Leadership In Chaos

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.comDownload the full manifesto here:https://flowukandireland.com/leadership-manifesto/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

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

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

The New SeriesYes, 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 BoatWe 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, stupidThe 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 SeriesYes, 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 SeriesIf 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

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 OneThe 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

The Keynote Season Part 4: Inspire Commitment“The more digital the world becomes, the more we must emphasise what makes us most human” – Jack MaThis 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 EpisodesEpisode 53, 54, 55 : Leadership in the New World (Dis)Order (Parts 1-3)Episode 47 : Chaos is the New NormalEpisode 39 - 42 : Leading Teams in ChaosEpisode 26 : The Leadership ContributionEpisode 25 :  What is Leadership? (in Chaos)Episode 8 : Building TrustSupport the show