Dropping your armour

atrain-scitrain Global

Dropping your armour is a podcast where we will listen to stories from thinkers, doers, and dreamers on what it means to be human in the modern workplace. Tune in to come face to face with fearless leadership in all its glory, messiness, and authenticity. //Host: Neha Sharma // Producer: Saskia Stengele & Philipp Fricke // Research & Scientific Foundation: Carrie Schlauch // read less
BusinessBusiness

Episodes

Spotlight on Wellness at Work with Holly Pederzolli
Jun 12 2023
Spotlight on Wellness at Work with Holly Pederzolli
Welcome to a spotlight episode on wellness in the workplace. Neha and Holly Pederzolli, a licensed clinical therapist, talk about their own struggles and successes with managing distractions, disconnecting, and dealing with stress so they can work at their best. They also consider how the modern, post-pandemic workplace can both contribute to burnout and offer solutions to burnout. We hope this spotlight episode helps you self-reflect on the boundaries and flexibility you might need to keep in a “healthy space” in your own life. For some further reading on topics mentioned in the podcast How burnout can change your brain: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/03/29/how-people-fall-apart-yale-faculty-discuss-the-impact-of-burnout-on-the-brain/  Four- day week: https://www.4dayweek.com/ Flow: https://positivepsychology.com/flow-at-work  Certified Angus Beef’s wellness program: https://news.certifiedangusbeef.com/certified-angus-beef-brand-earns-healthy-worksite-award/  4.08 Burnout and its increase since the pandemic9.48 Why are we in this crisis of wellbeing?17.18 Workplace Design: Flexibility and Performance28.07 4 day work week impact on efficiency31.47 The importance of deep connection35.51 How to create an environment where people can thrive?As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Brian Stoll on what it means to drop your armour
Dec 15 2022
Brian Stoll on what it means to drop your armour
Welcome to our special end-of-year episode, where Neha talks with past colleague and current professional peer Brian Stoll. Together they reflect on what it means to them to drop your armor – at work, at home, and with friends. As part of this conversation, they also dig into sharing on social media, “emotionally unloading” to our friends and loved ones, perfectionism, psychological safety, and how all these different things can support, block, and degrade true vulnerability. Useful resources for this episode Bruk, A. (1 November 2021) Other people don’t think you’re a mess. Scientific American. Bruk, A., Scholl, S. G., & Bless, H. (2018). Beautiful mess effect: Self–other differences in evaluation of showing vulnerability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(2), 192–205. Bruk, A., Scholl, S. G., & Bless, H. (2022). You and I both: Self-compassion reduces self–other differences in evaluation of showing vulnerability. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 48(7), 1054-1067. Forest, A. L., Kille, D. R., Wood, J. V., & Holmes, J. G. (2014). Discount and disengage: How chronic negative expressivity undermines partner responsiveness to negative disclosures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(6), 1013–1032.  Grant, A., & Brown, B. (2021). Taken for granted: Brené Brown on what vulnerability isn’t. TED.com podcast. Rosh, L., & Offermann, L. (October 2013). Be yourself, but carefully. Harvard Business Review. As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Spotlight on Emotional Agility with Andreia Lungulescu
Apr 3 2022
Spotlight on Emotional Agility with Andreia Lungulescu
This is a Spotlight episode, where the goal is to shine a light on certain topics together with an expert and explore it through different lenses. In this episode, we discuss emotional agility: What it is, why it’s important, and how to develop it as a skill. We speak with Andreia Lungulescu, who is a hands-on people and organizational development consultant and coach with a passion for nurturing and championing human potential. She has a background in clinical psychology and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, with specializations in schema therapy, co-active coaching, and compassion-focused therapy. Her knowledge about human emotions and behavior, combined with her years of practical experience in organizations and her spot-on pop culture references, make this an insightful and fun conversation. Further readings and resources mentioned in this episode: Brown, B. (2021). Atlas of the heart: Mapping meaningful connection and the language of human experience. Vermilion. Interview of Brené Brown by Oprah Winfrey on this book and related topics: https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a38569758/brene-brown-o-talks/  David, S. (2016). Emotional agility: Get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life. Avery. Brené Brown podcast (part 1) with Susan David: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-dr-susan-david-on-the-dangers-of-toxic-positivity-part-1-of-2/ Brené Brown podcast (part 2) with Susan David: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-dr-susan-david-on-the-dangers-of-toxic-positivity-part-2-of-2/  TED How To Be A Better Human podcast with Susan David: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-nurture-your-emotional-agility-with-susan-david/id1544098624?i=1000544114715  TED Talk by Susan David: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_david_the_gift_and_power_of_emotional_courage Frankl, V. E., (1959). Man's search for meaning. Beacon Press.  [Original German publication: Frankl, V. E. (1946). Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager. Verlag für Jugend und Volk]  Frankl, V. E. (1979). The unheard cry for meaning. Touchstone. Nagoski, E. & Nagoski, A. (2019). Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Ballantine. Brené Brown podcast on this book: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-emily-and-amelia-nagoski-on-burnout-and-how-to-complete-the-stress-cycle/ Sapolsky, R. (2017). Behave: The biology of humans at our best and worst. Penguin. Willcox, G. (1982). The Feeling Wheel: A tool for expanding awareness of emotions and increasing spontaneity and intimacy. Transactional Analysis Journal, 12(4), 274–276. Films and television shows mentioned in this episode Doctor, P. (2015). Inside Out [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673) Nolan, C. (Director). (2010). Inception [Film]. Warner Bros.,;a Legendary EAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Marie-Louise Howett on the myth of "having it all"
Feb 8 2022
Marie-Louise Howett on the myth of "having it all"
A conversation with Marie-Louise Howett, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Cint. With more than 20 years of experience, Marie-Louise reflects on her career and the choices she made that stretched her out of her comfort zone and have brought her into her current dream job. The dual realities of those choices - the sacrifices, but also the joy - is an important lesson on the myth of "having it all."Further Readings:During the conversation, Neha and Marie-Louise discuss stretch assignments and getting out of one's comfort zone as a necessary part of career development. Neha refers to Senninger's (2000) model about learning zones, which differentiates between a comfort zone, a learning zone, and a panic zone. Similar to Senniger's model is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory, which highlights the power of experiences finding that balance between the challenges of our current situation and the skills we have to meet those challenges.Beard, K.S. (2015) Theoretically Speaking: An Interview with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Flow Theory Development and Its Usefulness in Addressing Contemporary Challenges in Education. Educational Psychology Review, 27, 353–364.Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: the psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper and Row.Friedman, R. (16 December 2014). Why work should get a little harder every day. Harvard Business Review. (https://hbr.org/2014/12/why-work-should-get-a-little-harder-every-day)Lovejoy, C. (2018). The benefits of reflection and role models in learning medicine: An interview with Dr. Paquita De Zulueta. Cambridge Medicine Journal, 1-3. (https://cambridgemedicine.org/new/doi/cmj.2018.09.001)Senninger, T. (2000). Abenteuer leiten – in Abenteuern lernen. Münster: Ökotopia. Marie-Louise's views on having it all have been echoed by others, with former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama highlighting it as myth in 2018.Salam., M (7 December 2018) Does 'having it all' mean doing it all? The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/business/michelle-obama-women-having-it-all.html)As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Asma Ahmed on neuro diversity
Jan 11 2022
Asma Ahmed on neuro diversity
In this episode, you'll hear the story of Asma Ahmed. She's a clinical psychologist based in Karachi, Pakistan who's an active member of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Welfare Trust. Asma works intensely with children and people with autism and their families. She's extremely passionate about creating inclusive environments at school, in the workplace, and in society. Against this backdrop, we dive into the topic of neurodiversity, including understanding what neurodiversity means, and ways to create more support structures, reduce stigma, and accommodate people to improve lives. This includes challenging our own assumptions about what's normal, what's necessary, and what's desirable for a person to live well.Further Readings on the topic of neurodiversityDoyle, N., & McDowall, A. (2021). Diamond in the rough? An "empty review" of research into "neurodiversity" and a road map for developing the inclusion agenda. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An international Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-06-2020-0172author Nancy Doyle is also the founder and Chief Research Officer at Genius Within, a social enterprise focused on supporting neurodiversity and neurominoritiesSilberman, S. (2015). Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently. Avery/Penguin.As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Spotlight on Transformation with Joachim Stempfle (Part 2)
Dec 9 2021
Spotlight on Transformation with Joachim Stempfle (Part 2)
Our spotlight episodes aim to provide a deep, comprehensive view of key topics. For our first spotlight episode, Neha talks with Joachim Stempfle about transformation. Bringing together ideas from philosophy, psychology, and business across two episodes, Neha and Joachim give us a lively and enlightening look at the concept of "organizational transformation" and how a human-centric approach enables both the inner transformation of people in the organization (part one) and the outer transformation of the organizational operating system (part two).For further reading on concepts, authors, and primary sources mentioned in this spotlight, we suggest:Frankl, V. E., (1959). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press[Original German publication: Frankl, V. E. (1946). Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager. Verlag für Jugend und Volk]Frankl, V. E. (1979). The Unheard Cry for Meaning. Touchstone.Koan (n.d.) MBO vs. OKRs: What are the differences? (blogpost) Inside the Labyrinth. via https://www.koan.co/blog/mbo-vs-okrs.Rigby, D., Sutherland, J. & Takeuchi, H. (2016 May). Embracing agile: How to master the process that's transforming management. Harvard Business Review, 40-48, 50.Weaver. W. (1948) Science and complexity. American Scientist 36(4), 536-544.As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Spotlight on Transformation with Joachim Stempfle (Part 1)
Dec 9 2021
Spotlight on Transformation with Joachim Stempfle (Part 1)
Our spotlight episodes aim to provide a deep, comprehensive view of key topics. For our first spotlight episode, Neha talks with Joachim Stempfle about transformation. Bringing together ideas from philosophy, psychology, and business across two episodes, Neha and Joachim give us a lively and enlightening look at the concept of "organizational transformation" and how a human-centric approach enables both the inner transformation of people in the organization (part one) and the outer transformation of the organizational operating system (part two).For further reading on concepts, authors, and primary sources mentioned in this spotlight, we suggest:Frankl, V. E., (1959). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press[Original German publication: Frankl, V. E. (1946). Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager. Verlag für Jugend und Volk]Frankl, V. E. (1979). The Unheard Cry for Meaning. Touchstone.Koan (n.d.) MBO vs. OKRs: What are the differences? (blogpost) Inside the Labyrinth. via https://www.koan.co/blog/mbo-vs-okrs.Rigby, D., Sutherland, J. & Takeuchi, H. (2016 May). Embracing agile: How to master the process that's transforming management. Harvard Business Review, 40-48, 50.Weaver. W. (1948) Science and complexity. American Scientist 36(4), 536-544.As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Jochen Goeser on agile transformation
Nov 25 2021
Jochen Goeser on agile transformation
In this episode, we hear from Jochen Goeser. With a background in economics, Jochen worked in consulting for many years, where his curiosity for people helped him develop powerful change management solutions. Today, he brings this knowledge and passion to his role as the Global Project Lead for Agile Transformation at Bosch Power Tools. We talk in-depth about transformations, specifically about how to orchestrate holistic, human-centric, people-led change that radically transforms the DNA of organizations. It takes quite a lot to begin a transformation journey and much more to sustain it. In this conversation, Jochen shares his stories on how to do just that.Further readingsArticlesGlasberger, T., & Schlauch, C. (2020). Human-centered transformation journeys of journeys [White paper]. atrain Holding UG.Snyder, C. R., (1995). Conceptualizing, measuring, and nurturing hope. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73(3), 355-360.BooksDignan, A. (2019). Brave New Work: Are You Ready to Reinvent Your Organization?. Portfolio Penguin.Hamel, G. & Zanini, M.(2020). Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them. Harvard Business Review Press.Laloux. F. (2014). Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage in Human Consciousness. Nelson Parker.Snyder, C. R., Rand, K. L., & Sigmon, D. R. (2002). Hope theory: A member of the positive psychology family. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (p. 257–276). Oxford: Oxford University Press. As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Julio Maria Muhorro on integrity
Nov 9 2021
Julio Maria Muhorro on integrity
In this episode our guest Julio Maria Muhorro, a young entrepreneur from Mozambique and founder of "Sharing Knowledge International" dives together with Neha into the topic "integrity".Following this energizing conversation, you can learn more about different aspects of integrity on not only societal and organisational levels, but also on a very personal level. After this thought-provoking discussion, we asked ourselves: What does integrity mean to me and how can I leverage it?We hope you enjoy this episode and these further reading suggestions to join the discourse on integrity.Julio' concept of individual power is drawn from a number of philosophical and psychological traditions, with a general summary here:Firestone, R. W. (12 April 2009) Personal power: There is a clear distinction between personal and negative power. Psychology Today, via https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-experience/200904/personal-powerOn the topic of organizational integrity/values and actual behaviorHeld, A. (29 September 2021). The problem with corporate "values": When values are at odds with a company's bottom line, all too often they won't win out. Vox, via https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22696810/corporate-company-values-netflix-google.Jensen, Clayton, S. (5 December 2019). 6 signs your corporate culture is a liability. Harvard Business Review, via https://hbr.org/2019/12/6-signs-your-corporate-culture-is-a-liability.Sull, D, Turconi, S., & Sull., C. (21 July 2020). When it comes to culture, does your company walk the talk? Company practices often conflict with corporate values. Closing the gap starts with communication. MIT Sloan Management Review, via https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/when-it-comes-to-culture-does-your-company-walk-the-talk/. As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Mansi Jasuja on a conscious society
Oct 5 2021
Mansi Jasuja on a conscious society
In this episode, Neha talks to Mansi Jasuja, a phenomenal person who brings love, joy, humor, and color to everything she does. She is a coach, a mother, an activist, and she brings all of that to her work at Conscious Business, a company in the Netherlands dedicated to supporting businesses to adopt a more conscious approach that creates true prosperity and harmony for people, communities, and nature. This conversation is both insightful and uplifting. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.Further links and reading on people, publications, organizations, and topics mentioned in the recording, in the order they are mentioned (embed links as possible):Conscious Capitalism (https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/)Mackey, John., & Sisodia, Raj. (2014). Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business. Harvard Business Review Press.Sen, Amartya. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.Charles Eisenstein (https://charleseisenstein.org/)An Introduction to the Story of Separation, from Charles Eisenstein's official youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4FU-9iBoLg)Ikigai (of individuals, of organization) (https://positivepsychology.com/ikigai/)The Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter / The Art of Participatory Leadershiphttps://artofhosting.org/Quick, K., & Sandfort, J. (2014). Learning to facilitate deliberation: Practicing the art of hosting. Critical Policy Studies, 8(3), 300–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2014.912959Quick, K., Sandfort, J., & Stuber, N. (July 2012). Practicing the Art of Hosting: Exploring what Art of Hosting and Harvesting workshop participants understand and do. Center for Integrative Leadership, University of Minnesota. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2676.8161Mary Alice Arthur (https://www.getsoaring.com/about-MA), "steward" of the art of hosting Teal Organizations and self-managed teams, participatory leadershipLaloux, Frederic (2014). Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness. Nelson Parker. ISBN 978-2960133509.https://www.tealaroundtheworld.com/ As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!
Shruthi Bopaiah on the importance of experience in learning
Aug 31 2021
Shruthi Bopaiah on the importance of experience in learning
In this episode, you’ll hear the story of Shruthi Bopaiah. Shruthi is the Head of Client Engagement and Communications at Bridgeweave, an AI fintech company. Previously, she was Global Head of Internal Communication at Infosys, one of the biggest IT companies in India and the world. From talent acquisition to HR consulting to internal communications and now to client engagement, Shruthi is constantly learning and pushing the boundaries of her skills and impact. Outside of work, you can find her on the basketball court or at yoga studio, in addition to working hard to create awareness and engagement to care for stray/abandoned dogs. Against the exciting backdrop of Shruthi’s story and how her relationship with learning evolved overtime, we discussed the importance of experience in learning, where the value of the experience is measured not in the number of years, but in its richness. We dove into the advantages of cultivating skills in diverse areas and how those skills can be transferred to seemingly unconnected situations. This conversation with Shruthi made me wonder if it’s time to retire the age-old saying of “jack of all and master of none” because the world needs us in our multifaceted glory!Further Readings:·       In relation to “T-shaped” people:Professor Ruth Bridgstock (PhD, M Ed, psychology/education)A summary of her research through 2015 appears on her blog http://www.futurecapable.com/?m=201507A list of her published research appears on her university profile page https://www.swinburne.edu.au/research/our-research/access-our-research/find-a-researcher-or-supervisor/researcher-profile/?id=rbridgstock·       In relation to “design thinking”:Linke, R. (14 September 2017). Design thinking, explained. MIT Sloan School of Management. https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/design-thinking-explained·       In relation to “generalist vs. specialist”Teodoridis F, Bikard M, Vakili K. (18 July 2018). When generalists are better than specialists, and vice versa. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/07/when-generalists-are-better-than-specialists-and-vice-versaTeodoridis F, Bikard M, Vakili K. Creativity at the Knowledge Frontier: The Impact of Specialization in Fast- and Slow-paced Domains. (2019). Administrative Science Quarterly, 64(4), 894-927. doi:10.1177/0001839218793384 As always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!NehaAs always please send your feedback to droppingyourarmour@atrain.com Enjoy this episode!