140: Is Innovation Being Crushed by Control?

In this episode, Kul explores how excessive control and rigid structures can stifle creativity and innovation within organisations. He discusses why fear-driven leadership, outdated policies, and overregulation often lead to disengagement, “quiet quitting,” and lost potential. He shares insights from his own leadership journey, highlighting how trust, empowerment, and cognitive diversity can unlock innovation and resilience. Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

In this episode, Kul challenges whether inclusion initiatives ever truly deliver on their promise. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, he explores the limits of traditional DEI approaches, the pitfalls of focusing solely on representation, and the risk of overlooking true belonging. Kul argues that genuine inclusion requires moving beyond metrics to create cultures where every individual feels valued, heard, and safe to contribute diverse perspectives. Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

In this episode, Kul asks a critical question: is traditional leadership still fit for a rapidly changing world? Drawing parallels between global politics and workplace dynamics, he explores why hierarchical, transactional leadership is losing relevance and why trust, relationships, and emotional intelligence are becoming essential. Kul highlights the shift toward human-centred leadership - where people feel valued, heard, and empowered - as the foundation for thriving in uncertain times. Tune in to discover why the future of leadership depends on evolving with the needs of people. Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

In this episode Kul welcomes HR and mediation expert Trish Hewitt for a candid conversation on why some executive teams thrive while others struggle. Together, they explore the vital role of leadership in shaping culture, the importance of trust and healthy conflict, and how vulnerability and emotional intelligence can transform boardrooms. Drawing on powerful real-world examples and proven frameworks such as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, they reveal how senior leaders can shift from siloed thinking to collaborative, organisation-wide impact. For large organisations looking to elevate their leadership capability, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insights. Publications we referred to: 📖 "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni : Amazon UK link 📖 "The Trusted Advisor" by David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford : Amazon UK link Connect with Trish Hewitt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trish-hewitt-haylo-hr/   _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/  

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul Mahay challenges the traditional concept of work-life balance, arguing that it’s an outdated myth that often increases stress rather than alleviating it. Instead, he explores the idea of work-life integration—an approach that embraces flexibility, autonomy, and well-being in a way that suits individual needs. Kul shares insights on how leaders can create cultures that support sustainable success without enforcing unrealistic boundaries. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul Mahay explores the "empathy dilemma"—can leaders care too much? While empathy is a leadership superpower, excessive emotional involvement can lead to burnout, decision paralysis, and even team resentment. Kul discusses the balance between compassion and boundaries, the difference between emotional and cognitive empathy, and how leaders can support their teams without sacrificing themselves. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode of the Human Centred Leadership podcast, Kul explores why great leaders must sometimes make unpopular decisions. He challenges the myth that leadership is about being liked and instead emphasises the importance of respect, integrity, and principled decision-making. Kul shares insights on balancing tough choices with emotional intelligence, maintaining trust, and leading with courage. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/  

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode of the Human Centred Leadership podcast, Kul explores how organizations can handle workplace investigations with fairness, trust, and accountability. He discusses the challenges of traditional compliance-driven approaches and offers a human-centred alternative that prioritizes ethical leadership, transparency, and learning over blame. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul examines the growing trend of corporations scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He explores the political, economic, and cultural factors driving this shift, questioning whether traditional DEI efforts have truly fostered inclusion or merely become box-ticking exercises. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/

Kul Mahay has over 3 decades experience in the leadership space.  He works with organisations and leaders to develop powerful cultures of high value, and performance which is built all around their people. In this episode, Kul explores how excessive rules and rigid policies can erode trust, stifle innovation, and damage workplace culture. Reflecting on his own experience in policing, he highlights how over-regulation strips away human connection and discourages autonomy. Through insightful discussion, he urges leaders to simplify processes, prioritise trust, and foster meaningful relationships to create high-performing teams. _____________________________ ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES During these shows, you‘ll hear Kul chatting with fellow leaders from around the world, who are recognised as being at the top of their game.  Together they‘ll explore what emotional intelligence in practice actually looks like, and the benefits it could bring to your teams. It‘s a movement to transform the way we see leadership, and to create powerful cultures where people feel seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Please join the movement and FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to this Podcast. FOLLOW ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/kulmahay-leadership/