Leadership Letters

Towards Leadership #12

In this episode, we are reflecting on our conversation with author of Revolting Women: Why Midlife Women Are Walking Out And What to Do About It, Dr Lucy Ryan. You can learn more about Lucy here [https://www.lucyryan.co.uk/publications] and find her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlucyryan/?originalSubdomain=uk]. Inspired by Lucy's work, we offer you some questions to prompt your thinking as a leader about the extent to which you, and your organisation, are aware of, and meeting, the needs of individuals in your organisation in midlife.  The role of love in leadership also features, as well as resources for reflecting on and considering what people might be experiencing in midlife, as well as what you might have underestimated about them! Lastly, in light of the extraordinary piece of history that Lucy shared, we wrap up the season by thinking about the act of writing letters, why they matter in leadership, and why you might like to write your own Leadership Letter. REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDATION LINKS: * Reflections on Connections * A blog post about Assumptions [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/noticing-assumptions?rq=assumptions] * My Leadership Letter [https://www.towardsleadership.com/leadership-letters-podcast/lizzie-bentley-bowers] - Lizzie Bentley Bowers' Leadership Letter, Season 1 * Revolting Women: Why Midlife Women are Walking Out and What To Do About It [https://www.lucyryan.co.uk/publications] by Dr Lucy Ryan * Lunchtime Learning For Leaders  [https://www.lucyryan.co.uk/publications]by Dr Lucy Ryan * Leading from Love [https://helenaclayton.co.uk/blog/] newsletter and podcast by Helena Clayton * Never, ever give up TED Talk [https://www.ted.com/talks/diana_nyad_never_ever_give_up?language=en] by Diana Nyad  * Nyad [https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81447231] and The Other Shore: The Diana Nyad Story [https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70273276] on Netflix * The Mid Point with Gabby Logan  [https://shows.acast.com/the-midpoint-with-gabby-logan-1]podcast See you next time for more ideas, inspiration, tools and resources to support and challenge you to go towards all that leadership asks of you. We'll be hearing from guests again in the autumn, and will share some additional episodes with some extra food for leadership thought in the meantime so keep your ears peeled for those. If there's anything else you heard and would like to know more about, please add a comment below or get in touch [hello@towardsleadership.com?subject=Leadership%20Letters].  And while you're here, we would love to know what topics and guests you would like to hear on this podcast, so please do send your suggestions [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/i-would-love-your-help]!  Leadership Letters, and Towards Leadership, are produced by Anything But Footy [https://www.anythingbutfooty.com/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Lucy Ryan

Our guest in this episode, Dr Lucy Ryan [https://mindspring.uk.com/pages/lucy-ryan] holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour and an MSc in Positive Psychology. Her most recent book ‘Revolting Women: why midlife women are walking out and what to do about it’ is an important and highly engaging call to action to pay more attention to multi generational workforces and in particular the challenges and biases faced by women in Mid Life. She is the author of two other books, including one recommended previously on this podcast, ‘Lunchtime Learning for leaders’ and she has worked with leaders from a range of organisations including the BBC, Siemens and UNICEF. Lucy shares an extraordinary letter written by her grandfather to his brother during World War II. During our conversation, we talked about: * Compassion and strength * Autonomy * Working for entrepreneurs * Managing with strengths in mind * Multi-generational organisations and leadership. * Taking it seriously without taking ourselves too seriously * Defining, and redefining, ‘hard work’ * Gender equality * Sabbaticals * Midlife check ins * Love in leadership * Loneliness in leadership * The power of pause * The impact of a letter * ‘Revolting Women: why midlife women are walking out and what to do about it’ [https://mindspring.uk.com/pages/publications] by Dr Lucy Ryan * Working Identity [https://herminiaibarra.com/working-identity-book/]by Herminia Ibarra * Diary of a CEO [https://stevenbartlett.com/the-diary-of-a-ceo-podcast/] by Stephen Bartlett * Operation Judgement: The Battle Of Taranto [https://www.maritimefoundation.uk/publications/maritime-2021/operation-judgement-the-battle-of-taranto/] LUCY’S LETTER + QUOTES We’re honoured that Lucy shared a letter written by her Grandfather, Captain Denis Boyd, to his brother in the aftermath of one of the most extraordinary events of World War II, the Battle of Taranto. It was deeply moving to hear the words of a leader from so long ago, navigating such dire circumstances. We went on to talk about love in leadership, the power of pause, and the act of writing a letter. “I wonder how many leaders today would write with such emotion” + “Leadership as this combination of passion and strength” + “So often they need a temporary pause..they don’t want to leave.’” + “I think a lot of organisations are not serious about long lasting change.” + “Leadership is in a really interesting period of transition.” On our sister podcast, Towards Leadership, we will look in more detail at tools, reflections and practical application of the ideas, insights and inspiration we get from our guests on Leadership Letters. An episode focused on Lucy’s insights will be coming soon. If you are already subscribed to Leadership Letters, look out for it in your podcast feed. GET IN TOUCH If there’s anything else you heard and would like to know more about, please get in touch. And while you’re here, we would love to know what topics and guests you would like to hear on this podcast, so please do send your suggestions [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/i-would-love-your-help]! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Towards Leadership #11

Welcome to Towards Leadership.  In this episode we are reflecting on our conversation with CPO of Exa Infrastructure, Carrie Cushing. Learn More About Exa Infrastructure [https://exainfra.net/]and find Carrie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriecushing/?originalSubdomain=uke-her-118899100/?originalSubdomain=uk] on LinkedIn There were so many insights to explore in Carrie’s episode, and one that struck a chord with many of you was her reference to the leadership shadow. How do you know what yours is? And if you think you know, how can you be sure? As Carrie said, “if you’re not sure, ask” and in this episode we look at five things to consider when you are giving and receiving feedback to ensure that it really is useful in developing your awareness of your leadership shadow. You’ll find our usual read, watch and listen to recommendations too. And if there is something you want to hear more about from Carrie’s episode please get in touch. References and RECOMMENDATION LINKS: Blog post - Feedback In 5 [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/feedback-in-five-five-pointers-for-giving-and-getting-meaningful-feedbackrds-leadership-blog/the-internal-leadership-team] The Perfect story [https://www.kareneber.com/book] by Karen Eber Ghosts [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001tv7y/ghosts-a-christmas-gift] The Final Episode People Managing People [https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/people-managing-people-podcast/] with David Rice See you next time for more ideas, inspiration, tools and resources to support and challenge you to go towards all that leadership asks of you. FOLLOW The Leadership Letters and Towards Leadership Podcasts are produced by Anything But Footy [https://www.anythingbutfooty.com/]. You can find them on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/leadership-letters/id1533067216], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4JHboDSCBBtEHpEn4Tbtpq?si=h9dDROrHT6CU_epXm-hSYA], Acast [https://shows.acast.com/leadership-letters/episodes], or wherever you get your podcasts. GET IN TOUCH If there’s anything else you heard and would like to know more about, please get in touch. And while you’re here, we would love to know what topics and guests you would like to hear on this podcast, so please do send your suggestions [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/i-would-love-your-help]! ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Carrie Cushing

Our leadership conversation in this episode is with Chief People Officer for EXA Infrastructure, Carrie Cushing. Carrie is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and has more than 20 years experience working in HR roles across a range of industries including financial service, healthcare, energy and tech. She has a passion for developing talent and culture where people and performance can thrive.  With extensive leadership experience both as a leader herself, and as an HR partner to so many leaders, there was so much we wanted to talk to Carrie about and she shares a ton of insight, wisdom, reflection and advice in this episode. You can find Carrie at EXA Infrastructure [https://exainfra.net/] and on LinkedIn. During our conversation, we talked about: * Confidence that inspires and intrigues * Intentionally choosing your leadership shadow * Equality  * Relationships * Working at sharing who you are * Getting to know and playing to your strengths * Courage in leadership - stepping towards challenges * When stillness is as important as activity * Flipping the ‘don’t make mistakes’ mindset * Projecting confidence, including comfort with what you don’t know * Always asking questions about the feedback you receive. * A Perfect Story [https://www.kareneber.com/book] by Karen Eber * Bank Of Me [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53619353-bank-of-me] by Jane Sparrow CARRIE’S LETTER + QUOTES In Carrie’s letter to ‘The Leaders Who Were Not Like Me’ she shares valuable lessons from leaders, and the leadership shadow they cast, that she encountered earlier in her career. These include patience, managing emotions, resilience and intentionally managing her own leadership shadow. “Seeing myself as at cause not effect” + “If you’re not sure what to do - sit still.” + “Mistakes are the currency of growth” + “Intentionally choose the shadow I want to cast.” “Ask the questions. Take the guesswork out.” On our sister podcast, Towards Leadership, we will look in more detail at tools, reflections and practical application of the ideas, insights and inspiration we get from our guests on Leadership Letters. An episode focused on Carrie’s insights will be coming soon. If you already follow Leadership Letters, look out for it in your podcast feed. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Towards Leadership #10

Welcome to Towards Leadership from Leadership Letters.  We are reflecting on our conversation with CEP of The Sport and recreation Alliance, Lisa Wainwright [https://www.towardsleadership.com/leadership-letters-podcast/s4-e3-lisa-wainwright]. Lisa shared an enormous amount of insight, advice and experience - we are thinking we might need another Towards Leadership episode! If there is something you want to hear more about from Lisa’s episode please get in touch. Learn More About The Sport and Recreation Alliance [https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/] and find Lisa on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-wainwright-mbe-she-her-118899100/?originalSubdomain=uk]. In this episode, we look at bringing people with you through purposeful and rehearsed repetition of your key messages. We also take a look at the voices in our leadership heads, and how to manage them in the most useful ways as well as our usual read, watch and listen to recommendations, complete with a festive touch! RECOMMENDATION LINKS: * TL blog post: Your Internal Leadership Team [https://www.towardsleadership.com/towards-leadership-blog/the-internal-leadership-team] * Your Personal Boardroom [https://www.personalboardroom.com/for-individuals/] by Zella King and Amanda Scott * True North [https://billgeorge.org/book/true-north] by Bill George * Start with Why [https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en] by Simon Sinek * Mind UK [https://www.mind.org.uk/] * Unleashed  [https://anneandfrances.com/unleashed]by Frances Frei and Anne Morris * Where We Go Next Podcast - Episode 49 with Jenara Nerenberg [https://wherewegonext.com/episodes/jenara-nerenberg] * Leading Below The Surface [https://changecoaches.io/leading-below-the-surface/] by LaTonya Wilkins * The Anti-Racist Organisation [https://www.shereen-daniels.com/get-the-book] by Shereen Daniels * Divergent Mind: Thriving In a World that Wasn’t Designed for You [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18937358.Jenara_Nerenberg] by Jenara Nerenberg * And the timeless Elf [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/30/elf-review-will-ferrell-is-still-santas-biggest-helper-in-christmas-comedy-favourite] Wishing you all a peaceful and restful holiday season - we’ll be back in January 2024 with more ideas, inspiration, tools and resources to support and challenge you to go towards all that leadership asks of you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.