Being aware of how we 'show up' in our workplaces, how we interact with our colleagues and what our bodies are telling us in even the most seemingly trivial interactions (am I anxious, tense, relaxed, energised?) is, at least in our experience, a critical set of skills for anyone practicing leadership - at any level.

What if we told you that acquiring this most valuable of skills can be found in the paddock, by exploring your connection with a horse?

Jackie Smith is Founder and Lead Facilitator at The Wisdom of the Horse, an organisation providing deep, experiential learning programs for leadership and team development. Jackie joined Paul & KG for a wonderful conversation unpacking the benefits of experiential learning and how working with horses can unlock and deepen learning for both, individuals and teams, helping build trust and genuine connections with each other. It was an insightful, energising and inspiring conversation.

And on this occasion, our friends at Annandale Cellars provided an exquisite French chardonnay (very much in the Chablis style, though not strictly from the Chablis region). Nevertheless, it was a gorgeous, crisp wine, which really carried the full flavour of the chardonnay grape. It was a 2021 Christophe Patrice Chardonnay. Do yourself a favour and stock up for the warmer months!

Sláinte friends!

Some useful resources from this episode:

1. The Wisdom of the Horse
2. Jackie Smith's Website

We're keen to hear what you thought of this conversation. Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

Whatever tickles your fancy, we'd love to hear from you!!

Do you ever feel like things are getting just a little too 'noisy' for you? Maybe you're juggling too many things at work, or change is coming at you at increasing speeds and frequency, or maybe 'doom scrolling' is taking its toll?

Experiences of cognitive load are being increasingly reported in the workplace. It is a real thing that can create high levels of instability in people's experiences of work and workplace relationships. People in leadership positions want to show support for people's physical and mental wellbeing, but the work still needs to get done.

So how can people actually pull away and give themselves some space to rest and replenish, given the pressures of the working environment?

In this Cheeky Half Paul and KG discuss this potential conundrum and throw around some half-baked thoughts and ideas that might provide some insight. Maybe. If not, there's always Meatloaf.

Join us and let us know what you think!

We'd love to hear what you thought of this conversation.

Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

In some ways, the word 'Culture' is as difficult to define as one of our other favourite words, 'Leadership'. A number of competing definitions abound, but what seems common to many of our experiences is that, whilst a clear and concise definition may not always roll off the tongue, we certainly seem very clear when we see or experience 'bad' culture. Research increasingly suggests there are clear correlations in organisational outcomes that map to the health of any culture in an organisation - healthy or poor.

But how do we know whether your organisation's culture is going to support or hinder your strategic objectives? How can we clearly measure its health, aside from our own 'gut feel'? And what responsibility can organisational leaders exercise in the cultivation of healthy cultures? Enter Quentin Jones.

Quentin lives and breathes organisational culture. With a deep and expert research lens, he measures the health of cultures so as to provide opportunities for remediation, enhancement and growth. Join Paul & KG as they wrap their heads around how a fuzzy term like 'culture' can actually be a driving force for healthy and productive teams and, by extension, organisations.

On this occasion, our friends at Annandale Cellars provided an exquisite Australian blend from Soul Growers in the Barossa Valley. The 2022 Soul Growers Equilibrium is, as its moniker suggests, a perfect blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mataro. It is big and plummy, with a fruity, velvety mouthfeel. Go get some!

Sláinte friends!

Some useful resources from this episode:

1. The Culture Capital Group

We're keen to hear what you thought of this conversation. Please let us know through either of the options below.

Please reach out on askus@leadershipdecanted.com or visit us at www.leadershipdecanted.com

Disagree or agree with anything we've said? How wrong are we?!? Are there any leadership topics you'd like us to discuss (or perhaps other books or podcasts that might set us straight!)? Maybe you'd like to recommend a favourite wine!

Whatever tickles your fancy, we'd love to hear from you!!