Thriving Leaders Podcast

Claire Gray

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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.

20 juil.

Inclusive Leadership: The Small Leadership Moments That Matter

Why do some teams consistently outperform others, even when they have similar talent, experience and resources? The answer often isn't strategy, structure or capability. It's how people experience leadership every single day. In this episode, I'm joined by Kristy Macfarlane, Deputy CEO of Diversity Partners, executive coach and one of Australia's leading experts in inclusive leadership. Over the past decade, Kristy has helped hundreds of organisations build workplaces where people feel respected, trusted and able to contribute at their best. Before joining Diversity Partners, she led Diversity and Inclusion at NAB and has held leadership, talent and capability roles across Australia and the UK. This conversation goes well beyond diversity and inclusion. We explore the everyday leadership behaviours that shape team culture. The decisions leaders make in recruitment, performance conversations, promotions, meetings and feedback all influence whether people feel safe to contribute or quietly begin to disengage. Kristy shares practical examples that any leader can apply immediately. From reducing unconscious bias and creating fairer opportunities to encouraging different perspectives and strengthening psychological safety, this episode is full of practical leadership ideas that improve both team performance and wellbeing. In this episode, we cover What inclusive leadership actually looks like in practiceThe six behaviours shared by highly inclusive leadersWhy psychological safety starts with everyday leadership decisionsHow unconscious bias influences recruitment, promotions and performance reviewsWhy leaders should focus on culture add instead of culture fitThe "moments that matter" that shape trust and belongingPractical ways to support neurodiverse team membersHow AI could reduce bias or unintentionally reinforce itWhat "Sunflower Bias" is and why leaders should stop speaking first in meetingsOne simple question every leader can ask to better support their team Perhaps the biggest idea running through this conversation is that culture isn't created through policies or annual initiatives. It's built through hundreds of small leadership choices that most people barely notice. Who gets invited into the discussion. Who receives the stretch opportunity. Whose opinion gets heard. Whether curiosity replaces assumption. Those moments shape whether people feel confident to contribute, challenge ideas and do their best work. If you're leading people, this conversation will encourage you to look at your own leadership through a different lens. Learn more about Diversity Partners: Website: https://diversitypartners.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diversity-partners/ Connect with Kristy Macfarlane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-macfarlane-934472109/
6 juil.

Leading Through Aftershock: AI, Change and the Reinvention of Leadership

The pace of change isn't slowing down. AI continues to evolve, climate challenges are becoming more visible, organisations are under pressure to adapt, and many leaders are wondering how to make sense of it all. The question isn't whether things will change. It's whether we're willing to change with them. In this episode, I'm joined by Caroline Stokes, global leadership strategist, executive coach, Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2026 member, and author of Aftershock to 2030. Caroline has spent decades helping CEOs and leadership teams prepare for what's next, long before many of these conversations became mainstream. Together, we explore what leadership looks like in a world where technology is accelerating, information is everywhere, and certainty is becoming harder to find. Rather than trying to predict every change ahead, Caroline challenges leaders to build the capability to continually adapt, learn and reinvent. In this episode, we cover: Why reinvention is becoming one of the most important leadership capabilities What polymathic leadership means and why systems thinking matters How curiosity helps leaders make better decisions in complex environments Why AI should strengthen human leadership, not replace it The growing importance of collaboration across teams, functions and organisations Practical advice for leading people through change without leaving them behind Why organisations need new operating systems, not just new technology How leaders can prepare themselves and their teams for a future that is constantly evolving There is so much conversation right now about AI, the future of work, and what leaders need to do differently. What I appreciated about this discussion is that it goes beyond the technology itself. It's really a conversation about how we think, how we learn, and how we prepare ourselves and our teams for a future that will continue to evolve. If you're leading through change, or simply trying to make sense of everything that's happening around us, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation with Caroline.
23 juin

The Hidden Wisdom Your Team Isn't Sharing with Jeff Wetzler

What if the answers to some of your biggest leadership challenges are already sitting inside your team, but nobody is saying them out loud? In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Wetzler, founder of Ask Approach, co-founder of Transcend, former Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life. The reality is that the people around us know things we don't. They have ideas, perspectives, concerns, and feedback that could help us make better decisions, avoid mistakes, and navigate challenges more effectively. Yet so often those insights never get shared. Jeff has spent decades helping leaders understand why this happens and, more importantly, what we can do about it. In this conversation, we explore why people hold back what they're really thinking, how authority changes conversations, and the practical habits leaders can develop to hear more of what matters. We also dive into curiosity, listening, psychological safety, feedback, and what Jeff calls "the unspokens" that exist in every team and organisation. In this episode, we cover: Why people hold back feedback, concerns, ideas, and perspectives from leadersThe hidden cost of the "unspokens" inside teams and organisationsHow power and authority make it harder for leaders to hear the truthThe four things leaders are least likely to hear from their peopleJeff's ASK Approach and the five practices that unlock collective intelligenceWhy curiosity is a choice, not a personality traitHow to create environments that feel safe enough for people to speak upThe difference between quality questions and the questions that shut down learningWhy most leaders think they're better listeners than they actually areHow to encourage more honest feedback, especially as you become more seniorThe role AI can play in helping leaders become more curious, reflective, and effective Many of the answers we are looking for already exist somewhere in the organisation. The challenge is that people don't always tell us what they know, what they're worried about, or what they're seeing. My favourite part was Jeff's perspective on curiosity. We often think of curiosity as something you either have or you don't. Jeff challenges that idea and offers a much more practical way of thinking about it. I also found myself reflecting on how easy it is, particularly when we're busy or under pressure, to move too quickly into problem-solving mode. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do as leaders is pause long enough to ask another question. If you're leading a team and want to hear more of what people are really thinking, I think you'll get a lot from this conversation.
8 juin

The Science of Human Flourishing with Sue Langley

The way we think becomes the way we lead. Our habits, emotions, assumptions, and internal stories shape how we show up every day, often without us even realising it. In this episode, Sue Langley explores the science behind human flourishing and why understanding ourselves may be one of the most important leadership capabilities of all. I’m joined by Sue Langley, one of Australia’s leading experts in positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and neuroscience. Sue is the founder and CEO of The Langley Group and has spent decades helping leaders, teams, and organisations apply the science of human flourishing in practical and meaningful ways. She’s known for translating complex research into tools leaders can actually use every day. This conversation is packed with practical insights, powerful stories, and simple shifts that can help us better understand our emotions, strengthen our relationships, and lead with greater awareness and intention. In this episode, we cover: Why habits are not just behavioural, but also emotional and cognitiveThe neuroscience behind thought patterns and emotional regulationHow leaders can strengthen emotional intelligence over timeWhy wellbeing directly impacts performance and decision-makingThe difference between powering through versus recognising emotional overloadWhy positive psychology is not about “being positive all the time”The role of psychological safety, empathy and emotional awareness in leadershipHow leaders can create healthier conversations and stronger relationships at work through active constructive respondingWhy accountability and wellbeing must coexist in thriving teamsThe importance of finding wellbeing strategies that genuinely work for you My favourite part of this conversation was Sue's discussion about active constructive responding. The questions we ask matter. When we respond with curiosity instead of judgement, possibility instead of limitation, we create space for better thinking, stronger relationships, and better outcomes. What might change if, instead of asking why something won't work, we started asking what could make it possible? If there’s one idea from this conversation that stayed with you, share this episode with someone who’d appreciate it too. Until next time, keep leading with curiosity and heart.
25 mai

Your Busyness Is a Fear Response: How our Nervous System Responds to Complexity with Jennifer Garvey Berger

If you've been feeling stretched, reactive, or like you're constantly doing more without actually moving the needle, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Jennifer Garvey Berger, CEO and co-founder of Cultivating Leadership, Harvard-educated developmental psychologist, and one of the world's leading thinkers on adult development, complexity, and leadership. Jennifer is the author of four widely acclaimed books: Changing on the Job, Simple Habits for Complex Times, Unlocking Leadership Mind Traps, and Unleash Your Complexity Genius. I first came across her work through colleagues at Harvard Kennedy School, and I've been a fan ever since. This conversation goes deep on why complexity isn't just a business problem, it's a nervous system problem, and what leaders can actually do about it. We explore how polarity thinking reframes some of the most persistent tensions in organisations, why psychological safety isn't about comfort, and what it means to lead with embodied intelligence in a world where AI is changing everything. So many nuggests of gold in this episode. In this episode, we cover: Why complexity is experienced as a threat by the nervous system, and how that drives leaders and teams into reactive busyness instead of purposeful actionThe honest bind leaders are in right now: needing to project hope while being unable to guarantee anythingWhat it really means to lead from the body, not just the head, and why Jennifer shifted from being a sceptic to a convertThe power of polarity thinking: how holding two interdependent goods at once transforms cross-functional collaboration and team dynamicsWhy psychological safety is not about comfort, it's about the capacity to be in discomfort togetherHow AI is changing the way we connect (including why nervous systems can't co-regulate through a screen the way they can in person)What thriving teams actually have in common: genuine liking, not just functional respect I loved this conversation for so many reasons, but the thing that really resonated with me was Jennifer's reframe of busyness. When leaders and team members say 'I'm just so busy right now', she suggests what they're really saying is 'I'm afraid.' And busyness becomes the modern response to a frightening world. It connects to something I see constantly in my work: leaders who are doing a lot, but not necessarily doing the right things. Pushing harder on what no longer works. Jennifer's reminder that doubling down is often a fear response, not a strategy, is one I'll be taking into my work with teams. Teams thrive when leaders slow down enough to actually show up. If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with a leader in your world who's navigating complexity right now. And if you haven't already, follow the Thriving Leaders Podcast so you never miss an episode.
11 mai

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.
27 avr.

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.
13 avr.

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.

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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.

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Claire Gray
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2024 - 2026
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51
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© Claire Gray
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