Discussion Questions:
- Understanding Overwhelm: At the beginning of the episode, Markus Watson quotes Michaela O’Donnell saying, “The world is moving fast. Change is speeding up, and human brains haven’t necessarily changed in order to be able to cope with all that’s happening.” How do you interpret this statement in the context of modern leadership challenges?
- Adaptive Leadership: Tod Bolsinger talks about adaptive leadership and highlights the importance of acknowledging feeling overwhelmed. What are some practical ways leaders can recognize and admit their feelings of overwhelm?
- Slowing Down in Crisis: Bolsinger emphasizes the need to slow down when things speed up. What are some methods you or your organization have used to slow down and effectively manage crises?
- Training and Intuition: In discussing handling crises, Tod Bolsinger mentions the concept of “defaulting to your training.” Can you think of a situation where your initial trained reaction contradicted your instinct? How did you handle it?
- Pausing for Perspective: Bolsinger advises to “pause” in the midst of rapid change or crisis to gain perspective. How can leaders practically incorporate moments of pause into their daily routines?
- Balcony Perspective: The concept of the ‘balcony’ is used as a metaphor for gaining perspective. Can you share an experience where “getting on the balcony” helped you understand and manage a situation better?
- Decision-Making Under Pressure: When facing rapid change, Bolsinger suggests asking, “When do I have to make this decision?” How does this approach help in reducing anxiety and making more informed decisions?
- Old Practices vs. New Solutions: The discussion revolves around how relying on old practices might not be effective in a rapidly changing world. Can you provide an example where an old practice was ineffective, and a new approach was necessary?
- Wisdom in Leadership: Based on the insights from the podcast, how do you define wisdom in leadership? In what ways can leaders cultivate wisdom to better navigate the modern landscape of rapid change and challenges?
