The Evolving Leader

In this compelling episode of The Evolving Leader, we sit down with Mike Mears [https://www.mikemears.biz], former CIA leadership head and author of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation." Mike shares powerful insights from his extraordinary career – from his days as a combat platoon leader and nuclear missile commander to his transformative work at GE and the CIA. Discover how his relentless curiosity led him to question conventional leadership practices, the pivotal moments that reshaped his approach, and the lessons he's learned about inspiring teams in a world driven by uncertainty.  How can leaders inspire and motivate in a world driven by uncertainty? Join us as we explore the habits, mindsets, and actionable insights that can transform how you lead and connect with your team. Further reading from Mike Mears: Certainty. How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation: https://www.certaintyleadershipbook.com/ [https://www.certaintyleadershipbook.com/]   Mike Mears’s Website: https://www.mikemears.biz [https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mikemears.biz%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cphil%40weareoutside.com%7Ce8c2cf6230e142ef552908dd4c7a075c%7C0b6659abc89d4f45988053d6a4496c0a%7C0%7C0%7C638750809345134178%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WiHxWP5oP%2BPnB7Nn0lLkaBJSkxeEGGP32VNHB%2FdX13Y%3D&reserved=0]   Mike Mears’s Leadership Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/i5b5t0 [https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flanding.mailerlite.com%2Fwebforms%2Flanding%2Fi5b5t0&data=05%7C02%7Cphil%40weareoutside.com%7Ce8c2cf6230e142ef552908dd4c7a075c%7C0b6659abc89d4f45988053d6a4496c0a%7C0%7C0%7C638750809345163494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8xkwCtlS5W2e1p4GOSyotqcBz3BOQ3XrX8ri4QG2Woc%3D&reserved=0]     Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Linear-Innovation-Leadership-Jean-Gomes/dp/1119672724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3W0GTVZ3QX7&keywords=leading+in+a+nonlinear+world&qid=1698048316&sprefix=leading+in+a+non+linear+world%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1] The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enneagram-Emotional-Intelligence-Personal-Professional-ebook/dp/B0B6Q469ZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TTFDCHXWSVZD&keywords=Allender+enneagram&qid=1698048262&sprefix=allender+enneagram%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1]     Social: Instagram           @evolvingleader LinkedIn             The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter               @Evolving_Leader Bluesky            @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube           @evolvingleader   The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] with production by Phil Kerby [https://www.weareoutside.com/team#PhilKerby]. It is an Outside [https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader] production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1309339/open_sms]

It's no secret that the world is changing rapidly (perhaps faster than many of us appreciate) and this demands a new kind of leadership. But is your ego holding back your ability to evolve and lead effectively? In this episode, co-hosts Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] are in conversation with business philosopher, consultant and author of ‘Ego Flip: How to Reset Your Leadership Life’, James Woodcock [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-woodcock-85275221/]. The conversation goes beyond theory, exploring practical ways to understand your own perspective and offers simple, actionable ideas like the ‘one breath rule’ and ‘noticing thinking’.  If you're interested in understanding how ego shapes not just individuals but also organizations and how leadership can evolve for the future, this episode offers valuable insights on how to potentially reset your leadership life. Referenced during this episode: EgoFlip (J Woodcock, 2024) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ego-Flip-Reset-Your-Leadership/dp/1915951011] Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Linear-Innovation-Leadership-Jean-Gomes/dp/1119672724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3W0GTVZ3QX7&keywords=leading+in+a+nonlinear+world&qid=1698048316&sprefix=leading+in+a+non+linear+world%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1] The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enneagram-Emotional-Intelligence-Personal-Professional-ebook/dp/B0B6Q469ZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TTFDCHXWSVZD&keywords=Allender+enneagram&qid=1698048262&sprefix=allender+enneagram%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1] Social: Instagram           @evolvingleader LinkedIn             The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter               @Evolving_Leader Bluesky            @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube           @evolvingleader   The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] with production by Phil Kerby [https://www.weareoutside.com/team#PhilKerby]. It is an Outside [https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader] production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1309339/open_sms]

In this bonus episode of The Evolving Leader, host Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] speaks with Damian Lowe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-lowe-7448502/], a senior software engineer at Symphony AI. They discuss how many of us have moved beyond the initial reactions to services like ChatGPT towards a current phase focused on experimenting, learning, and building. Damian shares that for programmers, AI tools like large language models (LLMs) are already providing a tangible 10-20% productivity gain for tasks like code suggestions and reviews, noting that both the technology and human adaptation are still maturing. However he adds that while AI excels at basic or medium tasks, its performance degrades quickly at higher complexity levels, often producing "nonsense," and he emphasizes that effective adaptation requires not just better prompting, but a crucial understanding of the difference between how machines "think" (based on probabilities) and how humans think.  Looking ahead, Damian is optimistic that within 3-5 years AI could make many jobs significantly easier, potentially reducing "grunt work" and fostering more creativity through effective human-machine collaboration. He underscores the importance for leaders in helping teams understand AI's capabilities and limits, encouraging experimentation, and stresses the need to maintain critical thinking and human skills alongside AI adoption. Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Linear-Innovation-Leadership-Jean-Gomes/dp/1119672724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3W0GTVZ3QX7&keywords=leading+in+a+nonlinear+world&qid=1698048316&sprefix=leading+in+a+non+linear+world%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1] The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enneagram-Emotional-Intelligence-Personal-Professional-ebook/dp/B0B6Q469ZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TTFDCHXWSVZD&keywords=Allender+enneagram&qid=1698048262&sprefix=allender+enneagram%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1] Social: Instagram           @evolvingleader  LinkedIn             The Evolving Leader Podcast  Twitter               @Evolving_Leader  YouTube           @evolvingleader   The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] with production by Phil Kerby [https://www.weareoutside.com/phil-kerby]. It is an Outside [https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader] production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1309339/open_sms]

This week on The Evolving Leader is a double celebration – after more than 4 years and 190 episodes, we are thrilled to release our first in-person episode where co-hosts Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] (usually sat thousands of miles apart) were together with guest, the renowned science writer Caroline Williams [https://www.carolinewilliams.net/]. Long term listeners will remember that we spoke to Caroline way back in season 2, and we are so pleased that Caroline agreed to come back and talk to us again, this time about her work around the science of interoception and her new book Inner Sense. Reading from Caroline Williams: Inner Sense: How the New Science of Interoception Can Transform Your Health [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-Sense-Science-Interoception-Transform/dp/1805222007/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IAQ6lnbShHytMyoQFGnjyQcRGPV9NRjK0Kt0T67iR3TGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.vbVEe-PVuna71I5LbrZ1FTCpCLObZ1nXINdbhFFckgM&qid=1745397660&sr=8-1] Move: How the New Science of Body Movement Can Set Your Mind Free [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Move-Science-Body-Movement-Your/dp/1335914048/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3RCK4E6TM8S3U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IAQ6lnbShHytMyoQFGnjyQcRGPV9NRjK0Kt0T67iR3TGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.vbVEe-PVuna71I5LbrZ1FTCpCLObZ1nXINdbhFFckgM&dib_tag=se&keywords=caroline+Williams+Inner+Sense&qid=1745397660&sprefix=caroline+williams+inner+sense%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-2] Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Linear-Innovation-Leadership-Jean-Gomes/dp/1119672724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3W0GTVZ3QX7&keywords=leading+in+a+nonlinear+world&qid=1698048316&sprefix=leading+in+a+non+linear+world%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1] The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enneagram-Emotional-Intelligence-Personal-Professional-ebook/dp/B0B6Q469ZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TTFDCHXWSVZD&keywords=Allender+enneagram&qid=1698048262&sprefix=allender+enneagram%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1] Social: Instagram           @evolvingleader LinkedIn             The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter               @Evolving_Leader Bluesky            @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube           @evolvingleader   The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] with production by Phil Kerby [https://www.weareoutside.com/team#PhilKerby]. It is an Outside [https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader] production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1309339/open_sms]

In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] talk to Nicky Lowe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/luminate/?originalSubdomain=uk].  Nicky started her career working for a Silicon Valley tech company during the lead up to Y2K, where the financial rewards were great but for many their own wellbeing was secondary. After having her first child Nicky experienced burnout on her return to work, as she says ‘underestimating the psychosocial factors that impact women - especially mothers in the workplace’. Nicky became extremely curious as to what had happened and as a result reimagined her approach to her career and motherhood - learning what it takes to thrive both as a leader, mother and woman and for the last 20 years, Nicky has been an executive coach specialising in helping her clients achieve success in their lives without sacrificing their health or wellbeing.    Referenced during this episode: https://luminate-group.co.uk/ [https://luminate-group.co.uk/] Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Non-Linear-Innovation-Leadership-Jean-Gomes/dp/1119672724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3E3W0GTVZ3QX7&keywords=leading+in+a+nonlinear+world&qid=1698048316&sprefix=leading+in+a+non+linear+world%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1] The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Enneagram-Emotional-Intelligence-Personal-Professional-ebook/dp/B0B6Q469ZZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TTFDCHXWSVZD&keywords=Allender+enneagram&qid=1698048262&sprefix=allender+enneagram%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1] Social: Instagram           @evolvingleader LinkedIn             The Evolving Leader Podcast Twitter               @Evolving_Leader Bluesky            @evolvingleader.bsky.social YouTube           @evolvingleader   The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes [https://www.weareoutside.com/team] and Scott Allender [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allender-4170465/] with production by Phil Kerby [https://www.weareoutside.com/phil-kerby]. It is an Outside [https://www.weareoutside.com/evolving-leader] production. Send a message to The Evolving Leader team [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1309339/open_sms]