Hello KSKOers
I had a really interesting conversation with Jean Larkin recently, an expert in leadership development, employee engagement and cofounder of Octopy. Jean helps leaders foster human-centred workplaces where engagement flourishes and growth is sustainable. We also talked about remote working and digital nomadism - and what that means for collaboration and engagement. Join us as Jean shares her innovative approach to leadership founded on curiosity, self-awareness, and collaborative development.
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation:
1. Flexibility Wins with Remote Work: Jean is a big fan of how remote work giving people the flexibility they need, whether it's for managing a busy family life or handling personal needs. Jean’s all about leveraging technology so we can collaborate from anywhere in the world. It’s a win-win as it not only suits different lifestyles but also helps organisations capitalise on global talents, making the team more creative and dynamic. Adopting remote work as the norm isn’t just progressive, it’s smart business!
2. Get Real with Self-awareness: Jean’s work focuses heavily on self-awareness in leadership. She shares that knowing yourself—your strengths, your quirks, and how you affect others—is a game-changer. Her time living abroad has taught her a lot about who she is and how to use that self-awareness in leading others. Leaders who do the inner work are more effective at engaging and inspiring their teams. Jean believes that self-awareness in leadership isn’t just a good-to-have, it’s a must for creating supportive and thriving work environments.
3. Leading with Heart: Jean is all about making those strong, real connections with teams, focusing on truly understanding what people need. Instead of putting in place superficial perks, Jean says tuning in to what employees genuinely want and involving them in decision-making is key. When leaders match their style with what employees value, magic happens. People feel valued, enthused, and ready to contribute more. A workplace driven by understanding and empathy isn’t just better for relationships, it’s more successful, too.
4. Embracing Different Cultures: Jean’s journey from the US to Spain taught her a great deal about embracing cultural differences. Experiencing how things are done in other places helped her see that there isn’t just one way to do things. She encourages the idea of travel and experiencing diverse cultures as it opens leaders up to fresh ideas and approaches. This kind of exposure is pure gold for leadership growth, fostering adaptability and a bigger toolbox of ideas to draw from. It’s all about being open-minded and flexible in how we lead.
5. Mixing AI with the Human Touch: With AI taking a bigger stage, Jean emphasises the need to balance tech with that all-important human connection. Machines can handle repetitive tasks, but they can’t replace the special human elements that build strong teams. Jean believes that focusing on relationships and keeping that human touch alive is crucial as AI evolves. By combining tech and humanity thoughtfully, companies can up their game without losing sight of what makes teams truly awesome.
Here are some ways that you can develop your self-aware leadership skills from my conversation with Jean:
Embrace New Experiences to Learn About Yourself: Just like Jean did with her move to Europe, throw yourself into new environments to really figure out who you are. It helps you see things from different angles and grow your leadership skills.
Stay Curious and Open: Jean talks about how being curious helped her understand different management styles. So, keep an open mind and be like a sponge—soak up all the different perspectives and learn from them!
Be the Example: If you want your team to do something, start with yourself. Model that behaviour; whether it’s being accountable or open to feedback, your team will usually follow your lead.
Focus on Building Strong Connections: Keep things human-focused. Building genuine relationships at work, like Jean mentioned, makes for a happier, more engaged team. It’s all about supporting each other and growing together!
Use Tech Smartly but Keep It Personal: With all the tech available, use it to boost teamwork and communication. But remember, nothing beats real human connection. Make sure to balance virtual work with some personal touch points to keep the team connections strong.
These tips should help you become a more self-aware leader and create a workplace where everyone thrives.
Enjoy this episode! Also available on…
Check out my article about hyper-humanism and ultra-digitalism!
Watch my Conversation with Octopy Co-Founder
Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.
Find out more about Self-Aware Leadership by getting your very own copy of The Self-Awareness Superhighway! It’s an Amazon Best Seller in.....
🥇Business Management & Leadership
🥇Occupational & Organisational Psychology
🥇Business Careers
Harvard Reference: Thomas, N.D., 2024. The Self-Awareness Superhighway: Charting Your Leadership Journey. Knowing Self Knowing Others.
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