Enduring Wisdom Leads Peoplemax into 20th Birthday Celebrations

What enduring wisdoms can sustain us through equally enduring uncertainty and mounting complexity??This was the question asked of panellists at Peoplemax’s 20th?birthday celebratory event at Barangaroo last week.?Hosted by Emma Alberici,?clients and friends of Peoplemax, old and new, were treated to an insightful panel discussion on the theme of Enduring Wisdom in Leadership.?

Panel members included Nicole Stanmore, CEO of Habitat for Humanity; Leann Wilson,?proud Bidjara/Kara-Kara?woman?and Managing Director of Regional Economic Solutions; and also Amos Szeps, Principal Executive Coach at Peoplemax.

The discussion explored characteristics that are needed to thrive as a leader in dynamic and ever-changing times.?The panel cited characteristics including purpose, drive, connection and standing on the shoulders of those who came before while taking things forward and strengthening the collective wisdom for the benefit of those who come after.

The panel then spoke about what we have been through in recent times with the pandemic and lock downs, detailing what sustained them as a leader and what advice they imparted to others in those critical moments.

They responded with reflections of check-ins and designing multiple opportunities to connect and maintain relationships, sometimes going into overdrive early on to make sure everyone was okay before settling into a working rhythm.?

The value of conversation was also explored with regard to ‘yarning circles’ and taking time to listen and understand how people were travelling, including special techniques that draw on First Nations wisdom.?

The panel also explored the fear that moments early in COVID provoked in them along with those around them.?But the clarity of purpose and sense of urgency also brought people together and gave the opportunity for leaders to rise to the occasion with crystal clear purposes such as “We need to work from home.?Now how do we make that happen?”??

Work-life balance was discussed.?The panel understood the need to stay healthy themselves to support others through the crisis.?Mindfulness, which a decade ago was not as accepted in tough corporate environments, is now a technique that enables leaders to quickly and clearly have conversations about what really matters by bringing them into the present and away from their to-do lists.

The work-life balance question also enabled discussion about the work that energises us and the work that drains us.?Unhealthy external conflict can very quickly throw out inner balance while we can be energised with other types of interactions, and it enables us to achieve more but feel less burnt out.?

Before opening up to questions from the attendees, the panel was finally asked about how we create values-based cultures.

The importance of knowing when to lead from the front, the side and the back was discussed.?

Possessing humility was also considered important for creating a values-based culture along with the benefit of not being the smartest person in the room - so long as you ask questions, listen and absorb, and credit others for their work and take responsibility for your mistakes.???The conversation highlighted the value of leadership which enables teams to share purpose and passions, develop psychological safety and gives people space to create and innovate.?This can lead to magical outcomes.

The event also included a “wisdom wall” where people could add their thoughts on the question “What leadership traits are enduring, no matter what the circumstances.”

Insights there included empathy, authenticity, listening, compassion, kindness, integrity, creative thinking, vision and more.?

It was fantastic that so many could make it to our 20th?birthday celebration.?Peoplemax continues to provide exceptional 1:1 coaching, team coaching and leadership development – across diverse industries and sectors and all experience levels.?Our coaches are leaders in their profession with a variety of experiences, qualifications and backgrounds.?Please reach out to us?here?if you want to discuss how we can support and help grow your business.?