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What does it really take to become a top employer in today’s world of work?

In this episode, Gerry Murray talks to Ammara Naeem, Client Experience Director at the Top Employers Institute, about what smart HR leaders are doing differently to stay ahead, from systems thinking to AI-powered leadership.

In this fascinating conversation, you'll learn:

• What top employers are doing that others aren’t
• Why HR needs to speak the language of the business
• Gen Z, talent fluidity, and the rise of the “new collar” workforce
• The link between employee and customer experience
• How to prove the value of learning, development, and culture to the C-suite

Ammara shares practical insights from working with 2,400+ certified employers across the globe and explains why empathy still wins in uncertain times.

Curious?

🎧 Listen to the full conversation now to discover what others are doing.

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In this episode…

How often do you hit send on an email without considering how your words might land with the recipient?

Leadership communication carries emotional weight, and without the benefit of facial expressions or body language, your carefully crafted emails can easily be misinterpreted.

This episode tackles a deceptively simple yet powerful leadership practice.

When you're in a position of leadership, your words carry extra weight and get amplified throughout your team.

That quick message about a missed deadline or that feedback on a project might seem straightforward to you, but how will it make your reader feel? Will they perceive your tone as supportive or critical? Clear or confusing?

The most effective leaders understand that clarity is kindness and can transform routine communication into a meaningful connection. Remember, you're not being bossy when you're specific about what you need - you're being helpful.

Every email you send as a leader is a "moment of truth" for your leadership style and values. By applying the simple practices in this episode of One Simple Thing, you can ensure your communications build trust rather than erode it.

Curious?

🎧 Listen to this 5-minute tip on how to write emails that don’t just get read, but get results.

Connect with me on LinkedIn to share how this approach has transformed your workplace communications, and subscribe for more Leading People episodes of One Simple Thing that can make a significant difference in your leadership journey.

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In this episode…

What makes some leaders genuinely inspiring while others leave us frustrated and disengaged?

In this transformative conversation with Columbia Business School's Professor Adam Galinsky, we discuss his latest book: Inspire – The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others

Along the way, we uncover the hidden psychology that determines whether you'll inspire or infuriate the people around you.

Adam reveals the "Inspire-Infuriate Continuum"—a powerful framework showing how every interaction we have falls somewhere on this spectrum.

Through compelling stories and research-backed insights, he demonstrates how life naturally slants us toward the infuriating end but offers clear pathways back to inspiration.

The conversation takes fascinating turns through real-world examples, from the contrasting leadership styles during two famous crises to how a simple coffee machine placement can transform organizational culture.

Adam shares the three universal factors that determine our position on the continuum.

Perhaps most eye-opening is the "Leader Amplification Effect". To illustrate this, Adam recounts how Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman's offhand criticism devastated him as a student, while a simple compliment weeks later has sustained him for decades.

This awareness of our impact as leaders becomes the foundation for designing more inspiring interactions.

The discussion provides practical strategies for moving toward the inspiring end of the spectrum.

Adam's insights extend beyond traditional leadership contexts - executives report becoming better spouses, parents, and friends by applying these universal principles.

Ready to transform your impact on others?

🎧 Listen now to discover the universal path for bringing out the best in yourself and everyone around you.

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In this episode…

Taking back control of your inbox might be the most important productivity shift you make as a leader.

Have you noticed how email has transformed from a helpful tool into the central focus of your workday? That subtle shift has massive consequences for your effectiveness, focus, and the example you set for your team.

In this actionable One Simple Thing episode, I tackle the modern challenge of email addiction that's plaguing knowledge workers everywhere. We've normalized checking messages before breakfast, during meetings, and sometimes even in the bathroom!

This constant reactivity comes with serious costs: increased anxiety, decision fatigue, fragmented attention, and ultimately, lower quality work. As leaders, we're not just managing our own productivity – we're modeling behaviors that our teams will likely adopt.

The solution doesn't require complex systems or productivity hacks. I share four straightforward strategies that have transformed how I handle over 30 emails in under 10 minutes most mornings.

You'll learn how to establish strategic checkpoints throughout your day, implement a quick-response system, block focused time for thoughtful replies, and set clear expectations with colleagues.

The key insight?

Email should serve your priorities, not the other way around.

This small shift delivers outsized benefits:

• reduced stress
• improved focus
• better work quality
• and the powerful example of intentional leadership.

Small steps truly can lead to big changes.

Curious?

🎧 Listen now and take back control of your day...

Test out implementing just one of these strategies this week and notice the difference in your day.

I'd love to hear how it transforms your approach – connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know your results!

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In this episode…

Margaret Heffernan joins the Leading People podcast to challenge our dangerous addiction to certainty and predictability. Drawing from her latest book "Embracing Uncertainty," she reveals why the traditional management approach - forecast, plan, execute - is fundamentally broken in today's volatile world. When the first leg of this three-legged stool collapses, everything else follows.

What makes this conversation so compelling is Margaret's unique perspective, bridging her experience as a CEO with deep research into how creative professionals - writers, musicians, filmmakers, artists - naturally thrive in uncertainty. These creators don't just tolerate the unknown; they actively seek it out as the fertile ground where breakthroughs happen. The stark contrast with today's corporate environments is telling: we're producing highly credentialed professionals who excel at following instructions but freeze when asked to navigate ambiguity.

Margaret offers practical wisdom for leaders wanting to break free from this trap. She examines how WL Gore's elegant three-question innovation framework makes idea development accessible to everyone, why performance management systems often strangle creativity, and how companies can build innovation into their everyday operations rather than relegating it to specialized departments. Her insights on efficiency are particularly provocative.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing technology and AI.

Margaret cuts through the hype with characteristic clarity, questioning whether these tools will deliver the promised benefits and examining the often-overlooked costs. Her perspective isn't anti-technology but rather a call for technology that genuinely serves human flourishing rather than diminishing it.

Curious?

Whether you're facing uncertainty in your leadership role, struggling with innovation challenges, or simply curious about how to thrive in an unpredictable world, this episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance.

Subscribe to Leading People and join our LinkedIn community to continue the conversation about embracing uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat.

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Check out Margaret's Substack: On the Level

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Step into the revolutionary intersection of neuroscience and leadership with Professor Patricia Riddell and Ian McDermott as they shatter outdated brain myths and reveal how understanding neuroscience transforms leadership effectiveness.

Most leaders operate on brain models that are 60-65 years out of date. This knowledge gap isn't just academic – it directly impacts how we develop talent, make decisions, and build organizational capacity.

Patricia and Ian introduce "neuro-effective leadership," a groundbreaking approach that applies cutting-edge neuroscience to practical leadership challenges.

Neuroplasticity emerges as the game-changing concept every leader needs to understand. Leaders who understand neuroplasticity see potential differently – not as a fixed attribute to be measured, but as a capacity that can be systematically developed through the right experiences.

The conversation reveals surprising insights about how our brains handle tasks versus relationships.

We also explore how understanding empathy as a structured cognitive skill rather than a vague "soft skill" provides practical techniques for creating psychological safety while maintaining accountability.

Patricia and Ian's upcoming book "Neuro-Effective Leadership" will be published by Routledge in June 2025, with pre-registration available in May.

Connect with them on LinkedIn to learn about their Applied Neuroscience program (get a special offer) and discover how understanding your brain can transform your leadership capacity.

Curious?

If you want to lead more effectively, build better relationships, and create a leadership style that truly works for you and your teams, this episode is packed with practical neuroscience-backed insights you can apply immediately.

🎧 Tune in now and start leading with more choice, clarity, and confidence!

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Ever found yourself putting off an important task—only to scramble at the last minute?

Procrastination isn’t just about being lazy. It’s a deeply ingrained habit fueled by brain chemistry, energy, and even our personal values. And if you’re in a leadership role, the stakes are even higher.

In this episode of One Simple Thing, we break down:

✔️ Why procrastination happens (it’s not what you think!)

✔️ How our brains trick us into avoiding important work

✔️ What Enjoyment-Performance Theory reveals about our motivation

✔️ Four simple strategies to take back control

✔️ Why managing procrastination isn’t just about time management

Curious?

🎧 Listen now—and stop putting things off for later.

What are you waiting for? 😉

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In this episode…

We challenge traditional views of midlife and explore how this phase can be a powerful transition for leaders.

Aneace Haddad, a former tech CEO and an executive coach with extensive experience, invites listeners to rethink what it means to lead in the second half of life. He examines the cognitive shifts that occur as people enter their 40s and beyond, revealing that this period often marks the emergence of unique leadership superpowers that younger leaders may not yet possess.

Through engaging storytelling and practical advice, Aneace illustrates how leaders in midlife can embrace ambiguity and let go of the need for the granular detail-oriented thinking that served them well in their youth.

Instead, he emphasizes the importance of big-picture strategic thinking, collaboration, and fostering a supportive environment where every team member can thrive.

Aneace's insights shine a light on the positives of aging, reframing the concept of resilience into a joyful and rejuvenating process.

Listeners looking to enhance their leadership approach will find this episode rich in resources and inspiration, encouraging personal reflection and growth.

Whether you are in midlife or simply interested in understanding leadership evolution, Aneace's wisdom will resonate with anyone striving to improve their impact in the workplace.

Curious?

Join us in embracing the beauty of growth at any age, and let’s celebrate the incredible potential that emerges through experience.

Remember to visit Aneace.com to connect with Aneace and explore his work!

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