Leadership In Chaos Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:07:59 -0400 http://flowukandireland.com/ en-ie © 2026 Leadership In Chaos yes Support this Podcast 4b8f4fda-c605-5e19-8796-2b389e70277a Ian McClean episodic false Concise lessons in leadership in a world of chaos. Hosted by Ian McClean, leadership expert and founder of Flow Group and GreenLine Conversations. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Leadership in Chaos, Leadership, Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group Ian McClean https://storage.buzzsprout.com/vftkmwkuvlm93y7sla0zfsd7f8bq?.jpg Leadership In Chaos http://flowukandireland.com/ Ep 76: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #19 - Schedule What’s Important Ep 76: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #19 - Schedule What’s Important This episode marks a return.

After a pause to reset and refocus, Leadership In Chaos is back.

The upcoming episodes are grounded in the Leadership Manifesto. A set of principles for leading and managing in a world that rarely sits still.

In this episode, we explore Principle #19: Schedule What’s Important.

It sounds simple. But it’s one of the most consistently violated principles in leadership.

Because the reality is this:

The urgent shouts.
The important whispers.

Deadlines, emails, notifications and crises demand immediate attention. Meanwhile, the things that truly move the dial, thinking, strategy, relationships, development, are quietly pushed aside.

And over time, what was once important becomes urgent.

In this episode, Ian explores:

  •  Why leaders get trapped in cycles of reaction and firefighting 
  •  The hidden cost of busyness and mistaking activity for productivity 
  •  The difference between managing symptoms and addressing root causes 
  •  Why knowing what matters isn’t the problem, but doing something about it is 
  •  A practical way to move from intention to action by linking priorities to time 

This is a timely reflection for leaders navigating complexity, distraction and constant demand.

If leadership is about results through other people, then how you spend your time is not just personal, it’s cultural.

Connect & Continue the Conversation:

If this episode resonates, connect with Ian on LinkedIn or visit:
 🌐 https://flowukandireland.com

Download the full manifesto here:

https://flowukandireland.com/leadership-manifesto/


Support the show

]]> This episode marks a return.

After a pause to reset and refocus, Leadership In Chaos is back.

The upcoming episodes are grounded in the Leadership Manifesto. A set of principles for leading and managing in a world that rarely sits still.

In this episode, we explore Principle #19: Schedule What’s Important.

It sounds simple. But it’s one of the most consistently violated principles in leadership.

Because the reality is this:

The urgent shouts.
The important whispers.

Deadlines, emails, notifications and crises demand immediate attention. Meanwhile, the things that truly move the dial, thinking, strategy, relationships, development, are quietly pushed aside.

And over time, what was once important becomes urgent.

In this episode, Ian explores:

  •  Why leaders get trapped in cycles of reaction and firefighting 
  •  The hidden cost of busyness and mistaking activity for productivity 
  •  The difference between managing symptoms and addressing root causes 
  •  Why knowing what matters isn’t the problem, but doing something about it is 
  •  A practical way to move from intention to action by linking priorities to time 

This is a timely reflection for leaders navigating complexity, distraction and constant demand.

If leadership is about results through other people, then how you spend your time is not just personal, it’s cultural.

Connect & Continue the Conversation:

If this episode resonates, connect with Ian on LinkedIn or visit:
 🌐 https://flowukandireland.com

Download the full manifesto here:

https://flowukandireland.com/leadership-manifesto/


Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-18981953 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0100 1309 leadership, leadership podcast, leadership development, management, business leadership,leadership, prioritisation, time management, urgent vs important, productivity, decision making, strategic thinking, leadership development, organisational culture, bu 6 76 full false Ep 75: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 3 Ep 75: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 3 I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 

Support the show

]]> I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-17280521 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0100 483 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, conversations, Trust 6 75 full false Ep 74: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 2 Ep 74: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 2 I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 

Support the show

]]> I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-17280508 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0100 547 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, conversations, Trust 6 74 full false Ep 73: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 1 Ep 73: The Declining Art of Conversation: Part 1 I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 


Support the show

]]> I am interrupting the “Confessions of a Guru” series to share a special edition (to coincide with our refresh of the Podcast tile, which I hope you like). 😉

This special three-part edition is about Conversations and why, at this critical time, when we need to have conversations most, we are shunning the opportunity and losing the art. 

We started a project 15 years ago called @GreenLine Conversations™️ , and I consider it now high time to share some observations at a moment when it’s apparent we all most acutely need it.

During the series, I explore :

-Why Conversations Matter

-Why business avoids (tough) Conversations: Mechanics Vs Humanics

-The three possible outcomes of a Conversation

-The Cost of Poor Conversations

-No one intends a bad Conversation

 Enjoy the trilogy.

For more on the method described, visit greenlineconversations.com 


Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-17280491 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0100 377 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Trust, conversations 6 73 full false Ep 72: Confessions of a Guru - Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon Ep 72: Confessions of a Guru - Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon I hope you’re enjoying the new series of Confessions of a Guru.

Here is our latest episode, Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon.

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon

One of the FAQs aimed in my direction is the basic question, “What actually is Leadership?” (and how does it differ from Management) 

 One of my favourite ways to explore this is to tell a little-referenced vignette from “The Alchemist” (by Paulo Coelho), which puts both into neat context. It’s the short tale of a boy sent out to discover the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world.

In this episode, I share the vignette and then deconstruct it through the following themes:

 -Visionary Vs Doer: what’s the difference?

-Visionary Vs Doer: which one are you?

-Managing the Tension vs. solving the Problem

-How to guarantee failure 

-What to do to avoid it

And as always, there are some key reflection questions to mull over at the end as you navigate your own path.

 

Support the show

]]> I hope you’re enjoying the new series of Confessions of a Guru.

Here is our latest episode, Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon.

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 5: The Marvels and the Spoon

One of the FAQs aimed in my direction is the basic question, “What actually is Leadership?” (and how does it differ from Management) 

 One of my favourite ways to explore this is to tell a little-referenced vignette from “The Alchemist” (by Paulo Coelho), which puts both into neat context. It’s the short tale of a boy sent out to discover the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world.

In this episode, I share the vignette and then deconstruct it through the following themes:

 -Visionary Vs Doer: what’s the difference?

-Visionary Vs Doer: which one are you?

-Managing the Tension vs. solving the Problem

-How to guarantee failure 

-What to do to avoid it

And as always, there are some key reflection questions to mull over at the end as you navigate your own path.

 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-16814274 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000 710 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Confessions, Trust 6 72 full false Ep 71: Confessions of a Guru - Part 4: Calmest Person in the Boat Ep 71: Confessions of a Guru - Part 4: Calmest Person in the Boat The New Series

Yes, indeed, Leadership in Chaos is truly back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 4: Calmest Person in the Boat

We start 2025 with a new episode of the latest series, “Confessions of a Guru”. 

The theme is appropriate to the foggy uncertainty we find ourselves in on the eve of the Trump inauguration and the essential need for leaders to keep calm in pressure, tension, complexity and uncertainty.

This episode explores the following: 

-What’s the connection between the 1970’s Vietnamese refugee crisis and leadership?

-Limbic Leadership = The Dominant Emotion wins

-Leadership reputation is won or lost in the high-stakes Moments that Matter

-It’s about Impact, stupid

The featured story is about a Function Head who spread dis-ease amongst her team, wholly unconsciously and sabotaged beyond repair the good engagement before it had barely taken off the ground.

And, as always, there are some key Reflection questions to mull over as you sail into 2025.




Support the show

]]> The New Series

Yes, indeed, Leadership in Chaos is truly back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 4: Calmest Person in the Boat

We start 2025 with a new episode of the latest series, “Confessions of a Guru”. 

The theme is appropriate to the foggy uncertainty we find ourselves in on the eve of the Trump inauguration and the essential need for leaders to keep calm in pressure, tension, complexity and uncertainty.

This episode explores the following: 

-What’s the connection between the 1970’s Vietnamese refugee crisis and leadership?

-Limbic Leadership = The Dominant Emotion wins

-Leadership reputation is won or lost in the high-stakes Moments that Matter

-It’s about Impact, stupid

The featured story is about a Function Head who spread dis-ease amongst her team, wholly unconsciously and sabotaged beyond repair the good engagement before it had barely taken off the ground.

And, as always, there are some key Reflection questions to mull over as you sail into 2025.




Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-16475100 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 669 6 71 full false Ep 70: Confessions of a Guru - Part 3: Can you handle the Truth? Ep 70: Confessions of a Guru - Part 3: Can you handle the Truth? The New Series

Yes, indeed, Leadership in Chaos is truly back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 3: “Can you handle the Truth?”

This is the story of a Boomerang client who revealed to me why, at her previous company, the executive had decided not to go any further with the Change project we were working on with them. “I absolutely loved what you were doing. It was having a great impact. But you were getting too close to the Truth…and Leadership didn’t like it”. 

Honestly.

Support the show

]]> The New Series

Yes, indeed, Leadership in Chaos is truly back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. 

I know you’re busy, so it will always be brief! 

Part 3: “Can you handle the Truth?”

This is the story of a Boomerang client who revealed to me why, at her previous company, the executive had decided not to go any further with the Change project we were working on with them. “I absolutely loved what you were doing. It was having a great impact. But you were getting too close to the Truth…and Leadership didn’t like it”. 

Honestly.

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-16178346 Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000 437 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Confessions, Trust 6 70 full false Ep 69: Confessions of a Guru - Part 2: The "Non-Negotiables" Ep 69: Confessions of a Guru - Part 2: The "Non-Negotiables" The New Series

If you haven’t already noticed, Leadership in Chaos is back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru.  The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work.  I know you’re busy so it will be always brief!

 Part 2 : The “Non-Negotiables”

This story is very recent and, as we’re in Strategy season, stems from an Executive off-site to accomplish just that. The Episode title comes from a scene from Season 3 of The Bear (Disney+) where Carmy is relating his view of what’s required for a restaurant to be “excellent every day” – his "Non-Negotiables". Bon Appetit!


Support the show

]]> The New Series

If you haven’t already noticed, Leadership in Chaos is back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru.  The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the un-curated digital platform, everyone - it seems - is suddenly a Guru. Self-proclaimed anyway. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally which illustrates the best or the worst of some aspect of leadership. 

After telling the story I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work.  I know you’re busy so it will be always brief!

 Part 2 : The “Non-Negotiables”

This story is very recent and, as we’re in Strategy season, stems from an Executive off-site to accomplish just that. The Episode title comes from a scene from Season 3 of The Bear (Disney+) where Carmy is relating his view of what’s required for a restaurant to be “excellent every day” – his "Non-Negotiables". Bon Appetit!


Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-16099265 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000 505 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Confessions, Trust, Non Negotiable 6 69 full false Ep 68: Confessions of a Guru - Part 1: The Say-Do Gap Ep 68: Confessions of a Guru - Part 1: The Say-Do Gap Leadership in Chaos is back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the infinite digital platform, everyone, it seems, is a guru. By self-appointment. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which, illustrates the best or the worst of some aspects of leadership. After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. I know you’re busy, so it will be always brief!

 This Episode – Part One

The first story is one that goes back to the very start of my career more than 30 years ago and tells about why I decided against undertaking a lucrative Change project with a client because they fell down on the Say-Do gap. I hope you enjoy….

Support the show

]]> Leadership in Chaos is back with an exciting new series – Confessions of a Guru. 

The “Guru” label is deliberately ironic as, in the age of the infinite digital platform, everyone, it seems, is a guru. By self-appointment. 😉

The format is to choose a story from my 30+ years of working with leaders globally, which, illustrates the best or the worst of some aspects of leadership. After telling the story, I then extrapolate the message application for you to consider in your life and work. I know you’re busy, so it will be always brief!

 This Episode – Part One

The first story is one that goes back to the very start of my career more than 30 years ago and tells about why I decided against undertaking a lucrative Change project with a client because they fell down on the Say-Do gap. I hope you enjoy….

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-16009900 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 470 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Confessions, Trust 6 68 full false EP 67: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 4: Inspire Commitment EP 67: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 4: Inspire Commitment The Keynote Season Part 4: Inspire Commitment

“The more digital the world becomes, the more we must emphasise what makes us most human” – Jack Ma

This episode unveils the 4 Emotionally Intelligent “Cards” that – played right – help build connection and commitment: Humanity’s trump card in an increasingly digital deck. 

Insights include:

-Leadership is a contact sport

-Quality of Interaction = Quality of Commitment

-Why Trust is harder – and more critical – during Uncertainty

-The 4 Emotionally Intelligent Commitment Cards
 

Related Episodes

Episode 53, 54, 55 : Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)

Episode 47 : Chaos is the New Normal

Episode 39 - 42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 25 :  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)

Episode 8 : Building Trust

Support the show

]]> The Keynote Season Part 4: Inspire Commitment

“The more digital the world becomes, the more we must emphasise what makes us most human” – Jack Ma

This episode unveils the 4 Emotionally Intelligent “Cards” that – played right – help build connection and commitment: Humanity’s trump card in an increasingly digital deck. 

Insights include:

-Leadership is a contact sport

-Quality of Interaction = Quality of Commitment

-Why Trust is harder – and more critical – during Uncertainty

-The 4 Emotionally Intelligent Commitment Cards
 

Related Episodes

Episode 53, 54, 55 : Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)

Episode 47 : Chaos is the New Normal

Episode 39 - 42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 25 :  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)

Episode 8 : Building Trust

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-14892261 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 621 leadership, Clarity, Commitment, Inspire 6 67 full false EP 66: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 3: Create Clarity EP 66: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 3: Create Clarity The Keynote Season Part 3: Create Clarity

In times of ambiguity and uncertainty, people look intensely to their leaders.

As that leader, if you can be nothing else, be clear.

This episode explains why and how.

 Insights include:

-Why people don’t do what they’re supposed to…and what to do about it

-Why Ambiguity is Enemy No1 for High Performance

-Leadership’s 2 Clarity Traps

-How we judge Ourselves Vs How Others judge us

Related Episodes

Episode 57 – Keep Your Focus – Avoid Procrastination

Episode 32 – Planning and Prioritising in Chaos

Support the show

]]> The Keynote Season Part 3: Create Clarity

In times of ambiguity and uncertainty, people look intensely to their leaders.

As that leader, if you can be nothing else, be clear.

This episode explains why and how.

 Insights include:

-Why people don’t do what they’re supposed to…and what to do about it

-Why Ambiguity is Enemy No1 for High Performance

-Leadership’s 2 Clarity Traps

-How we judge Ourselves Vs How Others judge us

Related Episodes

Episode 57 – Keep Your Focus – Avoid Procrastination

Episode 32 – Planning and Prioritising in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-14892208 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 484 leadership, Clarity, 6 66 full false EP 65: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 2: The Leadership Contribution EP 65: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 2: The Leadership Contribution The Keynote Season Part 2: The Leadership Contribution

Leadership isn’t about position, title, or privilege – although many organizations operate as if it is.

Leadership is best seen as a form of contribution.

In this episode, we unpack exactly what makes up that contribution.


 Insights include:

-What is Leadership?

-Ask the Audience – we all know great leadership

-Organisations are awful at developing leadership

-Why the Peter Principle is alive and well in corporate life

Related Episodes

Episode 53, 54, 55 : Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)

Episode 47 : Chaos is the New Normal

Episode 39 - 42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 25 :  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)

Episode 8 : Building Trust

 

Support the show

]]> The Keynote Season Part 2: The Leadership Contribution

Leadership isn’t about position, title, or privilege – although many organizations operate as if it is.

Leadership is best seen as a form of contribution.

In this episode, we unpack exactly what makes up that contribution.


 Insights include:

-What is Leadership?

-Ask the Audience – we all know great leadership

-Organisations are awful at developing leadership

-Why the Peter Principle is alive and well in corporate life

Related Episodes

Episode 53, 54, 55 : Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)

Episode 47 : Chaos is the New Normal

Episode 39 - 42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 25 :  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)

Episode 8 : Building Trust

 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/podcast/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-14892009 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0100 490 leadership. chaos, Disruption 6 65 full false EP 64: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 1: Chaos? Always! EP 64: How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption - Part 1: Chaos? Always! The Keynote Season Part 1: Chaos? Always!

“Events, dear boy, events” was Harold Macmillan’s succinct reply when asked about the greatest challenge for a statesman.

 Well, so too with this humble Podcaster who – through force of “events” - has been absent from the podcast platform for exactly one year today.

 The absence, however, hasn’t been wasted and, on this the very anniversary of my previous episode, I am rebooting with an omnibus quadruple-decker edition entitled the Keynote Season.

 The title comes from the many Keynotes I’ve been invited to deliver during the past 12 months to address the overwhelming client desire to understand the updated principles of “How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption”.

We’re born without all the answers, we die without all the answers, yet we spend most of our lives looking for certainty.

The problem lies not with the stars …but with ourselves.

We spend this first episode of the Keynote series exploring why we crave certainty so much when the natural state is one of change, ambiguity, and Chaos.

Therein lies our collective discomfort.

 

Insights include:
-It’s not You Chaos, it’s Us
-It’s our expectations, stupid
-It’s OK not to feel OK
-Embrace the Discomfort & look for the Opportunity
-How Big corporations are capitalizing on the insight

Related Episodes
Episode 53, 54, 55: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)
Episode 47: Chaos is the New Normal
Episode 39 - 42: Leading Teams in Chaos
Episode 26: The Leadership Contribution
Episode 25:  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)
Episode 8: Building Trust

Support the show

]]> The Keynote Season Part 1: Chaos? Always!

“Events, dear boy, events” was Harold Macmillan’s succinct reply when asked about the greatest challenge for a statesman.

 Well, so too with this humble Podcaster who – through force of “events” - has been absent from the podcast platform for exactly one year today.

 The absence, however, hasn’t been wasted and, on this the very anniversary of my previous episode, I am rebooting with an omnibus quadruple-decker edition entitled the Keynote Season.

 The title comes from the many Keynotes I’ve been invited to deliver during the past 12 months to address the overwhelming client desire to understand the updated principles of “How to Lead in an Age of Chaos and Disruption”.

We’re born without all the answers, we die without all the answers, yet we spend most of our lives looking for certainty.

The problem lies not with the stars …but with ourselves.

We spend this first episode of the Keynote series exploring why we crave certainty so much when the natural state is one of change, ambiguity, and Chaos.

Therein lies our collective discomfort.

 

Insights include:
-It’s not You Chaos, it’s Us
-It’s our expectations, stupid
-It’s OK not to feel OK
-Embrace the Discomfort & look for the Opportunity
-How Big corporations are capitalizing on the insight

Related Episodes
Episode 53, 54, 55: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)
Episode 47: Chaos is the New Normal
Episode 39 - 42: Leading Teams in Chaos
Episode 26: The Leadership Contribution
Episode 25:  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)
Episode 8: Building Trust

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/podcast/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-14891273 Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0100 613 6 64 full false EP 63: Resist Temptation – Minimise Distraction EP 63: Resist Temptation – Minimise Distraction “The most scarce resource in the world today is attention” – Yuval Noah Harari 

 

The only 2 industries that refer to customers as “users” are Big Tech and drug cartels.

We live in an increasingly technology-fuelled Garden of Eden – an attention economy where the most sophisticated dark forces are constantly, covertly intent at work to distract you.

If time is your most precious asset as a leader, then saving and spending it wisely becomes paramount.

Your old biological defences are hardly sea-worthy any longer and in this age of fierce clandestine competition for your attention, you’re gonna need a bigger boat (or at least a better way to navigate!) to stay afloat.

 

 

Insights include:

-What happens when ancient human biology collides with 21st century technology

-Living in a state of Continuous Partial Attention

-The recipe for Deep Work

-Navigating the Struggle phase towards a state of Flow

-Why Multi-Tasking is a myth

-The 2 Fundamentals to combat Distraction

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 57 – Keep Your Focus – Avoid Procrastination

Episode 32 – Planning and Prioritising in Chaos

 

Support the show

]]> “The most scarce resource in the world today is attention” – Yuval Noah Harari 

 

The only 2 industries that refer to customers as “users” are Big Tech and drug cartels.

We live in an increasingly technology-fuelled Garden of Eden – an attention economy where the most sophisticated dark forces are constantly, covertly intent at work to distract you.

If time is your most precious asset as a leader, then saving and spending it wisely becomes paramount.

Your old biological defences are hardly sea-worthy any longer and in this age of fierce clandestine competition for your attention, you’re gonna need a bigger boat (or at least a better way to navigate!) to stay afloat.

 

 

Insights include:

-What happens when ancient human biology collides with 21st century technology

-Living in a state of Continuous Partial Attention

-The recipe for Deep Work

-Navigating the Struggle phase towards a state of Flow

-Why Multi-Tasking is a myth

-The 2 Fundamentals to combat Distraction

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 57 – Keep Your Focus – Avoid Procrastination

Episode 32 – Planning and Prioritising in Chaos

 

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-12664386 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0100 1056 calnewport, yuvalnoahharari, riandoris, lindastone, focus, distraction, flow 6 63 full false Ep 62: "The Art of Leadership" Ep 62: "The Art of Leadership" “Imagination is more important than Knowledge – Albert Einstein”

 

What has Art got to do with Leadership? Throughout nearly 30 years of working with leaders and leadership, the very best leaders I’ve encountered all have had one thing in common irrespective of geography or industry: the sensibility of an artist. This was reinforced to me recently when attending a screening of a documentary produced by Maria Doyle Kennedy about the life and work of Irish artist Patrick Scott. After all, leadership is all about creating something novel and new from just your imagination combined with the resources at your disposal whilst inspiring others to join in its creation. So just what is that artistic sensibility that separates the best from the rest?

 

Insights include:

-The fallacy of the equation:  Good Leadership = Good Results

-The best leaders are committed to creating a thing of Beauty

-How the Physicist and the Artist are both opposites and the same

-The root of authenticity and charisma

-The 3 Primary Characteristics of Beauty – Radiance, Integrity, Consonance

-Sage advice for appointing the next new leader (or anyone!)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 52 - Zoom Out Often

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 43 – Building Trust in Teams

Episode 40 – Leading Teams in Chaos – Part 2

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Support the show

]]> “Imagination is more important than Knowledge – Albert Einstein”

 

What has Art got to do with Leadership? Throughout nearly 30 years of working with leaders and leadership, the very best leaders I’ve encountered all have had one thing in common irrespective of geography or industry: the sensibility of an artist. This was reinforced to me recently when attending a screening of a documentary produced by Maria Doyle Kennedy about the life and work of Irish artist Patrick Scott. After all, leadership is all about creating something novel and new from just your imagination combined with the resources at your disposal whilst inspiring others to join in its creation. So just what is that artistic sensibility that separates the best from the rest?

 

Insights include:

-The fallacy of the equation:  Good Leadership = Good Results

-The best leaders are committed to creating a thing of Beauty

-How the Physicist and the Artist are both opposites and the same

-The root of authenticity and charisma

-The 3 Primary Characteristics of Beauty – Radiance, Integrity, Consonance

-Sage advice for appointing the next new leader (or anyone!)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 52 - Zoom Out Often

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 43 – Building Trust in Teams

Episode 40 – Leading Teams in Chaos – Part 2

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-12337687 Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000 786 6 62 full false From the Archives: EP 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos From the Archives: EP 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos Whilst not obligatory that you “love” your people at work - in the amorous sense! - people at least need to know you, as the leader, have got their best interests at heart.

On this Valentine’s Day, it is worth remembering that your connection to those that matter makes an enormous contribution to your leadership impact and results. 

Here’s one of my favourite episodes “From the Archive”: A timely reminder of why and how to …

In this episode I explain:

  • What Star Wars has to do with building connection
  • How we often think we’re building connection when in fact we’re not
  • How our Tacit Wisdom is stronger than our intellectual knowledge
  • What to focus on to deepen connection

…And ..our discomfort with silence

Support the show

]]> Whilst not obligatory that you “love” your people at work - in the amorous sense! - people at least need to know you, as the leader, have got their best interests at heart.

On this Valentine’s Day, it is worth remembering that your connection to those that matter makes an enormous contribution to your leadership impact and results. 

Here’s one of my favourite episodes “From the Archive”: A timely reminder of why and how to …

In this episode I explain:

  • What Star Wars has to do with building connection
  • How we often think we’re building connection when in fact we’re not
  • How our Tacit Wisdom is stronger than our intellectual knowledge
  • What to focus on to deepen connection

…And ..our discomfort with silence

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-12249005 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000 521 6 61 full false EP 60: Leadership Manifesto - 25 Principles for Leading in Chaos EP 60: Leadership Manifesto - 25 Principles for Leading in Chaos I started the Flow(group) business exactly 25 years ago this month - in January 1998.

 

I can’t brag, because Google started up the same month. 

 

For context, it was the year Apple unveiled the iMac; the Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky scandal; the FDA approved the Viagra pill (not related); and the NI Good Friday Agreement (definitely not related).

  

During the time, in addition to the quotidian demands for change, our clients and our business has had to navigate 3 major Global Economic disruptions – spaced roughly a decade apart (just to keep us on our toes!):

 

-Dotcom Bubble Implosion (2000)

-Global Financial Crash (2009-10)

-Covid Pandemic (2020+)

  

What’s made the quarter-century journey most worthwhile is the Learning about Leadership.

 

It’s been like attending a real-time, experiential Leadership Academy every day for 25 years where the case studies are playing out in the raw, moment by moment. Witnessing the best and the worst of leadership has led to insights you couldn’t possibly find in any one book.

 

The Manifesto is a consolidation - into 25 Principles - of the essence of How to Be as a leader in a world of unending Chaos. 

Related Episodes

Episode 59 – Leadership in Lay-offs - Twitter Vs Stripe

Episode 58 – Leadershipinchaos.gov.uk – How Liz Truss authored her own downfall

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Episode 5 – Clarity in Chaos

Episode 3 – Communicating in Chaos

Support the show

]]> I started the Flow(group) business exactly 25 years ago this month - in January 1998.

 

I can’t brag, because Google started up the same month. 

 

For context, it was the year Apple unveiled the iMac; the Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky scandal; the FDA approved the Viagra pill (not related); and the NI Good Friday Agreement (definitely not related).

  

During the time, in addition to the quotidian demands for change, our clients and our business has had to navigate 3 major Global Economic disruptions – spaced roughly a decade apart (just to keep us on our toes!):

 

-Dotcom Bubble Implosion (2000)

-Global Financial Crash (2009-10)

-Covid Pandemic (2020+)

  

What’s made the quarter-century journey most worthwhile is the Learning about Leadership.

 

It’s been like attending a real-time, experiential Leadership Academy every day for 25 years where the case studies are playing out in the raw, moment by moment. Witnessing the best and the worst of leadership has led to insights you couldn’t possibly find in any one book.

 

The Manifesto is a consolidation - into 25 Principles - of the essence of How to Be as a leader in a world of unending Chaos. 

Related Episodes

Episode 59 – Leadership in Lay-offs - Twitter Vs Stripe

Episode 58 – Leadershipinchaos.gov.uk – How Liz Truss authored her own downfall

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Episode 5 – Clarity in Chaos

Episode 3 – Communicating in Chaos

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-12075881 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000 852 6 60 full false EP 59 : Leadership in Lay-offs - Twitter Vs Stripe EP 59 : Leadership in Lay-offs - Twitter Vs Stripe “It’s only when the tide goes out you see who’s been swimming in the nude” – Warren Buffett

 

As a leader the decision to let people go is never easy, but sometimes necessary. Nonetheless, it is often in these Moments that Matter where leaders show what stuff they are really made of. The current high-profile Tech lay-offs provide a unique test for leaders in a sector that has enjoyed rock-star growth throughout the last 2 decades. Twitter and Stripe announced their news at almost exactly the same time. The approach of the respective CEOs Elon Musk (Twitter) and Patrick Collison (Stripe) couldn’t have been more different. Collison’s handling of the announcement was honest, caring and instructive while Musk’s was terse, limp and impersonal. One’s leadership (and, by extension, brand) reputation has been elevated, while the other is in the gutter. Enjoy the contrast.

 

 

Insights include:

-The Leadership Contribution – the 2 things needed in a crisis?

-How Musk got it so dreadfully wrong

-The 7 things Stripe (Patrick Collison) did brilliantly by contrast

-The impact on Leadership when you have no accountability

-The 2 core leadership lessons you cannot fake

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 58 – leadershipinchaos.gov.uk – How Liz Truss authored her own downfall

Episode 27 – What the Trump legacy teaches us about Leadership

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Episode 5 – Clarity in Chaos

Episode 3 – Communicating in Chaos

Support the show

]]> “It’s only when the tide goes out you see who’s been swimming in the nude” – Warren Buffett

 

As a leader the decision to let people go is never easy, but sometimes necessary. Nonetheless, it is often in these Moments that Matter where leaders show what stuff they are really made of. The current high-profile Tech lay-offs provide a unique test for leaders in a sector that has enjoyed rock-star growth throughout the last 2 decades. Twitter and Stripe announced their news at almost exactly the same time. The approach of the respective CEOs Elon Musk (Twitter) and Patrick Collison (Stripe) couldn’t have been more different. Collison’s handling of the announcement was honest, caring and instructive while Musk’s was terse, limp and impersonal. One’s leadership (and, by extension, brand) reputation has been elevated, while the other is in the gutter. Enjoy the contrast.

 

 

Insights include:

-The Leadership Contribution – the 2 things needed in a crisis?

-How Musk got it so dreadfully wrong

-The 7 things Stripe (Patrick Collison) did brilliantly by contrast

-The impact on Leadership when you have no accountability

-The 2 core leadership lessons you cannot fake

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 58 – leadershipinchaos.gov.uk – How Liz Truss authored her own downfall

Episode 27 – What the Trump legacy teaches us about Leadership

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Episode 5 – Clarity in Chaos

Episode 3 – Communicating in Chaos

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-11665239 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000 933 6 59 full false EP 58 leadershipinchaos.gov.uk - “How Liz Truss authored her own downfall” EP 58 leadershipinchaos.gov.uk - “How Liz Truss authored her own downfall” “Useless. Shambles. Incompetent. CHAOS” These were the dominant words of a GB News Peoples’ Poll Wordcloud last week as the Tory party unravelled amidst a sequence of bizarre and barely credible events. But what role did Leadership have to play in the absurdist drama and what was it Liz Truss did or didn’t do to contribute to her own ultimate downfall? This episode unpicks the very clear failures of the leader and the obvious cause-and-effect lessons in the whole sorry piece.

 

Insights include:

  • “Juvenile delinquency breaks out when there is an absence of a responsible adult”
  • The 3 Big Lessons of Leadership in the Liz Truss demise
  • Ambiguity is #1 Enemy of Effectiveness
  • Conviction itself isn’t enough – you need the people
  • Self-Awareness trumps Self-Interest
  • Sage advice for appointing the next new leader (or anyone!)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 39-42 – Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 43 – Building Trust in Teams

Episode 33 – “Taking Back Control” in Chaos

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Support the show

]]> “Useless. Shambles. Incompetent. CHAOS” These were the dominant words of a GB News Peoples’ Poll Wordcloud last week as the Tory party unravelled amidst a sequence of bizarre and barely credible events. But what role did Leadership have to play in the absurdist drama and what was it Liz Truss did or didn’t do to contribute to her own ultimate downfall? This episode unpicks the very clear failures of the leader and the obvious cause-and-effect lessons in the whole sorry piece.

 

Insights include:

  • “Juvenile delinquency breaks out when there is an absence of a responsible adult”
  • The 3 Big Lessons of Leadership in the Liz Truss demise
  • Ambiguity is #1 Enemy of Effectiveness
  • Conviction itself isn’t enough – you need the people
  • Self-Awareness trumps Self-Interest
  • Sage advice for appointing the next new leader (or anyone!)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 39-42 – Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 43 – Building Trust in Teams

Episode 33 – “Taking Back Control” in Chaos

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 – The Leadership Contribution

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-11559426 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0100 871 6 58 full false EP 57: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #18 - Keep Your Focus - Avoid Procrastination EP 57: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #18 - Keep Your Focus - Avoid Procrastination To be human is to procrastinate. The Greeks even had a special word for it – akrasia – such was its acknowledgement. However, it’s not a great device for leadership effectiveness when keeping focus is critical. The tendency towards Procrastination, and it’s full-sister Distraction, is becoming increasingly a topic of conversation with leaders (I’m engaged with), together with media and public discourse. Why does it happen? Why is it increasingly emerging now? And what can we do to combat its creep?

 

Insights include:

  • Procrastination isn’t a new thing – it’s a human thing
  • Why we procrastinate – Future Self Vs Present Self
  • Pain of Procrastination > Pain of Action
  • “Couch to 5K?”- Forget the 5K, just get off the couch!
  • The Antidote to Procrastination – Chunk Down + Short Deadline + Reward

 

Related Episodes

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 44 – Do The Right Things

Episode 32 – Prioritising & Planning in Chaos

Support the show

]]> To be human is to procrastinate. The Greeks even had a special word for it – akrasia – such was its acknowledgement. However, it’s not a great device for leadership effectiveness when keeping focus is critical. The tendency towards Procrastination, and it’s full-sister Distraction, is becoming increasingly a topic of conversation with leaders (I’m engaged with), together with media and public discourse. Why does it happen? Why is it increasingly emerging now? And what can we do to combat its creep?

 

Insights include:

  • Procrastination isn’t a new thing – it’s a human thing
  • Why we procrastinate – Future Self Vs Present Self
  • Pain of Procrastination > Pain of Action
  • “Couch to 5K?”- Forget the 5K, just get off the couch!
  • The Antidote to Procrastination – Chunk Down + Short Deadline + Reward

 

Related Episodes

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 44 – Do The Right Things

Episode 32 – Prioritising & Planning in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-11106140 Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0100 676 Leadership, Chaos, Focus, AvoidProcrastination, JamesClear, FrancescoCirillo, PomodoroTechnique, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment 6 57 full false EP 56: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #19 - Stay Golden - Look after #1 EP 56: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #19 - Stay Golden - Look after #1 Normal service is resumed as I return to the Manifesto and explore how to preserve and protect the biggest asset any team has – you as the leader. Often ignoring their own needs and deprived in the service of others, the book title “Leaders Eat Last” promotes the idea of servant leadership (which I applaud by the way) ….however….Leaders Gotta Eat! How does a leader effectively balance doing the best for their people and their enterprise without doing the worst for themselves? Feast yourself!

 

Insights include:

  • Why Leaders suffer most burnout
  • The dilemma in minding for the Golden Goose
  • Demands Vs Resources in caring for self
  • 3 Ways to reduce Demands
  • Creating your own KSIs (Key Sanity Indicators)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 52 – Zoom Out Often

Episode 49 – Happiness in 3 Parts

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 6 – Be Your Best Self

Support the show

]]> Normal service is resumed as I return to the Manifesto and explore how to preserve and protect the biggest asset any team has – you as the leader. Often ignoring their own needs and deprived in the service of others, the book title “Leaders Eat Last” promotes the idea of servant leadership (which I applaud by the way) ….however….Leaders Gotta Eat! How does a leader effectively balance doing the best for their people and their enterprise without doing the worst for themselves? Feast yourself!

 

Insights include:

  • Why Leaders suffer most burnout
  • The dilemma in minding for the Golden Goose
  • Demands Vs Resources in caring for self
  • 3 Ways to reduce Demands
  • Creating your own KSIs (Key Sanity Indicators)

 

 

Related Episodes

Episode 52 – Zoom Out Often

Episode 49 – Happiness in 3 Parts

Episode 45 – Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 34 – Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 6 – Be Your Best Self

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10718332 Wed, 01 Jun 2022 13:00:00 +0100 752 Leadership, Leaders, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Leading Teams 6 56 full false EP 55: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 3 EP 55: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 3 I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10563780 Thu, 05 May 2022 13:00:00 +0100 664 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Behaviours, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Limbic Leadership, Green Brain 6 55 full false EP 54: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 2 EP 54: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 2 I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10563760 Thu, 05 May 2022 13:00:00 +0100 916 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Behaviours, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Limbic Leadership, Green Brain 6 54 full false EP 53: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 1 EP 53: Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order - Part 1 I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> I am interrupting normal service for a newsflash! Such has been the demand recently out there for a succinct summary of what it means to be a leader now we are starting The Great Reset for society, work and life, that I have composed a triple-decker episode that roughly mirrors a keynote I’m delivering to address the question. Many of my previous themes are peppered throughout, along with a few new nuggets for the latest version of the New World (Dis)Order. 

 

Normal service – and a return to the Manifesto 22 – will resume next time.

 

Thank you for listening

 

Insights include:

  • How Leadership is the Same but Different
  • How we invest in the wrong things
  • Leadership’s 2 Great Underestimations
  • The 3 Magic Ingredients for post-pandemic leadership
  • Why Curiosity is the new Courage

 

Related Episodes

Too many to mention!

https://flowukandireland.com/

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10563742 Thu, 05 May 2022 13:00:00 +0100 891 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Behaviours, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Limbic Leadership, Green Brain 6 53 full false EP 52: Leadership Manifesto Principle #20 Zoom Out Often EP 52: Leadership Manifesto Principle #20 Zoom Out Often We often do our best thinking when we are not thinking.

From Archimedes to Newton, great breakthrough discovery examples “away from the job” are rife in science, technology and the arts. It appears that it is often through a break that we really break through

Leadership is fundamentally about setting the right direction and making the right choices. Those choices, however, are only as good as the perspectives they are based on. In this episode, I explain how our “factory setting” as a species is an up-close perspective as it aids our survival in the moment. So how do you rise above your default programming to Zoom Out and gain enough valuable perspective to truly break through?

Insights include:

-How I suddenly remembered that thing I couldn’t remember!

-Why leaders typically don’t Zoom Out

-How great thinkers thrived when not thinking

-The “Pale Blue Dot” – Carl Sagan’s timely perspective on Zooming Out


“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbour life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
― Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space

Support the show

]]> We often do our best thinking when we are not thinking.

From Archimedes to Newton, great breakthrough discovery examples “away from the job” are rife in science, technology and the arts. It appears that it is often through a break that we really break through

Leadership is fundamentally about setting the right direction and making the right choices. Those choices, however, are only as good as the perspectives they are based on. In this episode, I explain how our “factory setting” as a species is an up-close perspective as it aids our survival in the moment. So how do you rise above your default programming to Zoom Out and gain enough valuable perspective to truly break through?

Insights include:

-How I suddenly remembered that thing I couldn’t remember!

-Why leaders typically don’t Zoom Out

-How great thinkers thrived when not thinking

-The “Pale Blue Dot” – Carl Sagan’s timely perspective on Zooming Out


“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbour life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
― Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/podcast/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10352671 Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0100 664 Zoom out, Pale Blue dot, Carl Sagan 6 52 full false EP 51: 2 year anniversary & 50 Episodes later….Reflections of an accidental podcaster. EP 51: 2 year anniversary & 50 Episodes later….Reflections of an accidental podcaster. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed. it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

 

It’s almost 2 years to the day since I began this podcast and 50 episodes later, I wanted to pause and momentarily to Zoom Out and reflect.

 

It was Friday 13th (the clue was in the date?!) when I sat in the Cheltenham racecourse car park on a 1hr call with my international Flow partners from 4 continents sharing perspectives of what was unfolding as our world was disappearing from underneath our feet. Engulfed by chaos and uncertainty about the rapid spread of a virus no-one understood I remember the last question of the call. How long before things return to normal and how long do we have to wait this out? The most pessimistic view suggested September. By September, I mean September 2020. Shows what we knew. The paradox of life is that we understand it far better looking back, but we can only ever live it looking forward. Unless you’re Benjamin Button.

 

I moved into precautionary self-isolation on return to Dublin and wondered over what to do. There was no paid client work to do, so I wondered how could I add value. So I started a podcast about the thing I knew most, where there was the most need. The irony is I had intended starting a podcast for over 3 years – but never ever found the time for being always too busy.

 

Asking about the title, a colleague was doubtful “What will you do when the Chaos is over?”

 

The question, of course, missed the point. There is, was, and will always be Chaos.

 

Our very existence and Life itself was born out of Chaos. Sometimes chaos comes with a small “c”; other times with a large “C”.

 

The question is not if there will BE Chaos. The question is How to BE in Chaos?

 

For that we need to reset our expectations of what our default position is; and revise our original mental “factory settings” about how life is and the leadership that follows to support that.

 

Now that we are apparently lurching from one life-afflicting Chaos into another (Ukraine invasion) we need to lead differently and more vigilantly than ever.

 

If you have been, thank you for supporting the podcast.

Support the show

]]> “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed. it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

 

It’s almost 2 years to the day since I began this podcast and 50 episodes later, I wanted to pause and momentarily to Zoom Out and reflect.

 

It was Friday 13th (the clue was in the date?!) when I sat in the Cheltenham racecourse car park on a 1hr call with my international Flow partners from 4 continents sharing perspectives of what was unfolding as our world was disappearing from underneath our feet. Engulfed by chaos and uncertainty about the rapid spread of a virus no-one understood I remember the last question of the call. How long before things return to normal and how long do we have to wait this out? The most pessimistic view suggested September. By September, I mean September 2020. Shows what we knew. The paradox of life is that we understand it far better looking back, but we can only ever live it looking forward. Unless you’re Benjamin Button.

 

I moved into precautionary self-isolation on return to Dublin and wondered over what to do. There was no paid client work to do, so I wondered how could I add value. So I started a podcast about the thing I knew most, where there was the most need. The irony is I had intended starting a podcast for over 3 years – but never ever found the time for being always too busy.

 

Asking about the title, a colleague was doubtful “What will you do when the Chaos is over?”

 

The question, of course, missed the point. There is, was, and will always be Chaos.

 

Our very existence and Life itself was born out of Chaos. Sometimes chaos comes with a small “c”; other times with a large “C”.

 

The question is not if there will BE Chaos. The question is How to BE in Chaos?

 

For that we need to reset our expectations of what our default position is; and revise our original mental “factory settings” about how life is and the leadership that follows to support that.

 

Now that we are apparently lurching from one life-afflicting Chaos into another (Ukraine invasion) we need to lead differently and more vigilantly than ever.

 

If you have been, thank you for supporting the podcast.

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10252864 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000 328 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 6 51 full false EP 50: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #24 - Choose Consciously and Wisely EP 50: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #24 - Choose Consciously and Wisely “In every situation there is a space between the situation and how you respond”. Viktor Frankl  

 

Think about this : The quality and situation of your life right now is the aggregate total of every decision you have ever made. Luck certainly plays a part - and there have been many “sliding doors” moments I’m sure, but ultimately, it is not what happened in those moments, but rather how you responded to what happened in those moments that made the difference. 

 

No leader sets out to be a bad leader. Yet there are many bad leaders. And they are bad because of the accumulation of choices they made in the moment – unconsciously – that lead to the wrong outcome or impact. And the pattern continually repeats itself, unless or until it is corrected.

 

Insights include:

  • Decisions : Conflict between your Rational and Emotional self
  • How we self-sabotage without realising it
  • Why Self-Awareness is critical as a leader
  • How to make better, conscious decisions in the moment

Support the show

]]> “In every situation there is a space between the situation and how you respond”. Viktor Frankl  

 

Think about this : The quality and situation of your life right now is the aggregate total of every decision you have ever made. Luck certainly plays a part - and there have been many “sliding doors” moments I’m sure, but ultimately, it is not what happened in those moments, but rather how you responded to what happened in those moments that made the difference. 

 

No leader sets out to be a bad leader. Yet there are many bad leaders. And they are bad because of the accumulation of choices they made in the moment – unconsciously – that lead to the wrong outcome or impact. And the pattern continually repeats itself, unless or until it is corrected.

 

Insights include:

  • Decisions : Conflict between your Rational and Emotional self
  • How we self-sabotage without realising it
  • Why Self-Awareness is critical as a leader
  • How to make better, conscious decisions in the moment

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10180829 Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0000 657 Leadership, Chaos, Leadership Manifesto, Principle#21, Conscious Decisions, Self-Awareness, Culture, Communication, Commitment 6 50 full false EP 49: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #25 - Happiness in 3 Parts EP 49: Leadership Manifesto: Principle #25 - Happiness in 3 Parts “There is no way to Happiness. Happiness is the way.” Thich Nhat Hanh

 

In response to the reaction from the “Leadership Manifesto – 22 Principles for ‘22” episode, I have been persuaded to build out the Manifesto into a season, with each episode delving into the principles one by one, and in greater detail. Starting with #22 we will work backwards principle-by-principle until we arrive an #1. That way, instead of just chapter headings with some brief elaboration, by the end of the season you will literally “have the book” on how to Lead in Chaos.

 

It might seem unorthodox to start with Happiness as a principle for leadership, but in my experience happy, optimistic, positive leaders encounter far more long-term, sustainable success than their opposites. 

 

In addition, from Plato and Aristotle through the American constitution to Hakuna Matata, the pursuit of happiness has been a puzzle we have eternally been trying to solve. So why not? 😊

 

Insights include:

  • Confusing Pleasure with Happiness
  • Why realising your dream doesn’t mean happiness
  • What the world’s longest study revealed about happiness
  • How anticipation trumps the real thing

Support the show

]]> “There is no way to Happiness. Happiness is the way.” Thich Nhat Hanh

 

In response to the reaction from the “Leadership Manifesto – 22 Principles for ‘22” episode, I have been persuaded to build out the Manifesto into a season, with each episode delving into the principles one by one, and in greater detail. Starting with #22 we will work backwards principle-by-principle until we arrive an #1. That way, instead of just chapter headings with some brief elaboration, by the end of the season you will literally “have the book” on how to Lead in Chaos.

 

It might seem unorthodox to start with Happiness as a principle for leadership, but in my experience happy, optimistic, positive leaders encounter far more long-term, sustainable success than their opposites. 

 

In addition, from Plato and Aristotle through the American constitution to Hakuna Matata, the pursuit of happiness has been a puzzle we have eternally been trying to solve. So why not? 😊

 

Insights include:

  • Confusing Pleasure with Happiness
  • Why realising your dream doesn’t mean happiness
  • What the world’s longest study revealed about happiness
  • How anticipation trumps the real thing

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-10078409 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000 709 Leadership, Chaos, Principle#22, Leadership Manifesto, Happiness, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 6 49 full false EP 48: Leadership Manifesto: 22 Principles for Leading in Chaos in '22 EP 48: Leadership Manifesto: 22 Principles for Leading in Chaos in '22 Frank Capra’s seasonal classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” turned 75 years last year and, like many, once again I watched the movie during the holiday period. This time around, however, coloured no doubt by our present environment, I saw something different. I saw it primarily as a treatise on the fragility and uncertainty of life. 

 

George Bailey has big dreams of adventure way beyond small-town Bedford Falls but his aspirations are thwarted at every turn and, just when he thought he had scaled every hurdle, hope gets dashed one more time. The fragility of life is best illustrated when George is dancing with sweetheart Mary and, owing to a prankster, the dance-floor begins to separate without their awareness until finally they plunge headlong into the swimming pool below. 

 

So, in a world where the ground can be taken from right under our feet at any moment how do you lead – yourself and others?

 

Building on my previous episode of Chaos as the new constant, I’ve composed a Leadership Manifesto for the absurd times we live in titled : 

22 Principles for Leading in Chaos of’22

Leadership Principles include:

  • Hold your Assumptions lightly, not tightly.
  • Use your imagination wisely
  • Beware your Comparative Mind
  • Communicate for your Audience, not Yourself
  • Iterate! And Re-Iterate.

Support the show

]]> Frank Capra’s seasonal classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” turned 75 years last year and, like many, once again I watched the movie during the holiday period. This time around, however, coloured no doubt by our present environment, I saw something different. I saw it primarily as a treatise on the fragility and uncertainty of life. 

 

George Bailey has big dreams of adventure way beyond small-town Bedford Falls but his aspirations are thwarted at every turn and, just when he thought he had scaled every hurdle, hope gets dashed one more time. The fragility of life is best illustrated when George is dancing with sweetheart Mary and, owing to a prankster, the dance-floor begins to separate without their awareness until finally they plunge headlong into the swimming pool below. 

 

So, in a world where the ground can be taken from right under our feet at any moment how do you lead – yourself and others?

 

Building on my previous episode of Chaos as the new constant, I’ve composed a Leadership Manifesto for the absurd times we live in titled : 

22 Principles for Leading in Chaos of’22

Leadership Principles include:

  • Hold your Assumptions lightly, not tightly.
  • Use your imagination wisely
  • Beware your Comparative Mind
  • Communicate for your Audience, not Yourself
  • Iterate! And Re-Iterate.

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-9880673 Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +0000 769 Leadership, Chaos, Manifesto, Principles, Culture, Communication, Motivation, 6 48 full false EP 47: Chaos is the New Normal EP 47: Chaos is the New Normal The popularised phrase “New Normal” is at best lazy, and at worst destructively misleading for leadership in every dimension – language, expectation and mindset. Yet people continue to strive for and promote it. For 30 years, the most popular remark I’ve consistently heard from leaders going through change is “I can’t wait until this is over and we can return to normal”. Funny thing is, it never happened. Ever. What happens when leaders realise and accept the Chaos is constant – always was – and is, in fact, the New Normal. 

 

Insights include:

  • December 2021 = December 2020, 2.0
  • Why we stubbornly strive for Normal (and what we really mean)
  • VUCA and GUBU : The state of Chaos isn’t new
  • How great leaders treat adversity and uncertainty
  • The Stockdale Paradox

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 45 : Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 34 : Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 25 : What is Leadership in Chaos

Episode 7 : Finding Gold in the Dirt

Support the show

]]> The popularised phrase “New Normal” is at best lazy, and at worst destructively misleading for leadership in every dimension – language, expectation and mindset. Yet people continue to strive for and promote it. For 30 years, the most popular remark I’ve consistently heard from leaders going through change is “I can’t wait until this is over and we can return to normal”. Funny thing is, it never happened. Ever. What happens when leaders realise and accept the Chaos is constant – always was – and is, in fact, the New Normal. 

 

Insights include:

  • December 2021 = December 2020, 2.0
  • Why we stubbornly strive for Normal (and what we really mean)
  • VUCA and GUBU : The state of Chaos isn’t new
  • How great leaders treat adversity and uncertainty
  • The Stockdale Paradox

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 45 : Finding Flow in Chaos

Episode 34 : Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 25 : What is Leadership in Chaos

Episode 7 : Finding Gold in the Dirt

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-9739520 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000 625 Leadership, Chaos, Change, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams, New Normal, Gold in the Dirt 5 47 full false EP 46: Lessons from COP26 EP 46: Lessons from COP26 COP26 represented the world’s greatest “strategy off-site” in Glasgow recently, featuring the not insignificant, high-stakes leadership quest of safe-guarding our planet. Whilst our own leadership challenges are, by definition, less lofty and smaller in scale, the same conundrums of clarity of vision & purpose; stakeholders buy-in; sustaining commitment and much more, still very much apply. 

In Episode 46 I explore the lessons and parallels we can extract from the 2 week summit and how they map across to your world as a leader. This episode builds perfectly onto our previous mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos (episodes 39-42).

 

Insights include:

  • The formula for effective leadership revisited E = Cl X Co
  • Why Hi-Clarity with Lo-Commitment is like one hand clapping
  • The Conflict of the 2 Jerseys (Club Vs Country)
  • Best definition ever of Commitment
  • What happens when belief in the Vision is low
  • Influencing without Authority

 

Related Episodes 

Episodes 39-42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 12 - 14 : Motivation in Chaos

Episode 5 : Clarity in Chaos

Support the show

]]> COP26 represented the world’s greatest “strategy off-site” in Glasgow recently, featuring the not insignificant, high-stakes leadership quest of safe-guarding our planet. Whilst our own leadership challenges are, by definition, less lofty and smaller in scale, the same conundrums of clarity of vision & purpose; stakeholders buy-in; sustaining commitment and much more, still very much apply. 

In Episode 46 I explore the lessons and parallels we can extract from the 2 week summit and how they map across to your world as a leader. This episode builds perfectly onto our previous mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos (episodes 39-42).

 

Insights include:

  • The formula for effective leadership revisited E = Cl X Co
  • Why Hi-Clarity with Lo-Commitment is like one hand clapping
  • The Conflict of the 2 Jerseys (Club Vs Country)
  • Best definition ever of Commitment
  • What happens when belief in the Vision is low
  • Influencing without Authority

 

Related Episodes 

Episodes 39-42 : Leading Teams in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 12 - 14 : Motivation in Chaos

Episode 5 : Clarity in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-9606389 Wed, 24 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +0000 866 Leadership, Chaos, COP26, Clarity, Commitment, Influencing without Authority, Leading Teams, Communication, 5 46 full false EP 45: Finding Flow in Chaos EP 45: Finding Flow in Chaos Last month saw the passing of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow – the seminal work that describes the human state of happiness, optimal experience and high performance. The book (and his research) has subsequently influenced everything from office design, to how to train soldiers, website and video game design amongst everything else. In this episode, I commemorate the author by synthesizing the essence of his work (in less than 15 minutes!) and describing how the Flow state is an absolute panacea for the 3 symptoms of our present COVID “hangover”.

 

Insights include:

  • Why finding Flow is at the very heart of Leadership
  • What is the Flow state?
  • Why enterprise became interested and what it discovered
  • The conditions you need to know as a Leader to create Flow
  • How Flow is a panacea for the 3 symptoms of our pandemic hangover
  • Flow’s naughty neighbours : Boredom & Anxiety

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 34 : Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 12 - 14 : Motivation in Chaos

Episode 5 : Clarity in Chaos

Support the show

]]> Last month saw the passing of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow – the seminal work that describes the human state of happiness, optimal experience and high performance. The book (and his research) has subsequently influenced everything from office design, to how to train soldiers, website and video game design amongst everything else. In this episode, I commemorate the author by synthesizing the essence of his work (in less than 15 minutes!) and describing how the Flow state is an absolute panacea for the 3 symptoms of our present COVID “hangover”.

 

Insights include:

  • Why finding Flow is at the very heart of Leadership
  • What is the Flow state?
  • Why enterprise became interested and what it discovered
  • The conditions you need to know as a Leader to create Flow
  • How Flow is a panacea for the 3 symptoms of our pandemic hangover
  • Flow’s naughty neighbours : Boredom & Anxiety

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 34 : Finding Meaning in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 12 - 14 : Motivation in Chaos

Episode 5 : Clarity in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-9483047 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +0000 1007 Leadership, Chaos, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow, Happiness, High Performance, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 45 full false EP 44: Do The Right Things EP 44: Do The Right Things According to Peter Drucker – if management is about doing things right, then leadership is doing the right things. I took a break from the Podcast for some Zooming Out time during summer but, since my return, have found it a very big challenge to return to the discipline of the broadcast because of competing pressures. This episode uses this most typical challenge to ask (and answer!) the question : “How do you get to do the things you need to do but just can’t find the time?”

 

Insights include:

  • How to identify (and remember) the Right Things
  • Differentiating the Important from the Urgent
  • Why the To-Do List doesn’t help you
  • How to translate intentions into action and make it stick
  • The 2 sub-skills you need to master to Do the Right Things

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 32 : Planning & Prioritising in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 19 : Zooming Out in Chaos

Support the show

]]> According to Peter Drucker – if management is about doing things right, then leadership is doing the right things. I took a break from the Podcast for some Zooming Out time during summer but, since my return, have found it a very big challenge to return to the discipline of the broadcast because of competing pressures. This episode uses this most typical challenge to ask (and answer!) the question : “How do you get to do the things you need to do but just can’t find the time?”

 

Insights include:

  • How to identify (and remember) the Right Things
  • Differentiating the Important from the Urgent
  • Why the To-Do List doesn’t help you
  • How to translate intentions into action and make it stick
  • The 2 sub-skills you need to master to Do the Right Things

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 32 : Planning & Prioritising in Chaos

Episode 26 : The Leadership Contribution

Episode 19 : Zooming Out in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-9348034 Mon, 11 Oct 2021 14:00:00 +0100 850 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Right Things, Important, Urgent, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment 5 44 full false EP 43: Building Trust in Teams - Part 1 EP 43: Building Trust in Teams - Part 1 In this sub-set of the mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos I focus on Trust. Isn’t it peculiar that whilst everyone agrees that Trust is a crucial ingredient to growing high performance in a team, I have never - in almost 30 years working with teams globally - been asked to host a conversation to discuss the topic specifically. In this episode I explore why this is. I also share a more workable definition of Trust and its component parts, that helps turn the abstract into something more tangible and therefore more manageable.

 

Insights include:

  • Why Trust is more important than ever in our evolving hybrid working world
  • Moving from abstract to specific - The 3 Legs of the Trust stool
  • How to reflect on your Trust levels with your significant relationships in a way you can work with
  • Starting to diagnose your own trustworthiness as a leader

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 8 : Building Trust

Episode 28 : We Need to Talk About Conversations

Episode 29 : Deepening Connections in Chaos

Support the show

]]> In this sub-set of the mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos I focus on Trust. Isn’t it peculiar that whilst everyone agrees that Trust is a crucial ingredient to growing high performance in a team, I have never - in almost 30 years working with teams globally - been asked to host a conversation to discuss the topic specifically. In this episode I explore why this is. I also share a more workable definition of Trust and its component parts, that helps turn the abstract into something more tangible and therefore more manageable.

 

Insights include:

  • Why Trust is more important than ever in our evolving hybrid working world
  • Moving from abstract to specific - The 3 Legs of the Trust stool
  • How to reflect on your Trust levels with your significant relationships in a way you can work with
  • Starting to diagnose your own trustworthiness as a leader

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 8 : Building Trust

Episode 28 : We Need to Talk About Conversations

Episode 29 : Deepening Connections in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8794428 Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:00:00 +0100 779 Leadership, Chaos, Teams, Trust, Culture, Behaviours, Ways of Working, Communication, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 43 full false EP 42: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 4 EP 42: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 4 In this fourth part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos I reflect on how nearly all leaders know what it’s like to be part of a highly effective team, but very few know how to build one. I also consolidate the 5 Agreements a team needs to make, and explore the 4 Commitment Cards to arrive at those agreements so that the team members feel committed, not just compliant.

 

Insights include:

  • How knowing effective teams is not the same as building one.
  • Consolidating the 5 Agreements of a Team and how to get started if you’re stuck
  • Moving from My Version to Our Version
  • The 4 Commitment Cards and the Conversation Box 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 20: Commitment in Chaos

Episode 28: We Need to Talk About Conversations

Episode 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos

Support the show

]]> In this fourth part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos I reflect on how nearly all leaders know what it’s like to be part of a highly effective team, but very few know how to build one. I also consolidate the 5 Agreements a team needs to make, and explore the 4 Commitment Cards to arrive at those agreements so that the team members feel committed, not just compliant.

 

Insights include:

  • How knowing effective teams is not the same as building one.
  • Consolidating the 5 Agreements of a Team and how to get started if you’re stuck
  • Moving from My Version to Our Version
  • The 4 Commitment Cards and the Conversation Box 

 

Related Episodes 

Episode 20: Commitment in Chaos

Episode 28: We Need to Talk About Conversations

Episode 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8678694 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:00:00 +0100 747 Leadership, Chaos, Teams, Culture, Behaviours, Ways of Working, Realign, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 42 full false EP 41: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 3 EP 41: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 3 In this third part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos as leaders look to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams, “Agreeing the How” concentrates on the importance of common understanding and commitment to How we best work together to get things done.

Insights include:

  • How Behaviour is the orphaned child of Effectiveness
  • Why Task is consistently prioritised over Behaviour
  • Why talking about Culture empties the room 
  • How to agree Ways of Working that gets commitment and lasts

Support the show

]]> In this third part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos as leaders look to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams, “Agreeing the How” concentrates on the importance of common understanding and commitment to How we best work together to get things done.

Insights include:

  • How Behaviour is the orphaned child of Effectiveness
  • Why Task is consistently prioritised over Behaviour
  • Why talking about Culture empties the room 
  • How to agree Ways of Working that gets commitment and lasts

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8505723 Wed, 12 May 2021 09:00:00 +0100 938 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Behaviours, Ways of Working, Realign, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 41 full false EP 40: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 2 EP 40: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 2 In this second part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos as leaders look to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams, “Agreeing the Why” concentrates on the importance of connecting a team to its purpose, as a chief source of meaning and motivation.

 

Insights include:

  • Why Purpose and Mission gets a bad rap (and why it’s richly deserved).
  • Why it’s so important to approach it right & the pay-off if you do.
  • The relationship between the Why and discretionary effort.
  • Why (most) leaders ignore the Why.
  • How to get started with your Team – or Restarted – on a compelling Why.

Support the show

]]> In this second part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos as leaders look to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams, “Agreeing the Why” concentrates on the importance of connecting a team to its purpose, as a chief source of meaning and motivation.

 

Insights include:

  • Why Purpose and Mission gets a bad rap (and why it’s richly deserved).
  • Why it’s so important to approach it right & the pay-off if you do.
  • The relationship between the Why and discretionary effort.
  • Why (most) leaders ignore the Why.
  • How to get started with your Team – or Restarted – on a compelling Why.

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8340542 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +0100 939 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 40 full false EP 39: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 1 EP 39: Leading Teams in Chaos - Part 1 In this first part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos, Part 1 observes how the Covid story is writing itself, chapter by chapter, and how the latest chapter is giving grounds for optimism, as Leaders are gradually now looking to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams. This mini-season focuses on helping you with the how and why.

 

Insights include:

·        The 5 Chapters of Covid (so far!)

·        The source formula for Leading Teams:  

          E = Cl X Co

·        Establishing Clarity through the Where, What, Who & How

·        Clarity’s impact on Commitment

·        Direct Vs Consult – Ask or Tell?

 

Support the show

]]> In this first part of a mini-season on Leading Teams in Chaos, Part 1 observes how the Covid story is writing itself, chapter by chapter, and how the latest chapter is giving grounds for optimism, as Leaders are gradually now looking to Reset, Realign and Refocus their Teams. This mini-season focuses on helping you with the how and why.

 

Insights include:

·        The 5 Chapters of Covid (so far!)

·        The source formula for Leading Teams:  

          E = Cl X Co

·        Establishing Clarity through the Where, What, Who & How

·        Clarity’s impact on Commitment

·        Direct Vs Consult – Ask or Tell?

 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8209554 Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000 824 Leadership, Chaos, Culture, Communication, Motivation, Clarity, Commitment, Leading Teams 5 39 full false EP 38: How Now From Here - Part 4 EP 38: How Now From Here - Part 4 It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?” 

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?” 

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8076117 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000 1232 Leadership, Chaos, Communication, Impact, Clarity, Commitment, Culture, Wellness 4 38 full false EP 37: How Now From Here - Part 3 EP 37: How Now From Here - Part 3 It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

 Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

 Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8075661 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000 824 Leadership, Chaos, Communication, Meaning, Clarity, Resilience, Culture 4 37 full false EP 36: How Now From Here - Part 2 EP 36: How Now From Here - Part 2 It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

 Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

 Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8074967 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000 461 Leadership, Chaos, Communication, Culture, Planning, Resilience 4 36 full false EP 35: How Now From Here - Part 1 EP 35: How Now From Here - Part 1 It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> It’s been a year like no other. To commemorate one year on from the first Covid case in Ireland, and the first Leadership in Chaos podcast episode, I have Zoomed Out to look back over the past year and look forward to answer the question “How Now From Here?”

In 4 connected episodes/parts I summarise and highlight the best principles to help navigate our way forward from here.

Insights include:

  • Reviewing the context for Leadership
  • The Neurology of Leadership in Chaos
  • The 5 Cs of Being your Best when things are at their Worst
  • Leaders eat last…but they gotta eat!

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-8074540 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000 727 Leadership, Chaos, Communication, Culture, Planning, Resilience 4 35 full false EP 34: Finding Meaning in Chaos EP 34: Finding Meaning in Chaos People out there are really struggling. And the Chaos has moved from external disruption (economy and autonomy) to internal questioning as we struggle for meaning. In this episode I focus on what this means for leaders and their role.

 Insights include:

  • How the Leader today has now become the white-collar frontline worker
  • The 3 Migrating Stages of people’s struggle during the pandemic
  • Finding Meaning as a key to Resilience
  • Why Finding Meaning is not a Quest

 Related Episodes:

  • Episode 31: “Your PPE for a Better 2021”
  • Episodes 12 - 14: “Motivation in Chaos, Parts 1, 2, & 3”
  • Episodes 9 - 10: “Remote Leadership, Parts 1 & 2”

Listener Review - 5 Stars:

Leadership in Chaos is a hot topic, deals directly with the challenges of Covid as well as suggesting simple and clear approaches to improve. Well worth the investment of 15 minutes a week. 

Support the show

]]> People out there are really struggling. And the Chaos has moved from external disruption (economy and autonomy) to internal questioning as we struggle for meaning. In this episode I focus on what this means for leaders and their role.

 Insights include:

  • How the Leader today has now become the white-collar frontline worker
  • The 3 Migrating Stages of people’s struggle during the pandemic
  • Finding Meaning as a key to Resilience
  • Why Finding Meaning is not a Quest

 Related Episodes:

  • Episode 31: “Your PPE for a Better 2021”
  • Episodes 12 - 14: “Motivation in Chaos, Parts 1, 2, & 3”
  • Episodes 9 - 10: “Remote Leadership, Parts 1 & 2”

Listener Review - 5 Stars:

Leadership in Chaos is a hot topic, deals directly with the challenges of Covid as well as suggesting simple and clear approaches to improve. Well worth the investment of 15 minutes a week. 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-7941865 Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000 682 Leadership, Chaos, Communication, Culture, Meaning, Resilience 4 34 full false EP 33: "Taking Back Control" in Chaos EP 33: "Taking Back Control" in Chaos In this episode I focus on what the leader’s role is in restoring a sense of control to help with people’s struggle around morale, motivation, and mental health. 

Insights include:

  • Insights from Flow CEO Forum on what keeps them awake at night
  • Facebook CFO’s advice to graduating accountant for their future career
  • The real answer to “Why people don’t do what they’re supposed to do”
  • Motivation Psychology 101 – The 2 Simple Things you can do as a Leader that make the most difference

Related Episodes:

  • Episode 31: “Your PPE for a Better 2021”
  • Episodes 12 – 14: “Motivation in Chaos - 1, 2, & 3”
  • Episodes 9 – 10: “Remote Leadership Parts 1 & 2”
  • Episode 5: “Clarity in Chaos”

Support the show

]]> In this episode I focus on what the leader’s role is in restoring a sense of control to help with people’s struggle around morale, motivation, and mental health. 

Insights include:

  • Insights from Flow CEO Forum on what keeps them awake at night
  • Facebook CFO’s advice to graduating accountant for their future career
  • The real answer to “Why people don’t do what they’re supposed to do”
  • Motivation Psychology 101 – The 2 Simple Things you can do as a Leader that make the most difference

Related Episodes:

  • Episode 31: “Your PPE for a Better 2021”
  • Episodes 12 – 14: “Motivation in Chaos - 1, 2, & 3”
  • Episodes 9 – 10: “Remote Leadership Parts 1 & 2”
  • Episode 5: “Clarity in Chaos”

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-7673458 Thu, 04 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000 959 Leadership, Communication, Culture, Planning, Motivation, Morale, Chaos 4 33 full false EP 32: Prioritising & Planning in Chaos EP 32: Prioritising & Planning in Chaos In this episode I focus on why, counter-intuitively, Prioritising & Planning become even more crucial in Chaos.

 Insights include:

  • How Leadership is a delicate blend of feeling and action
  • What is the leadership contribution
  • Why Prioritise and Plan when there are no right answers
  • The real reason Leaders resist setting direction
  • 3 Cs – How to set a Direction that inspires

Related Episodes:

  • Episode 26: “The Leadership Contribution”
  • Episodes 12 - 14: “Motivation in Chaos - 1, 2, 3”
  • Episode 5: “Clarity in Chaos”

Support the show

]]> In this episode I focus on why, counter-intuitively, Prioritising & Planning become even more crucial in Chaos.

 Insights include:

  • How Leadership is a delicate blend of feeling and action
  • What is the leadership contribution
  • Why Prioritise and Plan when there are no right answers
  • The real reason Leaders resist setting direction
  • 3 Cs – How to set a Direction that inspires

Related Episodes:

  • Episode 26: “The Leadership Contribution”
  • Episodes 12 - 14: “Motivation in Chaos - 1, 2, 3”
  • Episode 5: “Clarity in Chaos”

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-7410478 Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000 898 Leadership, Communication, Culture, Prioritising, Planning, Motivation, Chaos 4 32 full false EP 31: Your PPE for a Better 2021 EP 31: Your PPE for a Better 2021 In this important Omnibus episode, the first of 2021, I share a simple but profound and effective way to prepare yourself for a better 2021 – in spite of the Chaos. 

The Leader's PPE stands for:

P – Perspective (Scripting the right Story)

P – Priorities (Choosing the right Action)

E – Equilibrium (Maintaining Resilience)

 
The method is both holistic and human, and can be applied by both leaders and non-leaders.

So feel free to share with anyone struggling to get started in the Chaos of 2021.

Support the show

]]> In this important Omnibus episode, the first of 2021, I share a simple but profound and effective way to prepare yourself for a better 2021 – in spite of the Chaos. 

The Leader's PPE stands for:

P – Perspective (Scripting the right Story)

P – Priorities (Choosing the right Action)

E – Equilibrium (Maintaining Resilience)

 
The method is both holistic and human, and can be applied by both leaders and non-leaders.

So feel free to share with anyone struggling to get started in the Chaos of 2021.

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-7274071 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000 1047 Leadership, Perspective, Priorities, Equilibrium, Resilience, Impact 4 31 full false EP 30: Leadership Lessons in Chaos EP 30: Leadership Lessons in Chaos In the final Episode of 2020 I select the top 5 Leadership lessons we can extract from the most trying of years. 

Lessons include:

  • Leadership is critical & not just necessary during Chaos
  • Life is random, discriminating, and unfair: meet it where it is
  • The “What’s Possible” mindset
  • The Old World wasn’t perfect anyway
  • People double down on their real self during Chaos

Support the show

]]> In the final Episode of 2020 I select the top 5 Leadership lessons we can extract from the most trying of years. 

Lessons include:

  • Leadership is critical & not just necessary during Chaos
  • Life is random, discriminating, and unfair: meet it where it is
  • The “What’s Possible” mindset
  • The Old World wasn’t perfect anyway
  • People double down on their real self during Chaos

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-6876983 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000 874 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Training, Communication, Connection, GreenLine 3 30 full false EP 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos EP 29: Deepening Connections in Chaos At a time when people are feeling increasing disconnection, this week I explore how to deepen connection.

In this episode I explain:

  • What Star Wars has to do with building connection
  • How we often think we’re building connection when in fact we’re not
  • How our Tacit Wisdom is stronger than our intellectual knowledge
  • What to focus on to deepen connection

…And ..our discomfort with silence

Support the show

]]> At a time when people are feeling increasing disconnection, this week I explore how to deepen connection.

In this episode I explain:

  • What Star Wars has to do with building connection
  • How we often think we’re building connection when in fact we’re not
  • How our Tacit Wisdom is stronger than our intellectual knowledge
  • What to focus on to deepen connection

…And ..our discomfort with silence

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-6653737 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000 521 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Training, Communication, Connection 3 29 full false EP 28: We Need to Talk about Conversations EP 28: We Need to Talk about Conversations This week Ian discusses how to approach those Difficult Conversations.

In this episode Ian explains:

  • Why conversations are more difficult during a pandemic crisis
  • How you need to get “Comfortable with Uncomfortable”
  • How your Mindset influences the conversation outcome
  • The opportunity in the Difficult

…And how – approached correctly – there is often an even better way

Support the show

]]> This week Ian discusses how to approach those Difficult Conversations.

In this episode Ian explains:

  • Why conversations are more difficult during a pandemic crisis
  • How you need to get “Comfortable with Uncomfortable”
  • How your Mindset influences the conversation outcome
  • The opportunity in the Difficult

…And how – approached correctly – there is often an even better way

Support the show

]]> http://www.flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-6530572 Tue, 24 Nov 2020 15:00:00 +0000 676 Ian McClean, Leadership, Chaos, Conversations, Commitment, Clarity, 3 28 full false EP 27: What the Trump legacy teaches us about Leadership EP 27: What the Trump legacy teaches us about Leadership
In this episode Ian explains how leadership impact is real, and really matters. Also:

  • Leadership and the Law of Cause and Effect
  • How the CEO is also the CCO (Chief Culture Officer)
  • Leadership’s Great Underestimation
  • The link between autocratic leadership and gun sales
  • What 19th century detective novels have to do with Leadership

Support the show

]]>
In this episode Ian explains how leadership impact is real, and really matters. Also:

  • Leadership and the Law of Cause and Effect
  • How the CEO is also the CCO (Chief Culture Officer)
  • Leadership’s Great Underestimation
  • The link between autocratic leadership and gun sales
  • What 19th century detective novels have to do with Leadership

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-6395878 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000 644 Leadership, Impact, Intention, Culture, Trump, Election 3 27 full false EP 26: The Leadership Contribution EP 26: The Leadership Contribution In this week's episode, Ian discusses a way of viewing leadership as a form of contribution, which differs from the conventional way of viewing leadership as somebody who is at the top of a hierarchy. 

So, what is the leadership contribution?

Support the show

]]> In this week's episode, Ian discusses a way of viewing leadership as a form of contribution, which differs from the conventional way of viewing leadership as somebody who is at the top of a hierarchy. 

So, what is the leadership contribution?

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-6105721 Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:00:00 +0000 657 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Training 3 26 full false EP 25: What is Leadership? (in Chaos) EP 25: What is Leadership? (in Chaos) So far, the Leadership in Chaos Podcast has mostly focused on dealing with the "chaos" in the title. This week, Ian discusses leadership itself. So here's the question. What is leadership?

Support the show

]]> So far, the Leadership in Chaos Podcast has mostly focused on dealing with the "chaos" in the title. This week, Ian discusses leadership itself. So here's the question. What is leadership?

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5979418 Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +0100 607 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Training 3 25 full false EP 24: Culture in Chaos EP 24: Culture in Chaos Ian reminisces on an old interview he did about how culture happens in organisations.

Support the show

]]> Ian reminisces on an old interview he did about how culture happens in organisations.

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5800312 Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:00:00 +0100 321 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 3 24 full true EP 23: Presidential Leadership in Chaos EP 23: Presidential Leadership in Chaos Presidential Leadership in Chaos: Ian reflects on the recent US presidential debate and what it means for leadership. 

Support the show

]]> Presidential Leadership in Chaos: Ian reflects on the recent US presidential debate and what it means for leadership. 

Support the show

]]> https://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5693044 Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +0100 484 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Training 3 23 full false EP 22: Listening Beyond Bias EP 22: Listening Beyond Bias Listening Beyond Bias: Ian discusses how we need to learn to suspend our own biases if we are to really listen effectively and build trust.

Support the show

]]> Listening Beyond Bias: Ian discusses how we need to learn to suspend our own biases if we are to really listen effectively and build trust.

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5552338 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 15:00:00 +0100 561 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 3 22 full false EP 21: Bias in Chaos EP 21: Bias in Chaos Ian discusses the importance of identifying and addressing bias, especially during these times of heightened tension and ambiguity. 

Support the show

]]> Ian discusses the importance of identifying and addressing bias, especially during these times of heightened tension and ambiguity. 

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5380318 Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0100 515 3 21 full false EP 20: Commitment in Chaos EP 20: Commitment in Chaos Ian discusses how building commitment is a key skill for successful leadership, especially during these times of increased uncertainty. 

Support the show

]]> Ian discusses how building commitment is a key skill for successful leadership, especially during these times of increased uncertainty. 

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-5074742 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0100 889 Flow Group, Ian McClean, Leadership, Communication, Commitment 2 20 full false EP 19: Zooming Out in Chaos EP 19: Zooming Out in Chaos Ian returns from a period of "Zooming Out" on family vacation to share some thoughts.

Support the show

]]> Ian returns from a period of "Zooming Out" on family vacation to share some thoughts.

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4965161 Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +0100 610 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 2 19 full false EP 18: Context in Chaos EP 18: Context in Chaos We discuss the importance of listening for the other side of a conversation, argument or agreement. Context is king,

Transcript:
Episode18 Context in Chaos

[00:00:00] When the COVID story is finally written, it's then, and only then that we'll understand whether we're currently at chapter two or chapter 10, or indeed how many chapters there out of this whole story?  

[00:00:13]The one thing I think most   people will agree is that it feels like the end of the beginning, where we've emerged from lockdown and with the handbrake released we're coming into the next stage or the next evolution of this whole chaos that's was thrust upon us. In emerging, we are very clear that there are some difficult discussions and conversations that need to happen. And from the last two episodes, which were around conversations in chaos and the response to them, we realized that there's a real appetite out there to understand how better to deal and have better conversations. 

[00:00:53] To that end, we're going to spend this episode talking about the importance of context. 

[00:00:59] What do I [00:01:00] mean by that? 

[00:01:00] Well, in the general spectrum of things at the very start of this lockdown period, the mantra that prevailed was that we're all in this together .Well that was partly true. The situation of Covid was universal and the same for everybody, but the implications of its impact were different depending on one thing: the individual's context.

[00:01:26] I have a nephew who's young free and single for whom it was a gift. He didn't have to go into work every day. He could work from home without the distractions. He could get his work done in half the time. So he had half the time available to himself to do what he pleased. Contrast that with some other friends of mine, both of whom are working as a couple at home, from home, with young children. No balcony, in an apartment, no garden, trying to care for elderly parents. Whilst one of them was diagnosed positive with COVID. Different contexts, different realities. 

[00:02:00] [00:02:00] It's obvious when I say it, that when two people enter into a conversation, particularly one that's difficult. It's obvious to say that both people are coming at it from a different context.

[00:02:13] Whilst we know that to be true consciously. How people typically prepare for a conversation, particularly where there's a different point of view and we know it is that I start by arsenalling up. I start and look for all the evidence, all the data, all the information, all the facts that support my point of view.

[00:02:34] Meanwhile, the person of the other side is doing exactly the same. Without intending it or knowing it we're actually preparing for war. And ultimately the person with the biggest army and the heaviest artillery wins, however, all wars, create collateral damage. In this case residue, which we discussed in the previous episode.

[00:02:56] And whilst the conversation might end up high on clarity. [00:03:00] It will end up low on commitment and back to our original previous equation about: clarity X commitment =  leadership effectiveness. A 10 out of 10 clarity is no good. If you've got a zero out of 10 commitment, it still results in zero.

[00:03:15] I frequently find leaders who resort to positional power to assert their authority to win a discussion or a debate. Positional power is like a bar of soap. The more you use it, the less you're left with and whilst you might, in the short term, win the battle, you will ultimately lose the war on leadership reputation.

[00:03:38] So let me propose to you an alternative aim. The next time you have a conversation. What if your aim was simply to understand the other person's context? Just simply to understand their context? How would that change things? Well, the first t

Support the show

]]> We discuss the importance of listening for the other side of a conversation, argument or agreement. Context is king,

Transcript:
Episode18 Context in Chaos

[00:00:00] When the COVID story is finally written, it's then, and only then that we'll understand whether we're currently at chapter two or chapter 10, or indeed how many chapters there out of this whole story?  

[00:00:13]The one thing I think most   people will agree is that it feels like the end of the beginning, where we've emerged from lockdown and with the handbrake released we're coming into the next stage or the next evolution of this whole chaos that's was thrust upon us. In emerging, we are very clear that there are some difficult discussions and conversations that need to happen. And from the last two episodes, which were around conversations in chaos and the response to them, we realized that there's a real appetite out there to understand how better to deal and have better conversations. 

[00:00:53] To that end, we're going to spend this episode talking about the importance of context. 

[00:00:59] What do I [00:01:00] mean by that? 

[00:01:00] Well, in the general spectrum of things at the very start of this lockdown period, the mantra that prevailed was that we're all in this together .Well that was partly true. The situation of Covid was universal and the same for everybody, but the implications of its impact were different depending on one thing: the individual's context.

[00:01:26] I have a nephew who's young free and single for whom it was a gift. He didn't have to go into work every day. He could work from home without the distractions. He could get his work done in half the time. So he had half the time available to himself to do what he pleased. Contrast that with some other friends of mine, both of whom are working as a couple at home, from home, with young children. No balcony, in an apartment, no garden, trying to care for elderly parents. Whilst one of them was diagnosed positive with COVID. Different contexts, different realities. 

[00:02:00] [00:02:00] It's obvious when I say it, that when two people enter into a conversation, particularly one that's difficult. It's obvious to say that both people are coming at it from a different context.

[00:02:13] Whilst we know that to be true consciously. How people typically prepare for a conversation, particularly where there's a different point of view and we know it is that I start by arsenalling up. I start and look for all the evidence, all the data, all the information, all the facts that support my point of view.

[00:02:34] Meanwhile, the person of the other side is doing exactly the same. Without intending it or knowing it we're actually preparing for war. And ultimately the person with the biggest army and the heaviest artillery wins, however, all wars, create collateral damage. In this case residue, which we discussed in the previous episode.

[00:02:56] And whilst the conversation might end up high on clarity. [00:03:00] It will end up low on commitment and back to our original previous equation about: clarity X commitment =  leadership effectiveness. A 10 out of 10 clarity is no good. If you've got a zero out of 10 commitment, it still results in zero.

[00:03:15] I frequently find leaders who resort to positional power to assert their authority to win a discussion or a debate. Positional power is like a bar of soap. The more you use it, the less you're left with and whilst you might, in the short term, win the battle, you will ultimately lose the war on leadership reputation.

[00:03:38] So let me propose to you an alternative aim. The next time you have a conversation. What if your aim was simply to understand the other person's context? Just simply to understand their context? How would that change things? Well, the first t

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4687031 Thu, 23 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +0100 732 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 2 18 full false EP17: Conversations in Chaos Part 2 EP17: Conversations in Chaos Part 2 We continue our exploration of managing your reputation and conversations in chaos.


Support the show

]]> We continue our exploration of managing your reputation and conversations in chaos.


Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4577048 Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0100 643 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 2 17 full false EP16: Conversations in Chaos Part 1 EP16: Conversations in Chaos Part 1 Although, it feels like a bit of an eternity since this complete chaos has started. It's actually only now that your mettle will be tested. 

And just to reiterate, the entire purpose of this leadership in chaos podcast, that we started 16 weeks ago, was to ensure that your leadership reputation is not the casualty. 

In this episode we share why conversations are key to maintaining a positive relationship with your people. 

Support the show

]]> Although, it feels like a bit of an eternity since this complete chaos has started. It's actually only now that your mettle will be tested. 

And just to reiterate, the entire purpose of this leadership in chaos podcast, that we started 16 weeks ago, was to ensure that your leadership reputation is not the casualty. 

In this episode we share why conversations are key to maintaining a positive relationship with your people. 

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4488095 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 13:00:00 +0100 540 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 2 16 full false EP 15: Mid-Term Report Leadership Insights in Chaos EP 15: Mid-Term Report Leadership Insights in Chaos On this episode we cover some interesting insights from our last 15 episodes and polls from our leadership in chaos webinars.

Throughout the past 14 weeks, since the start of Lockdown, we at Flow group have consistently polled our clients through our live webinars on their leadership experience to date.
 
From all the data….Below are 6 Responses & 4 Conclusions I thought particularly worth sharing…

1. 95% of leaders report their organisation is suffering
2. 95% believe there is more pain still to come

(Conclusion #1:  This isn’t over yet…)

3. 95% believe they are “leading their people well at this stage”…
4. … whilst just 65% believe they are being “well-led” by their leaders

(Conclusion #2:  This 30% differential represents the “Intention/Impact” Gap. Nobody intends to be an average leader, but we are not judged on our good intentions–only our impact)

5. By far the greatest doubt expressed by leaders consistently is in response to the question “My people are asking for what they really need”

(Conclusion #3:  The biggest people challenge for leaders is to get past the diplomatic answer to understand what’s really going on for their people)

6. 50:50 is the divide between those aching to get back to the office Vs those wanting to remain working remotely.

(Conclusion #4: Going Back might be even trickier than Getting Out)

Support the show

]]> On this episode we cover some interesting insights from our last 15 episodes and polls from our leadership in chaos webinars.

Throughout the past 14 weeks, since the start of Lockdown, we at Flow group have consistently polled our clients through our live webinars on their leadership experience to date.
 
From all the data….Below are 6 Responses & 4 Conclusions I thought particularly worth sharing…

1. 95% of leaders report their organisation is suffering
2. 95% believe there is more pain still to come

(Conclusion #1:  This isn’t over yet…)

3. 95% believe they are “leading their people well at this stage”…
4. … whilst just 65% believe they are being “well-led” by their leaders

(Conclusion #2:  This 30% differential represents the “Intention/Impact” Gap. Nobody intends to be an average leader, but we are not judged on our good intentions–only our impact)

5. By far the greatest doubt expressed by leaders consistently is in response to the question “My people are asking for what they really need”

(Conclusion #3:  The biggest people challenge for leaders is to get past the diplomatic answer to understand what’s really going on for their people)

6. 50:50 is the divide between those aching to get back to the office Vs those wanting to remain working remotely.

(Conclusion #4: Going Back might be even trickier than Getting Out)

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4411109 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0100 429 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 2 15 full false EP 14: Motivation In Chaos Part 3 EP 14: Motivation In Chaos Part 3 On this final part of the Motivation in chaos episode we discuss the five factors that influence human behavior and motivation. The five elements can easily be remembered by thinking of the word SCARF, the status, the certainty, the autonomy, the relatedness, and the fairness. 

We explore how these factors show up at home with our friends and families.

We explain how motivating people in the wrong way can have disastrous consequences.

Support the show

]]> On this final part of the Motivation in chaos episode we discuss the five factors that influence human behavior and motivation. The five elements can easily be remembered by thinking of the word SCARF, the status, the certainty, the autonomy, the relatedness, and the fairness. 

We explore how these factors show up at home with our friends and families.

We explain how motivating people in the wrong way can have disastrous consequences.

Support the show

]]> http://www.flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4308476 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100 664 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 2 14 full false EP 13: Motivation in Chaos Part 2 EP 13: Motivation in Chaos Part 2 We continue our exploration of how to motivate your people in chaos and how everyone is driven by different motivations. 

Support the show

]]> We continue our exploration of how to motivate your people in chaos and how everyone is driven by different motivations. 

Support the show

]]> http://www.flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4210055 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0100 582 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 2 13 full false EP 12: Motivation in Chaos Part 1 EP 12: Motivation in Chaos Part 1 On this episode we discuss motivating your people in chaos. We share the five core factors that influence human behavior and motivation as introduced the Neuroleadership Institute and David rock. The five elements can easily be remembered by thinking of the word SCARF, the status, the certainty, the autonomy, the relatedness, and the fairness. 

And this is something to reflect on before our next episode is everybody has, or is dominant in one or two of those.

Driving traits or core needs and it's different for every individual. So if you think of those people you are managing or that you're leading in your organisation, each of those has got a relevance and there's a hierarchy amongst them for every individual. No two individuals have the same particular hierarchy.




Support the show

]]> On this episode we discuss motivating your people in chaos. We share the five core factors that influence human behavior and motivation as introduced the Neuroleadership Institute and David rock. The five elements can easily be remembered by thinking of the word SCARF, the status, the certainty, the autonomy, the relatedness, and the fairness. 

And this is something to reflect on before our next episode is everybody has, or is dominant in one or two of those.

Driving traits or core needs and it's different for every individual. So if you think of those people you are managing or that you're leading in your organisation, each of those has got a relevance and there's a hierarchy amongst them for every individual. No two individuals have the same particular hierarchy.




Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com/ Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4115324 Wed, 10 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0100 587 Flow group, Ian McClean, Leadership Training, Team Skills 2 1 full false EP 11: Remote Leadership Part 3 Omnibus EP 11: Remote Leadership Part 3 Omnibus In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is final of 3 the 3-part series and brings all elements together.
Ian particularly explores the concept of genuine enquiry.

Support the show

]]> In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is final of 3 the 3-part series and brings all elements together.
Ian particularly explores the concept of genuine enquiry.

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-4026149 Wed, 03 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0100 873 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 1 11 full false EP 10: Remote Leadership Part 2 EP 10: Remote Leadership Part 2 In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is part 2 of 3 and this episode focusses on clarity.

Support the show

]]> In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is part 2 of 3 and this episode focusses on clarity.

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3933650 Wed, 27 May 2020 12:00:00 +0100 587 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 1 10 full false EP 9: Remote Leadership Part 1 EP 9: Remote Leadership Part 1 In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is part 1 of 3. 

Support the show

]]> In this episode we explore leading when your team is dispersed in a digital world. 
This is part 1 of 3. 

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3857240 Thu, 21 May 2020 13:00:00 +0100 463 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 1 9 full false EP 8: Building Trust EP 8: Building Trust "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." - Warren Buffett

Trust is at stake in times of chaos
High stake moments, known as 5% moments
Why we must show up for others in difficult times

Support the show

]]> "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." - Warren Buffett

Trust is at stake in times of chaos
High stake moments, known as 5% moments
Why we must show up for others in difficult times

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3738878 Wed, 13 May 2020 13:00:00 +0100 490 Technology,Innovation,Business,Leadership,Entrepreneurship,Human Potential,Flow Group,Ian McClean,GreenLine Conversations 1 8 full false EP 7: Finding Gold in the Dirt EP 7: Finding Gold in the Dirt “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” - Napoleon Hill

What is the Chaos Room?

How Leaders and Organisations are dealing with the chaos room.

The Leadership responsibility amidst the chaos.

Some guiding questions for leaders.


Support the show

]]> “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” - Napoleon Hill

What is the Chaos Room?

How Leaders and Organisations are dealing with the chaos room.

The Leadership responsibility amidst the chaos.

Some guiding questions for leaders.


Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3643783 Wed, 06 May 2020 13:00:00 +0100 551 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 1 7 full false EP 6: Be Your Best Self EP 6: Be Your Best Self Ian shares how to be your best self in times of chaos. Self care is core when you are in the chaos room.

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]]> Ian shares how to be your best self in times of chaos. Self care is core when you are in the chaos room.

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3552544 Wed, 29 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0100 484 Technology,Innovation,Business,Leadership,Entrepreneurship,Human Potential,Flow Group,Ian McClean,GreenLine Conversations 1 6 full false EP 5: Clarity in Chaos EP 5: Clarity in Chaos Episode 5 is about clarity in chaos, where our communication must be ultra clear, even if that is the delivery of bad news.

This episode includes an extract from a live webinar for the Executive Institute.

Support the show

]]> Episode 5 is about clarity in chaos, where our communication must be ultra clear, even if that is the delivery of bad news.

This episode includes an extract from a live webinar for the Executive Institute.

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3460579 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0100 353 Technology,Innovation,Business,Leadership,Entrepreneurship,Human Potential,Flow Group,Ian McClean,GreenLine Conversations 1 5 full false EP 4: Connecting in Chaos EP 4: Connecting in Chaos Connecting in Chaos features an extract from the GreenLine Conversations Leadership in Chaos Webinar with GreenLine Conversations co-founder Blair Steinbach.

We reference some of the GreenLine methodologies around the commitment cards which help us Enquire, Hear, Acknowledge and Straight Talk.  

We also reference the Red Brain, the fight or flight system we engage when we feel threatened.

Enjoy.




Support the show

]]> Connecting in Chaos features an extract from the GreenLine Conversations Leadership in Chaos Webinar with GreenLine Conversations co-founder Blair Steinbach.

We reference some of the GreenLine methodologies around the commitment cards which help us Enquire, Hear, Acknowledge and Straight Talk.  

We also reference the Red Brain, the fight or flight system we engage when we feel threatened.

Enjoy.




Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3368665 Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0100 500 Ian McClean, Blair Steinbach, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coaching Ireland 1 4 full false EP 3: Communicating In Chaos - Shape the Story EP 3: Communicating In Chaos - Shape the Story “For some organizations, near-term survival is the only agenda item. Others are peering through the fog of uncertainty, thinking about how to position themselves once the crisis has passed and things return to normal. The question is, ‘What will normal look like?’ While no one can say how long the crisis will last, what we find on the other side will not look like the normal of recent years.” - from 2009, Ian Davis, Managing partner, McKinsey 

Ian recaps on the first 2 episodes.

This episode is about how we as leaders shape the story.
Storytelling is an essential human skill, it helps us make sense of the world.
Therefore, the stories we tell become vitally important.

Support the show

]]> “For some organizations, near-term survival is the only agenda item. Others are peering through the fog of uncertainty, thinking about how to position themselves once the crisis has passed and things return to normal. The question is, ‘What will normal look like?’ While no one can say how long the crisis will last, what we find on the other side will not look like the normal of recent years.” - from 2009, Ian Davis, Managing partner, McKinsey 

Ian recaps on the first 2 episodes.

This episode is about how we as leaders shape the story.
Storytelling is an essential human skill, it helps us make sense of the world.
Therefore, the stories we tell become vitally important.

Support the show

]]> http://This episode is about how we as leaders shape the story. Storytelling is an essential human skill, it helps us make sense of the world. Therefore, the stories we tell become vitally important. Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3255235 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0100 402 Ian McClean, GreenLine Conversations, Flow Group, Leadership Coach Ireland 1 3 full false EP 2: The Calmest Person in the Boat EP 2: The Calmest Person in the Boat In this episode Ian shares the story of the Vietnamese boat people and draws lessons for leadership.

If by Rudyard Kipling (first verse)
If you can keep your head when all about you   
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;   
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise

Support the show

]]> In this episode Ian shares the story of the Vietnamese boat people and draws lessons for leadership.

If by Rudyard Kipling (first verse)
If you can keep your head when all about you   
    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,   
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
    But make allowance for their doubting too;   
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
    Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
    And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise

Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3171769 Mon, 30 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0100 405 Ian McClean, Flow Group, Leadership Coaching, GreenLine 1 2 full false EP 1: Keep Calm and Carry on Leading EP 1: Keep Calm and Carry on Leading Episode one covers how we are in a unique time in our business careers. Leadership is measured in times like this.

We often judge ourselves by our good intentions while others judge us by our impact.

Find us on:
http://flowukandireland.com
http://greenlineconversations.com

Support the show

]]> Episode one covers how we are in a unique time in our business careers. Leadership is measured in times like this.

We often judge ourselves by our good intentions while others judge us by our impact.

Find us on:
http://flowukandireland.com
http://greenlineconversations.com

Support the show

]]> http://flowukandireland.com Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3105493 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0000 377 Business, Leadership, Ian McClean, GreenLine, Flow Group 1 1 full false Leadership In Chaos Opening Sequence Leadership In Chaos Opening Sequence Leadership In Crisis is a podcast that shares knowledge on how to lead in chaos. 
It is hosted by Ian McClean, the founder of Flow Group and GreenLine Conversations. Ian shares a weekly nugget of knowledge accumulated over the last 25 years working as a leadership coach with Global organisations in every industry.

www.GreenLineConversations.com
www.FlowUKandIreland.com


Support the show

]]> Leadership In Crisis is a podcast that shares knowledge on how to lead in chaos. 
It is hosted by Ian McClean, the founder of Flow Group and GreenLine Conversations. Ian shares a weekly nugget of knowledge accumulated over the last 25 years working as a leadership coach with Global organisations in every industry.

www.GreenLineConversations.com
www.FlowUKandIreland.com


Support the show

]]> Ian McClean Buzzsprout-3096322 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 17:00:00 +0000 46 Ian McClean, Flow Group, GreenLine Conversations, Leadership in Chaos 1 1 trailer false