Leadership Decanted Paul Garcia & KG Butler

We do a love a 'straight talker'. Someone who is courageous enough to call out the BS. Someone who feels comfortable to speak their mind, and call it 'as they see it'. But sometimes it doesn't take much for a virtue to transform into a form of 'violence'; all of a sudden we feel disempowered by someone else's 'truth'. A 'truth' held so tightly that it suffocates dialogue and good will, disregarding unconscious biases and unspoken intentions. Often these are 'convenient' truths - declarations that exist to advance an agenda and stifle dissent. You may know what we're talking about.

This 'violence' can be amplified when there is a power imbalance. When leaders call things 'as they see them' it can spell doom for diversity and innovation, and sometimes even cultivate fear, as those around them dare not contradict those above them.

In this Cheeky Half Paul & KG talk about how productive leadership practices can be hijacked by such pernicious assumptions around our own perceptions of the world around us.

Join us and let us know what you think!

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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!

*** WARNING: SOME STRONG LANGUAGE IN THIS EPISODE. ***

Many of us might regularly reflect on the big concerns confronting our generation - climate action and our nation's relationship to first nations people are just two of these. And many of us would like to do something about these complex issues. However, for whatever reasons, we might feel like it's not our place, or perhaps we feel we are not authorised nor have the power to do anything at all.

For many years now, writer, comedian, journalist and filmmaker, Dan Ilic has been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the public domain, challenging what he considers to be a lack of action from our leaders on climate change, amongst other things. His mantra?  Don't wait for someone to give you permission to 'shake the tree'. No one's going to give it to you. If you feel strongly enough, use whatever power is available to you and exercise any leadership you can to start that conversation.

Join KG & Paul as they talk to Dan about his use of comedy and satire to generate awareness and, on occasion, actually get something done.

As is our custom, this great conversation is held together by an elegant and complex Chardonnay from vines in the cooler regions, southwest of the Australian capital. A 2022 CLO Tumbarumba Chardonnay. It is smooth, full without being heavy, carrying tasty flavours of pear, lime and green apple. It was generously provided by Annadale Cellars. And, as usual, it is utterly delicious!

Sláinte friends!

Here are a few links to Dan's work. Worth checking out!
A Rational Fear Podcast. Winner of the Best Comedy Podcast Award 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023."Where the f**king hell are you?" A satirical spoof of the much maligned 2006 Australian Tourism campaign.Times Square billboard project. Where Dan crowdfunded enough money, and collaborated with many creatives and supporters, to buy 10 minutes of time in Times Square. Displaying were a number of rolling ads that were, essentially, satirical messages and protests commenting on the Australian Government's inaction on climate change.Dan's is interviewed by Jake Tapper, the lead Washington anchor for CNN.
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!!

Many of us know someone in a Leadership position that oozes self-confidence. They are highly skilled, backing every one of their decisions, as if they were fated. However, what happens when those people lack self-awareness? Many of us have experienced that fallout too.

But this leadership character 'equation' may also be turned upside down. What if we worked with a very skilled leader, high in self-awareness, but awfully short on self-confidence?

On this Cheeky Half Paul & KG riff on these seemingly simple questions which often generate complex outcomes. How do the dynamics of self-confidence and self-awareness 'show up' in leadership practice. Is there such a thing as 'balance' between each, or are we merely chasing rainbows?

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!

If you are currently a practicing leader, regardless of the size of your team or organisation, you really don't need us to remind you that it can be a tough gig. Good leadership practice is nothing to sneeze at. It's serious business.

But does it always have to be 'serious'? Is there any room for light-heartedness or humour? Can laughter enhance how we lead and how others respond to our leadership?

KG & Paul shared a wonderful bottle of wine, and a great conversation, with Gary Eck, one of Australia's best known stand-up comics. Gary is also a filmmaker, author and Coporate MC. We dared to pick Gary's brain and explore the potential role of laughter and humour in leadership practice. Join us for great insights, and a lot of laughter.

This fun conversation was helped along by a 2021 Prunotto Dolcetto D'Alba, from the Piedmont Region in Italy. Fruity and easy drinking, it is a wine that will reward you with every sip. And, as usual, it was generously provided by Annadale Cellars.

Sláinte friends!

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!!

For this Cheeky Half Paul & KG riff on the latest report by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the "Employer Gender Pay Gaps Snapshot." It is both, a compelling and somewhat unsettling look at Australia's progress in reaching gender pay equity. The many interesting pieces of data lead them to ask a couple of simple questions: "What conversations are people in leadership positions actually having about the existing gender pay gap? And is it that difficult a problem to solve?"

It will not surprise you to hear [spoiler alert!] they don't end up solving this conundrum. But nevertheless they firmly believe leaders have a responsibility beyond finance and economics to find a way through this intractable problem. Is it ultimately a reflection of how we actually value our people?

Here are some useful links:

1.  Workplace Gender Equality Agency
2.  Employer Gender Pay Gaps Snapshot

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!

KG & Paul have always held the position that healthy, productive, and even impactful, leadership practice is one that stays with the difficult conversations - even when these conversations are likely to reveal the most inscrutable, even darker, sides of our own natures. These aren't always comfortable conversations, but they can nevertheless carry a sense of hope and desire for authentic dialogue, mutual understanding and a genuine acknowledgement of the dignity inherent in all of our humanity.

To that end, we had the pleasure of a great yarn with Nicole Major and Melissa Clarke, both from Thirriwirri. We felt it important to continue the fraught but necessary conversation that didn't stop with the 2023 Referendum of a Voice to Parliament - it simply switched gears. Nicole is a Bundjalung woman from northern NSW and Melissa a Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Wirangu woman based on Kaurna country in South Australia.

It was a broad and super engaging conversation about their experiences leading up to the referendum, and also their thoughts around what could come next. And not only that, they also brought the wine! (Pretty special). It was a delicious 2021 d'Arenberg 'The Footbolt' Shiraz. A great drop!

Sláinte friends!

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!!