Dig Deeper

Have you ever left an interaction at work feeling genuinely seen? And when did you last create that feeling for someone else?Most leaders focus on strategy, capability, and performance. But the ones who build real loyalty, the ones whose people genuinely want to show up for, tend to share something far simpler: they pay attention to the human stuff. The greeting. The name. That moment of genuine connection in an otherwise ordinary day.This episode starts with a story from an ordinary morning in a coffee shop that stopped me in my tracks. It's a story about two places, two very different choices, and what it reveals about the kind of leader you're choosing to be every single day.You'll discover why attention, not talent or strategy, is the real currency of trust, how the smallest interactions shape loyalty more than most leaders realise, and why making people feel seen doesn't require anything extraordinary. It just requires intention.I'll walk you through:Why the difference between a leader people want to follow and one they don't often has nothing to do with skill or resourcesHow a headmaster in a school of 900 kids used one simple practice to shape the people around himThe distinction between doing excellent work and giving people your attention — and why both matterTwo honest questions to sit with about how seen you make your people feelWhy this doesn't need to be big stuff — it just needs to be human stuffWhether you're leading a large organisation or a small team, this episode is a gentle reminder that the most impactful thing you can do today might take less than thirty seconds.Check out my services and offerings at https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter at https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the strategies gathering dust in your organisation aren't the problem, but rather the shadow strategies everyone's actually following? You know the ones. The unspoken "work harder, work longer, make more money" approach that contradicts your official commitment to innovation and people-centred leadership. That tension between what you say you're doing and what's actually happening costs more than productivity. It costs truth. And when organisations can't tell themselves the truth about what's really going on, they plateau in ways that feel both frustrating and invisible.This conversation explores a different way forward, one that honours healthy friction over comfort, embodied wisdom over abstract strategy, and possibility over certainty. Melissa Clark-Reynolds brings a rare combination of street-smart entrepreneurship and rigorous futures thinking to help leaders navigate complexity with both imagination and pragmatism. Melissa is a street smart futurist who started university at 15, built and sold multiple tech companies, and was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the tech sector. She's trained at Stanford's Institute for the Future and the UK's School for International Futures, bringing both rigorous methodology and practical wisdom to her work with organisations navigating uncertain futures. In this conversation, you'll discover:How to identify the "shadow strategy" your organisation is actually following beneath the official one, and why naming this incongruence is the first step toward real transformationWhy living in possibility rather than certainty opens more pathways forward than any five-year plan, and what questions like "I wonder" and "how might we" make possibleHow embodied strategy reveals truths that spreadsheets and presentations hide, and what happens when teams physically experience the difference between growth, transformation, and collapseWhy curiosity combined with commitment to excellence creates the conditions for continuous improvement, rather than the confident mediocrity that keeps organisations stuckHow to reframe the past as an empowering platform rather than a weight to escape from, particularly through bicultural and indigenous perspectives on whakapapa and timeWhat it means to find your tribe, the people who challenge you with love and compassion, see something more in you, and give you invitations to greatness rather than comfortable reinforcementWhy effective leadership means knowing whether you want to be right or you want to be effective, and how bringing the full triangle of inspirers, doers, planners, and storytellers creates sustainable impactHow to embrace your outlierness as a superpower rather than moderating yourself into mediocrity, and why the world needs the juiciness of your weirdnessOther References:Elisabeth Kübler-RossSohail InayatullahJennifer Garvey BergerDavid Snowden - Cynefin frameworkInstitute for the FutureStanford UniversitySchool for International FuturesCultivating LeadershipCasual Layered Analysis FrameworkEpisode 22 with Jennifer Garvey BergerEpisode 26 with Kirsten PattersonEpisode 17 with Derek SiversTimestamps:(00:00) - The Power of Healthy Friction(13:32) - Finding Your Tribe(20:39) - Embodying Strategy in Organisations(25:12) - Incongruence in Organisational Strategies(30:23) - Living in Possibility: Leadership Mindset(32:27) - Reframing Time: Past, Present, and FutureYou can find Melissa at:Website: https://www.melissaclarkreynolds.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissaclarkr/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

Do you have a network? Of course you do. But is it the one you actually need? For most leaders, the honest answer is probably not — and it's not because you don't care about relationships. It's because you've never thought about them quite this way.In this episode, I explore why the word "networking" can feel a bit icky, and why that reaction might be costing you the impact you're trying to create. I share a simple but powerful framework for thinking about the nine distinct roles people can play in your network, and why having a balanced set of those relationships, deliberately cultivated, can accelerate your progress and keep you grounded while you do it.In this episode, you'll discover:Why leaders often resist building networks and what's really behind that resistanceThe nine distinct roles people can play in your network (and why balance matters)What a "door opener" and a "critical friend" actually look like in practiceWhy the quality of your relationships, not the size of your network, determines your impactHow to start assessing the strength of your own network using a free diagnostic toolReferences:Network Diagnostic Mike House Podcast EpisodeCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the moment you're told you've lost your job isn't the time to narrow your focus, but to widen it? When everything in you is screaming to grab control, shore up certainty, and solve the problem immediately, what would it take to do the opposite? To put down your phone, pick up your camera, and walk into the unfamiliar streets of a city that feels both beautiful and unsafe?This conversation with Dr. Chris McKeown invites us into a different way of understanding leadership under pressure. Chris is both a photographer and an energy consultant—a combination that might seem random until you realise that both practices are about the same thing: knowing where to put your attention, understanding depth of field, and recognising that widening the aperture lets in more light.When Chris lost his employment contract while sitting in Havana, he didn't rush to fix it. He grabbed his camera and walked. What he discovered wasn't distraction—it was something far more powerful. The neuroscience of awe. The practice of presence. And the recognition that our nervous systems are so jacked up by algorithms, back-to-back Zoom meetings, and the relentless pressure to perform, that we've forgotten how to stop.Here's what you'll discover:How widening the aperture—literally and metaphorically—helps you lead through uncertainty more effectively than controlling every detailWhy forcing yourself to stop isn't a luxury but essential infrastructure for doing hard things as leadersHow the anterior cingulate cortex connects awe experiences to empathy, compassion, and the ability to make difficult decisionsWhy successful CEOs all have "opposite worlds"—creative practices outside work that aren't optionalHow back-to-back meetings compound stress in your autonomic nervous system in ways your conscious mind doesn't registerWhy "holding space" for others might be more powerful than solving their problemsHow Chris's photography creates lasting impact in hospital rooms—and what that teaches us about legacy beyond our presenceWhy the simple practice of looking up activates the default mode network and changes how you thinkOther ReferencesThe Creative Act: A Way of Being | Rick RubinThe Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health | Ellen LangerAtomic Habits | James ClearReligion for Atheists: A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion | Alain de BottonStolen Focus | Johann HariPeak Experiences & Hierarchy of Needs | Abraham MaslowAnterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)Katie Hair Career CoachingKatie Hair Podcast EpisodeTe Papa MuseumChris’s substackTimestamps:(00:00) - Creative Clarity in Old Havana(08:52) - Widening the Aperture: Leadership Lessons(14:24) - The Challenge of Attention in Modern Life(19:45) - The Neuroscience of Awe and Leadership(23:11) - The Importance of Creative Outlets for Leaders(36:14) - The Impact of Art and Photography in Healing SpacesYou can find Chris at:Website: nzenergyconsultants.comPhotography: chrismckeown.photographyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismckeown/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

When Mike House said "mentoring is any interaction that has the possibility of a disproportionate long lasting impact," something shifted for me. Not a formal programme. Not a monthly calendar booking. Just any moment where you notice something worth naming and find the courage to say it.Yet we've made mentoring too formal, too time-intensive, and frankly, too heavy. We think it requires being the guru with all the answers, which means we miss the moments that actually matter.This episode introduces five practical roles that any leader at any level can play to create those moments of disproportionate impact. Not theory. Not the corporate version of mentoring that looks good in annual reports but doesn't change much. Just ways of showing up that help others grow their capability.I'll walk you through:Why mentoring isn't about knowledge transfer but about creating conditions where growth becomes almost inevitableThe People Developer role: how to listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and challenge respectfully without diminishing confidenceThe Cheerleader role: reflecting back people's brilliance when the daily grind makes them lose sight of their own capabilityThe Path Clearer role: removing unnecessary friction and helping people navigate organizational politics more easilyThe Door Opener role: using your network and position to create opportunities that would otherwise remain invisible or out of reachThe Context Provider role: showing the bigger picture so people can transform isolated decisions into strategic movesWhich role to focus on first and how to practice it without adding hours to your calendarThis isn't about adding another development programme to your already long list of initiatives. It's about recognizing that if you're serious about leading lasting impact—about creating organizations that don't depend on you being the hero—then mentoring is how you build systems that think without you, adapt without you, and continue creating value long after you've moved on.Whether you're formally mentoring one person or trying to build a culture where everyone develops everyone else, this framework will help you notice what's happening around you and choose to engage with it in ways that grow others' capability.References:Download the Five Ways to Mentor One-Pager: https://digbyscott.com/mentorrolesEpisode referenced: 55. Chasing Certainty, Guerrilla Mindfulness, and Teachable Moments | Mike House - https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/interview-chasing-certainty-guerrilla-mindfulness-and-teachable-moments-mike-houseEpisode referenced: 50. Listening beyond words and choosing what to say no to | Oscar Trimboli - https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/50-listening-beyond-words-and-choosing-what-to-say-no-to-oscar-trimboliSolocast referenced: Four Questions That Change Everything - https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/43-the-four-questions-that-transform-leadership-conversations-what-what-is-what-if-and-what-nowCheck out my services and offerings at https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter at https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if chasing certainty is actually making you less certain? Most leaders look outward for stability when everything's shifting, but that external focus keeps them perpetually off-balance. When the environment refuses to cooperate with our need for predictability, where do we turn?This conversation explores a different kind of certainty: the kind that lives inside your team's clarity about who they are, not just what they do. Mike House brings an unexpected lens to leadership development, drawing from 20 years as a survival instructor watching people navigate genuine uncertainty in the outback. He's discovered that the same principles that help someone thrive when stranded with a soapbox-sized survival kit apply when we're leading through complexity. What's possible when we shift from seeking certainty in circumstances to building it through identity and practice?Mike spent two decades running what National Geographic called "the toughest thing outside the military anywhere in the world," dropping people into the Australian outback with minimal resources. Now he helps leaders and organisations navigate uncertainty by developing what matters most: the ability to respond rather than react, to spot moments of disproportionate impact, and to create systems that don't need them. He challenges conventional thinking about development, and shows that the most powerful growth often happens in 30-second exchanges we're walking right past.In this conversation, you'll discover:• How guerrilla mindfulness, a three-breath practice, can shift your leadership in moments of pressure• Why looking for certainty in the environment will always leave you more uncertain• What makes brief mentoring moments more powerful than formal development programmes• How the gap between circumstance and response is trainable, not fixed• Why the best mentors might be those creating systems that don't need them• What survival priorities can teach us about leading through uncertainty• How to develop the courage to act on teachable moments when you spot them• Why purpose and identity create more certainty than any strategic planTimestamps:(00:00) - Navigating Uncertainty in Leadership(17:44) - The Power of Mentoring Moments(32:12) - Adaptability in Uncertainty(35:24) - Survival Skills for Business(39:42) - Creating Conditions for Growth(43:27) - Identifying Teachable MomentsOther References:Pilbara RegionBox BreathingEmotions wheelfMRI (Functional Resonance Imaging)The Five B’s for Thriving at WorkYou can find Mike at:Website: mikehouse.com.auLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themikehouse/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

When Mark Carney stood up at Davos in January 2026, he didn't just make a speech. He named what everyone was thinking but too afraid to say out loud. And the way he structured his message holds a powerful lesson for any of us leading people through uncertain times.This episode unpacks a deceptively simple framework that cuts through all the noise about what leadership actually requires: See, Imagine, Do. Three practices that effective leaders cycle through again and again, whether they're giving a speech to world leaders or having a coaching conversation with a team member.You'll discover why naming reality with unflinching honesty matters more than diplomatic softening, how to paint compelling visions that aren't just nostalgic wishful thinking, and what it means to take deliberate action rather than just staying busy for busy's sake.I'll walk you through:How Carney embodied all three practices in sequence and why that mattersThe difference between seeking to be accurate versus seeking to be rightWhy plenty of leaders see problems clearly but fail to offer compelling alternativesHow to move from inspiration to implementation without getting caught in frantic activityPractical ways to integrate See, Imagine, Do into your daily conversations and decisionsThe critical question every leader needs to ask: which of these three practices have you got nailed, and which needs more attention?This isn't about adding more competencies to your already long list. It's about simplifying what leadership actually requires so you can be more effective in the conversations and decisions that matter most.Whether you're navigating major organisational change or just trying to lead your team through everyday challenges, this framework will help you show up with more clarity and impact.References:See. Imagine. Do. Three Practices for Effective Leadership: https://digbyscott.com/thoughts/see-imagine-do-three-practices-for-effective-leadershipMark Carney's speech at Davos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqHDhO4h10Transcript of Mark Carvey’s Davos speech: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-by-mark-carney-prime-minister-of-canada/Václav Havel's greengrocer metaphor: https://pathtothepossible.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/havels-greengrocer/Check out my services and offerings at https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter at https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

Have you ever sat in a meeting where everyone nods in agreement, yet you leave sensing something wasn't said? That silence might be your team's biggest liability. The teams that feel most harmonious, most polite, most nice are often the ones moving slowest, innovating least, and leaving the most impact on the table.In this conversation, we're exploring a counterintuitive truth about high-performing teams: psychological safety isn't about everyone being nice to each other. It's about creating the conditions where people feel brave enough to disagree, curious enough to question, and safe enough to say "I made a mistake." What if the path to faster impact runs directly through healthy debate rather than around it? What becomes possible when leaders shift from performing in their teams to orchestrating them?Claire Gray is the author of Thriving Teams, an executive coach, and someone who spent years helping leadership teams move from polite agreement to genuine impact. She works with teams across Australia and beyond, bringing this rare ability to surface what's really happening beneath the team dynamics most of us are too nice to name. In this episode, you'll discover:• Why nice teams go slow, and what psychological safety actually requires of us• How the four Ds of healthy debate (diagnose, dialogue, decide, dedicate) create alignment without consensus• Why making people feel they matter goes far beyond the work they do• How leaders can operate as both contributors and orchestrators, not just participants• Why shared accountability ripples across organisations when teams co-create their goals• How to navigate the post-COVID reality of reinforced silos and fractured stakeholder connection• Why silent agreement probably means you don't have alignment at all• How to create joint ownership rather than defaulting to the leader for every decisionTimestamps:(00:00) - Understanding Psychological Safety(20:20) - Healthy Debate vs. Argument(23:51) - The Four Ds of Healthy Debate(26:52) - The Role of the Orchestrator in Teams(31:20) - Creating Joint Ownership and Accountability(32:08) - Building a Culture of AccountabilityOther References:Thriving Teams Book | Claire GrayThriving Leaders Book | Claire GrayThriving Leaders PodcastGoogle’s Project AristotleMcKinsey Post-COVID StudyThe Power of Mattering | Zach MercurioYou can find Claire at:Website: thrivingculture.com.auPodcast: Thriving LeadersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leadership-coach-facilitator/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the most lasting leadership isn't about the monuments you build but about the quiet spaces you create for others to thrive? Many senior leaders wrestle with this tension: how do we create impact that endures beyond our tenure without becoming the very "founder effect" that stifles the organisation's future? We know intellectually that leadership is about developing others, yet our systems still reward personal visibility over collective growth, heroic intervention over sustainable culture.This conversation with Professor David Murdoch offers a different lens. We explore what happens when leadership becomes less about being essential and more about making yourself unnecessary. Through his experience moving from technical expert to Vice Chancellor, from academic to industry leader, and through his two years running a remote hospital in Nepal, David reveals how unconventional detours often become our most formative experiences. His practice of building guitars (30 of them, all given away to friends around the world) isn't a hobby separate from his leadership, it's the creative renewal that sustains it. What's possible when we stop treating our "opposite world" as optional?Professor David Murdoch is an infectious disease expert, former Vice Chancellor of Otago University, and currently works with PHF Science leading organisational transformation. His father's quiet championing of women in education shaped David's approach to what I'm calling "covert mentoring," lifting others into opportunities without fanfare or expectation of recognition. In this conversation, you'll discover:How creative practice serves as a barometer for your work-life integration (when your mind wanders to the workshop during boring meetings, you're in a good spot)Why taking opportunities that "wreck your career" often become the best decisions you'll makeHow to build high trust, high accountability cultures through deliberate delegation and learning to let goWhy working with young people isn't just about developing them, it's about their fresh questions keeping your thinking aliveHow succession planning is the ultimate success metric (things continuing well when you're not there)Why you can't assume you have a legacy, and how that humility actually creates enduring impactHow experiences in radically different environments (like running a remote hospital in Nepal for two years) shape your leadership in ways conventional career paths never couldWhy the "founder effect" happens and what warning signs to watch for in your own leadershipTimestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(03:02) - The Creative Outlet: Guitar Building and Leadership(09:13) - The Journey from Expert to Leader(23:59) - Trusting Young Talent in Leadership Roles(32:54) - Creating Lasting Impact in Leadership(38:20) - Building a Culture of Trust(42:02) - Lessons from Nepal: A Unique Leadership ExperienceOther ReferencesNick PetrieSir Edmund Hillary FoundationHimalayan TrustAshley Bloomfield Podcast EpisodeValues PartyYou can find David at:Website: https://www.phfscience.nz/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-murdoch-61a436318/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the most important measure of your leadership isn't what you achieve while you're in the role, but what continues after you've moved on? It's a question most senior leaders avoid because the answer is often uncomfortable. You've built the strategy, delivered the results, transformed the culture. But if you left tomorrow, how much of it would actually last?In this special Year in Review episode, Digby reflects on five interconnected themes that emerged from a year of deep conversations with remarkable leaders, change-makers, and systems thinkers. These aren't isolated insights, they're facets of the same question: how do we create change that endures? From understanding complex systems and shifting from hero to host leadership, to embracing unhurried productivity and living with deliberate authenticity, each theme builds toward a powerful framework for leading lasting impact.This episode is Digby's invitation to step back and see the bigger picture. Drawing on insights from over 50 conversations, personal experiences of burnout and breakthrough, and years of working with leaders across sectors, he maps a journey from crisis-driven leadership through to creating change so embedded that people don't want to go back. You'll discover:How to assess where you sit on the spectrum from crisis-driven to lasting impact leadership (and why most leaders get stuck at stage two)Why systems thinking is essential for addressing root causes rather than just treating symptoms, and how the dragonfly metaphor reframes our understanding of generational impactHow shifting from hero to host leadership transforms dependency into capability, and why your job isn't to be the answer but to create conditions where answers emergeWhy unhurried productivity isn't about slowing down but about creating spaciousness within the work itself, and how this becomes the foundation for everything elseHow living deliberately means making daily choices that align with who you truly are, not who you think you should beWhy these five themes aren't separate ideas but interconnected pieces that, when working together, create leaders whose impact outlasts their tenureHow to measure leadership success differently, focusing on what continues after you're gone rather than what you achieve while you're thereLeading Lasting Impact self-assessmentOther References:James McCulloch Podcast EpisodeDr. Richard Hodge Podcast EpisodeAdam Cooper Podcast EpisodeJennifer Garvey Berger Podcast EpisodeDK Podcast EpisodeKate Christiansen Podcast EpisodeKP (Kirsten Patterson) Podcast EpisodeDerek Sivers Podcast EpisodeAntonia Milkop Podcast EpisodeSimon Dowling Podcast EpisodeRachel Paris Podcast EpisodeJordan Harcourt Hughes Podcast EpisodeCynefin FrameworkLeading Lasting Impact | Digby ScottUnhurried Productivity DiagnosticTimestamps:(00:00) - Introduction & Leading Lasting Impact(10:25) - Systems Thinking and Complexity(15:54) - Hero to Host Leadership(22:39) - Unhurried Productivity(25:53) - Authenticity & Living Deliberately(32:28) - Leading Lasting Impact Synthesis(41:27) - ClosingCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

How much of what matters most are you missing while you're listening? Not the words themselves (you're good at capturing those) but what's underneath them, between them, beyond them.Here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us believe we're better listeners than we actually are. We're busy preparing our response, managing the future, or distracted by the ping of the next urgent thing. Meanwhile, the people in front of us (the ones we're meant to be leading) are telling us everything we need to know. If only we knew how to truly hear it.In this conversation with Oscar Trimboli, we explore something deeper than communication skills. We venture into the territory of how we show up, what we say no to, and why the foundations we've already built might matter more than the future we're chasing. This is about the shift from hero to host, from infinite ambition to the surprising lightness of a ‘tour of duty’, and from listing ingredients to sharing the story of the meal.Oscar Trimboli is on a quest to create 100 million deep listeners in the workplace. He's spent decades discovering that the gap between speaking and listening isn't just about paying attention. It's about understanding that how we frame something can change what happens next. His work helps leaders see what they're missing when they focus only on the words.In this conversation, you'll discover:• Why the legacy you're creating might already exist in ways you can't yet see, and how acknowledging your past builds the foundation for what's next• How setting boundaries isn't about limitation but about the strategic clarity of knowing what you choose not to do• Why corporate funerals (literally burning what no longer serves) can create the trust that moves organisations forward when change initiatives get stuck• How the "tour of duty" mindset releases the weight of infinite responsibility and brings unexpected lightness to leadership• Why effective leaders operate as hosts rather than heroes, facilitating learning instead of performing expertise• How metaphors become mental shortcuts that help people understand the unfamiliar through the familiar, and why food and music work better than sport• Why distraction isn't just about devices but about the stories we tell ourselves when our attention wanders, and what choices we have in those moment• How "getting over yourself" enables you to serve the work rather than protect your ego, and why this shift makes everything else easierTimestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(06:39) - The Importance of Boundaries(10:32) - Navigating Change and Acknowledging the Past(19:11) - Corporate Funerals: Letting Go to Move Forward(24:41) - The Power of Rituals in Leadership(32:46) - Navigating Distractions in Conversations(42:59) - The Impact of Metaphors in CommunicationOther references:Animal Liberation OrchestraDeep Listening: Impact Beyond Words by Oscar TrimboliDeep Listening QuizYou can find Oscar at:Website: oscartrimboli.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oscartrimboliTake the Deep Listening Quiz: listeningquiz.comCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

Are you the bottleneck in your organisation? What if your greatest leadership contribution isn't solving every problem, but creating the conditions where others can thrive without you?I've been reflecting on a pattern I keep seeing in leaders—this constant pressure to prove our worth by being indispensable. Yet the organisations that truly transform are the ones where leadership doesn't depend on any single person staying in the room. This episode explores a fundamental shift: moving from proving yourself to backing yourself, and what that means for creating lasting impact.Drawing on insights from my conversation with James McCulloch, CEO of Victim Support New Zealand, I unpack what it takes to build systems that outlive your tenure, why organisations often reward heroics over sustainability, and how small, consistent choices can shift you from being the solution to creating the space where solutions emerge.You'll explore:The hidden cost of trying to prove your worth through constant interventionWhy backing yourself changes everything about how you show upWhat sustainable leadership actually looks like in practiceHow to create conditions for others to succeed rather than being the sole heroThe shift from individual heroics to building systems that thriveWhy true leadership effectiveness is measured by the capability you build in othersCheck out my services and offerings: https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the stories we're not telling are the very ones that could shape our organisations long after we're gone? In a world flooded with AI-generated content that sounds increasingly the same, I wonder what happens to the distinctly human act of storytelling. And here's the deeper question: are we waiting too long to make the changes that matter most?This conversation explores the enduring power of authentic human stories in an age of artificial intelligence, the gift of presence in our distracted leadership, and what becomes possible when we stop gradually planning and simply flip the switch. We're examining how stories don't just communicate culture—they are the culture, coursing through organisations like lifeblood, carrying meaning long beyond our tenure. What's emerging here is an invitation to reconsider where real impact lives and how it spreads.Gabrielle Dolan is one of the world's leading experts on storytelling in business, having spent over two decades helping leaders find their authentic voice and communicate with depth through story. She's the author of eight books, including her latest Story Intelligence, which she describes as the first she's felt truly compelled to write. After a health scare prompted her to abandon gradual retirement in favour of immediate life redesign, Gabrielle now spends her time between storytelling work she carefully selects, travelling, and watching kangaroos at her holiday property in Bermagui. In this episode, you'll discover:How authentic human stories serve as the antidote to AI-generated content that lacks heart and feelingWhy the most powerful cultural change happens when leaders let stories do the heavy lifting, rather than always being the storyteller themselvesHow the practice of presence—whether watching wildlife or protecting creative time—becomes a discipline that sustains meaningful workWhy success might be better defined as freedom of choice rather than conventional measures of achievementHow stories create lasting impact by living in organizational culture long after the storyteller moves onWhy flipping the switch immediately can be more liberating than gradually planning for changeHow leaders can spot when they're needed versus when they need to focus on what only they can doWhy knowing what a value means to you personally is essential before you can authentically communicate it to othersTimestamps:(00:00) - The Role of Storytelling in an AI World(01:33) - Finding Presence in Nature(10:07) - Navigating Leadership Challenges(29:24) - The Art of Storytelling in Leadership(36:01) - The Enduring Nature of Stories(41:01) - Health Scares and Life ChoicesOther References:Story Intelligence by Gabrielle DolanSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari"Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule" by Paul GrahamNational Australia Bank (NAB)Bermagui, New South Wales, AustraliaDig Deeper Episode 20 with Sarah ManleyDig Deeper Episode 32 with Kate ChristiansenThe Answer Trap by Kate ChristiansenYou can find Gabrielle at:Website: https://gabrielledolan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the most dynamic leadership doesn't happen in the stable center or the chaotic unknown, but right at the edge between them? And what if trying to control everything is actually keeping you from discovering what's possible?In this solo episode, I explore leadership through the lens of the coast — that fascinating space where land meets sea. The intertidal zone, where stability and change collide, offers a powerful metaphor for the kind of leadership our complex world demands. I'll share why embracing the tension between control and adaptability isn't just necessary — it's where the most vital leadership occurs.You'll discover why the patterns you notice matter more than the predictions you make, how to navigate the loneliness that comes with leading at the edge, and what it means to be a lighthouse keeper who provides orientation rather than control.Whether you're feeling the pull between certainty and possibility, wrestling with forces you can't fully control, or simply curious about how to create the conditions for something new to emerge, this conversation will shift how you think about leading from the edge of things.In this episode, we explore:Why leadership exists in the dynamic space between stability and changeHow the ocean's unpredictability mirrors the challenges leaders faceWhat the intertidal zone teaches us about thriving in uncertaintyThe challenges that come with leading from the edge (and why they're worth it)Why awareness of patterns matters more than trying to control outcomesHow creating conditions for new ideas is more powerful than forcing solutionsReflective questions to guide your own leadership developmentWhat it means to be a lighthouse keeper in your leadershipCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the very language you use—from "my target" to "our target," from "my client" to "our client"—is either building or breaking the culture you're trying to create? And what if being constantly busy is actually preventing the very work that matters most?In this conversation, I'm catching up with my mate Colin Ellis in a traditional English pub in Winchester. Colin's a five-time best-selling author and a super practical culture consultant who's spent decades helping organisations around the world rid themselves of what he calls toxic cultures. We're exploring the tension between delivering results and creating space for what actually sustains us—both as individuals and as teams and organisations. What emerges is a powerful reminder that building great culture isn't complicated. It's about creating the conditions where people can be good humans and do good work together.Colin Ellis grew up in Liverpool in a working-class family where security was paramount. After flunking school, he found his calling in project management—not for the technical side, but for the team-building aspect. His career took him from window cleaning family business roots to leading major project departments, from Melbourne to New Zealand and back to the UK. What's shaped his work most is his observation that the best teams valued both hard work and play, both productivity and camaraderie. He's built his reputation on making the complex simple, using language that connects with people who do the work day in, day out. His mission? To rid the world of toxic cultures by teaching leaders how to build great teams.You'll discover:How a simple shift in language from "my" to "our" transforms everything about how teams show up and support each otherWhy creating permission for your team to not be busy all the time might be the most productive thing you do as a leaderHow investing in relationships and camaraderie is as important as delivering on your targets—and why Friday drinks became sacred time for Colin's highest-performing teamWhy determination matters more than having a clever strategy when you're trying to create momentumHow reading Harvard Business Review in the office was "frowned upon" but essential for Colin's growth as a leaderWhy the most productive teams are often the least hurried—and what Colin did in 2008 to create that cultureHow burnout at 31 became the catalyst for building an integrated life where work is part of the whole, not the whole itselfWhy demystifying culture change is about using language people understand, not complicated frameworksTimestamps:(00:00) - Introduction(10.39) - Individualism vs. Teamwork(27:09) - Burnout and the Path to Change(35:27) - Creating Productive Work Environments(38:34) - Redefining Productivity(41:41) - Cultural Shifts in Work DynamicsOther ReferencesOn the Road Jack Kerouac - https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/on-the-road-9780241951538Harvard Business Review - https://hbr.org/Michael Page - https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/Liverpool Echo - https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/Camp America - https://www.campamerica.co.uk/Abel Tasman Coast Track - https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/abel-tasman-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/abel-tasman-coast-track/Ronnie Scott’s Jazz club - https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/Everton Football Club - https://www.evertonfc.com/You can find Colin at:Website:https://www.colinellis.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/colindellisCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the gap between being curious and creating real change is just one small action?And what if the leadership move you've relied on your whole career is actually limiting your impact?This short episode cuts through the noise to explore three powerful distinctions that can transform how you lead. These aren't abstract theories. They're practical frameworks that help you navigate the messy, complex situations leaders face every day.You'll discover:Why curiosity by itself isn't enough, and the one action that turns wondering into wisdomThe crucial difference between knowing what to do and understanding when to do it (and when not to)How shifting from hero to host leadership creates sustainable impact and brings out the best in your teamWhy heroing might feel productive while hosting builds resilience, innovation, and genuine engagementThis is a bite-sized episode designed for leaders who want practical insights they can apply immediately. Pick one distinction, experiment with it, and notice what shifts.Whether you're leading a team meeting, navigating uncertainty, or simply wanting to deepen your leadership practice, these three distinctions offer a fresh lens on what makes leadership truly impactful.Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the pinnacle of success you've been climbing towards is actually a trap? When you finally make partner, win the promotion, or achieve the milestone you've been chasing for years, what happens when you discover it's not the answer? When the very achievement that was supposed to bring freedom instead leaves you feeling like a rat in a mill, just surviving from one deadline to the next?This conversation explores what happens when we pause long enough to ask whether the life we're living is actually the life we want. Rachel Paris shares her journey from corporate law partnership to becoming a novelist, revealing how crisis can become catalyst, how the skills that made us successful in one domain become secret weapons in another, and why freeing up your future might mean letting go of the one you thought was already set. We get into the tension between security and creativity, physical presence and emotional presence, and what it truly means to redefine success on your own terms.Rachel Paris is a former partner at Bell Gully, one of New Zealand's most prestigious law firms, where she specialised in banking and finance for over a decade. After walking away from partnership, she became a bestselling novelist with her debut crime thriller "See How They Fall." Her sister's cancer diagnosis became the catalyst for change, prompting her to question whether surviving each day was any way to live a life. Rachel's journey from Harvard Law graduate to creative writer offers a fascinating lens on how professional skills translate across domains and what becomes possible when we give ourselves permission to begin again.You'll discover:Why the partnership track in professional services can become a trap rather than a destination, and how to recognise when you're caught in itHow to shift from physical presence to emotional presence in both work and family lifeWhy redefining success requires asking what truly sustains you rather than what society says you should achieveHow professional training in law, accounting, or other demanding fields creates unexpected advantages in creative pursuitsWhy being your own agent of change means not waiting for crisis to force your handHow to navigate the guilt and fear of letting people down when walking away from senior positionsWhy creating space for others to step up can reframe career transitions from selfish to generous actsHow the wrestle of expressing something in your own words makes us human in an age of AIOther ReferencesThe Answer Trap Kate ChristiansenHumankind by Rutger BregmanOpenAIBell Gully Law FirmSee How They Fall by Rachel ParisTimestamps:(00:00) - From Corporate Law to Creative Freedom(23:12) - Redefining Success and Embracing Change(27:07) - The Journey of Self-Discovery(29:24) - Navigating Career Transitions(32:11) - The Impact of Legal Training on Creativity(34:33) - Creativity in the Age of AIYou can find Rachel at:Website: https://rachelparisauthor.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-paris-authorCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the quality of your leadership came down to the quality of your questions?And what if shifting just one word in how you frame a question could completely change the direction of a conversation?Most leaders ask questions to get answers. But the real power lies in asking questions that unlock thinking, creativity, and action in others.This episode introduces a practical framework for asking better questions – four simple categories that can transform how you lead meetings, drive strategy, and navigate complexity. Whether you're facilitating a team discussion, making a tough decision, or trying to move beyond surface-level conversations, these questioning techniques will shift what's possible.You'll discover:The four types of questions every leader needs to master: "what", "what is", "what if", and "what now"Why "what" questions clarify focus and set the stage for meaningful dialogueHow "what is" questions help you uncover the real issues beneath the surfaceWhy "what if" questions ignite creativity and open up new possibilitiesHow "what now" questions drive action and accountabilityA practical quadrant model you can use to structure any conversationSimple techniques for naming shifts in your questioning to enhance clarityWhy progression matters more than perfection when developing your questioning practiceThis is a short, practical episode designed to give you an immediately useful tool. The goal isn't perfection – it's progression. Pick one type of question, experiment with it in your next conversation, and notice what shifts.Whether you're preparing for a strategic discussion, wanting to deepen team engagement, or simply curious about how to facilitate better conversations, this framework offers a clear path forward.Related EpisodesKP on Breaking Out of 'Answer Mode': https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/26-breaking-out-of-answer-mode-building-collective-wisdom-and-the-village-that-raises-leaders-kirsten-patterson/Kate Christiansen on Escaping the 'Answer Trap': https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/32-escaping-the-answer-trap-and-why-slowing-down-speeds-you-up/Simon Dowling on Why Creating Space Matters More Than Efficiency: https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/18-why-creating-space-matters-more-than-efficiency-simon-dowling-on-intentional-leadership/The Questions Toolkit: digbyscott.com/questionstoolkitCheck out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the secret to lasting leadership impact isn't about building your legacy, but about accepting that you're just passing through? And what if the shift from trying to prove yourself to truly backing yourself changes everything about how you show up as a leader?This episode explores how moving from a hero mindset to a host mindset creates lasting change, and why focusing on embedded impact rather than personal legacy might be the most powerful leadership practice of all. We dive into the confidence that comes with experience, the urgency that emerges from accepting impermanence, and the art of creating solutions that endure long after you've moved on.James McCulloch is the CEO of Victim Support New Zealand, where he's led one of the country's most remarkable organisational transformations. His perspective has been shaped by managing high-profile parks in the heart of London, navigating complex turnarounds, and now wrestling with the tension between ambition and balance as a seasoned leader. James brings a systems-aware approach to leadership that embraces both vulnerability and fierce determination.You'll discover:How to shift from needing external validation to backing yourself with genuine confidenceWhy thinking of leadership roles as fixed-term rather than permanent creates productive urgencyHow to build embedded solutions that create lasting impact beyond your tenureWhy moving from "my legacy" language to "our impact" transforms team dynamicsHow vulnerability among leadership teams forges stronger bonds through adversityWhy the travelling CEO who over-promises creates more damage than helpHow to balance the drive for meaningful impact with sustainable work-life integrationWhy learning from your predecessors while avoiding the trap of constant comparison mattersTimestamps:(00:00) - The Impact Over Legacy Mindset(12:15) - Shifting from Proving to Backing Yourself(21:11) - The Concept of Passing Through(32:18) - Building Lasting Change: Strategies for Sustainable Impact(37:58) - Balancing Ambition and Life: The Tension of Leadership(43:11) - The Handover: Learning from PredecessorsOther ReferencesWe are all Fixed TermSir Ashley Bloomfield on When Leaders Are Human: Navigating Complexity With IntegrityInspire GroupJim Collins and Level 5 LeadershipInternational Coach FederationInternational Parks FederationIntercontinental Hotel WellingtonGuild Hall, LondonYou can find James at:Website: https://victimsupport.org.nz/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mcculloch-65a2931b/Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/

What if the Christmas break you're desperately counting down to won't actually fix what's broken?And what if the way we're running our years (like we run our cars, pushing hard until we desperately need a service) is the very thing keeping us stuck in this exhausting cycle?In this solocast episode, I explore why most of us are caught in an infinite loop: work hard, get exhausted, take a break, repeat. We've all navigated some gnarly challenges this year, and it's tempting to think a few weeks off will sort everything out. But here's the truth: Christmas won't fix the underlying problems.You'll learn:Why the car metaphor for productivity is sabotaging your wellbeingHow tending a plant offers a better framework for sustainable workThe distinction between downtime and due time (and why both matter)Why discovery is just as essential as delivery for doing your best workHow to reclaim more agency over your time than you might thinkWhat it means to design your life with genuine intentionHow leaders can create conditions where people actually thriveWhether you're heading into the break feeling depleted, or you're curious about creating a more sustainable rhythm for 2026, this conversation will challenge how you think about rest, renewal, and what's actually possible when you shift from running your life to designing it.This isn't about working less. It's about working differently. And it starts with questioning the beliefs we hold about productivity, downtime, and what it means to craft a life that's genuinely worth living.Check out my services and offerings https://www.digbyscott.com/Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.digbyscott.com/subscribeFollow me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/digbyscott/Life By Design Webinar: https://digbyscott.com/lifebydesignHow to Create Your Life By Design: https://digbyscott.com/thoughts/how-to-create-your-life-by-designUnhurried Productivity: https://digbyscott.com/thoughts/fresh-insights-on-unhurried-productivity