Thriving Leaders Podcast

Claire Gray
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Hosted by Claire Gray, Leadership & Team Coach and Facilitator, this podcast is here to support you as a leader, no matter what your experience level, with bite-sized leadership learnings. Packed with practical tools, tips, actions and insights, that you can immediately apply, so you can lead confidently now.

  1. Working with People You Don't Agree With, Like, or Trust with Adam Kahane

    5 HRS AGO

    Working with People You Don't Agree With, Like, or Trust with Adam Kahane

    Most of us know the feeling. There's someone at the table we don't agree with, don't particularly like, or don't quite trust, and the situation isn't going away. Whether it's a difficult peer, a misaligned executive, a stakeholder relationship that's gone a bit stale, or a cross-functional partnership that feels like it's going nowhere, the instinct is often the same: work around it, avoid it, or wait it out. And as Adam Kahane will tell you, that rarely works. Adam Kahane is founding partner of Reos Partners, a global organisation specialising in collaborative approaches to complex challenges. Over more than 35 years, he has worked in over 50 countries supporting governments, corporations, and civil society through some of the world's most difficult situations, from the democratic transition in post-apartheid South Africa to peace processes in Colombia. He is the author of six books, including the newly revised Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don't Agree with or Like or Trust (Second Edition, 2025), which carries a foreword from Nobel Peace Laureate Juan Manuel Santos. Nelson Mandela described his earlier work as addressing "the central challenge of our time: finding a way to work together to solve the problems we have created". In this conversation, Adam unpacks why working across difference is becoming harder just as it's becoming more essential, and what leaders can actually do about it. We explore his concept of "enemyfying", the limits of conventional collaboration, and why the real breakthrough in any difficult collaboration is rarely about changing the other person. In this episode, we cover: Why our capacity to work across difference is declining just as the need for it is increasing, and what's driving that gap What "enemyfying" actually means, why we all do it, and why it's such an unhelpful starting point for getting anything done The difference between conventional collaboration and stretch collaboration, and how to know which one your situation actually calls for Why telling people to "think of the whole" or "leave your interests at the door" is often unrealistic, and in many cases manipulative How complexity and conflict change the rules of collaboration entirely The four options we have in any difficult situation, and why collaboration is just one of them What Adam calls "The Click", the turning point moment that shifts a stuck group toward real progress The most practical thing you can do when you're tempted to keep telling someone they're wrong I loved Adam's framing that working with people we don't agree with, like, or trust is not a new idea at all. What's new is how much we've retreated from it, and how much the quality of our leadership, our teams, and our organisations depends on us getting better at it again. If this conversation resonated, share it with a leader or team navigating a difficult stakeholder relationship, a silo situation, or a collaboration that feels more stuck than it should be.

    54 min
  2. Rebecca Sutherns on Team Alignment, Strategy, and Smarter Decisions

    27 APR

    Rebecca Sutherns on Team Alignment, Strategy, and Smarter Decisions

    What if your team is using the same words, but imagining completely different futures? This conversation is a powerful reminder that alignment is not about sameness, it is about helping people see clearly, think together, and move forward with intention. In this episode, I’m joined by Rebecca Sutherns, trusted advisor, bestselling author, master facilitator, certified coach, and someone I deeply admire for the way she helps people unlock courage, clarity and momentum. With more than 25 years of experience, Rebecca works with mission-driven organisations to help leaders reimagine what’s next and get aligned on what matters most. In our conversation, we explore what it really takes to get people “watching the same movie” in teams and organisations. Rebecca shares why strategy needs more imagination, why leaders need to get clearer about the problem they are actually solving, and why waiting for perfect information can become the very thing that keeps teams stuck. This is such an important conversation right now because so many leaders are navigating complexity, competing perspectives, and decision fatigue. Rebecca brings a grounded, practical lens to all of it, and I think you’ll walk away with fresh ways to lead better conversations and better decisions. Let’s dive in. In this episode, we cover: Why teams can use the same words but still be picturing completely different futuresHow to create a vivid shared vision, not just another polished vision statementWhy “what problem are we solving?” is one of the most important questions a leader can askHow to clarify decision-making criteria before people get attached to their preferred solutionWhy waiting for full information is often just a stall tactic in disguiseHow facilitation slows teams down at the beginning so they can move faster laterWhy thriving teams do not just predict the future, they help create it I loved this conversation because Rebecca puts language to something so many leaders experience but struggle to name. My favorite part was her reminder that alignment is not about making everyone the same, it is about making thinking visible so people can understand each other, challenge well, and move forward with intention. The future does not just happen to teams. The strongest teams help shape it. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a leader, facilitator or executive team who is working through complexity and trying to make better decisions together.

    52 min
  3. Creativity is Not a Luxury, Building Creative Confidence with Paul Fairweather

    13 APR

    Creativity is Not a Luxury, Building Creative Confidence with Paul Fairweather

    So many leaders are not short of ideas. What they are short of is space, confidence, and permission to bring those ideas to life. In fast-moving workplaces, creativity can feel like something we will get to later, but as Paul Fairweather reminds us in this conversation, later rarely comes. In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Fairweather, creative leadership speaker, workplace culture facilitator, former CEO of a 55-person architectural practice, award-winning architect, artist, and author of Bold, Brave, and A Bit Quirky. Paul helps leaders and teams reconnect with their creative confidence, not as a nice-to-have, but as a vital capability for problem-solving, connection, and innovation in a world increasingly shaped by AI. In our conversation, we explore what creativity really means, why so many capable people don’t see themselves as creative, and how leaders can create the conditions for more original thinking at work. We also unpack the tension between AI and human creativity, why uncertainty is part of the creative process, and what practical leaders can do to build more creative, thriving teams. This is such an important conversation right now, because in a world that is becoming faster, noisier, and more automated, the human skills of curiosity, creativity, courage, and connection matter more than ever. In this episode, we cover: Why creativity is often misunderstood, and why it is about far more than artHow Paul defines creativity as identifying potential or opportunity, then fostering its developmentWhat leaders can learn from staying longer in uncertainty, instead of rushing too quickly to clarityThe difference between using AI as a helpful tool, versus using it as a substitute for original thoughtWhy many adults have had their creative confidence diminished over time, and how to rebuild itHow simple, practical exercises can help teams think differently and unlock fresh ideasWhat thriving teams need in order to create, connect, and contribute more meaningfully together I loved Paul’s reminder that creativity is not just about ideas, it is also about the courage to do something with them. Thriving teams are not built by speed alone. They are built when leaders create enough safety, space, and confidence for people to think, experiment, and contribute in more meaningful ways. Creativity thrives when leaders make space for uncertainty, not just answers. If this episode resonated, share it with a leader, teammate, or creative thinker who needs a reminder that their ideas still matter. Until next time, keep leading with curiosity and heart.

    40 min
  4. Collaboration, Prioritisation and Breaking Down Silos with Dr. Heidi Gardner

    30 MAR

    Collaboration, Prioritisation and Breaking Down Silos with Dr. Heidi Gardner

    Many leaders know collaboration matters, but far fewer have figured out how to make it work across silos, competing priorities, and complex stakeholder relationships. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Heidi Gardner, Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School, former Harvard Business School professor, Thinkers50 ranked thought leader, and co-author of Smart Collaboration and Smarter Collaboration. In this conversation, we explore what smarter collaboration really looks like in today’s workplace, and why working across boundaries is both more necessary and more difficult than ever. Heidi shares practical insights on trust, healthy conflict, over-collaboration, stakeholder alignment, and the leadership behaviours that create the conditions for innovation and high performance. In this episode, we cover: Why hyper-specialisation makes collaboration harder, just as the problems leaders face become more complex and multidisciplinary The importance of starting with a shared goal and being clear on each person’s role How over-collaboration drains time, energy, and trust in the very idea of collaboration Why conflict is not the problem, but unmanaged conflict is The difference between competence trust and character trust, and why both matter How leaders can create space for challenge, curiosity, and better decision-making under pressure Navigating collaboration within your team and cross-functional collaboration Practical ways to align with stakeholders, navigate conflicting priorities, and communicate progress toward big goals I loved Heidi’s reminder that collaboration is not about involving everyone in everything. It is about being intentional, drawing on the right expertise at the right moment, and creating enough trust for people to challenge each other without tipping into relationship conflict. Which is especially important in the complex environments teams are operating in. Smarter collaboration is not more collaboration, it’s better collaboration. If this episode resonated, share it with a leader or team who are navigating silos, stakeholder tension, or the complexity of cross-functional work. Links: ⁠Smart Collaboration⁠⁠Smarter Collaboration ⁠⁠Collaborating with GenAI: Lessons from Heineken’s Use of the “PowerBot”⁠⁠Using GenAI as a Collaborative Teammate

    51 min
  5. Your Team Is Not Disengaged. They Don’t Feel Like They Matter with Zach Mercurio

    16 MAR

    Your Team Is Not Disengaged. They Don’t Feel Like They Matter with Zach Mercurio

    Many leaders are working hard to build cultures of trust, connection, and performance, yet people still leave work feeling unseen, overlooked, or undervalued. In this conversation, I sat down with Zach Mercurio, researcher, speaker, leadership development facilitator, and author of The Power of Mattering and The Invisible Leader, to explore why the need to matter is so fundamental to how we experience work and leadership.  What I loved about this conversation is that Zach brings together deep research with practical leadership insight. We explore why mattering is more than belonging or inclusion, how meaningful work is shaped through everyday interactions, and why psychological safety may actually be mattering in disguise. This is such an important conversation for leaders who want to build thriving teams where people feel seen, heard, valued, and needed.  In this episode, we cover:  (00:00) – Introduction   (00:46) – Introduction to Zach Mercurio  (02:20) – Why mattering is a fundamental human need  (03:05) – The research behind meaningful work  (35:23) – Belonging vs inclusion vs mattering  (37:08) – Why do perks not matter  (37:33) – Mattering and psychological safety  (39:05) – How leaders become a secure base  (44:47) – Recognition vs affirmation  (45:13) – How to help people see their unique contribution  (53:04) – The one question leaders should ask their team  (53:52) – Final Thoughts  This is a refreshing reminder that people do not just want to belong, they want to know they are significant. They want to feel seen, heard, valued, and needed, and when that happens, it changes how they show up, how they contribute, and how safe they feel to learn, speak up, and grow. It also made me reflect on how easy it is for leaders to focus on structure, process, and performance, while overlooking the small daily moments that communicate care and value. This conversation is a reminder that thriving teams are built in those moments. When people feel that they matter, they act like they matter. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a leader who is trying to build a more human, grounded, and psychologically safe team.

    56 min
  6. AI Is Moving Fast. Are Leaders Ready? Here’s what you need to know!

    2 MAR

    AI Is Moving Fast. Are Leaders Ready? Here’s what you need to know!

    There is a lot of noise right now about artificial intelligence. Excitement. Fear. Big predictions about job losses. Quiet uncertainty in leadership teams.  If you’re wondering what AI actually means for your team, your culture, and your role as a leader, this episode is essential listening.  I’m joined by Dawid Naude, Founder and CEO of Pathfinder, Australia’s leading AI accelerator and an official service partner to OpenAI across Australia and New Zealand. Dawid is one of the region’s most respected AI educators, known for translating complex technology into real world business impact.  AI is not just changing what teams can do, it is changing what leadership exposes. Dawid unpacks what’s just shifted, AI agents that can act inside your tools, and why this will amplify your leadership habits, good and bad. We also explore the risks most people are not talking about yet, and what thriving teams will need if they want to stay human in a world that is accelerating.  This is a grounded and practical conversation about leading through one of the biggest shifts of our time.  In this episode, we cover:  (00:00) – Introduction (00:45) – Introduction to Dawid Naude (03:59) – The rise of AI agents and what “AI with hands” means for workflows and decision-making (08:13) – Whether entry-level white-collar jobs are really at risk, and what history teaches us about automation (11:16) – Why human judgement, curiosity, and accountability will become even more valuable (12:13) – Why AI is no longer just a productivity tool, but a strategic thought partner for leaders (19:54) – Data privacy myths and the real risks leaders should understand (26:18) – How AI could impact psychological safety, collaboration, and team dynamics (29:57) – The critical leadership capability of using AI for reflection, self-awareness, and empathy (35:00) – The tools leaders should explore now, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot (47:58) – Final thoughts  What I loved about this chat was the tools and how to effectively use them. I’ve walked away with a list of things I’m wanting our team to put in place, including connecting systems, using AI as a strategic thought partner in different ways.    If leaders only use AI to draft emails or summarise meetings, we are missing the opportunity. The real power lies in using AI to stretch our thinking, challenge our assumptions, and hold up a mirror to our leadership behaviours.  And yet, this technology also tests us. It asks whether we will become more disconnected from each other, or more intentional about human connection.  Thriving teams in the age of AI will not be built on efficiency alone. They will be built on clarity, curiosity, accountability, and human leadership.    If this conversation sparked new ideas for you, share it with another leader navigating the future of work. And if you are exploring how to build a thriving, future ready team, this episode is a powerful place to begin.    Until next time, keep leading with curiosity and heart.

    50 min
  7. Process Thinking: Rethinking Productivity and Remote Leadership

    16 FEB

    Process Thinking: Rethinking Productivity and Remote Leadership

    In a world where remote work and high-performance teams are no longer optional, how do leaders build trust, accountability and culture without control? I’m joined by Ryan Griffin, Managing Director of Chunky Duck (remote‑first digital agency), where empowerment, transparency and asynchronous communication aren’t just buzzwords, they are the backbone of a thriving team built for growth and adaptability. Ryan’s leadership approach champions process thinking, psychological safety, and outcomes-focused autonomy. This episode speaks directly to leaders that want to thrive across any geography or structure, without micromanagement. In this episode, we cover: (00:00)– Introduction (00:45) – Introduction to Ryan Griffin (05:13) – The remote-first model at Chunky Duck (07:00) – What process thinking really is and why it matters for remote teams (12: 33) – Why marginal gains matter more than perfection, and how small cultural shifts compound into big impact (18:03) – How psychological safety fuels trust, creativity and team performance (21:32) — What leaders everywhere can learn about asynchronous communication, empowerment, and autonomy (29:45) – How to move thinking from billable utilisation to effective utilisation and outcomes (32:53) – Where AI enhances internal workflows without replacing people or culture (35:05) – Final Thoughts This episode crystalised for me the importance of designing culture intentionally, not accidentally. The way Ryan describes empowerment and autonomy isn’t abstract; it’s a strategic leadership lever that aligns closely with how organisations build leadership capability and high-trust cultures. Leaders who invest in psychological safety, clear process frameworks, and autonomy see not just performance gains, but sustainable engagement, ownership and innovation. Leading well means trusting people with clarity, not controlling every action. About Ryan Griffin Ryan Griffin is Managing Director of Chunky Duck — a fully remote Australian-owned digital agency specialising in strategy, creative and performance marketing services. Their approach emphasises independence, transparency, asynchronous communication and empowerment, showing how distributed teams can deliver exceptional results without office-centric structures. Link/s: Website: https://chunkyduck.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealchunkyduck/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffinryan/ If you lead teams, build culture, or support leaders, share this episode with someone shaping remote or hybrid work environments. Follow the Thriving Leaders Podcast for more insights on building psychologically safe, high-performing teams that thrive through trust, clarity and purpose. Visit thrivingculture.com.au to explore leadership development, team alignment programs, coaching and strategic culture design.

    36 min
  8. From Elevator Pitches to Origin Stories: Storytelling Tools Every Leader Needs

    2 FEB

    From Elevator Pitches to Origin Stories: Storytelling Tools Every Leader Needs

    What if your leadership message could be clear, memorable, and deeply human—all in under 60 seconds?  In this episode, we’re joined by Erin O’Dwyer, award-winning journalist, narrative strategist, and founder of Good Prose Studio. With a career spanning major mastheads like The Guardian, Vogue, and Australian Geographic, Erin now works with leaders, founders and authors to shape stories that influence and inspire.  This conversation is a masterclass in practical storytelling for leaders. Erin breaks down what makes a great elevator pitch, why your origin story matters more than your resume, and how clear communication can elevate trust, credibility , and connection within your team.  Whether you’re speaking to a board, running a team meeting, or introducing yourself at a conference, this episode will help you articulate who you are, what you stand for, and why it matters.  In this episode, we cover:  – How to distil your elevator pitch into one post-it note  – The difference between storytelling and strategy (and why leaders need both)  – Why origin stories are powerful even when they feel “ordinary”  – The storytelling structures that help leaders communicate with impact  – Why clarity and simplicity should guide your communication style  – The risks of internal and external narrative misalignment  – How storytelling fosters trust, alignment, and performance  What stayed with me most was Erin’s belief that every leader has a story worth telling. And not just any story—but one that signals what you care about, what you stand for, and how you show up. When we share that story with clarity and courage, we build the kind of trust that teams thrive on.  Would love to hear what you go out of this podcast.

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Hosted by Claire Gray, Leadership & Team Coach and Facilitator, this podcast is here to support you as a leader, no matter what your experience level, with bite-sized leadership learnings. Packed with practical tools, tips, actions and insights, that you can immediately apply, so you can lead confidently now.

Information

  • Creator
    Claire Gray
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Claire Gray
  • Show Website
    Thriving Leaders Podcast

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