The Workplace Podcast in association with Dynamic Partners

Episode 135: Conflict Conversations at Work with Amy Gallo

In the latest episode of The Workplace Podcast, William welcomes back Amy Gallo, bestselling author of 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 and one of the leading voices on conflict and communication at work.

This conversation explores a topic many teams still struggle with:
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥?

Amy shares practical insights on why healthy conflict is often a sign of trust, not dysfunction, and how avoiding difficult conversations can quietly damage team performance, relationships, and psychological safety.

🔥 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞:
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 – Strong teams don’t avoid disagreement; they learn how to navigate it
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 – Avoiding issues today creates bigger problems later
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 – How gossip and backchannel conversations undermine trust
𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 – Why honest feedback and reflection actually strengthen relationships
𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 – The simple habits high-performing teams use to create healthier conversations

A hugely practical conversation for leaders, managers, and teams navigating pressure, disagreement, and collaboration in modern workplaces.

Find out more about Amy: AMY GALLO

Sponsored by Dynamic Partners
We are ambitious for your leadership, are you? - Dynamic Partners

Episode 134: Dynamic Work Design with Nelson P. Repenning

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Nelson P. Repenning  — Distinguished Professor at MIT Sloan, Director of MIT’s Leadership Center, and coauthor of There’s Got to Be a Better Way: How to Deliver Results and Get Rid of the Stuff That Gets in the Way of Real Work.

Together, they explore why so many organizations become trapped in constant firefighting, overload, and reactive working — and what leaders can do instead to create workplaces that are dynamic, adaptive, and capable of continuous learning.

Nelson shares practical insights from decades of research and consulting work with organizations including Harley-Davidson, Toyota, and leading innovation teams.

🔥 Key topics in this episode include:

• Why most organizations are designed for a predictable world that no longer exists
• The hidden dangers of “firefighting culture”
• Why keeping everyone busy actually reduces performance
• The concept of “firefighting arsonists”
• How overload creates chaos and burnout
• Why psychological safety is essential for organizational learning
• The power of visual management and better workflow design
• How leaders can create more focus, alignment, and adaptability

This episode is packed with practical leadership insights for anyone managing teams, leading change, or trying to create healthier and more effective ways of working.

Find out more about Nelson:

• MIT Sloan: MIT Sloan School of ManagementNelson P. Repenning | MIT Sloan
• Shift Gear: The ShiftGear Mission - ShiftGear

🎧 The Workplace Podcast is proudly brought to you in association with Dynamic Partners - contact us today to start the conversation about leadership in your organisation.

Episode 133: The Octopus Organization with Phil Le-Brun

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Phil Le-Brun, co-author of The Octopus Organization and former International CIO at McDonald’s.

Together, they explore the realities of organisational transformation - why so many initiatives fail, and how leaders can build more adaptive, empowered, and high-performing teams.

Phil shares practical insights on ownership, decision-making, and culture, including why “artificial ownership” is so common in organisations, how gatekeepers slow progress, and what it really takes to create clarity of purpose at scale.

From the concept of “pigs and chickens” to the dangers of “watermelon reporting,” this episode is packed with memorable frameworks and real-world examples that challenge traditional ways of working.

A must-listen for leaders looking to empower their teams, improve accountability, and navigate complexity more effectively.

Find out more about the book here: The Octopus Organization | a guide to thriving in a world of continuous transformation

Episode 132: Disruptive Innovation: The Ideas that Changed the World with Scott D. Anthony

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Scott D. Anthony-Leading Expert on Disruptive Innovation-to explore why even the most successful organisations struggle to adapt in times of change.

Drawing on stories from Epic Disruptions, Scott brings innovation to life-from Julia Child’s journey to mastery, to Florence Nightingale’s data-driven impact, and the decades-long story behind Gorilla Glass.

Together, they unpack why great companies miss disruption, the myths that hold organisations back, and the behaviours that drive real innovation.

🔥 You’ll learn:

• Why innovation is about value-not just ideas
• Why successful companies miss major shifts
• How your best customers can hold you back
• The behaviours that drive innovation in any role

💡 A powerful episode for anyone looking to lead, adapt, and innovate in a rapidly changing world.

Find out more about the Scott here: Epic Disruptions

Episode 131: The Science of Leadership with Jeffrey Hull

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Thinkers50 Award-Winning Leadership Expert and co-author of The Science of Leadership, Jeffrey Hull.

Jeffrey brings over 30 years of experience translating cutting-edge research into practical leadership impact. Together, they explore what leadership really means today—and why it’s no longer about the individual, but about how we bring others with us.

From quieting the ego to navigating conflict and building high-performing teams, this episode is packed with powerful insights for leaders at every level.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why leadership is no longer about “I” but about “we”

• How to balance performance with people—and why winning alone isn’t sustainable

• The concept of the “noisy ego” and how it impacts your leadership

• Why conflict is essential for innovation and growth

• How to build alignment through shared leadership

This is a must-listen for anyone looking to expand their leadership impact in a complex, fast-changing world.

 

Find out more about the work Jeffrey does here: JEFFREY HULL

Thanks to Resolution Intelligence for sponsoring this episode. For more information visit: resolution-intelligence.com

Episode 130: The Menopause Conversation with Alicia Grandey

"When a woman was seen having a hot flash, she was rated as less competent and less likely to be chosen as the leader.”

That’s one of the research findings shared by Dr. Alicia Grandey - Organisational Psychologist and Professor at Penn State University - in the latest Episode of The Workplace Podcast.

In this conversation, William and Alicia explore a topic that is still rarely discussed openly at work: menopause and leadership.

Menopause affects half the population, yet many workplaces still struggle to talk about it or support employees navigating it. Drawing on decades of research and interviews with senior leaders, Alicia explains how stigma influences perceptions of competence, leadership opportunities, and workplace culture.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why naming menopause can reduce bias in leadership decisions
• How stigma and silence can push experienced women out of leadership pipelines
• The surprising ways many women become more confident and resilient leaders during this stage of life
• What compassionate leadership actually looks like in practice
• How organisations can create cultures that support people through major life transitions

This conversation also builds on a previous discussion on menopause in the workplace with Loretta Dignum (Episode 46).

If you care about leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, and supporting women in mid-career, this is an important conversation.

Episode 129: Why Kindness Isn't a Nice to Have with Dr. Nicki Macklin

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless speaks with Dr. Nicki Macklin about the strategic power of organisational kindness.

Often dismissed as “soft,” kindness is frequently misunderstood in leadership. But research featured in Harvard Business Review - co-authored with Amy Edmondson and Thomas Lee - shows the opposite: kindness drives performance.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Why kindness is not the same as niceness

• The real cost of workplace incivility

• How managers lose up to seven weeks a year dealing with poor culture

• How to measure kindness using metrics you already track

This is a practical, research-backed discussion for leaders who want to balance performance with humanity — and understand the real business case for culture.

Episode 128: The Power of Employee Well-Being with Mark. C. Crowley

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Mark C. Crowley - bestselling author and leadership expert - to explore why employee wellbeing has become one of the most critical leadership issues today.

Drawing on insights from his latest book, The Power of Employee Wellbeing, Mark explains why traditional engagement approaches fall short, how wellbeing directly impacts performance and retention, and why belonging plays such a powerful role in how people show up at work.

Together, William and Mark discuss burnout, leadership boundaries, emotional intelligence, and the small but meaningful actions leaders can take to create healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

This episode is a practical, research-informed conversation for leaders who want to build teams that don’t just perform, but thrive.

Find out more about the work Mark does here: Mark C Crowley - Heart 2.0 - New Book Is Coming - Mark C. Crowley

Episode 127: Leadership Unblocked with Muriel M. Wilkins

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless speaks with Muriel M. Wilkins, executive coach, author of Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential, and host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Coaching Real Leaders.

Muriel helps leaders understand why performance challenges so often stem from unexamined beliefs rather than skill gaps. She explains how “hidden blockers” shape leadership behaviour, why high performers resist looking inward, and how resolving conflict with yourself is a prerequisite for leading others effectively.

This episode explores:

• The beliefs that quietly limit leadership potential

• Why behaviour change starts with assumptions, not actions

• How leaders can begin coaching themselves more effectively

• What it really takes to grow beyond control, perfectionism, and over-functioning

A practical and reflective conversation for leaders, managers, coaches, and anyone serious about leadership development.

Find out more about the work Muriel does here: MURIEL WILKINS | Helping people lead with more ease

Episode 126: More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead with Rasmus Hougaard

In the latest episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Rasmus Hougaard, CEO of Potential Project. In 2024, Rasmus was nominated by Thinkers50 as one of the eight most important leadership thinkers in the world today.

Rasmus is the co-author of The Mind of the Leader, Compassionate Leadership, and his latest book, More Human. Together, they explore a question many leaders are grappling with:

What do leaders do that AI can’t?

🔑 Key insights from this episode:

• Why leaders won’t lose their jobs to AI, but to leaders who use AI better

• How AI can make us more human, not less

• The risks of over-reliance on AI — from decision delegation to disconnection

• Why awareness, wisdom, and compassion are becoming leadership essentials

A thoughtful conversation for leaders navigating an AI-accelerated world.

Find out more about the work Rasmus does here: Potential Project – About Us