The Courageous Leaders Podcast

Toxic Positivity vs. Office Politics, Which Is Worse?

Joanna Howes Season 25 Episode 161

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. 

💬 Join the Conversation:
Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:
https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/


👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/