Getting the Edge for Change with Jodie Rogers

In this episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata hosts Jodie Rogers, author and founder of Symbia. They discuss ways to help leaders guide their teams through uncertain times. With 20 years of experience in understanding human behaviour, Jodie's mission is to enhance engagement, empowerment, and productivity in individuals. As a human behaviour consultant, learning expert, and facilitator, Jodie founded Symbia to build teams of emotionally intelligent problem solvers who are agile in the face of change. Symbia collaborates with global corporations like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Barclays, and L'Oréal for leadership and professional development, promoting 'Mental Fitness' as a catalyst for growth. In a world where change is constant and uncertainty high, leaders are being called to take their teams forward through these challenges. The importance of personal relationships moving into professional relationships is highlighted, especially when working together on a programme like ‘The Edge’. Jodie Rogers' expertise in human behaviour and hidden psychology plays a crucial role in understanding how to get and maintain that edge for change during uncertain times. Andy and Jodie delve further into the concept of the ‘hidden edge’, discussing the necessity of emotional and social intelligence in the business world. The idea of dealing with the rapid changes happening in and around organisations, the uncertain times we live in, and how we maintain our focus amid distractions is a key topic of discussion. Jodie emphasises the importance of not just dealing with changes in terms of built relationships, but also how to protect oneself for the future. These life skills, she suggests, are not only more in demand now, but they are also developing rapidly to cater to new workplace requirements. Andy and Jodie discuss the importance of a systematic approach to professional development. The Edge, a professional development programme, has been designed purposely for low-cost but high impact. The three-phase programme focuses on enhancing mindsets, driving performance, and growing influence.  In these ever-changing times, both Andy and Jodie agree on the importance of leaders becoming familiar with their emotional and social intelligence and the need to constantly refine and develop their skills to help their teams. Jodie discusses the beneficial impact of challenging work relationships, stressing how being pushed to one's limits can lead to enhanced skills and expertise.  She also examines the tangible impacts of their program, "The Edge," which uses a benchmarking survey to track progress in core competencies and other measures. The results have been impressive, showing notable increases in comfort with uncertainty, critical thinking, prioritisation, and stressmanagement. Jodiehighlights the importance of mental well-being in managing the rigors of professional life. She advocates for a proactive approach to mental fitness, similar to the preventative measures used in physical healthcare. Equipping people with tools to boost their mental fitness can help them navigate hurdles more effectively in the future, thereby enhancing their resilience. To find out more about The EDGE programme, please visit https://symbiapartners.com/edge Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Jodie Rogers Website