In this episode of the "Let's GO – Let's GROW" Podcast, Des Penny explores the timeless qualities that define true leadership. Amidst the rapid technological advancements and societal changes, Des highlights the essential human values that remain constant. He discusses the importance of balancing innovation with fundamental virtues such as wisdom, insight, humility, and unwavering belief. Drawing on personal experiences and real-world examples, Des provides actionable insights for leaders to cultivate a balanced and sustainable leadership style that fosters respect, compassion, and effective communication. Join Des to explore how real leaders stand the test of time and create positive, lasting impacts in their organisations and communities.

In this episode of the Let’s GO – Let’s GROW Podcast with Des Penny, Des explores the essence of fostering a spirit of discovery and seizing opportunities in our lives. Being a discoverer isn't just about grand adventures but about recognising and embracing opportunities wherever we are.

Des reflects on missed opportunities in his life, using them as fuel for growth and bravery moving forward. He emphasises the importance of being ready when opportunity knocks and encourages listeners to become creators of their own opportunities.

Drawing inspiration from the fearlessness of children, Des highlights the loss of adventurous spirit as we grow older and the need to reclaim it. He underscores that while not everyone will make ground-breaking discoveries, we can all make a difference in our environments by taking small steps towards discovery.

Des advocates for cultivating a spirit of discovery as a way of life, requiring practice and self-belief. He invites listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery and offers three keys to initiate this transformative process. Ultimately, Des encourages authenticity as the foundation for becoming a change-maker in our own lives and beyond.

In Season 2, Episode 1 of the Let's Go – Let's Grow Podcast, Des Penny delves into the theme of "Who Looks After the Leader? The Path from Doubt to Destiny!" He discusses the management and leadership challenges that arise when leaders prioritise others' needs over their own personal and professional growth. Recognising that the leader is ultimately responsible for their well-being, Des shares key insights and practical steps to prevent burnout, maintain productivity, and make informed decisions for personal and leadership development.

Des emphasises the significance of self-reflection and effective mental well-being management. He candidly admits his ongoing journey and progress towards recognising the importance and value of his own identity and contributions. The episode unfolds with six insightful strategies that have aided Des in his personal growth, starting with the realisation that leaders must speak differently.

In summary, the episode provides valuable insights and practical advice to empower leaders to move from doubt to destiny. The outlined strategies include changing one's mindset and speech, reclaiming control over life, embracing mistakes for growth, handling personal attacks effectively, thriving instead of just coping, and seeking guidance from a coach or mentor. Des Penny wishes listeners success on their Path of Destiny, encouraging them to overcome doubt and embrace the journey forward.

In Part 2 of the "Living and Leading with Insight" series on the Let's Go – Let's Grow Podcast, Des Penny delves into the characteristics of individuals who live and lead with insight. Building on the STOP model discussed in Part 1, which emphasised Caring, Listening, Watching, and Acting as essential factors for insight, Part 2 explores the practical aspects of incorporating insight into daily life.

Des introduces the concept that our neural networks exist not only in our head but also in our heart and gut, each contributing unique qualities to decision-making. Leaders are encouraged to integrate all three brains—Head for reasoning, Heart for emotions, and Gut for smarts, passion, and drive. Des emphasises the importance of listening to the initial gut instinct, noting that insight is gained when all three brains are in sync. Trusting the gut, often a reliable source of intuition, becomes a key element in developing insight.

The podcast highlights the significance of being aware and attuned to the entire body, moving beyond overanalysing by the head alone. Des contends that understanding one's thinking, trusting decisions, and aligning the three brains are crucial steps toward breaking free from the "Wheel of Sameness." Describing the Wheel of Sameness as the repetitive cycle of happiness, disappointment, excitement, and frustration, he identifies it as the daily grind where problems persist, band-aids are applied, and the same challenges reappear year after year.

Living and Leading with Insight Series – Part 1

In this episode of the "Let's GO – Let's GROW Podcast" with Des Penny, Des relives his latest National Leadership Breakfast series, "Living and Leading with Insight." Des emphasises the significance of insight in leadership, considering it the missing link that distinguishes a good leader from a great one. Drawing from over 50 years of leadership experience, he highlights the often-overlooked importance of cultivating insight in both personal and professional life.

Des illustrates the concept of insight by exploring how our perceptions of others can change, underscoring how insight enhances our ability to understand and respond to situations accurately. He suggests that living with insight is transformative, not merely as a skill but as a way of life, opening the door to becoming a great person and, subsequently, a great leader. Des acknowledges the challenges of embracing insight, as it requires awareness of both positive and negative aspects of our surroundings, compelling us to make decisions and take action.

Download the STOP Model here:

https://proteusleadership.com/leadership_templates/stop-model/

In this episode of the Let’s Go - Let’s Grow podcast, Des Penny delves into the importance of integrity in personal and professional life. He shares insights into integrity, emphasising that it goes beyond honesty and includes qualities like hard work and not compromising one's values. The episode discusses how integrity can be learned through example, highlighting the role of parents, teachers, leaders, and individuals in shaping it. Des suggests that integrity is a combination of nature and nurture and can be developed by making the right choices consistently.

The episode also explores the significance of patterns in our lives, highlighting the need to change negative patterns to develop integrity. Des provides five practical ways to enhance integrity, including being honest, doing the right thing even if it's not popular, and removing individuals who lack integrity from one's life. The discussion stresses that integrity is not determined by popularity but by doing what is right and not compromising on one's values. It encourages listeners to prioritise integrity as a guiding principle in decision-making.

In this episode, Des Penny delves into the intriguing topic of "The Frustration of Change," uncovering the reasons behind his frustrations and the untapped potential of embracing change.

Contrary to the title, Des is not against change; instead, he expresses his frustration with how many individuals and organisations approach it, often missing out on its transformative benefits. Throughout the episode, he emphasises the inevitability of change and the importance of choosing to be a part of it rather than resisting it.

Des candidly outlines five sources of frustration that drive his passion for this subject. First and foremost, he laments the missed opportunities of growth and success that both individuals and organisations could achieve if they only embraced change for the right reasons, rather than taking the path of least resistance.

Des introduces three change models that he personally created to navigate and embrace change effectively. The first model, the 'Thought Change Model,' encourages listeners to reframe their approach to change. Rather than focusing solely on external factors, Des proposes that understanding the internal motivations and reasons for change is paramount. This shift in mindset empowers individuals to take the necessary steps towards successful and fulfilling change.

Join Des Penny on the "Let's Go - Let's Grow Podcast" as he explores "The Frustration of Change" and shares invaluable insights on how to overcome resistance, embrace change, and seize the limitless opportunities it offers. Discover how a simple shift in thinking can increase your potential for growth and open doors to a brighter, more fulfilling future.

In this episode of the Let's Go Let's Grow podcast, Des Penny discusses the importance of moving from a good life to an exceptional one. Des shares his thoughts on people and businesses and how they are struggling because their thinking is not keeping up with the rapid changes in technology and business requirements. Des emphasises the need for understanding what is happening around us and the importance of reinvention and knowing one's purpose.

Des defines ‘exceptional’ as displaying qualities that have been developed and not necessarily being perfect.

Des provides a list of ten measures to identify exceptional people, including passion, attention to detail, long-term thinking, pain and celebration mentality, reliability, innovation thinking, ownership, acceptance and action on feedback, leading by example, and living and leading with insight.

Des encourages all listeners to define what exceptional means to them and work on developing the qualities required for exceptionalism.

There are a lot of great ideas in this episode and lots of takeaways that would be great to share with your team. Exceptional Is The New Black!