Thriving Leaders Podcast

I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, featuring an insightful conversation with Claire de Carteret, Managing Director of Gallup APAC. If you've ever wondered what truly drives high performance in teams, this episode is a must-listen. Gallup is renowned for its global research on engagement, wellbeing, and leadership. Claire brings the data to life with real-world strategies that leaders can apply immediately. We talk about the 12 conditions required for high performance, how to shift away from outdated hierarchies, and why "having a best friend at work" is more than just a feel-good phrase. In this episode, we cover: – The evidence behind Gallup's definition of engagement and how it's linked to high performance –The enduring power of the Q12 elements—and what makes them still relevant today – Why most engagement strategies fail (and what to do instead) – The four key needs of followers and how great leaders meet them – How to create meaningful conversations that drive trust, stability, and hope One of my favourite takeaways? Claire's simple but powerful strategy: One meaningful conversation a week. That alone can shift the dynamic of your team. If you're committed to building a thriving team culture, this episode will give you fresh ideas and evidence-based frameworks to do just that. I'd love to hear what resonates with you. Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently: Physical:  ⁠Purchase here⁠ International:  ⁠Amazon⁠  ⁠Booktopia⁠  ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠ Audio:  ⁠Audible⁠  ⁠Spotify⁠ For all other resources:  – ⁠Learn more about our leadership programs⁠  – ⁠Join our fortnightly newsletter⁠  – Want to connect directly with Claire? ⁠claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au⁠  – Follow on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  – Visit: ⁠www.thrivingculture.com.au⁠ 

In this Thriving Leaders Podcast I meet with Dermot Crowley—productivity expert, bestselling author, and founder of Adapt Productivity. Dermot's practical and people-focused approach to productivity has reshaped how thousands of professionals manage their time and teams. In this episode, we dive into the critical habits and systems that allow leaders and teams to perform at their best—without burning out. We explore what causes teams to get bogged down in busy work and how they can reclaim their time and energy through smarter collaboration, clear communication, and prioritisation that actually works. This conversation is full of actionable strategies to help leaders go beyond individual productivity and build team cultures that thrive on clarity, consistency, and effectiveness. In this episode, we cover:  – The two types of productivity erosion and how to prevent them  – Why individual systems matter just as much as team tools  – How to make work visible and reduce friction in collaboration  – The three productivity cultures that shape every team's success  – Simple shifts to streamline meetings, emails, and communication One of my favourite takeaways? “Make work visible.” Whether it's through Asana, Planner, or another tool, clear visibility helps teams align, prioritise, and collaborate without chaos. Whether you're a seasoned leader or new to leading teams, you'll find actionable gems that can transform the way your team works—starting tomorrow. Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently: Physical:  Purchase here International:  Amazon  Booktopia  Barnes & Noble Audio:  Audible  Spotify For all other resources:  – Learn more about our leadership programs  – Join our fortnightly newsletter  – Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  – Follow on LinkedIn  – Visit: www.thrivingculture.com.au 

Chatting with Amy Edmondson about what makes a thriving team has been a career highlight!   Season 2 of the Thriving Leaders Podcast is now live!   And we're kicking it off with the incredible Amy Edmondson—Novartis Harvard Professor, bestselling author,  and the world's top-ranked management thinker. Her research has been pivotal to my work, and our conversation is full of insights that every leader needs to hear.   Together, we explore what it takes to build not just high-performing teams, but learning teams—those that thrive through curiosity, psychological safety, and shared ownership.   This conversation is energising, practical, and packed with insights you can take straight back to your team.  In this episode, we cover:  – The real difference between trust and psychological safety—and why both matter – How to create high-quality conversations in your team – Why we need to reframe accountability as a privilege, not a punishment – Why leaders shouldn't talk about psychological safety—and what to focus on instead – The power of intelligent failure and how to unlearn the fear of getting it wrong One of my favourite takeaways? Psychological safety isn't the goal—it's the environment that allows us to reach our goals.   I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. I'd love to hear what you took out of the conversation.  Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently: Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble Audio: Audible & Spotify For all other resources: – Learn more about our leadership development programs – Join our fortnightly newsletter – Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au – Follow along on Linkedin – Check out our website 

This is our last episode of Season 1 of the Thriving Leaders podcast. Change is normal, but it can be uncomfortable. We are constantly evolving, improving and adapting the way we do things. Thriving leaders need to lead and communicate change effectively. This creates certainty even when we live in an ambiguous world. To assist you in communicating and leading change, we cover:Understanding change at a deeper level, including the 4 stages of changeThe mindset transition when facing changeVUCA environmentsWhy we need to see the value in change to commit to itWhat to focus on when communicating change effectively That brings season one - Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently – to an end.  Thank you for tuning in, for taking notes, for sharing this podcast with your friends and colleagues, and, most importantly, for applying the teachings of this book so you can become a thriving leader and start leading confidently now.Stay tuned for Season 2!  Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently: Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble Audio: Audible & Spotify For all other resources: Learn more about our leadership development programs Join our fortnightly newsletter Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au Follow along on Linkedin Check out our website 

Following on from our previous 2 episodes on Communication (ep. 16 Communication and ep. 17 Communicating with Purpose), we continue the conversation by diving into structuring your communication so its most effectively received.  In this episode, we explore:  Why repetition is so important  Be compelling and engaging; how to maintain their attention  Clearing outlining what you'll be communicating  Key messaging and the rule of three  The mini conclusions and the strong close  Once you master the art of structuring your communication, then it's time to communicate change to your team.  In our next episode, we cover Communicating and Leading Change. Be sure to tune in.  Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs  Join our fortnightly newsletter  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

When we connect people to purpose, we inspire them. Purpose is a key driver of employee engagement.    This isn't a new topic: humans have been searching for meaning and purpose in their personal lives and their careers for some time—seeing as we spend so much time working.    So, in this episode, we're diving into:     Starting with Why    The Golden Circle Model    The art of storytelling    Will Brook shares  Brookfarm's "Why". He also shares how they communicate that to their team, how they connect their team to their purpose and how that then translates to the market.   In our next episode, we go deeper into communication with a structure for communication. Subscribe now so you don't miss it.  

Everyone needs to be effective at communication—thriving leaders even more so. It is the most universal skill. Effective communication is how thriving leaders engage and inspire their people to follow them.    In the next 4 episodes, we will be breaking down effective communication.    In this episode, we cover:  What is communication  Identifying the barriers to effective communication  The impact of not having effective communication  How to communicate effectively  Understanding your audience  And we hear from Will Brook, CEO of Brookfarm, on how he effectively communicates with his team and connects them to purpose.    In our next episode, we take communication another step further by connecting it to purpose. Stay tuned. 

As a thriving leader, you need to make decisions that balance the best interests of your team and the organisation. But by instilling a culture where your team members feel equipped to make their own decisions, reduces the need for everything to be ran by you, which is a time-consuming and disempowering process.     In this episode, we cover:  How to avoid decision-fatigue and make effective decisions – even if you tend to be indecisive.  Empowering your team to make their own decisions, by building trust and self-accountability.  How to create a culture of accountability within your team.  Building the systems that support an accountability culture.     To further support communicating with your team, in our next episode we unpack effective Communication – so stay tuned. 

An operating rhythm creates a repeatable cadence, so team members know what to expect week in, week out. It creates certainty and removes ambiguity, which leads to higher performance.  Structure and expectations are important for your team—especially in times of change.     That's why in this episode, we cover:  The importance of having a transparent and agreed upon operating rhythm.  How to run effective meetings, including team and 1:1s  Transparency, roles and responsibilities and visible work, allowing for the removal and ambiguity and creating a high-performance culture.   We hear from Jimmy Stewart (JVAT) on how they created JVAT Day, their operating rhythm method, which consistently creates structure and focus so they can operate at their best.  We hear from Sandy Morrow (Koala) on how accountability and ownership bought comfort to their team, which ultimately lead to them feeling more valued and engaged.  It might take a couple of iterations to find the operating rhythm that works for your team or organisation, however, don't let that put you off implementing one.  We work with many clients to design and roll out the right operating rhythm for their business. 

A strategy articulates what makes your organisation unique and different and provides value. It informs what areas to invest your time and money in, the organisation's structure, resource requirements and how you respond to market and stakeholder needs.    Operationalising strategy is where the rubber hits the road.    In this episode, we take you through exactly how to do that:  The strategic pyramid: how you can build your own organisation strategy.  How to operationalise your strategy to ensure its successfully implemented.  Effective goal setting using Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).  Breakdown of how effective OKRs work.  We hear from Sandy Morrow (Koala) again on how implementing OKRs early on, led to role clarity, accountability and increased productivity.  We also hear from Jimmy Stewart (JVAT) on how they rolled OKRs out at an organisational level, and maintained their flat structure in the process. 

Holding team members accountable and setting goals through clear communication is a skill that many leaders find challenging. When we delay having important conversations, problems escalate, and accountability isn't addressed.  A thriving leader must build their confidence and comfort level if they want to be high performing.     That's why, in this episode, we cover:  The underlying issues when there is a lack of accountability  Barriers to holding others accountable  How to hold others accountable  The 4Cs to Accountability model  Jimmy Stewart, Managing Director of JVAT, explains how they've created a high-performing accountability culture  I encourage you to check out our 4Cs of Accountability model and to implement with your team, and be sure to let me know how you go. 

Learning when it is an appropriate time to coach takes awareness of the situation, the team member and yourself. Identifying coaching moments is a critical skill for thriving leaders. Situational leadership and understanding the context is important.    That's why in this episode, we cover:  The difference between informal and formal coaching  How to apply in-the-moment coaching  Coaching for performance and development  Creating a coaching culture within your team and organisation  How coaching ties into the Skill Will Matrix    There is a time and a place to coach. Using your situational awareness, you can gauge if coaching is the right tool to use in that moment. It is a powerful tool in performance, career and development conversations.    How will you apply coaching into your team development and performance conversations? 

Most people naturally like to help others solve their problems. In fact, it is quite likely that you moved into a leadership position because you were a great problem solver and a superstar at delivery.  When you move into a leadership position, you need to help your team members so they can solve problems for themselves. This is a fundamental shift for leaders. It is challenging to move from providing guidance and advice to asking questions and trusting that the individual has the answers. This skill requires you to let go and shift from being directive to empowering your team member to own the outcome.    And that's where coaching comes in.  In this episode, we dive into:     What actually is coaching?  Types of coaching  The power of coaching and the benefits of taking a coaching approach  How to coach  The four levels of listening  Coaching Models and coaching for different outcomes    In our next episode, we get into When to Coach, so stay tuned!     Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs  Join our fortnightly newsletter  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

When leaders and organisations incorporate feedback into their culture, it increases engagement, retention, productivity and motivation.  Employee recognition increases retention and productivity.  This is just one of the reasons why creating a culture of feedback within your leadership and organisation is so important.   In this episode, we cover:  How to create a culture of feedback.   Tips to receive feedback, including triggers you may experience.   How to effectively ask for feedback.     Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs  Join our fortnightly newsletter  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

As we covered in the previous episode (Feedback Part 1), creating a culture of feedback is vital for any high performing team. So, in this episode, we break down the components required to create a culture of feedback.    In Part 2 of Feedback, we cover:   Tailoring feedback to match the receiver's personal style.  Tips on how to receive feedback, including navigating triggers while receiving feedback.  How to effectively ask for feedback. Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs  Join our fortnightly newsletter  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

When some people hear the word feedback, the hairs on the back of their neck stand up. You may have had a bad experience receiving feedback or perhaps you gave someone feedback and it didn't land as you intended.    To nurture a feedback culture, leaders need to create a psychologically safe environment. As a thriving leader, you will need to give and receive feedback.  In Part 1 of Feedback, we cover:  What feedback is?  The barriers to giving quality feedback.  How to give feedback effectively.     Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs (link)  Join our fortnightly newsletter (link)  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

In a culture where there are collective beliefs, assumptions and values, it's important to bring cohesiveness and connection to your team to ensure that its high performing.  In today's episode we discuss what it feels like to be part of a team and how to build a high-performance culture within your team.    In this episode, we cover:  How culture manifests through the behaviours that are encouraged and discouraged. How a high-performance culture contributes to effectiveness and productivity, leading to excellent business outcomes. Emphasize how reward and recognition should be centred on organisational values, and strategies for effectively communicating your purpose within the team.  The 2022 Gallup study which found that only 17% of Australian employees are engaged, compared to 21% globally.  How to create an environment where your team can flourish.  Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify. For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs (link)  Join our fortnightly newsletter (link)  Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

In today's episode we discussed on What it takes to build a Thriving teams Part 2 and discussed tangible and practical things that you can do to build a Thriving team. In this episode, we cover:   How to build trust with your team and find out who they are  Clear directions and expectations.  How to hold each other accountable without the need to be driven by the leader.  How to have a meaningful and purposeful reasons to connect with your team.  How to manage challenge with a supportive intention for team growth.  High-performance cultures that will create value, which results in excellent business outcomes.  Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs   Join our fortnightly newsletter   Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

In this episode we discuss what it takes to build a Thriving Team, including team dynamics, and we share our proven Thriving Teams model, which has been developed based on research and through leadership on high performing teams, along with my extensive experience working with teams as a Leadership and Team Coach.  In this episode, we cover:  What is a high-performing team on how team members work together through strong relationship and shared accountability.   The different dynamics in every team, and how they interact with each other.   The fundamental components of a Thriving team.   The four levels of purpose.   We hear from Sandy Morrow on the success of high-performing Koala a furniture company with operations in Australia Japan and South Korea   The four elements of trust to know when you are on the right path   Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs   Join our fortnightly newsletter   Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

In today's episode, we talked about confidence and how to be confident as a leader. Get ready to unpack some barriers to lead confidently that will help you to thrive as a leader.  In this episode, we cover:   Building your confidence as a leader  Impostor Syndrome the feeling of self-doubt  Challenging limiting beliefs how our thoughts are powerful because they control our emotions  How Tony Davies, CEO at Social Futures, recollect Impostor Syndrome  How to reframe your thoughts and change your mindset    Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  Learn more about our leadership development programs   Join our fortnightly newsletter   Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  Follow along on Linkedin  Check out our website 

In today's episode, we focus on building your personal leadership style. Get ready for a deep dive into practical strategies and insights that will help you to thrive as a leader. In this episode, we cover: – Self-awareness – Personality and how it's integral to understand your own leadership style – Unpacking strengths and how taking a strengths-based approach to your leadership not only impacts you but your team's effectiveness  – A self-reflective exercise to develop your leadership intention – Power of mentors and the support that you need around you as a leader Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: ⁠⁠⁠Purchase here⁠⁠⁠ International: ⁠⁠⁠Amazon,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Booktopia,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠ Audio: ⁠⁠⁠Audible⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠   For all other resources: – Learn more about our leadership development ⁠⁠⁠programs⁠⁠⁠   – Join our fortnightly ⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠ – Want to connect directly with Claire? ⁠⁠⁠claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au⁠⁠⁠  – Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠ – Check out our ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ 

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast. This podcast is here to support you as a leader, no matter your experience level, with bite-sized leadership learnings. The podcast is filled with practical tools, tips, actions, and insights that you can immediately apply, so you can lead confidently now.  In this episode, we cover:  – What it takes to be a Thriving Leader  – The different expectations of you as a leader  – Different leadership styles  – How to be an authentic leader  – How to balance being assertive, empathetic and adaptive  – How Tony Davies, CEO at Social Futures, navigated leading his team through a natural disaster     Where to get the book, Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently:  Physical: Purchase here International: Amazon, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble  Audio: Audible & Spotify  For all other resources:  – Learn more about our leadership & team development programs – Get the first chapter of Thriving Leaders for free – Want to connect directly with Claire? claire.gray@thrivingculture.com.au  – Follow along on Linkedin  – Check out our website