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Ever asked ChatGPT a question, looked at its response and thought… “This isn’t what I wanted”?

In this episode of One Simple Thing…

Gerry Murray reveals why so many AI prompts fail - and what to do instead. Discover how to brief AI tools like ChatGPT as you would a colleague, so they become your assistant, not your replacement.

You’ll learn:

• The six essentials of a good AI brief
• Why vague prompts produce vague outputs
• How to turn AI into a productivity partner (not a frustration machine)

Curious?

🎧 Listen now and transform your AI results with this simple leadership tip.

This is part of the One Simple Thing mini-series on using AI to lead better while staying human.

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In this episode…

How do you prove the value of your people programs when budgets are tight and leaders demand evidence?

This week's guest is Dr. Alaina Szlachta, author of the book Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring.

In this illuminating conversation, Alaina shares practical approaches to measurement and evaluation that don't require a PhD in statistics or massive resources.

Drawing from her experience across corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, Alaina reveals why data literacy is the foundation of effective evaluation. She explains how her journey from "data-phobic" to "data enthusiast" shaped her practical approach to demonstrating impact with limited resources.

The game-changing "Impact Hypothesis" framework Alaina shares creates a logical chain connecting learning programs to business outcomes, without requiring complex statistical analysis. Rather than attempting to prove perfect causation (which is nearly impossible in complex organisations), she demonstrates how to identify meaningful correlations and trends that reveal program effectiveness.

Most provocatively, Alaina addresses the paradox many organisations face: leaders want ROI data from learning initiatives but fail to provide the resources needed to gather it.

Her "build, borrow, buy" strategy offers practical ways to leverage existing organisational assets to overcome this challenge.

For HR professionals tired of fighting for budget without evidence, and business leaders questioning the value of people investments, this conversation offers a refreshing middle path.

Alaina's approach makes measurement accessible to everyone, transforming L&D from a cost centre to a strategic driver of organisational success.

Curious?

🎧 Listen now

Connect with Alaina on LinkedIn and mention this podcast to receive a special gift.

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Ever wonder if your message is landing the way you intend?

In this episode of One Simple Thing…

You'll discover how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to refine your writing, without losing your human voice.

This isn’t about outsourcing your message. It’s about coaching yourself to be clearer, more intentional, and more confident in what you write and send to others.

You'll learn:

• How AI can act as your writing mirror
• The power of asking better questions
• Why AI doesn’t replace your voice - it sharpens it

Curious?

🎧 Listen now and test this out for yourself.

This is part of our One Simple Thing Mini-Series on using AI to become a better leader - while staying human.

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In this episode…

Gerry Murray speaks with organisational psychologist and Chief Scientist at AIHR, Dieter Veldsman, about how to redesign work for a more human future.

Drawing on his new book Work for Humans, Dieter shares why employee experience (EX) is much more than a buzzword, and how to make it a philosophy, a process, and a practice.

Together, they discuss:

• Why EX is now a core leadership issue, not just an HR function

• How to measure EX meaningfully — without making it overly soft or overly rigid

• The role of technology in either amplifying or eroding human experience

• Why frontline workers must be central to any EX strategy

• How EX links to organisational design, trust, inclusion, and long-term performance

This is a manifesto for leaders and HR professionals who want to build workplaces where people — and businesses — thrive.

Curious?

🎧 Listen to the full conversation now to discover how to do this.

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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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