The Science of Possibility Thinking and Leadership

In this episode, Monique Blough speaks with Crystal Fernando, founding partner of WhatBox Innovation Partners, a company dedicated to helping leaders and teams navigate the complexities of the modern world. With over twenty years of experience in strategy activation and innovation, Crystal shares insights into the intersection of brain science and leadership coaching, emphasizing the importance of understanding how the brain functions to enhance leadership effectiveness. 

 

Topics discussed in this episode:

• WhatBox – Free introductory consult when you mention this episode.
• SIMPLE Strategies for a Not-so-Simple World
• FOUR Freedoms – Fostering Psychological Safety

 

New Era of Leadership - context 

• Welcome to a VUCA World - WhatBox
• Leadership for a Complex Evolving World - WhatBox
• Future Proofing the Workplace - Gabriella Kellerman, Scott Barry Kaufman 
• What it Takes to Lead Through An Era of Exponential (3D) Change - HBR

Safety

• How Your Brain Works - Possibility Thinking -  WhatBox
• Impact of Stress on Possibility Thinking -  WhatBox
• What is Priming & Why Does it Matter -  WhatBox
• Google Study - Project Aristotle - Why do some teams outperform others 
• Failing Well - Amy Edmonson and Scott Barry Kaufman 

Intention 

• Lead with Intention - Forbes 
• Leading from Nothing - Why Holding Space is your Most Important Leadership Skill  
• Deep workbook Summary 
• Put Purpose at the Core of your Strategy - HBR
• Purpose is Everything - Deloitte 

Mindset 

• Change your mindset, change the game - Dr. Alia Crum
• Alia Crum - The Science of How Mindset Transforms the Human Experience  - WEF
• Growth Mindset - Carol Dweck 
• Victim vs. Player - Fred Kofman 
• From Powerless to Powerful - Fred Kofman full series (agency mindset)
• Possibility Mindsets - Mindsets to Thrive in New Era - WhatBox
• How to enhance performance & learning by applying growth mindset - Andrew Huberman

Learning Habits

• How to Generate Sustainable Habits - WhatBox
• How to get Habits to Stick - James Clear (author - Atomic Habits)
• Immunity to Change - Brene Frown and Lisa Lahey
• Change 1 brain habit - Change everything - Evian Gordon (author - From Knowing to Doing)

Powerful Questions 

• Powerful Inquiry - WhatBox
• Constructing Great Questions -  WhatBox
• Asking the right questions: - Hal Gregersen 
• Getting unstuck by asking different questions - Hal Gregersen 
• The Leader as Coach - HBR

Empathy 

• Empathy is our SuperPower
• Power of Empathy
• Types of Empathy - Daniel Goleman 
• Understanding Empathy
• Future of Work and Empathy 
• What is Human Centered Design - Ideo
• Human Centered Design - A story of success 

 

In the spirit of our journey to promote reconciliation, we would like to honour the truth of our shared history and acknowledge Treaty 7 territory and the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, that includes the Kainai, Siksika, and Piikani First Nations. We acknowledge the traditional lands of the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda, including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations. We would also like to recognize the Métis people, and the Inuit people who have made their home here in Mohk’insstsis, also known as Calgary.