourselfHow to avoid getting disillusioned as a coachAdvice on how to attract clients and establish a profitable coaching businessSpeaking from the heart and a vast experience, Paula shares with us her wisdom, insights and advice. And, she has a special offer for some lucky listeners. Curious?So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and listen to what Paula has to say...Show LinksConnect with Paula on LinkedIn Visit Kingstown College's WebsiteBuy Becoming a Master CoachLearn more about Paradox Coaching Connect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent Decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveDoes your organisation produce regular leadership communications content for employees? Are your messages actually getting through to the right people? And, if they do get through, are they being interpreted and understood as they're intended? In this episode, I sit down with Communications Consultant, Coach, Trainer and Author Ray Walsh to explore the role of communications in organisations. Communication skills are seen as a prerequisite for effective Leadership. Yet, as Ray points out, sending a message doesn't mean that it has been received or understood. In fact, the stats that he quotes around email open rates in organisations would suggest that the vast majority of messages are not being processed as intended. When these messages contain important information related to strategy or change, it's no wonder that Senior Leaders are often frustrated when they visit field offices or factories.Ray also advocates that communicating is everyone's responsibility in an organisation and not the sole job of one department.He provides us with essential insights into how to address these challenges and uses examples from his own professional experience to illustrate what can be done, this includes how not getting your communications right can have a negative impact on profitability. And, stay tuned, because along the way Ray also has a special offer for some lucky listeners.So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and listen to what Ray has to say...Show LinksConnect with Ray on LinkedInVisit Ray's website Buy Localizing Employee Communications Learn how to Assess your Impact and Influence Connect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent Decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveDo you want to feel and do better in life?Do you want to improve your sleep, diet, exercise, brain health and performance? Do you know what your super habits are? Do you know what your destructive habits are? Do you know how to maintain your super habits and change your destructive habits? These are just some of the questions that my guest for this episode, Dr Jon Finn, answers. During our conversation, Jon explains how some habits can serve us very well and how others can be quite destructive. He talks about how his study of neuroscience, behavioural science and psychology, and his work with world champions led him to develop a comprehensive toolbox that anyone can use to fine-tune their brain and supercharge how they live, work and lead. And, you'll discover Jon's tip about quick tips as well as how to avail of his special offer for you.So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and listen to what Jon has to say...Show LinksConnect with Jon on LinkedInVisit the Tougher Minds websiteBuy The Habit Mechanic bookDownload the Habit Mechanic app and Listen to Jon's PodcastLearn how to Assess your Impact and Influence Connect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhat level of impact and influence do you have at work? Indeed, what level of impact and influence do you have in your life in general? Are there situations where you wished you had more impact and influence? In this episode, I chat with Elisabet Vinberg Hearn and Mandy Flint about their books and their work with leaders. Elisabet and Mandy have worked together for over 20 years. They have a passion for helping leaders, and indeed all of us, develop our impact and influence in the workplace. During our conversation, Elisabet and Mandy explain the importance of using soft skills to achieve hard results. They emphasise focusing on how to do this rather than on what to do. Self-awareness around behaviours plays an important role.  Using several examples from their work, they explain how our behaviours can bring many benefits and unintended consequences. And, Elisabet and Mandy have a special offer for youSo, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Show LinksConnect with Elisabet on LinkedInConnect with Mandy on LinkedInBuy The Leaders Guide to Impact - How to use soft skills to get hard resultsLearn how to Assess your Impact and Influence Connect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveIn thirty years time, as technology moves forward even further, people are going to look back and wonder why offices ever existed." ~ Sir Richard BransonHow well have you and your people adapted to remote and hybrid working? My guest this week is Larry English, President and co-founder of Centric Consulting, a management consultancy that helps firms find solutions to complex digital, business and technology problems. In the early 2000s, Larry and some like-minded friends founded Centric with a vision to build a remote company with a mission to create a culture of employee and client happiness. Today, Centric employs over 1000 people. With all that experience, Larry knows a thing or two about building and sustaining a connected culture with virtual teams and he's captured all of this in his latest book: Office Optional - How to build a Connected Culture with Virtual TeamsDuring our conversation we covered a wide range of do's and don'ts of remote working and many other relevant themes such as the four generations in the workforce, remote working tools, virtual and augmented reality, the skills leaders need to be able to manage remote workers, and much more. And, Larry has a special offer for youSo, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Show LinksConnect with Larry on LinkedIn Visit Larry's website and buy his bookLearn how to Assess your Remote Working CapabilitiesConnect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveImagine that you're enjoying all the trappings of success, including financial prosperity, when one day you get a call from the Justice Department. They inform you that they have evidence that your financial prosperity comes from dark dealings in the world of international business. What do you do? Well, this was what happened to my guest, Richard Bistrong. Despite cooperating with the authorities, Richard ended up spending fourteen and a half months in a US Federal Prison Camp for his crimes. During this period, he had a lot of time for reflection and managed to read over 60 books! Richard decided to reinvent himself and start a new career advising organisations on how to prevent their people from falling foul of corrupt practices. Along the way, he has won several awards for his work. It's a classic tale of the poacher turned gamekeeper. What's all this got to do with Leading People? Actually, quite a lot!There's a saying that the fish rots from the head. Leaders bear a huge responsibility when their people get exposed to corruption and, according to Richard, have a duty to ensure that they prepare their people well for situations where they may be tempted to take ethical risks. In our conversation, he tells his story and explains how to ensure that you or someone you know doesn't get compromised as he did. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Richard on LinkedInVisit Richard's websiteLearn more about his work with MastercardConnect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveI'm pleased to announce that Season 2 launches in January 2023! I've already recorded and scheduled the first episodes for the new Season and I can promise you some fascinating conversations to come. Listen to this short preview to learn more.Until then...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWe've reached episode 40 of the Leading People podcast! As so many podcasts fail after only a few episodes, I'm very proud of this achievement. I'm also very grateful to all of you who tune in every two weeks and then promote and share episodes with your friends and colleagues. So, this is the official end of Season 1 and I'm taking a short break before launching Season 2 in September 2022. In this short episode, I take a brief look at how to determine whether someone has potential. Being in the business of helping clients make better talent decisions, this is one of the most pervasive questions that our clients ask us. Yet, as I explain, this is not a simple question to answer.Many people have contacted me in recent weeks because they're thinking of launching their own podcast. So, I also provide some insights into how to do that. I've already begun scheduling and recording episodes for Season 2 and I can promise you some fascinating conversations to come. Until then...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Gerry on LinkedIn Check out Gerry's websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWho is responsible for customer experiences in your organisation? How do leaders help or hinder the customer experience? Why are most organisations designed to deliver lousy customer experiences? And, what is a chatty check-out? These are just some of the many questions my guest, Professor Yves Van Vaerenbergh addresses in this week's show. As an award-winning expert on customer experience, Yves shares with us his insights and tips for how to get it right. He also answers the million-dollar question about customer experiences...Whether you're working in an organisation or as an independent or freelance worker there's lots to learn.So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Yves on LinkedInCheck out customer experience at The Kalepa GroupMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhat role do illusions play in your decision-making? How can you challenge your illusions so you can make better decisions? How does a manager with hindsight bias prevent his or her team from making good decisions?  For this episode, I sat down with magician, mentalist and keynote speaker, Alex Si, to explore the world of illusions at work.  During our conversation, we explore how we create illusions, how we're susceptible to illusions created by others and how we can challenge our illusions to make better decisions. We also answer the questions above.Alex has just published his first book on the topic and was keen to explain how his book is different from others on the subject of decision making. Stay tuned to the end as Alex has a special offer for some lucky listeners.So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Alex Si on LinkedIn Buy Alex's book Cerveau menteur ! - Déjouez les pièges de la prise de décisionCheck out Alex's WebsiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhy do we have a brain? It's not what you think...How does exercise benefit your brain?How much of your brain do you use each day?  This week's guest is Gregory Caremans, founder of the Brain Academy which currently has over 400,000 students enrolled in its courses on how to understand and better manage your brain. The aim of the Brain Academy is to make brain science accessible to as many people as possible in a way that anyone can understand it. Gregory's goal is to demystify the scientific jargon. In 2020 and 2021 the Brain Academy won several awards for “Most innovative neuroscience & personal development enterprise” and “Excellence in online learning”. Its courses have been featured on such noteworthy platforms as The Economist, CNN, Entrepreneur, and Udemy and its YouTube channel has over 300,000 views. During our conversation, we touch on some common myths about the brain before getting into how leaders are impacting our brains at work and what can be done to ensure that these are positive impacts. We even explore how some organisation structures may not be the most effective way to get the best out of people. And, stay tuned to the end because Gregory has an offer for some lucky listeners.So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Gregory Caremans on LinkedIn and get his special offerCheck out the Brain Academy's FREE coursesMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveOn the morning of Tuesday, 8th June 2021 I sent an email to this week's guest, Julie Brown. It was an invitation to herself and her husband to be a guest on this podcast. I'd met him on the street a few weeks beforehand just days before he left for an expedition to Greenland and I'd forgotten to ask him. I never received a reply. Within hours it became clear why. The news broke that world-renowned polar explorer and leadership guide, Dixie Dansercoer, had fallen through a deep crevice in the ice in Greenland and rescue workers had given up their search for his body. So, this episode is partly to honour and celebrate Dixie's life. But it is also a celebration of Julie his wife and how she has dealt with this tragedy and given herself permission to thrive. Many leadership lessons shine through in our conversation. It's also a love story on three dimensions. The deep love that Dixie and Julie had for one another, their tremendous love of nature and the environment and a profound love of life and humanity. Dixie and Julie also published several books illustrating how we can efficiently convert professional challenges into successes and how we can surpass personal dilemmas. These themes feature prominently in our conversation. Therefore, lots to unpack and leadership lessons to be learned...So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Julie Brown on LinkedIn and get her special offerCheck out Polar ExperiencesMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhat have cornflakes, penicillin, cling film, velcro and post-it notes got in common? This week's guest is an award-winning author and Head of Learning at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, Andy Lancaster. During our conversation, he answers this question among many others. Andy also outlines 7 ways in which leaders could leverage mistakes for the better in their organisations, which feature in his latest book He even explains what we could learn from the Japanese art of kintsugi.And, if you stay tuned to the end Andy has a special offer for you. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Andy Lancaster on LinkedIn and get his special offerBuy Driving Performance Through LearningMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhy should we become good at public speaking and what difference could it make to our careers? Why do some of us love public speaking and so many of us hate it? What is a Public Speaking Monkey, anyway?How could some of the issues that we have with public speaking be affecting other aspects of our lives? These are just some of the questions I explore with this week's guest, author and public speaking expert, Dee Clayton. Dee has written two books on public speaking and presenting and has also won several business awards for her Public Speaking Monkeys concept and brand. According to Dee, some people think they're fantastic public speakers and they're not. Others dread the thought of speaking in public but once they overcome certain hurdles they can become great public speakers. During our conversation we unpack some of the myths about public speaking, the silly things we say to ourselves and others say to us just before we give a presentation, including some well-meant advice that is rarely helpful. Dee outlines the 3 steps in what she calls the monkey taming process and also provides us with valuable and useful tips for getting better at speaking in public. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Dee Clayton on LinkedInCheck out Dee's company website Simple Amazing TrainingBuy Taming your public speaking monkeys  Buy High Performance PresentationsMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhy do organisations need to invest in Internal Communications? What is Internal Communications, anyway? How do you get Managers onboard with your Internal Communications?How do you communicate internally in a Post-covid Hybrid working environment? These are just some of the questions I explore with this week's guest, author and Internal Communications expert, Liam Fitzpatrick. During our conversation, Liam explains why he's brought out a revised edition of his latest book, Successful Employee Communications, why the emphasis in the book is on tools, models and best practices rather than theories and why Middle Managers play such an important role in Internal Communications. He also has some useful tips for how to help Managers become better communicators. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Liam Fitzpatrick on LinkedIn Buy Successful Employee Communications Make Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWould you like to have more influence and get more buy-in and commitment from colleagues or other stakeholders? Or, perhaps to sell more of your products or services? Or, to better deal with a low performer on your team? Or, simply to be a better parent? This week's guest is Certified Forensic Interviewer and author, Michael Reddington whose new book is called The Disciplined Listening Method. Michael shares his experiences of forensic interviewing - he also explains what it is - and how this led him to develop the seven core behaviours of disciplined listening which ultimately led to him writing his book, which has just been published.During our conversation, Michael addresses the questions above and many more and explains how his method goes beyond other techniques such as active listening. He also describes how to apply his seven core behaviours to a wide variety of situations. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Michael Reddington on LinkedInBuy The Disciplined Listening Method  Check out Michael's website InQuasive Make Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveDo you have high performers on your team? How would you feel if they went to work for your competitors? I guess you'd prefer if they stayed and worked with you? So, how do you create the conditions so people can thrive, enjoy what they're doing and perform at their best? These are just some of the topics I covered in my conversation with this week's guest, Paul Zak. Apart from having a TED talk with nearly 2 million views, Paul has written two best-selling books and there's a third one on the way. He is also the founding Director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies and a Professor of Economics, Psychology and Management at Claremont Graduate University in California. His former colleagues included renowned scholars such as the late Peter Drucker and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.Paul is also a co-founder and Chief Immersion Officer of the firm Get Immersion. During our conversation, Paul explains what he's learned from his extensive research and provides tangible tips and advice that any of us can implement straight away. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Paul Zak on LinkedIn Buy Paul's book "Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High Performing Companies"Buy Paul's book "The Moral Molecule: How Trust Works"Check out Get ImmersionMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveWhy has coaching become so popular and why do leaders need coaching now more than ever as we emerge from the pandemic? And what impact has the pandemic itself actually had on leaders?How has the virtual work environment of the pandemic affected leaders? These are just some of the questions that I explore with this week's guest - author and Executive Coach, Andrea Lages. Andrea has been working as a coach for nearly 25 years and has noticed some interesting impacts that the pandemic has had on Leaders and what this means for the future. She is also the Director of the International Coaching Community (ICC) that has over 15,000 members worldwide. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Andrea Lages on LinkedInBuy How Coaching Works  Download the FREE E-BookCheck out the International Coaching Community (ICC)Make Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveIn recent years you may have come across terms such as Agile, Lean, Self-Organising Teams, Teal Organisations, Non-Violent Communication and Holocracy.My guest this week is the author and consultant Jef Cumps.  Jef will not only explain and demystify many of these wonderful terms but will also speak about Sociocracy 3.0 and how the principles of Sociocracy are actually quite familiar to many of us, even though the term Sociocracy may not be used in our workplaces. A key aspect of Sociocracy is how it can enable an organisation to easily adapt itself to a changing world and Jef will help you understand why and how this works. He'll also explain the background to his book: Sociocracy 3.0 - The Novel. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Jef Cumps on LinkedInBuy Sociocracy 3.0 - The NovelRequest a FREE copy of Jef's book: jef.cumps [at] gmail.comCheck out Sociocracy 3.0Make Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Have you ever felt demotivated or were struggling to get engaged with a new project? Or, are you managing a team and find that motivating them is an ongoing challenge? This week's guest is author, coach and NLP trainer, Jeremy Lazarus with whom I took a deep dive into the world of motivation - and not just your own motivation but also the motivation of others. Jeremy has written 4 books, including one for sports coaches, athletes and players entitled Ahead of the Game. He began his career in the world of finance before realising that his true calling lay in helping people grow and develop and perform at their best. His work with leading sportspeople, e.g. English Premier League goalkeepers, has enabled him to teach others how to apply their mindset for success to other walks of life, including the world of work. During our conversation, we unpack the role that motivation plays in achieving what we want and how managers and leaders can use this knowledge to build highly motivated teams. We also explore how choice plays an important part in how we deal with setbacks and how we can ensure that no matter how we define success we don't neglect the financial aspects. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Jeremy Lazarus on LinkedIn Check out Jeremy's FREE resources on his websiteMake Better Talent decisions with Wide Circle

Please subscribe via the Podcast links aboveThis week's guest is Dr Dan Harrison the creator and developer of the Harrison Assessment and Talent Analytics tools. People who discover these tools often refer to them as the best-kept secret in the HR or Talent world! Of all the investment decisions that organisations make probably the one that has the least amount of rigour is around people. Yet, the amounts invested in people can be quite significant.There is a mountain of research out there to show that there is a real problem when it comes to people decision making and that making the wrong people decisions can be very costly to an organisation. In this episode, you'll discover that there is a robust suite of Predictive Talent Analytics tools out there that will not only reduce the risk of making the wrong talent decisions but that can also ensure that your talent decisions lead to stronger engagement, better retention, higher performance, growth and success. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Dan Harrison on LinkedIn Check out the Harrison Assessments website Request a Free Harrison Demo from Wide Circle Performance Solutions Train in the Harrison Tools with The Paradox Coaching Academy

Please subscribe via the Podcast links above.My guest this week is fellow Irishman, Paul Davis. Not only has Paul authored several books but over the past 25 years or more he has advised and worked with many entrepreneurs to help them grow and scale their businesses into multi-million euro enterprises. Along the way, he admits that he has done quite well himself. However, in this open and candid conversation, Paul reveals why so many successful people are unhappy and struggle with many things including mental health issues. In his experience, it often comes down to having lost their mojo and no longer having a clear sense of purpose. What he has to say is not only insightful for successful entrepreneurs but applies to anyone who appears to be doing well in their career. It's also extremely relevant to all of you who aspire to being successful, whatever that means for you. Or, if life has not been so kind to you these past few years you may just discover how to get things back on track and it won't be a case of "fake it til you make it"!So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Paul Davis on LinkedinCheck out Paul's Website for free resourcesListen to Paul's Podcast - The Executive CodeTo Make Better Talent Decisions Wide Circle Performance Solutions

I'm very humbled by how many people have become regular listeners of this podcast. Based on my research, Leading People currently ranks in the top 20% of podcasts globally in terms of downloads and listeners. Please subscribe via the Podcast links above.It began as an experiment in January 2021. I looked at my extensive bookcase one day and wondered how could I bring so much of this wisdom and knowledge to a wider audience. I realised that I knew many of the authors and subsequently invited them to become guests on the show. It all grew from this seed. My goal was to create a conversational bounce that gave listeners an insight into who these authors were and how they came to write their books. I wanted to tap into their knowledge and wisdom. And, I also wanted it to be very human and full of humour! This podcast has become a passion. I first podcasted in 2005 long before the concept was in the mainstream. That particular podcast didn't last long. The technology to distribute it just wasn't there. However, I realised in 2020 that podcasting would bring together many things that came naturally to me:My life as a professional musician, having recorded many studio albumsMy experience in recording studios - understanding the technology My love of conversation and my curiosity to learn more from othersMy youth in Ireland listening to some of the best "talk radio" in the worldMy passion for Personal & Professional DevelopmentMy work in Leadership DevelopmentSo, a huge shout out to my regular listeners, the amazing guests who helped me get this far and all the great conversations that are to come...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

A while back I came across an intriguing article on the BBC Worklife website. It was written by this week's guest, David Robson. I later went on to purchase his excellent and extremely well-researched book entitled The Intelligence Trap. In this conversation, we chat about both the Intelligence Trap and David's forthcoming book The Expectation Effect and David reveals some fascinating insights into how so many smart people make dumb decisions and how to revolutionise your thinking so you can make wiser decisions. During our conversation, David explains how he came to write his new book, The Expectation Effect, and he shares some of the intriguing insights he gleaned from his research into sleep, exercise, food and much more...He also provides us with his top tips for how to avoid the intelligence trap and improve your mindset so you can get the most out of the expectation effect. So, why not head over to your favourite podcast channel and dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with David Robson on LinkedInConnect with David Robson on TwitterCheck out David's websiteThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In December as we approach Christmas and the end of another year many of us start thinking about next year. For quite some people it never goes beyond thinking. My guest this week is New York Times Best Selling author and consultant, Brian Moran. I invited Brian onto the show to chat about his results-focused planning methodology, which he calls The 12 Week Year. I discovered The 12-Week Year myself a few years ago and it has completely transformed how I plan my time and where I focus my efforts. It's one of the reasons that this podcast gets recorded, produced and released consistently on time every two weeks. During our conversation, Brian explains the key difference that makes the difference between plans that achieve results and those that don't. He also outlines the key elements of the 12 Week Year toolbox, how to accept that every plan is flawed, why you've got to fail fast to accelerate your success and how to introduce The 12 Week Year in a large organisation. And, you'll be pleased to know that you can start a 12 Week Year at any time. Now, I bet you're curious about what actually is a 12 Week Year and how is it different from other methodologies. So, let's dive in and find out... Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Brian Moran on LinkedIn Connect with Brian Moran on TwitterBuy The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran & Michael LenningtonFree Course Getting Started with the 12 Week YearThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Author, HR expert and CEO, Perry Timms, about his books and in particular what he calls Dispersed Leadership. With the world of work having been turned upside down by Covid, Perry believes that Dispersed Leadership has the potential to transform workplaces. Perry provides examples of how Dispersed Leadership is already producing results in a variety of organisations and valuable advice on how to explore and introduce it into your organisation.  He advocates the benefits for leaders of being open to the concept and how it can actually simultaneously free up more time to be a better leader and grow your people in the process. Dispersed Leadership is relevant even if you're not in a leadership position. It may help you choose your next employer! If you're an HR consultant you'll get some useful tips on how to pilot Dispersed Leadership with your clients. During our conversation, we discuss many topics including the way work is designed so that it ends up demotivating people, the impact of poor management on people's energy and how to raise the profile of HR and its role in organisations. Let's dive in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Perry Timms on LinkedinConnect with Perry Timms on Twitter Transformational HR by Perry TimmsThe Energised Workplace by Perry TimmsThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode I caught up with author and Master Trainer, Lindsey Agness, to chat about change. Lindsey is the CEO of The Change Corporation, a boutique consultancy that provides change management services to organisations. However, whilst we touch on organisational change and Lindsey provides valuable advice for leaders, our conversation focuses more on personal change and in particular why now - as we emerge from hopefully the worst of the covid pandemic - might be a good time to make changes in your life. And, during our conversation, you'll get tips and insights from Lindsey on how to go about making these changes. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Lindsey Agness on LinkedInConnect with Lindsey Agness on TwitterCheck out Lindsey's special offerChange your Life with NLP by Lindsey AgnessThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode of Leading People, I sat down with author and Master Coach, Jonathan Reitz, to talk about how coaching changes everything. In particular, we discuss his latest book, Coaching Hacks, and Jonathan shares his top tips or hacks from his 20 plus years of coaching. These are not just useful for professional coaches but for anyone who aspires to take a more coaching approach to management or even life. In fact, Jonathan provides an interesting insight into how some simple coaching techniques could transform both your management style and your parenting. And, he provides his top 5 Coaching Questions that anyone could learn and master to get better results. And, if you stay tuned to the end, he has a special offer for you. So, why not dive on in...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Jonathan ReitzCheck out Jonathan's websiteThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode I chat with Systems Thinking expert and the creator of SystemicIQ, Chris Soderquist, to learn why SystemicIQ is necessary for solving complex problems. He outlines the 6 key skills of SystemicIQ and how to use them. He provides lots of practical examples and also advice on when, and when not, to use SystemicIQ. He explains what Systems Thinking is and how some organisations think they're doing Systems Thinking but in effect they're not. Along the way, we discuss diverse topics such as the current UK truck driver scarcity problem, climate change, health care, parenting, incentivisation programmes, and much more. Chris demonstrates how SystemicIQ can help us better understand these challenges and find workable solutions that don't create negative unintended consequences. He has some sound advice for leaders to ensure that they diagnose problems in the right way. Misdiagnosis of a problem not only doesn't lead to solving the problem but often makes the problem worse! Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Chris SoderquistCheck out Chris' websiteFinding Leverage VideoView Chris' take on the UK Lorry Driver crisisWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with author and leadership expert, Yene Assegid about leadership and her new book Leading with Heart. Along the way, she talks about the world-famous leaders she's met, what qualities set them apart - qualities that many of us have or could develop - and why she titled the book Leading with Heart.She tells us about her decision to set up a foundation dedicated to helping young women from less privileged backgrounds acquire life skills to set them on the right path. And, she provides us with her top 5 tips so we can all start Leading with Heart today. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Yené AssegidCheck out Yené's Foundation Programme for Young WomenLeading with Heart by Yené AssegidWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I caught up with author and Master Trainer of NLP, David Shephard. We covered a lot in our conversation with the central theme being understanding Inner and Outer Leadership and why this has become so important in a post-Covid era. He also reveals what he believes to be the ultimate life skill. If you've been thinking of going on a Leadership skills course then you might want to listen to this podcast first. If you're currently struggling with life or work's challenges you'll also get a lot out of what David has to say. Even, if you're a parent, there's something in this for you. And, as a successful entrepreneur, David has some sound advice for anyone who thinks it might be time to rethink or reimagine their career...David is the co-author of the book Presenting Magically and runs excellent training courses including one called Presenting Magically, which contains all the secrets of the top Keynote presenters. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with David ShephardCheck out David's courses at The Performance PartnershipPresenting Magically by David Shephard & Tad JamesWide Circle Performance Solutions

How do you cope when faced with complexity and constant change at work? Well, you might be surprised to discover that a lot of the answers lie in the world of jazz. My guest for this episode is Frank Barrett, Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Management at the US Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California who is also an accomplished jazz pianist. In his insightful book,Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz, Frank outlines a framework of seven principles gleaned from how jazz musicians play together that can help make us better leaders and team members and lead to greater innovations in our organisations. It turns out that Duke Ellington and Miles Davis can teach us a lot about Leadership! Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksConnect with Frank Barrett Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz by Frank BarrettWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Leadership Expert and Executive Coach Andrea Danner about her contribution to the book: The Door to Inner Happiness: Secrets from Around the World for When Everything's Going Wrong.Although conceived pre-Covid, The Door to Inner Happiness reveals powerful strategies from around the world for bouncing back when everything's going wrong. The book contains the stories of regular people from all over the world who have found ways to turn horrendous situations into opportunities and new possibilities. Andrea's chapter is entitled Turning Performance Pressure into Workday Pleasure. During our conversation, she explains how a daily sense of overwhelm forced her to re-examine her life and make some changes for the better. She provides lots of insights and tips for all of us. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksAndrea Danner at AD LeadershipThe Door to Inner Happiness: Secrets from Around the World for When Everything's Going Wrong with contributing author Andrea DannerWide Circle Performance Solutions

For this episode I sat down with Executive Coach and author of no less than 17 books, Joseph O'Connor, to talk about his latest book, Coaching the Brain - Practical Applications of Neuroscience to Coaching. During our conversation, Joseph explains why he writes books on topics that interest him and shares many fascinating insights about how our brains work so that we can all begin to coach our own brains right away. Joseph began his career as a guitar teacher and got into Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to explore how to help his students perform better. Today, apart from his work as an Executive Coach he is also the co-founder of the International Coaching Community (ICC), which boasts over 15,000 coaches as members worldwide. The ICC celebrates its 20th birthday in 2021. So, whether you're a coach, currently being coached, thinking about getting yourself a coach or just simply curious about how to coach your own brain there's something here for you. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksJoseph O'Connor at Coaching the Brain Joseph's Blog and VideosWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with author and learning & development expert, Stella Collins, to discover how our brains learn best. The Learning Organisation expert, Peter Senge, once wrote: Taking in information is only distantly related to real learning. It would be nonsensical to say, "I just read a great book about bicycle riding—I've now learned that.”In order to design and deliver effective learning and development initiatives, it's essential to understand how our brains process and retain information. During our conversation, Stella provides insights into how our brains learn best and tips on how to improve our ability to retain and apply our learning.Whether you work in HR, as a Trainer/Coach/Consultant or you're a Leader in an organisation what Stella has to say is relevant, timely and important. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksStella Collins at StellarLabsNeuroscience for Learning and Development by Stella CollinsWide Circle Performance Solutions

Many people in the western world can remember where they were on 9/11 when the aeroplanes hit the Twin Towers in New York but can you remember where you were on 22nd March 2016? My guest in this episode will never forget where she was on the morning of the 22nd March 2016. Karen Northshield was standing within meters of the first suicide bomber at Brussels airport. Her life was changed in an instant. In fact, according to the medical experts who assessed her condition, she wouldn't survive. She was given almost zero chances of living. But, nonetheless, she did survive. Today, she's rebuilding her life. She's written a book and in this conversation, she will share with you how to be more resilient. In 2014-2015, I worked with Karen as her coach when she realised her dream of leaving her admin job and setting up her own fitness coaching business. She was so driven, so committed and so passionate about making a difference in the world. Today, despite what she's been through, that drive, that commitment and that passion are still there. It's a remarkable story and one worth listening to...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksKaren Northshield at Karen NorthshieldDans le souffle de la bombe/Weggenblazen door de bom by Karen NorthshieldKaren on FacebookWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Susan Popoola about her new book "Male Perspectives on The Value of Women at Work". What Susan has to say is not just relevant for women or men but for every one of us. Along the way she explains how pay inequality can be inadvertently created by women, how your current salary should not affect what you're truly worth and how men prefer to choose other men for certain roles. She highlights how a woman's value and potential can be viewed way beyond the workplace and how many men fail to recognise and acknowledge qualities that women bring to any role. She breaks the research for her book into 3 key areas of insights and provides practical tips for both women and men on how to appreciate and enhance the value of women at work...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksSusan Popoola at Mosaic WorldMale Perspectives on the Value of Women at Work by Susan PopoolaWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Dr Ina Weinbauer-Heidel to find out what makes training really work. We explore her 12 Levers of Training Effectiveness under three key themes.Ever wonder why some trainings make a real difference and others appear to be a complete waste of time? It's not what you think! In our conversation, we begin to unpack the answer to this question and Ina provides some fantastic insights and tips for trainees, trainers, learning & development professionals and managers/supervisors in organisations. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksDr Ina Weinbauer-Heidel at the Institute for Transfer Effectiveness What Makes Training Really Work by Dr Ina Weinbauer-HeidelWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Author and Crisis Expert, Caroline Sapriel. The Covid pandemic has given us all a first-hand experience of a crisis unfolding before our very eyes. It's no longer something happening "over there", but in our own daily lives. In times of crisis, we turn to our leaders to steer us through. But, what if they let us down? In this informative discussion, Caroline explains how leaders can prepare for crisis events and what qualities they need to have to be able to navigate through them when they do occur. She highlights that a crisis is not just a bad week at the office, that the term "crisis management" is something of a misnomer, and that there's a difference between a crisis and a reputation meltdown. Using references to pears, accordions, sailing boats and more Caroline explains how to approach a crisis situation, how to organise your people to deal with it and what hard and soft skills leaders (and indeed anyone working with them) need. And, she explains why women may even have an edge over men when it comes to these skills. When there's a crisis it seems we all need to step up and do our bit. She ends by explaining how the Covid pandemic could've been handled so much better...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksCaroline Sapriel at CS&A 25 Years of Crises in Review: The Good, The Bad and The Truly Ugly by Caroline Sapriel and Dirk LenaertsWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode, I chat with Author, Leadership Coach, NLP Trainer and fellow Harrison Assessments Managing Partner, Pat Hutchinson. Pat explains how she has used her NLP skills and the Harrison Paradoxes to help Leaders get REAL insights into themselves and those they work with. Citing examples from her extensive work she provides many tips on things that Leaders and indeed anyone can implement immediately. She also explains why a "sheep dipping" approach to Leadership Development rarely works. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksPat Hutchinson at Quadrant1Brilliant NLP by Pat Hutchinson and David MoldenWide Circle Performance SolutionsThe Paradox Coaching Academy

In this episode, I chat with author and communications expert Sheila Parry about her new book: Take Pride - How to Build Organisational Success Through PeopleWhile the concept of being proud of our work is something that many people can identify with, PRIDE is actually a mnemonic for a framework that Sheila developed over many years of working with organisations, running her own successful Internal Communications agency (The Blue Ballroom) and carrying out independent research. Do they know who you are? This is a core sentiment running through our conversation and Sheila expands upon it from different perspectives. She provides insights, examples and tips that both leaders and followers can use to better understand and improve their experiences at work. In particular, leaders can learn more about the impact they have on the experiences of their people and why communicating effectively is not an event but a continuous journey. For employees in general Sheila provides lots of food for thought about the meaning of work in today's hectic digital age. And, she's got some sound advice for HR Professionals too. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksSheila Parry at Take PrideTake Pride by Sheila ParryWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode (recorded in December 2020) I chat with leading author and collaboration expert, Jim Tamm. Collaboration has become such an essential component in an organisation's success, yet still many people struggle to collaborate effectively. Online tools alone will not work without a collaborative mindset, skills and behaviours. Drawing on his research and extensive experience, Jim provides us with insights and tips on how to create and embed a collaborative culture in your organisation. He also reveals what's new in the 2nd edition of his book Radical Collaboration. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksJim Tamm at Radication Collaboration Radical Collaboration by Jim Tamm and Ron LuyetWide Circle Performance Solutions

This week I sat down with leading author and consultant, Craig Weber, to chat about Conversational Capacity and three critical practices that help you develop this. Craig highlights many essential skills and provides practical tips that individuals and teams can apply immediately to get better at those tough conversations that life throws at us from time to time. Along the way we talk about sweet spots, cognitive cartography, dancing elephants, dojos and much more...Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksCraig Weber at Weber Consulting GroupConversational Capacity by Craig WeberInfluence in Action by Craig WeberWide Circle Performance Solutions

How do you go from being a corporate lawyer to being a successful Executive Leadership Coach? Author and Leadership Coach, Rebecca Watson shares the experiences that led her into coaching and how she's discovered some of the secrets to helping Executives succeed in the world of Leadership.Rebecca has some useful advice for leaders about how to develop self-awareness, improve engagement, use coaching in motivating your teams and how to spot burnout and intercept it before it happens. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksRebecca Watson at RebeccaWatsonLeadershipConscious Leadership by Rebecca WatsonWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this episode (recorded in December 2020) I chat with leading Author and Master Negotiations Trainer, Simon Horton, about negotiations and negotiating. During our conversation, Simon demystifies negotiating. He says that negotiating is so pervasive in our world today that we're actually negotiating all the time. Negotiation is not some 'dark art' or just the purveyance of big business, international trade deals or Brexit. In fact, one of Simon's mantras is "get good at negotiation, get good at life"!We delve into his book The Leader's Guide to Negotiation: How to Use Soft Skills to Get Hard Results (The Financial Times) and explore his three-stage model of negotiation. Did you know that there's more to negotiation than a conversation and an agreement? Throughout, Simon draws on examples from both leadership and personal contexts where knowing how to negotiate enables you to grow, advance and achieve your goals, in a way that preserves relationships. He provides valuable tips that anyone can test out for themselves. You can buy Simon's books on Amazon and at other reputable bookstores.  Links to his website are below and I'm sure he'd love to connect with you on LinkedIn - just mention this podcast. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksSimon Horton at Negotiation MasteryWide Circle Performance Solutions

A lot has been written about how organisations are being challenged by macro paradoxes and that the 'solution' to these challenges isn't a linear approach to problem-solving. It's more about managing paradoxical situations than trying to solve them. If organisations are going to deal with these macro paradoxes then a question arises around the challenges leaders have in managing a range of paradoxical behaviour choices that enable them to do that. In this episode, I sit down with Author, Master Trainer and Leadership Expert Rick Tate to discuss his new book, Adaptive Capacity, and how developing this ability is essential if leaders are to successfully guide organisations in a paradoxical world. And, these self-leadership insights and lessons can be applied to many aspects of our lives. Meet your host, Gerry MurrayShow LinksRick Tate at Impact Achievement GroupThe Paradox Coaching AcademyWide Circle Performance Solutions

In this short episode, you'll learn more about Leading People and why you might want to subscribe to this podcast. Who will you meet? What will you learn? What makes this podcast unique?Hit the subscribe button to ensure that you're informed when new episodes land. Check out our sponsor for this episode at www.widecircle.euMeet your host, Gerry Murray