In this episode, Sheena Ireland speaks to CEO of Lifeline Canberra, Carrie-Ann Leeson, about her leadership style and what moments in her life have influenced and shaped that style.   

Carrie talks candidly about the leaders she has observed in her career and how she has been inspired by those who share her values. Born in South Africa, Carrie talks about the influence former South African President and anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nelson Mandela, had on her life. She was inspired by the dignity and grace with which Mandela led, and the compassion he showed through a politically tumultuous period.    

Carrie is a firm believer in being brave enough to undertake courageous conversations. She discusses how you need to be prepared to have tough conversations and go into those discussions with respect and a genuine love of people. It's her belief that if you do that you will achieve the best possible outcome, perhaps not always a great outcome, however an outcome that will leave someone better than you found them. 

Throughout the interview Carrie discusses the importance of skills including: adaptability; the power of listening; and self-awareness, in any leadership position.

Once upon a time it was thought that consistency was key to leadership, however Carrie argues, particularly in the year 2020, that adaptability is vital.  She says you can still be authentic in that process, but it's important to adapt your leadership style.

Carrie's leadership communication is underpinned by the skill of listening. To be part of any conversation she firmly believes that it's never simply about talking. She discusses the important of self-awareness to know if you can add value to a conversation or a discussion. Sometimes, she says, a valuable part of that is not talking, but rather listening. She believes that often the most productive way to add value is to listen. Listening is a key communication skill, which Carrie says is often lacking, particularly in emotionally charged discussions or situations. She provides insightful advice on how to listen and how to see the benefits of listening.

Importantly, Carrie discusses how she works hard to manage her own personal well-being in an effort to be prepared to go anywhere on any given day. She says this is vital to ensure you are in the best possible position to engage in any conversation, be truly present with someone, give them the time they need and leave them better than you found them. She notes it's important to remember that people often don't remember what you did, they remember how you made them feel, hence listening is a vital tool to remember and utilise.

Her final tip for listeners in this episode is the need to constantly check in with yourself and those around you. She says its important to consistently be cleansing, rejuvenating and restoring yourself, in the way that best works for and is unique to you.

"Happiness and joy is not the absence of pain or trauma or tension, it's the inclusion of all of those things, and growing as a result. You don't know what you're learning when you're learning it, but we're always growing and learning."