A Step Ahead by Monika Chutnik

Hosted by Monika Chutnik

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Jun 2026

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About the show

A Step Ahead is a podcast for those who make change happen. You might be a manager or leader, HR or a consultant, or even an individual person working in an international or virtual setting. Find hints and benchmarks on staying ahead with your team, your company, and even in your own life. We are discussing here everything related to - intercultural communication, cooperation and management - Virtual and hybrid teams - being a leader for your people and leading your own life Find more benchmarks and content on www.stepahead.pro Join the other listeners and stay a step ahead! Monika Chutnik

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26 recent

June 9, 202643 min

SHIFT. Beyond burnout. The Courage to be Yourself even Across Cultures - ASA 26

Burnout is increasingly recognized as a definitive crisis of the 21st century. While Western civilization attributes this widespread exhaustion to a variety of systemic factors, one critical cause remains largely underexplored: the profound exhaustion of living a life that does not align with who you truly are. Many professionals find themselves operating in a behavioral style that is completely detached from their natural tendencies. They continuously stretch their boundaries to pursue values that belong to someone else, all in a relentless effort to meet the perceived expectations of their environment. This deep-dive exploration features Nadege Welsch - a cross-cultural coach, business psychologist, and author - who shares insights from her own personal evolution and the developmental journeys of the global professionals she accompanies. Her work focuses on helping individuals navigate life across cultures while uncovering their deepest sense of self. From this episode, you will learn: What lies beneath the 21st-century burnout epidemic How to decode your subtle "autopilot" Why impactful leadership isn't a one-size-fits-all extroverted archetype How to successfully manage teams with different behavioral speeds How to activate "slow thinking" in the age of AI How to accurately track your daily cognitive energy budget How to discover your true professional purpose How deep self-awareness allows you to break unconscious behavioral patterns and lead a more aligned life When you listen to this conversation, please think about any leader, HR, DEI expert that can benefit from it and share with this person later on. I really care to be reaching the right people with my content, so thank you very much for this in advance. I wish you fun and discovery!

May 12, 2026Episode 2554 min

Don’t fly blind – Decoding Your Leadership Algorithms - ASA 25

Becoming a leader often starts with a surge of excitement - a new assignment, a fresh challenge, and the prestige of a new position. However, that initial joy is frequently followed by a period of doubt. We begin to wonder how to truly make things happen and how to navigate the complex reality of leadership. We soon discover that our team members are not mirrors of ourselves; they don't always behave as we expect, and their motivations may differ vastly from our own.In this search for influence, the core question remains: how do you effectively pursue your role as a leader to cultivate a truly high-performing team? To explore these dynamics, I am joined by my Guest Heidemarie Oberg-Fischer . With her extensive experience in developing leaders and teams within international contexts, she brings a wealth of insight into the nuances of global leadership. In this episode you will learn: Why understanding a person's worldview is more critical for leadership success than simply speaking the same language How to distinguish between what society expects of us and how our unique personality determines our actual impact Why leaders naturally hire people who mirror them and how this creates a dangerous tunnel vision How to leverage different ways of thinking to solve complex problems and drive innovation How to identify the automatic, stress-induced behaviors that knock you off your professional rails Why the fear of rejection sabotages honest communication and how to overcome it How to map your team’s psychological safety and motivational drive to prevent burnout or apathy How to shift from being controlled by your triggers to being in control of your actions through deep self-awareness When you listen to this conversation, please think about any leader, HR, DEI expert that can benefit from it and share with this person later on. I really care to be reaching the right people with my content, so thank you very much for this in advance.

April 28, 2026Episode 2443 min

Leading Yourself Prevents Burnout - ASA 24

Since the pandemic, there has been a marked increase in sensitivity and awareness regarding resilience, mental toughness, and the prevention of team burnout. For those in leadership, the critical question has become: "How can I actively contribute to preventing burnout within my team?" This is the central theme we explore in today’s conversation with my Guest, Ilham Musayev . In this episode you will learn: Why team well-being starts with your own self-care and resilience Why resting early is vital and how to spot fatigue before you burn out How to set tech boundaries to stop devices from draining your energy How to drop old habits and "busy work" that no longer serve you How tools like Global DISC help you value team differences Why vulnerability and human touch are your new competitive edges How to build an internal GPS to stay focused on what truly matters When you listen to this conversation, please think about any leader, HR, DEI expert that can benefit from it and share with this person later on. I really care to be reaching the right people with my content, so thank you very much for this in advance.

April 14, 2026Episode 2353 min

The Science of Team Performance - Why Psychological Safety is Critical in Medicine - ASA 023

When we think of psychological safety, we might be uncertain about what it really means in practice. In many industries, teamwork is a factor in profitability or customer satisfaction, but in healthcare, the stakes are incomparably higher. This is why I'm so happy to talk to my guest today, who will be sharing plenty of examples of what it really means in the most intense practice in a medical sector - Alexandre Messager . Together, we will look at why psychological safety in a medical setting isn't just a "nice to have", but a "must-have" that can literally mean the difference between life and death. In this episode you will learn: How psychological safety acts as the primary barrier between life and death in healthcare Why leaders consistently overestimate how safe their employees feel Why conflict in the first three months is a necessary sign of progress in team transformation How to use structured dissent to stress-test ideas and build bulletproof solutions How to bridge the gap between different thinking styles (e.g., surgeons vs. nurses) Why writing ideas down before speaking prevents "majority bias" and groupthink Why culture change fails unless leadership is willing to be vulnerable first Why "engaged" teams outperform "comfortable" teams every time How to build a 6–18 month roadmap for team performance instead of relying on one-off events Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/023 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

February 10, 2026Episode 2227 min

Driving Sustainable Careers - Towards Growth Zone - ASA 022

hat drives a career forward in a truly sustainable way? It is never just hard work or ambition. It is a living combination of inner motivation, psychological safety, courage, clarity, and the often‑forgotten balance between work and life that keeps us healthy enough to grow over the long run. This conversation with Marci Macedo is a beautiful exploration of what it truly means to grow. In this episode you will learn: Why a sustainable career needs resilience, clarity, and reinvention beyond titles How motivation plus psychological safety create a growth zone where you can truly thrive How lack of psychological safety quietly destroys motivation and innovation at work Why aligning your life purpose and professional purpose changes how you show up What real life–work balance means and why over‑identifying with work is risky How growth zone principles also apply at home, in families as our “first business.” Why empowering women needs both strong tools and a supportive community How to take the first step in (re)building your career by starting small and being kind to yourself Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/022 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

August 26, 2025Episode 2140 min

Setting Goals for Purposeful Life - ASA 021

When we think about setting goals, we usually relate to the business context. But aren't we in need of setting goals for our lives as well? Or is there a difference between setting a goal, setting an objective, maybe setting a direction? That's a very interesting topic to discuss and I'm having a very great guest to be discussing this topic today, Bruno Morgante. By no coincidence he is talking about goals because he knows a lot about that in his life. In this episode you will learn: why setting goals is essential for creating a purposeful life how clear objectives act as your compass during turbulent times the difference between outputs, outcomes, and real value in both life and project management why achieving goals is less important than the transformation you experience along the way how to start setting realistic yet ambitious objectives that spark growth what a winning mindset means and how it connects to personal and professional success Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/021 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

May 27, 2025Episode 2044 min

Making Friends with Hungarians - ASA 020

In Poland, we have a saying: A Pole and a Hungarian are like two brothers. We both like to fight, and we both like to drink. That’s how the saying goes. I think this is what many people commonly imagine about Hungarians—and about working with them. Now, we can assume that this saying, which blends humor with stereotype, might contain a grain of truth. But I believe—and I’m quite convinced—that there’s much more to know about Hungary and Hungarians than what this little proverb suggests. In this episode you will learn: Why Hungarians might seem reserved—and what it really means How handshake customs differ in Hungary compared to other countries The role of food, drinks, and small talk in building business relationships Why learning just a few Hungarian words can make a big difference How Hungarians give and receive feedback at work What to avoid in early conversations (hint: politics!) How historical events still influence Hungarian drinking habits The difference between direct and indirect communication styles in Hungary Tips for working effectively with Hungarian colleagues—virtually or in person Why building trust takes time, but lasts long in Hungarian culture Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/020 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

May 13, 2025Episode 1944 min

How to make CEE audience speak - ASA 019

When you cooperate with people from Poland, especially when you run meetings or trainings—whether face to face or online—you might face the challanges. Many of my international colleagues, particularly those coming from Western European and North American countries, feel a bit insecure about how to read reactions from us. By “us,” I mean Polish people, but also more generally people from Central and Eastern Europe, because it seems that the type of reactions and behaviors in meetings is quite similar across our part of Europe. In this episode you will learn: Why CEE audiences often stay silent or hesitate to speak in meetings How history, education, and hierarchy shape communication in CEE Why leaving space to speak is key—and why interrupting is avoided How fear of making mistakes in English holds people back How to spot and engage quieter participants in mixed cultural groups Tools and techniques to boost engagement in CEE teams Why setting expectations upfront makes a big difference How small groups, anonymous tools, and personal stories can encourage interaction Why managers should speak last to get honest opinions Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/019 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

April 29, 2025Episode 1843 min

How to speak 10 languages - ASA 018

How open are we to language acquisition? This is what we are discussing in today's episode.We work a lot with international audiences and international teams, and it seems that language plays an important role here. This is why I'm so glad to have Vladislav Alehno as my guest. Vlad is not just a polyglot — he is a hyperpolyglot. In this episode you will learn: Why calling a language "foreign" can block your progress — and what to say instead. How to connect with a language emotionally, not just intellectually. Why "complex" is better than "difficult" when describing languages. How Vlad learned French fluently in just one year using natural immersion. Why attitude matters more than talent in language learning. Simple first steps to start learning any language. How languages build bridges — and become part of your personal story. Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/018 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter

April 15, 2025Episode 1747 min

Managing stakeholders in Asia - ASA 017

Visiting a place for a holiday is not the same as working hand in hand with local professionals, managing projects together, and navigating shared responsibilities.Today, I’m joined by a special guest who knows this world from the inside out: Beata Malinowska, who shares her real-life experience of working across Asian cultures—not just Asia as a region, but as a collection of distinct countries, customs, and ways of doing business. In this episode you will learn: How to build trust with stakeholders in Asia Key cultural differences across Asian countries Why humility matters in international projects How to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty What to know about hierarchy and communication Gender dynamics in Asian business environments How to adapt your leadership style by region The impact of strong company culture Tips for preparing to work abroad Why mindset and empathy are game-changers Find more materials at www.astepahead.pro/017 When you listen to this episode, think of someone who would also listen to it for the benefit of themselves or their team and share the link to the recording. I wish you a sense of fun and discovery! Do you want to be kept up to date? Subscribe to the newsletter: www.astepahead.pro/newsletter