What separates a meaningful team conversation from another meeting where people simply exchange information?

In this Best Of episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, I revisit a standout moment from my conversation with Grant about the five skills behind better team conversations.

We explore why the quality of a conversation matters more than the amount of talking taking place and how greater presence, listening, courage and intention can help teams move beyond transactional exchanges.

You’ll hear us explore:

• Why more meetings do not necessarily lead to better communication
• What prevents people from being fully present
• The skills that create greater depth and purpose in team conversations
• Simple rituals that strengthen trust and connection
• How hybrid teams can bring more humanity into the way they work

If your team talks frequently but does not always reach the clarity, honesty or depth it needs, this Best Of episode offers a practical place to start.

Subscribe for more standout insights from the Thriving Leaders Podcast and practical ideas for creating stronger leaders, healthier cultures and high-performing teams.

Learn more about my work at Thriving Culture: https://thrivingculture.com.au

#teamcommunication #leadership #highperformingteams

Why do so many strategies sound compelling in the boardroom but struggle to shape what people actually do?

In this episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, I speak with Alicia McKay, an Aotearoa New Zealand-based writer, speaker and strategist who has spent 15 years advising leaders on strategy, change and leadership. She is also the author of From Strategy to Action, You Don’t Need an MBA and Local Legends.

In this direct and thought-provoking conversation, Alicia and I challenge familiar assumptions about strategy, leadership and collaboration. We also examine what may be lost when judgement and decision-making are increasingly handed to automated systems.

If you have ever watched a strong strategy lose momentum after the planning session, this conversation will give you a different way to understand why—and what you can do about it.

In this episode, we cover:

• How strategy is different in local government and the public sector than in corporate organisations
• Why strategy often loses momentum after the planning process
• How strategic thinking shows up in everyday leadership
• What leaders may misunderstand about people and change
• The transition from subject-matter expert to strategic leader
• What gets in the way of cross-functional collaboration
• How organisational systems influence behaviour
• The relationship between trust, agency and accountability
• What automation could mean for human judgement

Watch the full episode to hear Alicia’s refreshingly direct perspective on what it really takes to turn strategy into action.

About Alicia McKay

Alicia McKay is a writer, speaker and strategist based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She works with executive and elected leaders to improve strategic thinking, decision-making and leadership in complex environments.

Alicia is the author of:

From Strategy to Action: A Guide to Getting Shit Done in the Public Sector

You Don’t Need an MBA: Leadership Lessons That Cut Through the Crap

Local Legends: How to Make a Difference in Local Government

Resources and links

• Alicia McKay’s website
• About Alicia McKay
• Alicia McKay’s books
• You Don’t Need an MBA
• From Strategy to Action

Subscribe to the Thriving Leaders Podcast for practical conversations about leadership, team performance and creating thriving workplace cultures.

Why do capable people find it so difficult to ask for help?

Leo Bottary argues that strong teams treat asking for help as an act of resourcefulness—not an admission of weakness.

In this Best Of episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, Leo and I explore the connection between psychological safety, feedback and shared accountability. We discuss why team members can struggle to speak up, how a simple change in language can make asking for help feel more inviting, and what happens when feedback becomes everyone’s responsibility.

Leo also shares a memorable team exercise that demonstrates how difficult it is to improve when we are effectively working blind.

You’ll hear us explore:

– Why successful people view asking for help differently

– How to turn a request for help into an invitation

– Why teams need consistent feedback loops

– The role of trusted intent when giving and receiving feedback

– How preparation and shared expectations support teams under pressure

Leo Bottary is an author, speaker, facilitator and the founder and managing partner of Peernovation. His work explores how peers help one another learn, perform and achieve more together.

Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/DJa8pzThdjc

I’m Claire Gray, leadership and team facilitator, executive coach, keynote speaker and author of Thriving Leaders and Thriving Teams. Through the Thriving Leaders Podcast, I share practical ideas for building stronger leaders, healthier cultures and high-performing teams.

Learn more: https://thrivingculture.com.au

Subscribe for practical conversations about leadership, psychological safety, accountability and creating teams where people can do their best work.

#PsychologicalSafety #HighPerformingTeams #Leadership