The Dynamic Leader Podcast

Hosted by Shelley Flett

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290

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Oct 2026

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About the show

My intention, with every Dynamic Leader conversation, is to offer you, as leaders, insights and strategies on how you can become more effective in your role, to be strong and to be kind. You will have the opportunity to expand awareness…it is with greater awareness that you find greater choice, greater adaptability and greater effectiveness. If you’d like to learn more about the work I do please visit Shelleyflett.com.

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60 recent

October 27, 2026Episode 29055 min

#290 | Navigating conflict with Tim Duggan

What happens to the conversations leaders keep avoiding and the words they never say? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley Flett joins author, founder and optimist Tim Duggan to explore how conflict can become an opportunity for greater understanding, stronger relationships and better leadership. Drawing on three years of research for his book, Clear in Tension: How to Get Better at Conflict , Tim shares practical ways to navigate difficult conversations with greater confidence and intention. Together, they unpack the stories and assumptions that fuel tension, why trust and values shape how leaders should approach disagreement and listening techniques that help people feel understood. From the power of asking “how” to recognising personal biases, this conversation offers valuable tools for leaders ready to stop swallowing their words and start engaging more thoughtfully. Grab a copy of Tim's books: https://timduggan.com.au/ Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timduggan1/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

October 13, 2026Episode 2891 hr 5 min

#289 - Feminine Leadership with Nicki Ursu

What if you could achieve your goals without leaving yourself behind? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley Flett is joined by holistic leadership coach, workplace wellbeing facilitator and women’s embodiment guide Nicki Ursu to explore feminine leadership and its value for leaders of all genders. Drawing on their own experiences of achievement, exhaustion and reconnection, Shelley and Nicki discuss how to bring empathy, intuition and connection together with action and accountability. They explore the pressure to keep doing, the importance of boundaries and self-trust, and what it means to lead from a place of feeling grounded in yourself. Nicki also shares her personal embodiment practices, offering listeners a starting point for reconnecting with themselves and creating a more sustainable way to live and lead. Connect with Nicki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickiursu/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

September 29, 2026Episode 28814 min

#288 | Never Assume They Don't Need The Conversation

The person who always delivers, seems steady and never asks for help may be the person who most needs a conversation. In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley Flett explores why regular one-on-ones matter, even when leaders speak with their people every day. Drawing on a personal experience with a manager who made space to listen, Shelley shows how a protected conversation can reveal what performance alone cannot: the pressure someone is carrying, a shift in motivation, or early signs that their way of working is becoming unsustainable. Shelley shares how to make these conversations more intentional, ask useful questions and listen without feeling responsible for fixing everything. For leaders looking for a place to start, she also introduces her leadership sustainability check-in tool. Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

September 11, 2026Episode 28748 min

#287 - Dani Pearce - Merry People – Defying Expectations

What happens when the path that makes sense on paper no longer feels right? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley Flett speaks with Dani Pearce, founder and director of Merry People, about defying expectations, leaving the security of the corporate world and building a thriving global brand grounded in her values. Dani shares her honest approach to leadership and decision making, from balancing data with intuition and knowing when to act with imperfect information, to accepting that not every decision will be right. Together, Shelley and Dani explore risk, resilience, sustainable growth and the importance of humility, trusted support and staying true to oneself. This inspiring conversation offers practical insight for leaders navigating complexity, challenging conventional expectations and finding the courage to follow a path that feels authentically their own. Connect with Dani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-pearce-10108569/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

September 2, 2026Episode 28646 min

#286 - Shelley shares prevention strategies for burnout

Burnout rarely arrives in a single moment. More often, it builds through a thousand small compromises - another deadline, another responsibility and another week spent functioning without truly feeling well. In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast, executive coach and leadership facilitator Shelley Flett shares her personal experience of coming close to burnout and explores why continued performance is not always a sign that leadership is sustainable. Drawing on the six areas of work life - workload, control, reward, community, fairness and values - Shelley offers practical strategies to help leaders recognise where their energy is being depleted and make changes before they reach breaking point. This honest and thought-provoking conversation invites capable, committed leaders to consider what their current way of succeeding is costing them and how they can continue to lead with ambition, strength and kindness, without losing themselves in the process. Leadership Sustainability Check-In resource: https://shelley-59ff5.gr8.com/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

August 18, 2026Episode 2851 hr 0 min

#285 - Leadership with Christian O’Connell

In this episode of the Dynamic Leader podcast, Shelley speaks down with one of Australia's most authentic and connected radio broadcasters, Christian O’Connell, to explore the practical and grounded leadership lessons from his latest book, Unscript . Christian shares how he evolved from a "show first" manager, focused on ratings and recognition, to a "people first" leader learnt the strength of the collective. Together, they talk about psychological safety, authentic communication, shared power and the importance of creating a culture that remains strong under pressure. This refreshingly unscripted conversation invites leaders to move beyond titles and external validation, reconnect with who they truly are and create the conditions for their people to thrive. Grab a copy of Christian's book: https://christianoconnell.com/ Connect with Christian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-o-connell-8615a6314/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

August 3, 2026Episode 28427 min

#284 - What's Your Next Move? Navigating conflict, strategy and culture like a game of chess.

What happens inside a leader when their ideas are challenged, their perspective is questioned or a difficult conversation does not go as planned? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley Flett explores how conflict can narrow our thinking, trigger familiar reactions and influence the choices we make - often long after the conversation has ended. Using the game of chess as a powerful metaphor, Shelley invites leaders to step back, see the whole board and consider their next move with greater clarity and intention. She explores how different responses to conflict - from avoiding and accommodating to competing and collaborating - can each be effective when chosen for the right purpose. This episode is a compelling reminder that leadership is not about winning the moment; it is about recognising how every move shapes trust, relationships and tomorrow’s culture. Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

July 22, 2026Episode 28345 min

#283 - Dr. Nigel Paine on Managing Up and Building Buy-In for Bold Ideas

What if the boldest leadership move isn’t having all the answers - but creating the trust, autonomy and connection that allow better answers to emerge? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast, host Shelley Flett speaks with change-focused leader, author and global learning expert Nigel Paine about managing up, building support for unconventional ideas and unlocking the collective intelligence within organisations. Together, they explore why leaders must become more comfortable with not knowing, how hierarchy can either strengthen or erode trust and why listening is often more influential than offering advice. Nigel also shares practical ways to build buy-in for new ideas - write them down, approach others with humility, invite diverse perspectives, refine them through conversation and test them on a small scale. This thought-provoking conversation challenges leaders to move beyond rigid roles and individual performance, embrace learning in the flow of work and create organisations where people feel trusted, connected and empowered to contribute. Grab a copy of Nigels books: https://www.nigelpaine.com/ Connect with Nigel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelpaine/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

July 7, 2026Episode 28223 min

#282 The Courage to Challenge the Status Quo

What if the biggest shift you could make as a leader wasn't learning another skill, but learning to think more independently? In this episode of The Dynamic Leader Podcast , Shelley explores how the subtle conditioning of our workplaces, organisations and social expectations shapes the way we lead- often without us even realising it. Drawing on Dr Robert Kegan's work on adult development, she challenges leaders to move beyond positional power and inherited leadership habits towards more conscious, self-authoring leadership. It's a powerful conversation about courage, curiosity and questioning the status quo so you can build greater trust, stronger relationships and more sustainable leadership. Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop

June 23, 2026Episode 28147 min

#281 Boundaries, Burnout and Balance with Narelle Burke

What if burnout isn’t actually about working too hard? In this candid conversation, leadership expert Narelle Burke joins Shelley Flett to challenge some of the most common assumptions about balance, burnout and boundaries. Drawing on her experience leading global teams across multiple time zones, Narelle shares practical strategies for protecting your energy, managing competing priorities and focusing on what you can actually control. Together, they explore why so many leaders become trapped in cycles of over-delivering, how to reset unrealistic expectations and what it takes to create a sustainable work-life fit without sacrificing performance. Packed with honest insights, relatable stories and actionable advice, this episode will leave you questioning where your time is really going and what needs to change. Connect with Narelle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narelleburke/ Connect with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyflett/⁠⁠ Work with Shelley: ⁠⁠https://shelleyflett.com ⁠ Shelley books: https://www.shelleyflett.com/shop