Next In Queue: Bangarang featuring Ethan Adshade

Key Take Aways

1. Systems thinking and processes are crucial for achieving effective outcomes in complex environments, both in education and corporate settings.
2. Building adaptive and scalable systems centred on human behaviour can drive measurable results amid challenging conditions.
3. Preparation and meticulous lesson or project planning create the emotional bandwidth necessary to handle unpredictable and high-stress situations.
4. Developing a growth mindset is essential for fostering resilience and continuous improvement in teams and individual performance.
5. Connecting with individuals on a personal level, through community-building activities, enhances engagement and loyalty in organisational settings.
6. Understanding and catering to diverse needs of individuals, whether students or employees, increases overall effectiveness and satisfaction.
7. Data and outcome-oriented systems can be successfully implemented in education, with measurable impacts on performance.
8. During disruptions like Covid-19, leveraging system design and digital infrastructure enabled organisations to adapt swiftly to virtual environments.
9. In dynamic environments, combining research-backed strategies with real-world experience enhances decision-making and leadership effectiveness.
10. The importance of empathy and emotional intelligence is emphasised when managing people in both educational and corporate contexts.
11. Innovation in learning is expected to be driven by technology, including AI, with a focus on customisation and diverse evidence of learning.
12. Creating a culture of continuous experimentation and pioneer spirit can lead to breakthroughs in organisational performance and community impact.

Key Statistics

• In the first year at Locke High School, a 10-fold increase was observed in the pass rate for maths — from 8-9% to 84%.
• During the initial testing at the school, only 24-30% of students passed the state assessment in English and maths.
• The improvement after system reorganisation resulted in over 86% of students passing both maths and English exams.
• Two years of teaching at Locke Highest School involved working with a school split into three academies, each with 700 students.
• The pandemic caused a pause of approximately two months for consulting work, with remote adaptation activated during Covid-19.
• The use of AI tools like ChatGPT could potentially streamline lesson planning and personalised learning.

Key Discussion Points

• The significance of viewing organisation as a system of people to produce desired outcomes.
• How systemic approaches from education can be translated into corporate training and development.
• The transformative impact of a growth mindset on dealing with complex problems and challenging environments.
• The relationship between meticulous preparation and emotional resilience in leadership.
• The effect of high staff turnover in educational settings and its parallels with organisational turbulence.
• The importance of community engagement and personal relationships within organisational cultures.
• The role of data and outcome-driven systems in achieving high performance.
• The challenges and opportunities presented by digital and AI technologies within education and business.
• The impact of the social media environment on behaviour and wellbeing, particularly on young generations.
• The necessity for ongoing innovation in learning modalities, balancing traditional and emergent digital methods.
• Lessons learned from rapid adaptation during Covid-19 for future crisis management.
• The value of pioneering, research-based practices to push organisational boundaries and influence community positively.

Podcast Description

This podcast explores leadership, innovation, and system design across educational and corporate environments. Through real-world examples, including the speaker’s experience in teaching at high schools and transitioning to global corporate training roles, it highlights how strategic planning, growth mindset, and empathy drive measurable results. The conversation covers adapting to disruption, leveraging technology, and fostering community engagement, offering insights for senior managers seeking to optimise organisational outcomes in a rapidly evolving landscape.