We’ve introduced some new features to the podcast which kick-off this week for my interview with Rob Crispe, General Manager of IP Australia. I start with ‘Planet Human’ - what’s having an impact on our life and leadership this week? Then moving swiftly on to ‘Planet Zoe’ - writing, program and events updates from your truly. My fascinating chat with Rob is paused for ‘Fast Five’ - a quick fire question and answer round which Rob navigates with aplomb!
Rob is honest and open about what it takes to cultivate leadership that’s fit for the future and build a sustainable culture. We traverse honestly, authenticity, vulnerability, learning from failure by way of maintaining our leadership values in a toxic environment and, ultimately, deciding: are we part of the problem or part of the solution?
Accountable leadership is even more important in a changing world
Be inspired by the story of courageous leadership and knowing when to leave a toxic environment.
Why you should listen: navigating values-based leadership
Demonstrate leadership authenticity with words and deeds
We explore: having the courage of your leadership convictions
Being able to say ‘I don’t know’ is a leadership strength
Team development includes accountability and ownership
Create future leaders through careful coaching.
Take action
Look back to look forward. Create a timeline of the past to get a sense of the integrated patterns and trends that intersect and combine. Use this perspective to help understand the complex situation we have now.
Podcast recommendations
No BS Leadership by Martin G Moore and The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial.
About Rob Crispe
Canberra-based Rob Crispe is the General Manager of IP Australia and has two decades of experience in senior roles spanning the public, academic and private sectors. Rob has worked across multiple federal government agencies operating in complex environments and holds an Executive Master of Public Administration.
Key moments
Planet Human: AI Integration with Khan Academy [00:00:29]
Zoë talks about the integration of AI with Khan Academy and its implications for leadership, including personalised tutoring and support for individual students.
Planet Zoë: Adventures and Writing [00:04:23]
Zoë shares updates on her book writing and upcoming adventure of walking the Australian Alpine Walking Trail.
Finding Strength to Live Your Values in a Toxic Environment [00:06:06]
Zoë interviews Rob Crispe, General Manager of IP Australia, about his experience of living through a toxic environment and finding the strength to live his values. They discuss how to raise the flag about it and how to move on.
Adoption of technology [00:08:32]
Rob talks about the opportunities to work with people and technology and how he got to his current role at IP Australia.
Cultural reform [00:10:13]
Rob discusses the process of cultural reform and how it starts with understanding the agency's history and people's feelings about their work.
Authenticity and vulnerability in leadership [00:13:08]
Rob talks about the importance of being authentic and vulnerable as a leader, and how it creates a better environment for staff.
Public Accountability [00:16:00]
Rob talks about the importance of accountability in the public sector and how it has become more publicly visible in recent years.
Transparency and Accountability in Private Sector [00:19:45]
Zoë and Rob discuss how emerging technologies like blockchain are pushing for more transparency and accountability in the private sector.
Living Your Values in a Toxic Environment [00:20:11]
Rob shares his personal experience of compromising his values in a toxic work environment and how he eventually made the decision to leave.
Leaving a toxic environment [00:24:14]
Rob shares his experience of leaving a toxic work environment and the challenges he faced. He talks about the turning point and the recovery period.
Complexity of toxic environments [00:30:15]
Rob reflects on the complexity of toxic work environments and the drivers of people's behaviour. He emphasises the importance of creating a safe and kind workplace.
Importance of kindness in leadership [00:31:10]
Rob talks about the importance of kindness and compassion in leadership. He shares his experience of being judged for his compassionate nature and reinforces the fact that it is a key ingredient to a productive workplace.
Coaching as a Leadership Success [00:32:04]
Rob talks about his most significant success as a leader, which is coaching people to move forward and do great things themselves.
Amplifiers Academy online self-paced leadership development program [00:41:40]
Leadership Style and Strategic Thinking [00:43:48 - 00:45:20]
Rob shares his experience of leadership and how his style has not changed much over the years. He emphasises the importance of being true to oneself and bringing the authentic self to work. He also talks about the need for strategic thinking and having an enterprise view of things, especially in more senior roles.
Advice for Better Leadership [00:46:06 - 00:47:03]
Rob advises listeners to be patient and stay true to their values. He encourages them to focus on doing their job well, building relationships and networks, and not being in a hurry to climb the ladder. He believes that experience and time on the ground are valuable for developing people skills and running projects.
Takeaways from the interview [00:48:41]
Zoë shares her key takeaways from her interview with Rob Crispe, including the importance of humility, coaching others, and enjoying the ride.
Tip of the week: Sense making [00:49:47]
Zoë shares a tip from her book People Stuff about expanding your sense of time through a timeline activity, looking back at events from the past 200 years.
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.