The Centre for Army Leadership Podcast

Episode 16 - WO1 Gavin Paton & SMA Michael Grinston

In this special joint podcast, we are honoured to be joined by the two senior soldiers of the US and UK Armies, SMA Michael Grinston and WO1 Gavin Paton. With nearly 60 years of service between them, they share insights from their times as junior leaders and the challenges they now face in their current roles. They speak openly and passionately about the issues they face in tackling mental health stigma and the need for people to maintain mental, physical, and social fitness. Both Army Sergeant Majors highlight the importance of professional and personal education in their young leaders and how engendering a challenge culture at every level ensures young leaders "feel empowered to make the complex decisions that deliver victory on the battlefield". In addition, they both speak with absolute candour about the love they have for their people, Mr Patton describing how "we must love and lead our people through our problems, but to love our people we've got to know our people". Finally, and, as one would expect, they highlight the requirement for all leaders to set the example for their followers and how "people must use their rank as an opportunity to do more for their people". 

An extraordinary insight from the senior soldiers of the US and UK Armies. 

Episode 15 - Leena Nair

This week we are honoured to be joined by a global trailblazer of the human resources world, Leena Nair. As the first female, first Asian, and youngest ever Chief Human Resource Officer at Unilever, Leena supports the 150,000-strong Unilever workforce across 190 countries. In this insightful episode, she talks passionately about her leadership journey within the company, discussing her time as a young trainee on the factory floor in India, and highlighting the challenges she has faced in breaking glass ceilings throughout her career. Talking with great honesty and sincerity, Leena conveys the importance of finding your purpose in life and pursuing it even if those around you doubt you. She unpacks the Unilever leadership philosophy, sharing with us the importance of working on your own “inner game” and the need to use “failure as a stepping-stone to success”. Leena also gives us an intimate insight into her modern leadership approach, emphasising the importance of personal resilience, creating psychological safety within your team, and the need for “team think” in tackling contemporary complex problems. Finally, Leena gives an optimistic view of the new generation of leaders, highlighting their drive and desire to make the world a better place.

A privileged insight from one of the world leaders in human resources. 

Episode 14 - Lt Gen Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE

As the UK prepares to host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) later this year, Lieutenant General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE joins the podcast to discuss leadership, sustainability and climate change. As the 'Climate Change and Sustainability Lead' for the MOD, General Nugee unpacks the MODs aspirations to reduce emissions and his role in leading this change. He discusses his climate change strategy and the three fundamental ambitions he has for the MOD: to act and be recognised as global leaders in climate change, to reduce emissions and to adapt to a climate change world. General Nugee acknowledges the scale of the challenge in reducing emissions but passionately dispels the myth that you can either have a green military or a capable one. Finally, he discusses the central role leaders have in driving behaviour change in the battle against climate change. 

A brilliant perspective on leading the fight against climate change.  

Episode 13 - Imam Asim Hafiz OBE

As Muslim communities around the world celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid-al-Fitr, we are honoured to be joined by Imam Asim Hafiz OBE, Islamic Religious Advisor to Chief of the Defence Staff and Service Chiefs. Imam Asim became an Islamic Scholar in 1999, a process which lasted ten years during which time he also memorised the entire Qur’an. He has held positions in a range of religious and secular organisations and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to Defence. In the podcast, Imam Asim addresses the misconceptions from certain corners of society that service life is incompatible with the Muslim faith and draws symmetries between Islamic values and the RMAS motto ‘Serve to Lead’. He speaks passionately about the need for leaders to have spiritual and emotional competence and how one must know themselves before they can successfully lead others. Imam Asim also speaks openly about the importance of military leaders having cultural competence and how they must show openness, transparency, and candour.  Finally, Imam Asim discusses the prevalence of judgement within our culture and how a lack of trust will cause a breakdown of societal systems.  

 

Episode 12 - Dr Tara Swart

This week we are joined by Dr Tara Swart, neuroscientist, leadership coach and author. In this insightful episode, Dr Swart skilfully translates complex neuroscience concepts into simple leadership advice. She discusses her theory of 'Organisational Neuroplasicity' and the importance of organisational culture, highlighting the need for organisations to understand the impact their work has on the people and world around them. Dr Swart discusses her book 'The Source' and unpacks the six key concepts: mastering your emotions, brain and body connection, trust in yourself, logic, motivation and creativity. She also speaks passionately about personal health and mindfulness, highlighting the impact poor physical and mental health can have on a leaders performance. 

A fascinating insight into a subject that sits at the heart of leadership

Episode 10 - General Stanley McChrystal

We are honoured to be joined by General Stanley McChrystal in this week's episode. The former US four star general and JSOC Commander, General Stan was described as “one of America’s greatest warriors” by Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. In this episode he talks openly to us about some of the mistakes he has made throughout his career and what he learnt from them. He discusses the necessity for leaders to have humility and the concept of followership, specifically highlighting the strength of the British Non-Commissioned Officer. General Stan also unpacks his 'team of teams' approach and shares with us the need for 'shared consciousness', which he outlines can break down hierarchies and create more adaptable and resilient teams. Finally, he speaks fondly about the importance of making personal connections and to over-communicate with your people at every opportunity. 

An incredible episode from “one of America’s greatest warriors”.

 

Episode 9 - Eddie Jones

In this episode we are joined by Eddie Jones, Head Coach of England Rugby. He is the most successful England coach in history for win percentages and has over 20 years of experience coaching and leading high-performance teams. Eddie speaks openly about the importance of honesty and how this is essential in building trust. He talks to us about the need for resilience within any team and how learning from failure and having a growth mindset is at the very heart of high-performance.  Eddie also discusses the significance of 'mental welfare', the differing needs of the younger generation and how leaders must prepare their people for 'the hardest moments of the game'. 

 

A fascinating insight into high-performance from one of the world's leading experts. 

Episode 8 - WO1 Sarah Cox

This week we are joined by WO1 Sarah Cox, the Command Sergeant Major of the Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command. Sarah has over 24 years of experience as a soldier and is the first female Command Sergeant Major in the British Army.  She gives a soldier's perspective on leadership, talks about the importance of education, and shares her views on the importance of role modelling and coaching. Sarah also talks about some of the mistakes she has made in her career, highlighting the importance of creating a fail-safe culture which allows people to 'Fail. Learn. Win.'

A brilliant perspective on leadership from one of the British Army's senior soldiers. 

Episode 7 - Major General Duncan Capps CBE

In this episode we are honoured to be joined by Major General Duncan Capps CBE, Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Director Leadership of the British Army. General Duncan gives an open, honest and humble reflection on his 35-year Army career. He discusses the importance of servant leadership and putting others before yourself, about the need to harness the diversity within your teams, and about how being humble and true to yourself is essential for all leaders. General Duncan also talks about the Army's role in national resilience and speaks fondly about faith and his role as the Forces Muslim Champion. 

A sincere and humble insight from the head of British Army leadership. 

Episode 6 - Richard Hytner

In this episode, we are joined by Richard Hytner, author of 'Consiglieri: Leading from the Shadow' and founder of the creative management consultancy firm, 'beta baboon' and, now, leadership coach and facilitator, Blue Hat Man. Richard shares with us his wealth of experience from working with some of the world's largest businesses. He unpacks his theory that leadership is a collective endeavour and how some leaders are better in a supporting leadership role, as a 'C Leader'. He talks about his time as a CEO at 'Saatchi & Saatchi' and how early empowerment of junior leaders is the pathway to success. Finally, Richard discusses how enabling creativity is the key to recruiting and retaining young talent and how we should channel our 'inner baboon' when solving problems: "rip it apart, play with it, solve it."