Leadership and Wellbeing

Reflections on Carolyn Creswell: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work

In last week’s episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Carolyn Creswell, CEO of Carman’s. We delved into the fascinating world of purposeful leadership and self-awareness, exploring the concept of bringing the whole self to work. Today I’m breaking it down with you and talking about some of the evidence and the research behind the ideas we spoke on. I also share some practical tips to help you implement some of these ideas and enhance your own purposeful leadership. To start with, I discuss my thoughts around really understanding behaviour change themes. Carolyn spoke a fair bit about her self-awareness and how she's built that level of awareness through deep reflective practices about herself. She emphasised the importance of knowing oneself and how self-awareness and purpose-led leadership go hand in hand.  Carolyn spoke about the need to be mindful of how we show up every day and be deliberate about that. It's essential to create space in our busy lives to reflect on ourselves and how we want to show up. Rather than operating on autopilot, slowing down and creating that space for reflection allows us to make deliberate choices aligned with our values. So, let's make a conscious effort to pause, reflect and be intentional in our actions. One remarkable quality Carolyn embodies is courage. She has made tough choices throughout her career journey, and she attributes her courage to not being worried about others' judgement and practising self-compassion. Carolyn shared the concept of the art of the graceful "no," which Adam Grant explores in his work on disagreeable givers. By setting boundaries and being clear on what we will and won't commit to, we can prioritise the things that truly matter and avoid burnout. One aspect that stood out in our conversation was Carolyn's emphasis on using data to drive positive behaviour change. She shared examples of leveraging technology, such as Oura rings and DNA testing, to gather valuable insights about her own well-being. Collecting data allows us to make informed decisions and track progress over time. By combining data with regular measurement and feedback, we can make small, focused behaviour changes that enhance our overall wellbeing. By understanding our values, setting boundaries and being mindful of how we show up in the world, we’re able to be authentic and courageous in the many choices we must make as leaders. So join me as I dive deeper into the wonderful insights uncovered through my conversation with the inimitable Carolyn Creswell.  LINKS: Connect with Hayden: Websites: -  https://haydenfricke.com/ [https://haydenfricke.com/]  -  https://www.steople.com.au/ [https://www.steople.com.au/] -  APS College of Organisational Psychologists [https://groups.psychology.org.au/GroupOfficeBearers.aspx?ID=6124]   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/]

Using Data to Drive Wellbeing with Carolyn Creswell

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Carolyn Creswell, owner and CEO of Carman’s, one of Australia’s most successful food companies that specialises in breakfast foods and nutritional snacks. In this episode, we discuss the importance of using data to drive wellbeing and tracking our behaviour to help us make more informed choices. Carolyn emphasises the value of personalised medicine and the significance of taking care of ourselves, as it directly impacts our work, relationships and overall quality of life. At the age of only 18, Carolyn paid  $1,000 for a small, handmade muesli business called Carman's. Today, the business is estimated to be worth over $170 million, being stocked in major supermarkets and distributed in more than 35 countries around the world. Whilst it may look like an overnight success, it has taken 30 years of passion, energy and grit to get Carman’s to where it is today.  As an ambassador of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre and patron of St Kilda Gatehouse, Carolyn is committed to being and doing good with this one short life. She speaks about bringing her values into her work and home and how this drives her to create purposeful leadership. Self-awareness is key for Carolyn, and she shares how reflecting deeply on how she shows up every day impacts her decisions as a leader, mother, wife and friend.  For many leaders, prioritising their health and creating positive boundaries often falls by the wayside. We’re busy, and the demands of high performance leadership can pull us in many different directions. However, Carolyn believes that the incredible technology available to us can provide the data we need to track our health and establish a baseline for wellness. She encourages practical habits such as regular GP check ups and tracking our sleep patterns.  Whether it's work, relationships or pursuing our passions, being in good health is essential. Carolyn reminds us of the significance of taking care of ourselves to maintain a balance and effectively manage the different responsibilities and commitments in our lives. LINKS: Connect with Hayden: Websites: -  https://haydenfricke.com/ [https://haydenfricke.com/]  -  https://www.steople.com.au/ [https://www.steople.com.au/] -  APS College of Organisational Psychologists [https://groups.psychology.org.au/GroupOfficeBearers.aspx?ID=6124]   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/]

Reflections on LTGEN John Frewen: How to Recover From Burnout

When I sat down for an interview with Lieutenant General John Frewen, I had no idea the profound impact his story would have on me and my listeners. His willingness to share his personal experiences and the lessons he learned from them was truly humbling. In this episode, I want to go deeper into some of the key insights he shared and explore the research and evidence behind them. I also seek to provide practical tips for implementing these lessons and building new habits to support our well-being. John spoke about the importance of taking care of ourselves, even in high-pressure and demanding situations. This raises an important question about social norms and the concept of effort recovery. As leaders, it is essential to be aware of the existing norms and reflect on whether we want to follow them or make a different decision that prioritises our well-being and the well-being of our teams. To better understand the concept of effort recovery, I explored the effort recovery model described by Meijman & Mulder in 1998. This model suggests that after intense periods of effort, we need to build in recovery time. This recovery can occur on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis. Taking short breaks throughout the day, week, and year can help maintain performance and prevent a significant decline in productivity. It's not about working hard for a long time and then having a longer break; it's about regular, shorter breaks for better recovery. John also shared a compelling story from his time in the Solomon Islands, where he recognised the importance of taking action to prevent burnout. Taking care of your well-being before reaching the point of burnout is crucial. Establishing a strong baseline of physical, mental, and emotional fitness can help you bounce back more effectively during challenging times. Leaders, in particular, need to prioritise self-care and surround themselves with a supportive network that fosters both personal and professional well-being. Self-awareness emerged as a central theme throughout my conversation with John. It is the foundation for taking care of ourselves and making positive changes. The concept of self-awareness can be traced back to ancient philosopher Socrates, who famously said, "Know thyself." Increasing self-awareness requires us to pause, reflect, and understand our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Seeking feedback and being open to receiving it is another way to enhance our self-awareness. Truly listening and understanding feedback, even when it's not easy to hear, can lead to personal growth and self-improvement. Lieutenant General John Frewen's insights on recovering from burnout and prioritising well-being resonate deeply. By challenging social norms, implementing the effort recovery model, seeking support, dealing with trauma, and cultivating self-awareness, we can foster personal and professional growth. Let us take inspiration from John's story and make a conscious effort to prioritise our well-being and the well-being of those around us. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Thanks for the Feedback [https://amzn.to/46P6YgU] - Book Recovery Method - Meijman & Mulder Atlas of The Heart [https://amzn.to/4a4wbXh] Connect with Hayden: Websites: -  https://haydenfricke.com/ [https://haydenfricke.com/]  -  https://www.steople.com.au/ [https://www.steople.com.au/] -  APS College of Organisational Psychologists [https://groups.psychology.org.au/GroupOfficeBearers.aspx?ID=6124]   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/]

Why Knowing Yourself is Important with LTGEN John Frewen

Today, I'm very excited to be interviewing a wonderful human being, Lieutenant General John Frewen. With more than four decades in the Australian Defence Force, John has an incredible story and a long history in key leadership roles. In this episode, John shares his thoughts around maintaining physical and mental wellbeing in high stress environments, and why knowing yourself is crucial to sustain great leadership.  After graduating from the Royal Military College at Duntroon in 1986, John went on to command operations in Rwanda, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan amongst others. He led troops from different countries Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for exceptional performance during operations as the Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in 2003, John is now also Chief of Joint Capabilities of the Australian Defence Force as of 2021. In discussing wellbeing within teams, John recounts a touching story from a time of working 18 hour days while stationed in the Solomon Islands. On recognising his extreme fatigue, his subordinates intervened and made arrangements for him to take a break and recover. This taught him a valuable lesson in prioritising wellbeing, and John discusses how he now views it as a necessity, rather than a nice-to-have.  John's experiences highlight the significance of addressing trauma in the workplace. He advocates for psychological support, sharing how ADF's mandatory sessions with psychologists provide a platform for reconciliation and early intervention. We discuss the need to destigmatise such services, likening psychological help to having a personal trainer for the mind. Perhaps the most poignant part of the conversation was John's description of his time in Rwanda. Encountering the aftermath of genocide, he learned the effectiveness of group discussions in expressing emotions and shared experiences, fostering healing. He has employed this strategy in various leadership roles since. John was incredibly open about his learnings through extremely trying times, and his story serves as a powerful testament to the interconnection between leadership and wellbeing—two elements that must be mindfully balanced for true success in any field. LINKS: Connect with Hayden: Websites: -  https://haydenfricke.com/ [https://haydenfricke.com/]  -  https://www.steople.com.au/ [https://www.steople.com.au/] -  APS College of Organisational Psychologists [https://groups.psychology.org.au/GroupOfficeBearers.aspx?ID=6124]   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/]

Reflections on Paul Lacy: How Self-Awareness Makes You a Better Leader

I really enjoyed last week’s episode with Paul Lacy, and appreciated how incredibly raw he was in sharing his insights and learnings from his leadership journey thus far. In this episode, I break down the key takeaways and practical tips from the conversation with Paul, shedding light on the importance of self-awareness, building high-performance teams and nurturing your wellbeing. Paul emphasised the significance of habits and the role of awareness in transforming them. We discussed the concept of catastrophizing, where many of us tend to blow issues out of proportion, leading to unnecessary stress. Paul's journey into cognitive psychology and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) taught him that thoughts and emotions aren't set in stone. You can choose to change them, and small, deliberate habits can make a big difference. Paul shared how managing his diary strategically transformed his daily life. By dedicating time to reflection and minimising back-to-back meetings, he created space for focus and well-being. This practice aligns with Stephen Covey's important versus urgent work and Cyril Peupion's insights from "Work Smarter, Live Better." I talk about the importance of creating blank space in your calendar in order to enhance your leadership and wellbeing.  Paul spoke about doing a 360 degree assessment to increase his self-awareness. While there was some feedback that was quite confronting and provoked emotion in him, he took it as an opportunity to get curious and develop further as a leader. This is key in having the capacity to build a high-performing team, something that Paul values as crucial in achieving success. His openness to feedback and his curious mindset have been instrumental in his growth as a leader and has aided his personal development. As I dive deeper into the poignant moments of my conversation with Paul, I hope you are inspired to take the lessons he’s learnt and apply them to your own journey of growth in leadership.  LINKS: Connect with Hayden: Websites: -  https://haydenfricke.com/ [https://haydenfricke.com/]  -  https://www.steople.com.au/ [https://www.steople.com.au/] -  APS College of Organisational Psychologists [https://groups.psychology.org.au/GroupOfficeBearers.aspx?ID=6124]   LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-fricke/]