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We explore the future of leadership, focusing on cognitive levels, emotional intelligence, and trust with Todd Hollow Bist. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, using presence to regulate emotions, and fostering breakthrough conversations in challenging environments.
We consider the role of psychological age in leadership, how dialectic thinking can drive innovation, and practical techniques for building trust and enhancing team dynamics.
Planet Human
Summary
Zoë shares personal updates:
Reflections on the evolving political landscape under the Trump administration and its global impact.
Her epic holiday adventures, including skiing in Japan and reconnecting with family in Canada and the U.S.
Introduction to 'Magic Mind,' a nootropic booster that enhances focus and mental clarity. They have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code TFLPOD20 at checkout
You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/TFLPOD
Observations on the changing dynamics of social norms and leadership values in today's world.
Thought-Provoking Questions for Leaders, focusing on:
How can leaders navigate breakthrough conversations in increasingly polarised environments?
What role does psychological age play in shaping adult behaviour in leadership?
How can presence and mindfulness be used as tools to regulate emotions and maintain leadership effectiveness?
How does dialectic thinking foster innovative conversations and drive new solutions?
What strategies can leaders use to balance competition and inclusivity in an evolving world?
Todd Hollow-Bist reflects on:
Cognitive Levels in Leadership: Todd explains how leaders function at different cognitive stages, impacting their decision-making and interpersonal effectiveness.
Psychological Age: The concept that adults fluctuate between different developmental stages throughout their daily interactions.
Presence & Emotional Regulation: The power of mindfulness in maintaining leadership effectiveness and preventing reactive behaviours.
Trust & Relationship Dynamics: How leaders can recognise, build, and test trust in professional environments.
Dialectic Thinking: The process of moving from debate to a collaborative, growth-oriented conversation to find innovative solutions.
Strategic Leadership Development: Todd shares insights on integrating cognitive and psychological awareness into effective leadership practices.
Key Quotes
"Our work begins with understanding, not judgment, seeking common ground through shared strengths." Zoë Routh
"The brain wants to grow, but ambiguity and stress can push us down in cognitive levels." – Todd Hollow Bist
"Presence is the muscle we use to stay at our best cognitive levels and resist being triggered into reactive behaviour." – Todd Hollow Bist
"Leadership is about understanding people at a deeper level—not just what they say, but how they feel about it." – Todd Hollow Bist
Questions Explored
How can leaders have breakthrough conversations in a polarised world?
What are cognitive levels, and how do they shape leadership effectiveness?
How does psychological age affect adult behaviour in leadership settings?
What is dialectic thinking, and how can it lead to innovative conversations?
What are practical ways to develop greater self-awareness as a leader?
Take Action
Reflect on how ambiguity and stress influence your decision-making and emotional responses.
Practise presence as a way to regulate emotions and maintain leadership effectiveness.
Engage in dialectic thinking: next time you have a disagreement, focus on understanding the other person’s feelings, not just their argument.
Observe how psychological age manifests in yourself and your team. Are you reacting from a mature, adult state or reverting to earlier behavioural patterns?
Read Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat to understand leadership through the lens of historical political movements.
Tip of the Week
Use empathy as a leadership tool. Next time you find yourself in a tense conversation, pause and acknowledge the other person's emotions before responding. This can build trust and create a space for more constructive dialogue.
Key Moments
00:00 - Welcome back to the show
00:28 - Reflections on the current political climate
01:07 - Personal updates and Magic Mind
06:39 - Introducing Todd Hollow Bist
07:45 - Todd’s journey into leadership
11:07 - Understanding cognitive levels
24:16 - Practical applications of cognitive levels
31:11 - Navigating emotional responses in leadership
32:10 - The role of empathy in building trust
34:45 - Recognising and testing trust in relationships
39:20 - Developing self-awareness and cognitive levels
49:52 - Dialectic thinking for innovative conversations
53:03 - Rapid-fire questions and leadership insights
58:43 - Book recommendation: Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
59:47 - Closing thoughts and encouragement
About Todd Hollow-Bist
Todd Hollow-Bist, Founder and Co-CEO, Pathwise Leadership BIO
Todd has 30 years of organizational and academic leadership experience. He spent the last thirteen years founding and developing Pathwise Leadership, the prior seven years as Academic Director and Senior Faculty at Northwest College of Art, and the initial nine years in private and hospital settings as a clinician and administrator.
Pathwise Leadership is a year long leadership development school for current executives and high potential leaders entering or able to enter executive roles. There are currently 600+ senior leaders enrolled in the Pathwise Leadership program (more than 3000 total). The goal of the school is to make the unconscious conscious.
Todd earned his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Seattle, finished all Doctoral coursework at Argosy, and completed his two year Doctoral Internship at the University of Washington. He also holds a M.Ed. and B.A. from the UW.
Todd's area of expertise is developing highly effective leaders and teams through the practice of Field Psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and consciousness research.
Todd has worked with most of the larger organizations in the greater Seattle and San Francisco Bay areas and hundreds of small and mid sized companies.
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About Zoë Routh
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the The Future of Leadership Podcast dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.