Episode 18
Why the show must always go on
Speakers: Jane Booth, Alyssa Bonic and Ian Rodwell
In the dynamic and volatile world of organisational life, every leader needs to be nimble on their feet, be audience ready and demonstrate a performer mindset. And for Jane Booth (Head of Guildhall Ignite) and Alyssa Bonic (Business Manager) of the world-leading Guildhall School of Music and Drama (alma mater to Daniel Craig, Lily James and Jodie Whittaker), such arts-based metaphors reveal the fruitful intersection of the worlds of business and creativity. In this episode of the Ideas Foundry podcast, Jane and Alyssa talk about Guildhall Ignite, the School’s training consultancy for executive and professional performance, the importance of agility and ‘listening in the moment’ as well as the lessons orchestral life can teach us about organisational conflict, durable relationships and why the show must always (yes, always) go on.
Episode 17
Split Ends
Speakers: Kitty Perrin and Ian Rodwell
We all know what it’s like to work in teams and how, at times, that experience can be invigorating, motivational and fulfilling. At other times, however, the experience may leave a lot to be desired. In her recent Radio 4 series, Split Ends, singer-songwriter and BBC Introducing presenter Kitty Perrin explores the wonderful world of team dynamics but through a slightly different lens. Over three episodes, she charts what happened in the break-ups of some of history’s best-loved bands and analyses the reasons behind why they split. In this episode of the Ideas Foundry podcast, Kitty shares her reflections on why bands break up and how it’s affected the way she leads her own band. We also discuss how such cautionary tales may help organisational teams recognise the danger signs and, with care, avoid them.
Episode 16
The secret life of boards
Speakers: Helen Hopper and Ian Rodwell
Why is it that some boards fail to deliver the success they promise? And what part do relationships and behavioural dynamics have to play? In their compelling new book, The art and psychology of board relationships: the secret life of boards, these are questions explored by Helen Hopper and her co-author, Joy Harcup. Helen joins the Ideas Foundry podcast to talk about the key psychological threats that boards face, what they can do at the outset to minimise these dangers and how the solutions and tools discussed can apply to any high-performing team. We also share our enthusiasm for a half-forgotten 1960’s icon long due a renaissance!
Episode 15
A book for all seasons
Speakers: Paul Lewis and Ian Rodwell
Following the popularity of last year’s festive special – where Linklaters Managing Partner, Paul Lewis talked about the books that shaped both his career and his ideas on leadership, motivation and the role of a lawyer – it seemed churlish not to invite Paul back to discuss his literary canter through 2023. From books exploring the success of PayPal and Salesforce to the enthralling story of Beryl Burton (perhaps Britain’s greatest - yet most unheralded – athlete), we discuss the power of creative dissent, the secrets of decision making and the timelessness of 1980’s ‘hair metal’…
Key sources for this episode include:
- Jeremy Wilson - Beryl: in search of Britain’s greatest athlete
- Marc Benioff and Carlye Adler - Behind the cloud
- Marc Benioff - Trailblazer: the power of business as the greatest platform for change
- Jimmy Soni - The founders: Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and the story of PayPal
- Claire Hughes Johnson - Scaling people: tactics for managing people and company building
- John Scalzi - Starter villain
Episode 14
Being human
Speakers: Claire Sanders and Ian Rodwell
Our human hard wiring can sometimes prove a hindrance rather than a help. But what if we could unleash its potential and, in doing so, harness the power of curiosity, constructive questioning and cross-industry learning while reducing the impact of troubling factors such as imposter syndrome? It’s a question that our next guest is well placed to answer. As an experienced General Counsel and co-founder of Being Human, Claire Sanders is passionate about making the legal profession – and beyond - more human as well as capable of thriving in an ever more pressured world. So for those looking to end the old year and start the new with a resounding bang, Claire has three ideas to bring a bit of ‘being human’ into your day to day practice.
Episode 13
Thriving mindfully
Speakers: Gareth Lee and Ian Rodwell
We all know that modern life can be frenetic, uncertain and volatile. So, what if you could find a way to regain composure and focus in this daily maelstrom? Well, enter our next guest, Gareth Lee, lawyer, executive coach and proponent of a mindful approach to work and life. In this discussion, we examine Gareth’s passion for mindfulness and we explore how its benefits extend beyond well-being and resilience into the domains of emotional intelligence and outstanding performance. And, for those curious to give it a go, Gareth shares some simple techniques to test out during those hectic working days.
Episode 12
The Squiggly Line
Speakers: Kimberley Johnston and Ian Rodwell
It’s easy to assume that careers — like journeys — should favour the most direct route. But occasionally it’s the squiggly line on the map that brings the greatest rewards. And in a journey that has taken her from musical theatre to the UN, from Washington politics to global law firm, from in-house lawyer to coach, consultant and podcaster, Kimberley Johnston is a living testament to the road less travelled. In this conversation, we discuss the opportunities and epiphanies that have shaped her career, the importance of catching your dreams, tips for balancing on the seesaw of life and how she finally received a standing ovation in Nashville, the home of country.
Episode 11
Living in a material world
Speakers: Dr Harriet Shortt and Ian Rodwell
The pandemic helped many of us realise that where we work affects how we work. And as organisations reconfigured offices and workplaces to facilitate hybrid working, it became even clearer that the material spaces in which we work matter. They have the power to influence our creativity, productivity, emotions and even our sense of identity. In this conversation with Dr Harriet Shortt, Associate Professor in Organisation Studies at the University of the West of England, we explore homeworking, open plan offices, hot-desking and the joy of mundane workplace objects. And, in an organisational world seemingly governed by Zoom and Teams, we discuss why physical space still has a crucial role to play.
Episode 10
Good Intentions
Speakers: Dr Rob Archer and Ian Rodwell
The New Year is a time for good intentions, but how can we develop high-performance routines that both work and last beyond the dreary days of January? Who better to ask than Dr Rob Archer, a psychologist specialising in helping organisations and individuals build resilience, improve mental health and sustain high performance. In this episode we explore a range of topics including the difference between good and bad stress, the dangers of flat-line working, the benefits of setting boundaries and the secrets that businesses can learn from athletes. So if your New Year’s resolutions are to gain more focus, energy and balance (or simply to listen to more podcasts!), then this episode is definitely for you.
- Satchin Panda – The circadian code
- Cal Newport — Deep work
- Alex Pang — Rest
- Rob Archer — www.highperformanceroutines.com
Episode 9
If on a Winter’s eve…
Speakers: Paul Lewis and Ian Rodwell
…you find yourself snowbound and in need of a good read to pass the time, then listen to Paul Lewis, Linklaters Managing Partner, talking about the books that have shaped both his career and his ideas on leadership, motivation and the role of a lawyer. In this festive special, we discuss, among others, All that glitters: the fall of Barings, Quiet, Eleven rings and Drive — and, stepping out of the world of business, we also explore the poetic influence of Dylan Thomas and Catatonia’s Cerys Matthews.
Key sources for this episode include:
- John Gapper — All that glitters: the fall of Barings
- Nichola Dunbar — Inventing money: the rise and fall of Long-Term Capital Management
- Dan Pink — Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us
- Phil Jackson — Eleven rings
- Susan Cain — Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking
- Martin Seligman — Flourish
- Dylan Thomas — Under Milk Wood
- Cerys Matthews — Myfanwy (from the album, TIR)
Episode 8
Crafty Tales
Speakers: Ben White and Ian Rodwell
Many of us wistfully speculate about trying something completely new. Could we/should we forsake the day job to follow our passions and enthusiasms? Well, Ben White is someone who did exactly that. With a whole drawerful of ideas and business plans, he stepped away from the roles of private practice lawyer and then in-house counsel, to found the collaborative legal community, Crafty Counsel. In this episode, Ben talks about the lure of being an entrepreneur, the key things he’s learnt (and would maybe have done differently) and why he’s (not entirely) giving up on the idea of a Chilean distillery. For anyone thinking of setting up a business, in whatever field, Ben’s experiences are essential listening.
Episode 7
‘The Summer Special’ - Being artful
Speakers: Susannah Tresilian, Caitlin Shannon and Ian Rodwell
What can our organisations learn from the creative worlds of stage, screen and radio? It’s the key question we discuss in our first Ideas Foundry ‘Summer Special’ where we’re joined not by one guest but two — Susannah Tresilian and Caitlin Shannon from The Leadership Collective. Combining coaching and leadership consultancy with acting, radio production for the BBC, screenwriting and stage direction, Susannah and Caitlin share insights on how skills normally associated with the Arts can make a difference to every organisation. So, if you have an interest in managing pressure, retaining authenticity, nurturing ideas, and developing colleagues with poise and compassion, then sit back (or go for a walk!) and listen. Beach not provided…
Episode 6
The lawyer, the coach and the big decision!
Speakers: Elodie Michaud (founder of Dare&Grow) and Ian Rodwell
Many of us try to bring a bit of coaching ‘magic’ into our day-to-day leadership practice. But what happens if you love coaching so much, you want to devote your life to it? In this episode, Ian talks with Elodie Michaud, a former lawyer in the Linklaters Luxembourg office who now runs her own coaching business. We discuss Elodie’s first steps into coaching, the extent to which lawyers make great coaches (or not…) and how she coached herself through a life-changing decision. So if you are keen to learn more about the art of coaching — or perhaps you are contemplating your own career move? — then Elodie’s story will no doubt both instruct and inspire.
Key sources for this episode include:
- Alison Temperley – Inside knowledge
- John Whitmore – Coaching for performance
- Dave Stachowiak – Coaching for leaders (podcast)
Episode 5
Out of office
Speakers: David Pearl (an innovator in business, the arts & social change and the founder of Street Wisdom) and Ian Rodwell
Hybrid, agile, blended — new and exciting ways of working have proliferated over the last two years. And this change has gone hand-in-hand with fevered discussions about the future of the office and how best we connect, communicate and create. In this chat with the ever-fascinating David Pearl, we explore the fate of the humble meeting, ways to create connections at a distance — and how walking away from the screen and into the world outside can spark inspiration and life-changing ideas.
Key sources for this episode include:
- David Pearl – Wanderful and Will there be donuts?
- Street Wisdom
Episode 4
Getting creative — thinking off the leash
Speakers: Ali McBurney and Ian Rodwell
Do you ever think that you’re just not creative enough? That being creative is a skill that only a few are blessed with? If so, join us as we debunk a few myths. In this episode, we discuss how creativity is for everyone — whatever your job or role. If you can find ways to do things better, faster and more elegantly, then you’re being creative. We’ll explore what stops us being creative (and how we can sidestep those barriers), look at ways to spark our imagination and explain why thinking like a tortoise may not be such a bad thing.
Key sources for this episode include:
- Guy Claxton — Hare brain, tortoise mind
- John Cleese — Creativity: a short and cheerful guide
- Tim Harford — Cautionary Tales podcast: Bowie, jazz, and the unplayable piano
Episode 3
Go slow to go fast — leading in complexity and change
Speakers: Dr Sharon Varney and Ian Rodwell
We often say we live in a ‘complex’ world. But what does that really mean — and how can an understanding of the intriguing world of complexity theory help you lead and perform in a world where change is the only constant? In this episode with Dr Sharon Varney (author of Leadership in complexity and change), we unpack what complexity is (and isn’t), share some practical advice on thriving in a complex world and reveal why, strange though it sounds, going slow can really help you go fast…Curious to learn more? Then take a listen.
Key sources for this episode include:
- Sharon Varney — Leadership in complexity and change: for a world in constant motion
- Daniel Kahneman — Thinking, fast and slow
- De Gruyter — Leadership in uncertain times: learning to lead from the emerging future (webinar)
Episode 2
The art of cross-cultural working
Speakers: Wenying Li and Ian Rodwell
Anyone working in global organisations, or with clients, suppliers and partners around the world, will know about the challenges and rewards of operating across different cultures. In this episode, we discuss why cross-cultural competence is important and how it can help you in your career. We also explore the key research on cultural dimensions and leave you with some practical ideas that you can immediately put to work.
Key sources for this episode include:
- Erin Meyer – The culture map: breaking through the invisible boundaries of global business
- Geert Hofstede – Cultures and organizations: software of the mind
Episode 1
Digital wellbeing — or how to be ‘smart’ with your smartphone
Speakers: Nicola Raw and Ian Rodwell
Is your phone the first and last thing you check every day? Do you find yourself constantly reaching for your phone, or worse still, feel uncomfortable when you’re without it? If so, this is the episode for you. Join us as we explore what digital wellbeing is and why it is so crucial to both our work and non-work lives. We delve into the effects of social media on our cognitive processing and look at some practical ways to ensure we are in control of our devices — and not the other way around.
Key sources for this episode include:
- Matthew Walker – Why We Sleep
- Catherine Price – How to break up with your phone
- Ward et al. (2017) ‘Brain drain: The mere presence of one’s own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity’, Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2(2).
