Harmonics

In this week’s episode of The Chord, we tackle one of the most pressing challenges for Irish businesses: driving innovation for sustainable growth, with insights from Dr. Ian Kierans, a growth strategist, organizational psychologist, and author of Innovative Growth: The Journey from A to B While Building C.

Dr. Kierans shares expertise from his career spanning global consulting, entrepreneurship, and academia, with a focus on helping companies foster innovation while managing change. His PhD at Cranfield School of Management explored how established businesses can renew growth—a theme central to his latest book. With practical frameworks, global case studies, and a deep understanding of organizational dynamics, Ian offers invaluable advice for business leaders navigating the complexities of innovation in today’s fast-evolving world.

This episode is essential listening for CEOs, business leaders, senior HR professionals, and anyone involved in driving organizational change.

Key topics discussed:

1. The innovation challenge for Irish businesses:
   Ian explores the need for Ireland to reduce dependence on foreign direct investment (FDI) by developing a more sustainable, innovation-driven local economy.
2. Frameworks for innovation from Innovative Growth:
   Ian introduces his 5-part innovation framework, the Pentathlon, and explains the importance of a step-by-step journey for integrating innovative growth into organizations.
3. Common pitfalls leaders face when balancing innovation with core business:
   From misaligned goals to lack of cross-functional commitment, Ian highlights the traps to avoid and shares strategies to overcome them.
4. Building a culture of innovation:
   Practical advice for leaders on fostering innovation without disrupting existing operations, and the role HR plays in driving innovation through talent development and strategic alignment.
5. Lessons from successful companies:
   Ian shares case studies from Patagonia, Alltech, and Shotgun, demonstrating how they balanced maintaining their core business (A), pursuing growth (B), and investing in future innovation (C).
6. Future trends in business and work:
   As AI reshapes the workforce, Ian emphasizes the need for organizations to leverage higher-level human cognition—such as empathy, imagination, and problem-solving—to stay competitive.
7. The role of governance in innovation:
   Ian discusses how to structure decision-making and leadership to enable innovation while maintaining alignment with business goals.

Actionable insights for leaders:

• Time and patience: Innovation takes time and intentionality. Ian underscores the importance of creating space for innovation within organizations.
• Invest in insights: Rather than relying on broad ideas, leaders should focus on gathering actionable insights to fuel innovation and reduce risk.
• Engage cross-functional teams: Building a culture of innovation requires buy-in and collaboration across all levels and functions.
• Leverage HR as a driver of innovation: From talent acquisition to learning programs, HR can play a pivotal role in embedding innovation into business strategy.

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In this week’s episode of The Chord, we delve into the concept of imposter syndrome and strategies to overcome it with Dr. Tara Halliday, PhD, an imposter syndrome specialist, bestselling author, and high-performance coach.

Tara shares insights from her unique career path, which spans a PhD in Engineering, certification in holistic therapy, and neurofeedback training. With over two decades of experience, she has dedicated herself to helping high-achievers conquer imposter syndrome, a mission embodied in her Amazon #1 bestsellers, Unmasking: The Coach’s Guide to Imposter Syndrome and Outsmart Imposter Syndrome. Through her Inner Success program, Tara has successfully guided dozens of executives to build confidence, resilience, and self-acceptance.

We explore Tara’s passion for helping leaders reach their full potential and discuss her scientific, practical approach to eliminating imposter syndrome. She shares valuable insights from her program, offering actionable strategies to help listeners identify and address self-doubt in their careers.

Key topics discussed:

• Understanding imposter syndrome: Tara explains what imposter syndrome is, its origins, and why high achievers often experience it despite their success.
• The success paradox: Tara discusses why accomplished professionals can struggle with feelings of inadequacy, and how this impacts their performance and wellbeing in high-pressure environments.
• Practical strategies for combating imposter syndrome: Drawing from her Inner Success program, Tara shares powerful mindset shifts and practical tools to help listeners build resilience and self-confidence.
• Tailored advice for leaders and managers: Tara offers guidance for business leaders on recognizing imposter syndrome within their teams and creating supportive environments that promote mental health and confidence.
• Building a resilient mindset: Tara touches on the role of mindset in adapting to the fast-paced, evolving business world and how professionals can guard against the pressures that trigger self-doubt.

Through her wealth of experience and practical insights, Dr. Tara Halliday provides listeners with valuable tools to overcome imposter syndrome and thrive professionally.

The link to Dr. Tara Halliday’s quiz is here: https://bit.ly/ImpostorQuiz

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In this episode of The Chord, John explores the evolving role of AI in emotional intelligence with Marie Toft, CEO and Co-founder of Emotionise.

Marie shares insights from her diverse career, including her background as a senior TV producer with RTE, BBC, and SBS Australia, to her venture into AI-driven emotional engagement. Now, with over two decades of storytelling experience and psychotherapy training, she has developed the Emotionise Process, using AI to transform content creation and communication in areas such as Employee Engagement and Customer Support.

We delve into Marie’s passion for emotional storytelling and her journey from television to launching a tech startup. She discusses how Emotionise leverages AI to help businesses craft emotionally engaging content and improve communication outcomes, and shares her vision for the future of AI in this niche space.

From her perspective as a leader in AI and communication, Marie highlights the importance of emotional intelligence in business today. She explains how Emotionise helps organizations build stronger employee and customer relationships through emotionally intelligent content, and offers advice on how leaders can embrace AI as a tool for better communication and engagement.

Through her compelling story and cutting-edge work with Emotionise, Marie offers valuable lessons on leadership, innovation, and the role of AI in shaping the future of work. Learn more about Marie Toft and her work with Emotionise here.

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In this week’s episode of The Chord, we delve into the theme of resilience and overcoming adversity with Sacha Dekker, an award-winning learning and development leader and motivational speaker.

Sacha shares insights from her personal journey, spanning from her formative years in the Netherlands to her career transitions across diverse industries and her move to Ireland in 2012.

We explore Sacha’s special interest in raising disability awareness, reflecting on her own experiences and the lessons learned in recovery. Sacha also discusses the importance of building resilience and offers practical advice for individuals and organisations.

From her perspective as a resilience and mindset expert, Sacha highlights the significance of inclusive workplaces and shares strategies for creating environments that foster productivity, inclusion, and talent retention.

Through her inspiring story of defying expectations and achieving remarkable milestones despite paralysis, Sacha offers valuable lessons on resilience, determination, and the power of mindset. Learn more about Sacha Dekker and her work as a resilience and mindset expert here.

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This week John is joined by Harmonics partner and organisation change consultant Neville Bourke – to explore the challenges facing middle managers in today’s rapidly evolving organisational landscape.

Neville discusses the impact of remote and hybrid work models, technological advancements, and socio-economic shifts on the “squeezed middle” layer of management.

He addresses pace of change in the workplace and offers strategies to mitigate burnout among middle managers, emphasising the need for adaptive skills development.

Neville also shares practical steps for middle managers to regain control, and highlights the transformative impact of OD tools like polarities management and the importance of self-care and time management.

Learn more about organisation change and leadership-development services offered by Harmonics by clicking here.

About Neville:

Neville Bourke is an organizational behavior expert with a deep understanding of the psychology of people and organisational change. With a background in business studies and a graduate diploma in safety, health, and welfare at work, Neville holds an M.Sc. in Organisational Behavior from Trinity College Dublin.

He has dedicated his career to addressing complex people issues associated with change and guiding organisations towards achievable solutions.

Neville’s extensive experience spans various sectors including Financial Services, Medical Devices, Electronics, and Social Care. Currently pursuing the Ashridge Masters in Executive Coaching at the Hult International Business School, Neville is also a registered member of the British Psychological Society.

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If your New Year’s resolution is hanging by a thread, you’re not alone. But fear not! Dr. Robert Kelly, a renowned Consultant Cardiologist and Lifestyle Medicine Physician at the UCD Beacon Hospital joins John on the podcast today to help us understand why it’s never too late to pick up where we left off. Robert also lectures at the Royal College of Surgeons Centre for Positive Psychology and Health.

With his extensive experience and expertise in cardiology, as well as a deep commitment to lifestyle medicine, Dr. Kelly shares tips on leading a healthier and happier life. He emphasises the significant role of lifestyle (physical activity, healthy eating, sleep, stress management, substance avoidance and social connection) in preventing and reversing chronic diseases.

We also explore Dr. Kelly’s transition from traditional cardiology to lifestyle coaching and the issue of burnout and workplace health. Dr. Kelly provides insights into how leaders can better support their employees’ well-being, particularly in today’s fast-paced and often stressful work environments.

Dr. Kelly also shares number of key takeaways from his upcoming book, “Lessons from the Heart- How to Live a Long, Happy, and Healthy Life.”

You can learn more about Dr. Robert Kelly and join his community at drrobertkelly.ie

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In this episode of The Chord, we converse with Matt Phelan, Co-Founder of The Happiness Index, delving into the profound topic of ‘What Drives Engagement and Happiness at Work?’

As an entrepreneur, author, and happiness expert, Matt Phelan shares his journey, starting from his early years to becoming a pivotal figure in understanding workplace happiness. His book, ‘The Happiness Index: Why Today’s Emotions Equal Tomorrow’s Business Success,’ provides a data-driven exploration of engagement and happiness across global workplaces.

Central to our discussion are the concepts of employee engagement and happiness. We explore the stagnation in global engagement scores and how The Happiness Index provides a unique approach to understanding and enhancing workplace happiness.

We also delve into the critical role of data in shaping our understanding of workplace dynamics. Matt discusses the four types of data – instinctive, emotional, rational, and reflective – and their significance in the context of employee well-being.

As our conversation with Matt concludes, he imparts key insights and takeaways, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between happiness, engagement, and success in the workplace.

Learn more about The Happiness Index

Order Matt’s Book on Amazon

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In this episode, we engage in an insightful conversation with Dr. Sean Gallagher, Director of The Swinburne Centre for the New Workforce (CNeW).

Drawing from his pivotal role at CNeW, Dr. Gallagher’s unique insights are rooted in a formative journey shaped by key influences and values. The backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in transformative shifts across both workforce and workplace dynamics.

Central to our discussion is burnout and employee well-being and Strategies to prioritize employee welfare amidst rapid technological change take precedence.

We also delve into AI’s pervasive impact. Automation, and ethical considerations are addressed, along with the critical role academia plays in aligning individuals with the future of work.

As our conversation concludes, Dr. Gallagher imparts key takeaways, leaving listeners with invaluable insights to ponder.

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In this enlightening episode, we chat with Ollie Loomes, CEO of Eir, Ireland’s premier telecommunications company. With a rich background in Sales and Marketing and over two decades at Diageo, Ollie offers invaluable insights into effective leadership and managing change.

Ollie shares his experiences from his formative years, leading to his rise through the ranks at Diageo and finally assuming the CEO role at Eir in 2023. He opens up about his early influences, key learnings, and his acclimatisation to new cultures during challenging times like the Covid pandemic.

We dive into the CEO perspective on leadership, focusing on the dos and don’ts when transitioning to a new business, especially in a new sector. Ollie outlines his plans for Eir over the next 12 months and his aspirations for the company’s future.

Further, he shares his take on the current global economy, the macro factors affecting the Irish economy, and the transformation post the global pandemic. He discusses the trending topic of hybrid work and the need for better, high-speed connections.

Addressing the critical issue of the Human Energy Crisis, Ollie gives his insights on where leaders should focus their energies for effective change management. He also delves into the intergenerational gap in the workplace and how to foster a culture of diversity.

Finally, Ollie leaves us with some parting advice for aspiring leaders and outlines the skills, personal qualities, and support needed for success. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion with one of the industry’s leading voices.

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