Welcome to "Soft Skills for Leaders," the podcast where we explore the critical skills needed for leadership. In this episode, our host Lisa Evans sits down with resilience expert Michael Licenblat, author of "Pressure Proof," to delve into the importance of resilience in business. Michael shares his journey of overcoming setbacks and rejection in building a successful natural therapy business, drawing from his background in psychology, shiatsu therapy, and martial arts. Join us as...

Uncover the essential human skills that drive exceptional leadership and discover the empowering impact of coaching on team development and capability improvement. My guest is Paul Skewes who is a seasoned leadership development coach, and he partners with mid to senior-level leaders to enhance their leadership capabilities. He brings a wealth of experience from working across various industries, particularly within the resources sector. Paul is here to share his insights on the importance...

I'm excited to bring this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders to you today.  My guest is Ron Kaufman, a global leader in the service industry and the author of "Uplifting Service". Ron is one of the world's foremost authorities on customer service, and building strong service cultures. His expertise has been honed through years of working with various organisations, from facilitating international events to advising governments on improving their service culture.  Ron's insights are not to...

Welcome back to another episode of Soft Skills for Leaders! I'm your host, Lisa Evans, and today we have a very important and timely topic to discuss: "Grey Area Behaviour" in the workplace. Joining me today is Yhana Lanwin, the founder and CEO of Sans Prejudice Solutions, who brings a wealth of expertise in diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In this episode, we delve deep into the world of grey area behaviours, those actions that aren't clearly right or wrong, acceptable or...

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans chats with Kirryn Zerna, a former corporate communications professional in the financial services industry, who spent the first 20 years of her career developing campaigns for large-scale organizations aimed at capturing the hearts and minds of their employees. Inspired by her passion for public speaking, she transitioned into becoming a speaker herself, focusing on helping individuals envision new possibilities and take the next...

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans chats with Carmel Luck, a communication specialist, to discuss the fascinating topic of Cracking the Email Code for Clear Communication. Emails have become an integral part of our daily lives, and it's crucial for leaders to master the art of effective written communication. Carmel will be sharing valuable insights and practical tips on navigating the email landscape with clarity, conciseness, and impact.  We'll explore the use of...

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans chats with Síle Walsh. Síle is a captivating leader specialising in leadership and organisational development. Her focus is on creating inclusive environments that foster performance and psychological safety. With a background in coaching psychology and organisational development, Síle brings over a decade of experience working with clients both in Ireland and internationally. Her mission is clear: supporting effective leadership...

In this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, host Lisa Evans sits down with Arthur Carmazzi to discuss the importance of soft skills in building a thriving culture, highlighting key skills such as empathy, communication, and being concise, along with creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and understanding different processing types. Arthur is not only a thought leader and a renowned speaker, but also the founder of Directive Communication Psychology and The Coloured Brain, two...

On this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, my guest is Vikas Garg, founder of Abillion, a digital platform that encourages conscious living and advocates for a vegan lifestyle to promote sustainability and social equity. Vikas has a  passion for promoting a plant-based lifestyle, and discusses how ordinary citizens can have more impact on sustainability than governments or corporations. The interview explores topics such as the importance of empathy and trust as a leader, as well as the...

On this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, my guest is Dr Nia Thomas. Nia discusses the importance of self-awareness in leadership and provides tips and activities to help people reflect and grow in this area. The conversation covers a range of themes from inclusive decision-making, to managing stress and emotions through meditation. Nia emphasises the importance of conscious leadership, seeking unfiltered feedback, and developing both hard and soft skills in order to become a self-aware...

On this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders, my guest is Linda O'Farrell. We discuss the importance of organisational culture and well-being in the workplace. Linda shares her insights on the challenges faced by leaders, the need for high-energy and low-energy spaces, and the importance of creating meaning and purpose for oneself and others. We delve into the necessity of building inclusion and holding well-being days for teams. Tune in to learn more about the soft skills necessary for...

My guest on this episode of the Soft Skills for Leaders podcast is Serena Low, an introvert coach who helps professional women find their inner strengths in their quiet nature. As an introvert, it can be difficult to navigate a world that values extroverted qualities such as being outgoing and talkative. From a young age, introverts are often given the label of "quiet achievers" who need to participate more in class. However, this label is not always accurate or fair. Introverts tend to...

Lynda Folan is my guest on this episode of Soft Skills for Leaders. Lynda has a PhD in Organisational Psychology, and 35 years of experience in the corporate world across three continents.  Her recently published book, "Leader Resilience - The New Frontier of Leadership" (2021), offers insights into the highly relevant topic of resilience and challenges how we think about leadership and leadership development.  Talking Points The early days of shaping a career The most...

Darren McFarlane is my guest on this episode of the Soft Skills for Leaders Podcast. Darren is the founder of Next Level Mentoring. He realised the power of mentoring at the time he was an emerging leader in the oil and gas industry, and he had the opportunity to be part of a mentoring program. When Darren was at a crossroads later in life, he decided to start a business matching and supporting mentees with mentors, so that others could experience the value and results of having a mentor and...

My guest on this Soft Skills for Leaders Podcast episode is Gihan Perera. We chat about the essential topic of how leaders can lead in today's workplace and be ready for the uncertainty of the future. Leaders can adapt by bringing the best from the past and to the future and learning new ways of working and leading.  Talking Points The meaning of being fit for the future. The new challenges facing leaders post-pandemic in the period of crisis management and growth. The similarities...

My guest on this episode of the Soft Skills for Leaders Podcast is Dr Kirstin Ferguson.  Dr Kirstin Ferguson is an award-winning, globally recognised author, columnist and company director. She is one of Australia's most prominent leadership experts with a 30-year executive career and a PhD in leadership and culture. Kirstin is changing how the world looks at leadership, helping people become modern leaders who can lead with their head and heart. Kirstin believes that leadership is simply...

My guest is Dr Julie Crews, a business ethicist and principal consultant of Leading Ethically. Julie is passionate about developing leaders with integrity and organisational cultures that are defined and driven by clear values.   We share a frank and open conversation about some challenges leaders face in navigating ethical dilemmas. Talking Points Findings from Dr Julie Crews's doctoral research We are all on a continuum of ethical behaviour What are some of the dilemmas leaders have...

In this episode, I share a conversation with Ilona Vass. Ilona is the Founder of Dancing with the Dragons, a company that teaches productive communication and positive conflict strategies. She is inspired to improve how humans speak with each other and handle challenging conversations, always having a positive outcome in mind. Ilona assists leaders and their teams to develop engaged, thriving, supportive workplaces. She believes a healthy and compassionate company culture equals a...

In this episode, I chat with Caelan Huntress who is a dynamic speaker, trainer, and business coach. He started his career as an acrobat in the circus. His skills as a theatrical performer and marketing strategist combine to make compelling virtual experiences. As the Creative Director of Stellar Platforms, a digital marketing agency that helps experts and entrepreneurs set up smart marketing systems, he has helped thousands of people increase their income, impact, and influence. He is the...

In this episode, I chat with Amantha Imber, an organisational psychologist and founder of behavioural science consultancy Inventium, who helps people reinvent how they approach their work. Amantha is the host of the podcast How I Work, which has had over 2.5 million downloads, where she interviews some of the world’s most successful people about their habits, strategies, and rituals. Her latest book is called Time Wise. Talking Points How Amantha found herself fascinated by...

In this episode, I chat with Oscar Trimboli. Communication isn’t just about what we say; it is 50% speaking and 50% listening.  Oscar is a speaker, podcaster, mentor, coach and researcher who is determined to develop leaders into master listeners. Talking Points How Oscar realised he had a flair for holding a listening space The cost to individuals and organisations of not listening The Five Levels of Listening The three must-ask questions Creating an effective listening space How we...

In this episode, I chat with Dr Judy Lundy, MBA Program Director at Edith Cowan University. Judy is passionate about building and developing inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive Talking Points Why does it matter that we have diverse and inclusive workplaces? What happens when we don’t? What does an organisation need to do before becoming more diverse and inclusive? How can workplaces be more inclusive for people 50+? What can leaders do differently? Links Wisdom &...

In this episode, I chat with Anna Kavelj, Managing Director of Elite Woodhams Relocation, an award-winning Destination Services Provider in Australia. Her team supports organisations to make sure their employees who relocate for work do so smoothly, so that they thrive in their new surroundings. Some of the things her company does includes helping people find homes, schools and settle-in to their new lives. Originally from London, Anna has relocated herself many times including to Shanghai,...

In this episode, I chat with Dr Jacinta Buchbach, head of Leader Development, “Respect at Work” at In Safe Hands.  Her broad exposure to challenging negative workplace behaviours in her careers in law enforcement, the mining industry and investigation of health workplaces has shaped her as a leading ambassador and facilitator of Respect at Work behaviours.  Jacinta has developed best practice prevention and response leadership courses that are consistent with the Australian Human Rights...