
The Courageous Leaders Podcast
The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.
So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.
Who is Joanna Howes?
Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.
Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders.
Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.
Website: https://thechangecreators.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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The Courageous Leaders Podcast
Toxic Positivity vs. Office Politics, Which Is Worse?
Is your team's growth being silently blocked by toxic positivity, hidden politics, or a culture of avoidance?
What if you could banish just one of these frustrations to unlock everyone's true potential?
I put that exact challenge to three brilliant leaders in a special 'Leadership Room 101' debate. I welcomed Nishma Patel Robb (Founder, Glittersphere) , Ete Davies (EMEA EVP, Dentsu Creative) , and Natalie Winford (Chief Solutions Officer, Jellyfish) to each nominate the one leadership flaw they believe does the most damage in business today.
The resulting discussion is a masterclass in identifying the root causes of team friction and building a culture based on reality, not pretence.
We Cover:
01:57 – The 'Good Vibes Only' Trap: When positivity becomes toxic.
07:38 – A Leader's Most Powerful Tool: The choice to be vulnerable.
08:28 – Nishma on how relentless positivity can silence your team
12:46 – Exposing the Hidden Power Structure: The problem with organisational politics.
17:10 – How "corridor meetings" create a parallel culture of mistrust.
27:25 – Can you be a good person and good at politics?
29:29 – Natalie’s argument for banning the phrase "it’s above my pay grade"
35:07 – Why employees feel stuck: Is it evasion or a cry for help?
39:43 – Should you do a task before you're promoted for it?
44:10 – The Final Verdict: The single most damaging leadership flaw is revealed.
Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.
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Website: https://thechangecreators.com
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