About The Podcast
This podcast explores and demystifies strategy to equip you with the tools to be naturally strategic. Our mission? To empower you to operate with impact and confidence, ensuring you’re at the top of your game. We help HR and people-focused leaders harness the power of strategic thinking. By merging psychology, leadership, and business acumen, we offer actionable insights, and explore the crucial connection between strategy and human motivation.
Co Host - Gemma
Gemma Bullivant has extensive global strategic HR leadership experience. She specialises in HR Coaching, Leadership Coaching, and Reward Consulting, enabling HR professionals and leaders to excel in their roles. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, Gemma provides bespoke guidance to enhance skills in HR strategy and leadership excellence, together with valuable technical expertise in pay and reward consulting.
Co-Host - Fiona
Fiona Craig has spent over 20 years in creative industries, as a director and leading marketing strategist for world-renowned agencies, clients and brands. She combines this expertise with an impressive suite of coaching qualifications, and provides a fresh perspective on strategy. She excels at clarifying complex concepts into clear and practical ideas.
Listen Now
In this episode, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig delve into the fundamental concept of what it means to be strategic. They break down strategy into three key components: Future Focus, Breadth, and Purpose. Through engaging discussion and practical examples, they emphasise how anyone can become more naturally strategic by applying these principles to their daily work. Read more here.
Do you ever wonder what it truly means to be strategic? Are you tired of overly complex strategic documents that seem impossible to decipher? Well, you're in luck! In this episode, we dive into the complex world of strategy, break it all down for you, and we discuss how simplicity in strategy is the key to effective leadership. Join us for this insightful episode and learn how to demystify strategy, prioritize effectively, and lead with confidence. Read more here.
In this episode of "The Strategic Leader" podcast, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig explore the concept of becoming more strategic in your career. They discuss why thinking strategically is crucial, how it's embedded in job descriptions, and how it evolves as you progress through different organizational levels. They explain how even at junior levels, you can exhibit strategic awareness. Read more here.
Have you ever asked yourself, "What if I sound stupid?" or "What if it goes wrong?" These are the questions that often loom large when we're on the cusp of transitioning from our comfort zone to the growth zone in our professional lives. In this episode we discuss the fear of sounding stupid, the discomfort of uncertainty, and the magnetic pull of our comfort zones, and offer practical tips to overcome these barriers and operate more confidently in the strategic realm. Read more here.
According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review, strategic thinking involves acumen in understanding context, allocation of resources for optimal impact, and action that combines effective collaboration, execution, and personal wellbeing. In this episode we invite you to consider how you can incorporate these elements into your strategic approach, bringing a balance between strategic and tactical thinking. Read more here.
This episode explores the challenges faced by HR in attaining a seat at the executive table, and its shift from “just” compliance to being a crucial strategic function. We discuss the pivotal role of HR in the current knowledge economy, the impact of HR's historical roots in compliance and governance, and the importance of self-awareness for HR leaders. Read more here.
In this episode, we discuss the concept of HR maturity levels. We explain the transition from transactional to transformational HR practices, emphasising the importance of moving beyond routine tasks to strategic thinking. Gemma introduces a four-level model and the conversation explores the characteristics and challenges at each level, highlighting the need for a balance between transactional efficiency and strategic foresight. Read more here.
Strategic self-care is essential for HR professionals and leaders who want to maximize their impact. In this podcast episode, we discuss how important it is to show up in the right way, regardless of how stressful or frustrated we might be feeling. We discuss the H.A.L.T model, which stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired and explore how these factors can affect our wellbeing and emotional state, our ability to make decisions, and undermine our ability to be strategic. Read more here.
In this episode, we explore the "Four P's" of strategic thinking—Purpose, Pursuit, Process, and People, and discuss how this model can be applied to to everything from larger strategic initiatives to everyday tasks like planning a Christmas party. We discuss the importance of understanding the purpose behind any endeavour, clarifying where one aims to go, determining the process to achieve those goals, and identifying the people involved. Read more here.
In this episode we delve into the crucial aspect of aligning strategy with business goals. We emphasise the need for HR professionals and leaders to shift from an "inside-out" approach, where the focus is on to-do lists and internal tasks, to an "outside-in" perspective, starting with a deep understanding of the business's objectives. Read more here.
In this episode we delve into the art of strategic time management using the Eisenhower matrix, and discuss the importance of consciously planning and allocating time to enhance overall strategic effectiveness. Read more here.
In this episode of the podcast, we explore the concept of gravitas, through the lens of strategic curiosity. We share personal experiences, highlighting the significance of asking meaningful questions to foster a strategic mindset. We question the dictionary definition, that gravitas is about projecting seriousness or loftiness, but instead that it is rooted in the ability to show up with strategic curiosity. Read more here.
Series 2
In this episode we discuss the complex topic of imposter syndrome, including a discomfort with the term itself, and whether it’s even really ‘a thing’. We explore how there are blurred line between natural nervousness and the imposter syndrome term we all recognise. And we talk about what to do about the sometimes debilitating effects of low confidence, fear and nerves.
Does your Inner Critic sometimes take over and stop you from operating with impact? Managing your inner critic is a critical strategic skill. In this episode we talk about its origins, impact, and strategies for transforming your inner critic into your inner guide. We discuss how the inner critic is often a voice rooted in past experiences, offering a perspective that may no longer be relevant.
In this episode Gemma talks to special guest Jo Bamford, an Occupational Psychologist with 30+ years of experience. We discuss the dynamics of workplace conflict and ways to embrace diverse perspectives which can lead to better outcomes, and how by inviting challenge, conflict can drive innovation, by prompting us to consider alternative viewpoints and solutions.
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, we explore the topic of people pleasing, and its implications for leadership and personal well-being. We explore how the desire to be helpful and liked can often lead to prioritising others' needs at the expense of our own, ultimately hindering strategic leadership capabilities.
In this episode we explore the topic of procrastination, and how it can get in the way of operating strategically. Fiona defines procrastination as delaying tasks without a rational reason for doing so. For Gemma, it’s when ‘the drive to delay is stronger than the drive to act’. We delve in to the emotional and psychological triggers behind procrastination, such as fear of failure, seeking immediate pleasure, or feeling overwhelmed by tasks.
In this episode we explore the tricky topic of worry and anxiety and its impact on strategic leadership. We discuss the difference between worry and anxiety, emphasising the spectrum of emotions and how these feelings can affect our ability to perform effectively in senior roles. And we discuss the importance of recognising when these emotions are beneficial and when they become detrimental.
In this episode, we discuss the multifaceted nature of confidence and how confidence is often misunderstood as extroversion and bravado. Fi shares her personal journey in understanding confidence, and the importance of courage and the ability to act despite fear. We discuss self-esteem and how it often relies on external validation, and how to start building intrinisic self-worth.
In this episode, we dive into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of strategic leadership: the systems and processes that support or, (often!) hinder our ability to think and act strategically. We explore how everyday interactions like meetings, communication channels, and daily routines can either facilitate or obstruct strategic goals.
In this episode we explore the impact of personal values on leadership and teamwork. Drawing from models such as love languages and core strengths, we discuss the importance of understanding the values that drive both ourselves and others, and how misalignment can lead to friction in working relationships.
In this week’s episode we talk about the dynamics of optimising workplace relationships, especially with managers, and offer practical techniques to improve communication and mutual understanding. We also dive into the Parent-Adult-Child (PAC) model, a framework rooted in Transactional Analysis, and look at how it can specifically help with relationships influenced by power dynamics.
In this episode, we discuss perfectionism and its implications for strategic leaders. We explore our personal experiences with perfectionism, highlighting the balance between maintaining high standards and avoiding the pitfalls of excessive focus on these standards. Gemma shares how her preference for action over perfection shapes her work approach, and the importance of progress and process in achieving quality outcomes.
In this episode we discuss managing stress as a crucial aspect of strategic leadership. We delve into the analogy comparing stress management to maintaining a car's fuel level, and the need for regular monitoring and replenishment of personal capacity. We also discuss the "stress bucket" idea and look at how various stressors—both positive and negative—can fill our mental and emotional reserves, and why they need conscious actions to release and alleviate stress.
Series 3
In this episode we dive into the third pillar of leadership: leading others, and reflect on how leaders can maximise their collective impact, focusing on the skills and mindsets needed to work effectively alongside others. We delve into how to handle difficult relationships, manage teams, and deal with conflicting values, which will be the focus of series 3.
This week on The Strategic Leader, we discuss the "trust equation," a model from The Trusted Advisor. We breakdown the four components- credibility, reliability, intimacy (or psychological safety), and self-orientation- and dissect how they interact to foster trustworthiness in teams and leaders.