Episode Transcript
[00:00:08] Speaker A: Welcome to Executive Success. I'm Lesley Everett and today we explore the choices, the habits, the leadership moves that shape extraordinary executives.
You're watching now Media Television.
[00:00:25] Speaker B: Welcome to Executive Success, the show where we uncover the habits, the mindsets and breakthroughs that shape today's most authentic and influential leaders. I'm your host, Leslie Everett.
Today we're joined by a remarkable leadership coach whose work has transformed CEOs, founders and senior leaders across the globe. Jo Medwell is known for her unique blend of deep coaching and immersive leadership experiences.
With more than 30 years of experience, she helps leaders reconnect with their values, rediscover purpose and lead with alignment and impact.
She's the creator of the Values Discovery methodology, founder of Coaching and Mentoring Middle east, a former TEDx speaker and author of the Restless Executive, a book that has truly guided thousands towards more meaningful leadership.
JO welcome to the show.
For this first piece, we're going to be stepping into the theme of restlessness, which intrigues me. The internal signal many high achieving leaders feel but rarely talk about. It's a sense that something's off looks when it looks successful, but it's actually not on the it looks successful on the outside, but on the inside something else is going on.
And restlessness is often the catalyst for transformation. And today we're going to explore how leaders identify it, understand it, and begin the journey back to alignment.
JO I find that many leaders reach the top to discover this disconnect between external success and internal fulfillment. And I really want to understand how we can help restless executives to get to a place where they feel authentic and comfortable. But I first of all want to ask you, was there a time in your life where you really felt that restlessness yourself?
[00:02:27] Speaker C: Several, Lesley, several.
And I love what you said in the introduction about it being a signal. You know, it's actually great when you feel restless because it's our body giving us a message that either something's off, something needs up, leveling, shifting, changing, or as you say, transforming.
I really see it as a gift because it leads us to that deeper exploration of what's happening here, what's going on, what's really important to me, am I aligned to that?
And I think it can happen many, many times. And it certainly happened to me during my last corporate career, which is over 20 years ago, and it was given, it gave me the signal to stick step really, truly into the path I'm on now and several times since where I've had an up levelling of my work.
[00:03:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I think it's Fascinating. I think we all reach that and it's being aware of when we are at that point and we need to shift and make some adjustments. So from that, what I'd like to know is what are you advocating now or want to advocate for leadership now and in the future based on that?
[00:03:38] Speaker C: Well, I love that question because for me, I believe leadership is shifting and there's an invitation for leaders to go with it or be left in a world that doesn't work anymore. I think it's quite a strong shift. I think there's a new era coming in and I'm really advocating for leaders to lead from truth and courage and presence rather than strategy and performance. Of course they're still relevant, but. But to put more emphasis on what is actually needed rather than what's expected.
[00:04:13] Speaker B: Yes. I mean, I find with the leaders and executives that I'm coaching that they sort of fall into an area of what's expected of them, and the higher up they go, often they lose themselves more and they're molded by the outside world a lot. And I know it's a challenge for them. And I'm sure you've helped many through breaking through that to get back to where they want to be. But how do you help them connect back to their values then? How do you help them to get there? Because I think a lot of them recognize that they're in this place but really have no idea how to get back in touch with their values.
[00:04:52] Speaker C: You mentioned earlier about the values discovery methodology, but I'm going to offer. I just used the question, a great question to ask in a moment of stillness is what's important to me right now, am I operating from that place?
Because we're either feeling alive and active and then we are living our values. If we feel good and we're alive and we're vital. Okay, what's happening for me right now? Oh, I'm in connection with you, Lesley.
I feel free. I feel in my truth, I've got the energy. They're all my values and they're alive in this moment because I'm really enjoying this. And may be another point where you feel compromised if something doesn't feel quite right, you feel compromised, you feel out of alignment. That's a real indicator that you're not in line. And to bring self back to center and say, okay, what's truly important? How do I bring myself back to that place? And it's really accessing that deeper meaning.
I mean, Wayne Dyer, an amazing documentary called the Shift and or Ambition to Meaning he changed the title of it. But I love the from ambition to meaning. You know, a lot of executives climb the ladder and then go, what's next? I'm working with a couple at the moment that are really at that point, okay, what have I done? Who am I? And it's been a recurring thing for me, hence bringing out the restlessness because I've seen it so often.
[00:06:21] Speaker B: Yeah. So what you're saying is it's perhaps an idea for us and for executives to be more mindful of when they're in these moments where they are aligned and perhaps more mindful of those times when they're, when they're not and be able to realize that making the shift is going to help them to get to where they want to be. I mean, what drew you into this yourself? Because I'm curious how you got into this and understood that this was something that leaders really now need now perhaps more than we've ever done before.
[00:06:53] Speaker C: Well, I was the restless executive.
So in my last corporate role, having had a predominantly a background in learning development in banking, I was head of learning and development globally for a banking software company.
And it was at that point some things weren't fitting, weren't shifting. The company wasn't really big enough for me to take, do what I wanted to do. And also I, I sort of had a moment thinking how did I get into software? I'm really about people and really wanted to go deeper and I was limited and it was at that point I decided to study to become a coach. It's about 21 years ago now and it was through my coaching journey when I discovered my own values that everything went ka ching, ka ching, ka ching, ka ching. And it's the values, the priority you place on them, what they mean to you.
It takes quite a time on the up front to really do the work and then everything flows really easily. But yeah, I was the restless executive.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, I get that. And I think every single client I work with now is feeling that to a degree.
Why do you think there are so many high achieving leaders today that still feel something is off? Has something shifted around the environment we're in? You know, I feel this happens a lot to me. They're there, they've got a great job, but this still finding something's not quite right. Why do you think that is? Are we seeing that more often now than ever before?
[00:08:24] Speaker C: I think the last five years, particularly with all of the shifts that we've had through the pandemic, that Catalyst did so much change.
I Think it's invited deeper questions for people, you know, what truly is important. And I think it's been there generally, but I think it's really amplified it to, you know, we get one precious life. What is it really about? And society and systems have absorbed people and we've been on autopilot because we get conditioned automatically until we step into that conscious awareness and just take the step back and go, just a moment, let me just step off the autopilot and either ask ourselves or ideally be asked by a coach or somebody who can support you, because somebody listening and asking will ask a question differently to how we will ever ask ourselves. But I think there's been a lot of conditioning and more people are starting to question that and just ask what truly is important to me. And then the next piece is it's one thing to ask it, but then to actually live isn't as easy as it sounds. It sounds like it should be easy, but it often implements invites a letting go of everything you've built so far or parts of what you've built so far to step into the truest version of you.
[00:09:50] Speaker B: Yeah, it's so very true. And, you know, it's hard to step out of your comfort zone often. Do you think time plays a factor as well in executives not being able to get to their true self and operate from their authentic self?
[00:10:08] Speaker C: Yeah, I do think time has a factor because I think there's a pressure from self and from others to be a certain way. When you are in any leadership executive role and you've worked your way into that position and you know, different times in your life, as well as the unfolding and the expansion of time, we go through different seasons and different times in our life and the more we mature, we evolve, and the more experience we've got and have more life events, I think more of the question comes, and often what I see, Lesley, and I'd be interested if you see similar, is that people have got to a certain point and they don't know how to be different.
And it's. How do I answer that? Call that feeling, that restlessness.
[00:11:00] Speaker B: Is there a quick tip you can give us to help them distinguish between the values that they actually have and the ones that they think they should have? Because I see that quite a lot. Is there a quick tip you can give us to close off this section?
[00:11:14] Speaker C: Yes. And you just use the word think they should have.
I'm like, what does it feel like? What's it like in the body? You know, I have a very strong value of truth. And when I say it, I hear it go through the body.
And when we think we should have them, we often are driven by company values or picking one off a list or thinking, okay, this sounds a good value. It feels like me. But when you truly go inside your heart, what does this feel like? What is important to me?
This connection. Connection's one of my values. I can so strongly feel that along with my truth right now. So feel it rather than think it.
[00:11:53] Speaker B: Great. Thank you.
And I think coming up, what we're going to do is talk about what happens next, how values alignment ripples through and reshapes entire cultures. And I just want to mention your book on the restless executive at this moment in time because it's a great read for pulling some of this together and realigning your values. So we'll be back soon.
[00:12:12] Speaker A: We'll be right back with more strategies, stories and steps to help you level.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: Up as a leader.
[00:12:18] Speaker A: This is Executive Success on NOW Media Television.
Every executive faces challenges, but not every executive learns to turn them into breakthrough.
I'm Lesley Everett and on Executive Success, we bring you insights, strategy stories from leaders who have built remarkable careers.
We'll dig into executive branding, communication, leadership mindset, team dynamics and how to navigate pivotal moments in your executive journey.
Catch Executive Success weekly on NOW Media Television, your front row seat to leadership mastery.
Lead with clarity, grow with purpose, achieve with integrity.
And we're back. I'm Lesley Everett and you're watching Executive Success on NOW Media Television. Let's continue building your executive edge.
[00:13:17] Speaker B: Welcome back to Executive Success.
Want more of what you're watching? Stay connected to Executive Success and every NOW Media TV favourite, live or on demand, anytime you like.
Download the free Now Media TV app on Roku or iOS and unlock non stop bilingual programming in English and in Spanish on the move. You can also catch the podcast version right from our website at NowMedia.
From business and news to lifestyle culture and beyond, Now Media TV is streaming around the clock. Ready whenever you are.
Welcome back to Executive Success.
We're here with Jo Medwell and in this piece we shift into the heart of her work, values.
Values are more than words on a wall.
They determine behaviour, culture, trust, and ultimately, whether leaders thrive or burn out.
Leaders struggle with misalignment, Jo, as we know. And when leaders align with their values, how does that ripple through the entire culture of the team or the company, do you think?
[00:14:37] Speaker C: I think the field, the system just changes because if you think, you know, if you walk into an environment without anybody saying anything, just from the Energy, if it's good, alive, or that feeling of there's something not quite right here. And the model that I share, that I use, I base my work on, and is in the restless executive leading from the inside out.
By getting to each individual to really help find what it is that drives them, what their true values are, and them leading with that, it then literally goes to, this is who I am. I now understand that others have a different set of values to me and vice versa. To this sense of shared values, even without anything being said, there's quite a bit in the unseen, but it brings that more conscious way of working, awareness and just a different way of looking at people to go, you know, I know my values and I know you've got a set, but I don't know what they are, so let me not assume. And the more this work is done, I've just seen it time and time again, I actually believe it's quite magical as well as powerful, because shift starts to happen without it being forced.
[00:15:55] Speaker B: Yeah, so true. And a lot of the teams I work with, there is a great need for trust within those teams. Trusting leaders within your team to do what they do, trust to build an environment of taking feedback in the right way, of being able to adapt, to be able to be courageous and ask the curious questions and things. So I'm curious right now on how do values and trust actually connect, do you think?
[00:16:24] Speaker C: I think hugely. I think there's a huge connection. I think knowing your values drives the trust. And in the model I've just shared, actually the outer circle is that through leading, through values, within yourself, within others, ultimately leads to a culture of trust. But it really starts within each and every one of us or everybody within the team. Because quite often what I find is people don't trust themselves.
And if we don't trust ourselves enough, there's a misalignment that then ripples out through our communication, our decisions, how we build relationships.
And everything can go on a different path. So it does start within, as cliched as that may be, it has to start with trusting of self, trusting of others, so that ultimately there's a culture built of trust. And I do believe values are at the heart of it and are also the gateway to having a real strong foundation of trust.
[00:17:26] Speaker B: Yeah, it's so key, and I'm hearing it in so many different ways. What do you think from your experiences and if you can share any of those experiences, what do you think happens when leaders move away from their values? What happens to an organisation when that happens.
[00:17:44] Speaker C: I think there's many things that can happen. One, you know, what I've seen is that politics, the politics of the organization can become more to the fore.
Burnout, depression, productivity dips, attrition rates and people maybe the wrong people leaving as well because they've not taken the time to do the work. And one of the things I share about actually is if you leave and it's not the right thing, you'll take the same version of yourself elsewhere.
And this, you know, real deep call to go in and ultimately the end result is an impact on the bottom line and on the profits.
And it's. There's been many studies, it's a real hard, tangible to say, okay, does living my values have an impact on, on profits? But there are quite a few studies where values can be measured to be energy levels. Whether there's entropy in the culture, you can look at a team or an organization as a whole.
And one of the methodologies that I use is Barrett Values Measurement.
And there are ways of measuring cultures.
Often I've seen when a team or organisation see how they've been measured to their levels of, of energy, consciousness and where the blocks are, that's when you can get the biggest shift. So although intangible, there are ways it can be measured to quite a good extent as well.
[00:19:21] Speaker B: And how easy do you think it is if a company's lost its way a bit because of values misalignment with its senior leaders and executive team, or even two of the executive one, how easy is it for them to get back on track?
[00:19:34] Speaker C: Do you believe?
[00:19:35] Speaker B: Is it something that takes a long time? Is there something that could be done immediately to recognise that, to put something in place? How easy is it for them to get back on track?
[00:19:48] Speaker C: I think it can be as easy as somebody wants to make it if they are prepared to just take some time.
Often in coaching work, the values part is quite a key part up front. And it takes an investment a good couple of months to actually really hone them and see how they show up. And then it's like a snowball effect. It just, you know, rolls or ripples out. Not quite the snowfall, but you know, the ripples in the water. But you can come back to self at various moments of every day. And, you know, one of the questions I would ask is, how often do you stop to pause and just check in at different parts in the day? How am I feeling? Do I feel aligned to who I truly am right now? Is my ego leading or am I leading from the Heart. What is important?
Am I enjoying what I'm doing? It stands to reason if we feel alive and we're enjoying and feeling good about what we're doing, we're living a value. And in that moment we can say, okay, what's happening for me right now? Oh, well, I'm creating. I feel, I feel creative or, you know, I'm in connection with you, Lesley. So these are the things that bring me alive. How can I transfer them into other parts of my work? So it can be as easy or as difficult as you want to make it. But the key thing is take the time to pause and ask yourself the questions or have somebody else ask them of you.
[00:21:12] Speaker B: So briefly, Jo, on this point, how do you get a company to recognize that there is a challenge with values alignment in the culture and, and get them to take that first step towards fixing the problem or addressing it when they might feel there's more important things to be done in their world?
[00:21:35] Speaker C: I think that is a great question because I've often come up against this and I think it's really important that the leader, the executive notices it and is prepared to do the work and is the first person to be engaged is to, okay, there's something not right here.
Productivity is slipping. We're not getting the profits that we want. Is it actually strategy or are we looking at people dynamics? And it's often pretty easy to know there's something not right with the people or the culture.
The challenge then becomes can we make the time and the investment of time, energy and resources to do something about it? Because the people that do invest in the cultures and the people are the ones that ultimately might take time upfront, but then ultimately is when you will see the biggest, biggest shifts.
[00:22:33] Speaker B: It comes back to people investment in people every time, doesn't it? And the companies that really do do that rather than perhaps pay lip service to it and the leaders that truly believe that people make the difference. And strategy is just strategies, words on a paper. If we don't actually align people behaviours, those are the companies that I find in my experience actually do make a difference. So Jo, if anyone wants to explore your work further or find out more about your values discovery programs, how can they get in touch with you?
[00:23:05] Speaker C: My website is joemedwell.com my email is joe medwell.com that's M E A D W E L L Slight confusion with my book. I've returned to my true self and taken my maiden name back of Medwell. So the book is actually in Joe Simpson. So Joe Simpson, Joe Medwell, currently on a transition.
That's where you can find me.
[00:23:29] Speaker B: Great, thank you. And coming up, we're going to explore one of the most intriguing parts of your work is rewilding leadership. I'm fascinated by that and how it opens doors to even deeper intuition and visionary thinking. So we'll be back soon.
[00:23:46] Speaker A: We'll be right back with more strategies, stories and steps to help you level.
[00:23:50] Speaker B: Up as a leader.
[00:23:52] Speaker A: This is Executive Success on NOW Media Television.
Every executive faces challenges, but not every executive learns to turn them into breakthroughs. I'm Lesley Everett, and on Executive Success, we bring you insights, strategies, stories from leaders who have built remarkable careers.
We'll dig into executive branding, communication, leadership mindset, team dynamics, and how to navigate pivotal moments in your executive journey.
Catch Executive Success weekly on NOW Media Television. Your front row seat to leadership mastery.
Lead with clarity, grow with purpose, achieve with integrity.
[00:24:40] Speaker B: And we're back.
[00:24:41] Speaker A: I'm Leslie Everett, and you're watching Executive Success on NOW Media Television. Let's continue building your executive edge.
[00:24:50] Speaker B: Welcome back to Executive Success.
Now we step into a concept that Joe is really well known for. And I'm fascinated by this. It's rewilding leadership. It's a bold idea rooted in returning to intuition, nature and courage and the natural rhythms of leadership that many executives have lost in fast paced corporate environments. And I find this all the time. You know, corporate environments are faster paced than ever before. And often modern leadership rewards control, certainty, structure. But visionary leadership really requires more curiosity and instinct and spaciousness. And that's what I want to explore in this piece with you, Jo, because I'm so fascinated with this rewilding leadership. I love that. But what does it mean to you? And what does it mean when you're leading a team?
[00:25:41] Speaker C: Well, this is the next evolution of my work. Well, I've been doing it for quite a while and I just made it more conscious because for me, the rewilding is a return to wholeness and a true remembering of who we are and why we're here.
And it takes us away, as you say, from that control, that certainty. And a lot of my work with individuals and teams, I will take them into nature. I mean, the ultimate rewilding is the intelligence of nature and the seasons. And you tend to find that people shift more naturally by working outdoors and, you know, bringing in that wisdom because it is a real shift to.
I talked about, you know, remembering, remembering who we are.
Values work as an absolute foundation, gateway, bringing us alive. But then what parts of ourselves have we Given away, You know, maybe you've become a people pleaser or an overworker. You know, is that really the true you or the inner good girl or the good boy that we've been brought up to be seen, not heard, these elements that have been conditioned on us and automatically there to really invite people to strip those away. Rewilding really is getting to the truth, the real truth of who we are and having the courage to be that person.
[00:27:08] Speaker B: Yeah, the courage is a big thing, isn't it? And it goes back to what we were talking about earlier and creating that environment within our teams that is a trusted, belonging environment that allows people to feel that they have the courage to be able to do this.
How do you think rewilding does help leaders to become more visionary? How does it connect there? How does it help them?
[00:27:33] Speaker C: This is really something.
I've been having very conscious conversations with a lot of my clients, particularly over the last year, asking them how they see themselves.
And I see most of the leaders, execs I've worked with as visionaries, but actually most of them didn't. They said, jo, I don't see myself as a visionary. And so this is a really interesting topic to explore, Lesley, because it's to take yourself into that visionary space to allow yourself to go beyond whatever your role or you strategically doing, following what's really beyond that. What would you. What do you dream about that you'd love to do within your organization, within your community.
What takes you beyond that? And I think something we touched on earlier about what does this company or what does the world need of me right now? And just allow that pull to whatever comes, that trust, that courage and that intuition.
Most of us, when asked the right question, know the answer.
The challenge becomes, do we act on it?
[00:28:46] Speaker B: It's an interesting thing. There isn't. You said early on in that piece about being visionary. A lot of leaders don't see themselves as visionary. And I think often we're faced with so many, like personality profiles in our leadership careers that often people get molded by these and know something that comes out for some is that you're a visionary leader or you're creative, you're innovative, and others don't get that. So automatically they don't think they're visionary. So for them to make that transition to being able to be visionary, which of course everybody has the ability to do with the right techniques, is quite something that's unusual for them. So what does it take then for a leader to trust the more natural, untamed side of Leadership. What do you. What have you seen that really makes that shift for them? Like this aha moment into that realm.
[00:29:39] Speaker C: A letting go, a surrender to the unknown.
And it's.
I'm really thinking of a client that I'm just. He's just coming to.
He's been working with me for a year. We're actually about to do a review next week of his whole year. But I started working with him and he said, joe, CEO of a very large company in the uk.
And he said, I feel like I've done it, I've climbed this ladder. What's next? He said, how can I surrender to what comes my way?
And I loved it. I mean, it was just like, yeah, let's do this. And through a letting go of what's expected, not having, you know, he just said, I just want a blank piece of paper. So he's a great example for me to be sharing.
And he's ended up creating a local community with his wife for a charity. And he just said, oh, this building appeared and I ended up seeing if it was free and now we've got a lease on it. And now we've, you know, created a community for dementia patients and carers locally, which is a subject close to their hearts. And he said, I would never have set out to plan that. Now, does it just magically land on your lap?
No, it's about you being aligned with who you are, but allowing that which wants to come to you. So when an opportunity or something comes your way, it's okay. Is this aligned? Shall I take a step and that courage piece comes in? Now, that's just. I think it's often good to share an example and it might pique people's interest as to, okay, what's calling me?
But it's the difference in the way we ask ourselves the questions. What's calling me? What wants to unfold here?
What is speaking to me right now that I haven't listened to until now?
And what one step could I take? And I think it's about these curious inquiry questions that help us access that intuition or that heart center. Wherever your intuition is, I feel mine's here. It might be different for different people, but to just let go of norms, conditioning and just sit with yourself and see what wants to come.
[00:31:59] Speaker B: Yeah, fascinating. I'm finding, actually, more and more people that I work with are seeking something outside of their professional life that fulfills something that they may not get in their professional life. Maybe it's something to do with volunteering, social responsibility stuff. Another sideline business. And I, I find that some companies are very open to that. Of course, for some people it might be that non exec director role. It still work, but it's something a little bit different outside of what they normally do. And I'm feeling that a lot of people are seeking that. Are you seeing that with your clients as well? They want something else that's completely different to their day to day?
[00:32:42] Speaker C: I am, I'm absolutely seeing that, Lesley. And it's. And I'm also seeing some companies that are actively bringing it into the company. There's an amazing company I'm working with at the moment where they've just bought an orchard and they're all going out there as a company. It's a Relatively, it's a SME. There's about 60 people in it, but they all take part in planting this orchard. And looking at the sustainability, it's a, it's a joy to actually see this part because it's brought the whole organization alive.
And yes, I also see people that want to do something outside, whether it's in the family, whether it's in the community.
Doesn't have to be a huge world, change the world. But by changing your part of the world with something that lights you up that is as cliched as it sounds, it is what creates the ripple. But most importantly, if it brings you joy and it allows you to be who you are for a period of time.
You know, I know you know this about me, Leslie, but for the last couple of years I just started growing flowers and veg and planting seeds. And it wasn't just about that. It got me involved in a community of other growers on an allotment. And it also then came into my work because in that process I real rewilded my life, which is enabling me to be a better version of me to help grow others do the same.
So it's very, very symbiotic. And yeah, I could talk for ages on this, as you can tell, and.
[00:34:10] Speaker B: I could talk to you for ages on this as well. And you know, one of my last questions was going to be how do you see rewilding leadership leading us into the future or shaping the future, but I think you've really answered that. I don't know whether you want to add something briefly to that in how you see the future looking with rewilding leadership taking perhaps a lead role.
[00:34:33] Speaker C: Well, I'd love it to be, I'd love it to be a movement. Maybe this is the start of a movement, but I think it's an awakening. I really think it's an awakening of all of us. If we were all who we truly, truly are and not who we're expected to be, what would the world look like? Stripping back the parts, reclaiming the parts you gave away. Maybe you gave part of yourself to somebody else and you might have burnt out in the process. What do you need to call back to you? What do you need to let go of and actually be the untamed, authentic, awakened version of you? The world would be amazing. Love that.
[00:35:08] Speaker B: Thank you. And I'm sure we could talk so much more about that. So we'll be coming right back. And up next, we're going to look into legacy, purpose, and what Jo believes leaders should be embracing for the future as well as rewilding leadership.
[00:35:22] Speaker A: We'll be right back with more strategies, stories and steps to help you level.
[00:35:27] Speaker B: Up as a leader.
[00:35:29] Speaker A: This is Executive Success on NOW Media Television.
Every executive faces challenges, but not every executive learns to turn them into breakthroughs. I'm Lesley Everett, and on Executive Success, we bring you insights, strategies, stories from leaders, leaders who have built remarkable careers.
We'll dig into executive branding, communication, leadership mindset, team dynamics, and how to navigate pivotal moments in your executive journey.
Catch Executive Success Weekly on NOW Media Television, your front row seat to leadership mastery.
Lead with clarity, grow with purpose, achieve with integrity.
[00:36:17] Speaker B: And we're back.
[00:36:18] Speaker A: I'm Lesley Everett, and you're watching Executive Success on NOW Media Television. Let's continue building your executive edge.
[00:36:27] Speaker B: Welcome back to Executive Success. In this closing piece, we explore wisdom, legacy and the future of leadership through Jo's lens of values, rewilding and authentic trust transformation.
This is where leadership becomes deeply personal and profoundly impactful. So I'm excited for this piece, Joe. And today's leaders are being called to operate with much more consciousness and humanity and much more authenticity. And I want to delve into that a little bit on this piece.
What is the legacy that you hope leaders create where they embrace values and rewilded leadership?
[00:37:08] Speaker C: Yeah, I think legacy is a word that is used a lot and I think it's really good to dive into this, Lesley, because often it's, you'll hear, what legacy do you want to leave behind? And I would say don't go on a search for legacy. Don't try to think, oh, I need to build this foundation or do this. Unless, of course, if you're passionate and you know exactly what that is, but really to awaken oneself and be your true self in this lifetime and give permission to others to do the same is my own version of legacy. And you know, if I may share, my mum sadly passed away a few months ago and I know this about her, but every single one of her friends and family all said she stood for kindness, grace, love, caring, and she kept people's secrets.
And I'm like, that's her legacy.
And I think it's what people, and this is the work you do, the beautiful work you do as well. Leslie, what people are saying about you, you know, how you, who you are and your brand and your presence is a link to your legacy, is who do you want to be remembered as, not what for, and be that person now.
Strip away those layers, awaken to who you truly are and allow your legacy to be natural rather than forced.
[00:38:34] Speaker B: Yeah, I think legacy is such an important piece. And when we get to executive leadership level, I see this a lot with my clients is that they are really focused on, you know, I might have 10 years left in my career, 15 years or whatever.
I want to make sure that I start looking at the legacy I bring and I leave, I leave when I leave this role or this sector, this industry, whatever. And we do focus an awful lot on that. But it's not just about for the future. It's helping I find executives get into alignment with who they really are, more so than anything. So I think this whole legacy approach is not just for the people who are looking to the next final 10 years of their career, but maybe the 30, 40 year olds who need to be more in touch with what really drives them and motivates them now. So what do you think is the one mindset shift that you believe all successful leaders could define or, sorry, let me reword that. What is the one mindset shift that you believe will define successful leaders in the next decade?
[00:39:40] Speaker C: I think you touched on this earlier about letting go of the certainty, the needing to be certain and control and moving more to this, to being in the present, to being more conscious.
So we're able to lead from the present moment with truth, courage, vision. What is needed of me right now? And I'm currently working with an exec team of which a couple are planning their exit. And I asked the question to somebody who actually was staying, who was looking at actually how her role would shape and of what she needed to do over the next 10 years. And I used the word needed because this is where it started. And I said, what will that give you?
She said, I've never thought about that was just in this automatic pilot. She said, I'm really going to go away and think, what will it give me to do XYZ over the next 10 years before my own exit?
And I thought there was so much wisdom came into that moment because I was watching others exit with a plan that actually wasn't fulfilling. And we did some work there as well. So that the presence of the now, what actually is my truth and what I've got the courage to act on right now. And the question what is this going to give me? Ask yourself that and see what comes back.
[00:41:14] Speaker B: Yeah, very good point. And I think a lot of our viewers will be thinking along the lines of this is all great and I'd love to do this, but I just don't have enough time in my schedule. I'm busier than ever. I'm having things thrown at me more than ever. I just don't have time in my schedule to do this. And one of the things I always get them to look at is you're doing not just yourself a disservice, but you're doing a disservice to your business, your team, your business, the whole company. If you don't allow time for this kind of thought because this is what's taking us into the future, this is what, if you're going to really look at the bottom line, this is what differentiates you as a business, as a team. And you know, I think it's something that people struggle with making time because they think it's selfish. It's about me and it's actually not. It's about the business and the future of that, that, that, that business.
How do you think leaders can bring more consciousness and depth into the organization? So taking it a higher level, how can they be courageous to bring that, to bring more depth and consciousness into the, the whole company, do you think?
[00:42:19] Speaker C: I think, I think we've touched on quite a bit of this and I just to what you've just spoken about with the time, Lesley, before we just look at the consciousness is I start all my coaching programs now with execs with a one day, one to one, ideally face to face. I do do them online, but I get them into a beautiful country hotel in a drawing room. We go outside, we work inside to have a whole one day where the focus is on expansion, coming through into, you know, what are you taking away and what are you planning?
But things automatically shift in that space and I always invite them to stay the night before and or the night after so they physically give themselves that space to have that shift. I think then too as you're saying there to bring in more consciousness.
It's got to be, to allow that time and it's got to be the time to listen to yourself, because it is the quiet power within and the listening and of course the acting that will shift systems. And I specifically use the word systems there because I think there's a lot of old systems that are beginning to fall away and if I may say, patriarchal systems, systems where we've had hierarchy that hasn't served people.
We are starting to see changes. I'd like to see it go a bit quicker, but we are moving away from this conditioning of ego and leading with, you know, I need to do this because I'm going to get recognized or achieved. Yes, of course, that's amazing, but not at the expense of other people and of who you truly are.
So I think as systems start to collapse, fall away, which we're seeing on the, on the world stage, however way you want to look at it, systems are changing and leadership has to follow that.
[00:44:12] Speaker B: Yeah, some very good points. Points. They're really important points to take away.
What's one to close this, this amazing interview off, what is one really practical step that a leader today can take, perhaps with their teams to start changing some shifts in bringing about some shifts in mindset? What's one practical thing they could do?
[00:44:37] Speaker C: Create a space for stillness and ask yourself some great questions.
What's important to me or to us as a team right now?
Go further. What's most important?
What will that give us?
[00:44:52] Speaker B: Thank you. I hope that takes away from this.
I'm sure that there's lots of things there that are action points and I really hope that our viewers can take something away to help shape this new era of leadership that you've talked so eloquently about today. Thank you. And Jo, it's been incredibly valuable.
Where can people follow your work and continue this conversation?
[00:45:20] Speaker C: Website jomadwell.com I'm on LinkedIn as Joe Medwell, also on Instagram, and there's a YouTube video under my previous name of Jo Simpson called the Courage to Trust yourself. It's a TEDx talk that I did that seems to be quite popular, although it's quite a few years ago, still very, very valid content.
[00:45:44] Speaker B: Fantastic. Thank you. And that TEDx talk is great. Everybody should watch that for sure. So thank you for your wisdom, Jo, your journey and your transformative approach to leadership. You're doing such amazing work out there and your work reminds us that values are not abstract. They're actually anchors in our lives, and we all need to be clear about those. And rewilding isn't about rebellion, I think is what you've made clear there. It's about a return to wholeness.
To our viewers, thank you for joining us. Keep aligning, keep listening, and keep growing into the leader that you're meant to be. Take some of Joe's wisdom there and apply it, and we'll see you next time on Executive Success.
