Deep dive into strengths-based psychologist and Strengthscope founder, Dr Paul Brewerton's mind for insights on human behaviour in the world of work, helping you get the most from work and from life, every day. A series of bi-weekly podcasts to help you transform your understanding of individuals and how to help them reach their best performance. Follow Dr Paul Brewerton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-brewerton-0719461/ Follow Strengthscope 👇 LinkedIn Instagram Twitter ...
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I'm Derek Appau, your host and a professional (ICF, ACC accredited) career coach who has been fortunate enough to enjoy hundreds of really insightful conversations with people who are searching for career fulfillment, dealing with major company changes, and those who are on top of their game but wanting to reach a new level of success and fulfillment within their career. These conversations have been so insightful, and in some cases inspiring that I wanted to share the best of these talks wi ...
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In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton discusses the findings from Strengthscope's latest research report, Team Effectiveness in the Workplace 2025. The conversation focuses on the strengths and habits of teams, the importance of trust and accountability, and the predictors of overall team effectiveness. Dr. Brewerton provides actionable recommendatio…
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In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton discusses the findings from Strengthscope's latest research report, Team Effectiveness in the Workplace 2025. He highlights key leadership strengths, the perception gap between leaders and their followers, and the changes in leadership skills over time, particularly in the context of the pandemic. He also emphasi…
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How strengths build agile, high performing matrixed project teams
7:41
7:41
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7:41In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton discusses the need for organisations and teams to be more agile in the face of rapid changes brought about by AI and the evolving workforce. He emphasises the importance of cross-functional collaboration and leading through influence rather than hierarchy. The discussion covers Strengthscope's five stages of team…
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Research alert: Embedding strengths development habits with strengths journalling
37:18
37:18
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37:18In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton and Claire Graham discuss the findings from The Strengthscope Research Team on the 8-week strengths journalling challenge, and the importance of strengths in the workplace. They explore how to make strengths stick over time, the methodology used for the challenge, and the significant positive shifts observed in p…
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Creating a culture of openness and feedback with the Radical Candor model
9:55
9:55
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9:55In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton discusses the complexities of giving and receiving feedback in organisational settings. He highlights the importance of constructive feedback, introduces the Radical Candor model by Kim Scott, and emphasises the need for a strengths-based approach to feedback. He also presents the Strengthscope360™ tool as a mean…
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Strengths on World Mental Health Day – what’s the link and what can you do?
6:46
6:46
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6:46In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton discusses the importance of mental health awareness in organisations, emphasising the need for supportive workplace cultures. He highlights the alarming statistics regarding mental health issues among workers and the challenges in discussing these topics openly. Dr. Brewerton advocates for a strengths-based appro…
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How to use strengths in early careers and onboarding
10:38
10:38
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10:38Psychology@Work with The Strengths Guy! How can strengths be used to recruit and onboard early-career employees? The main difference when recruiting early-career professionals is their lack of direct work experience, but this is when strengths come in. Tune into this episode to learn about Dr. Paul Brewerton's 8 steps to have a successful recruitme…
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How strengths can help support teams to address Lencioni’s five dysfunctions
15:22
15:22
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15:22If you're not familiar with Patrick Lencioni’s model, it describes where leadership teams can go wrong. In this episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton breaks down the five dysfunctions and introduces the StrengthscopeTeam model, which offers practical tips to turn dysfunction into high performance. Hope you enjoy!…
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Strengths, business and neurodiversity with Nik Govier, Founder and CEO at Blurred
1:00:11
1:00:11
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1:00:11In this podcast episode, Dr Paul Brewerton and Nik Govier (Founder and CEO of Blurred) discuss why BCorp matters, neurodiversity, and how organisations can better help people with different neurodivergences thrive at work. Hope you enjoy!By Dr Paul Brewerton
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Josh Allan Dykstra on the challenge of measuring impact in the HR world
58:56
58:56
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58:56For all of us in HR, L&D, OD, and all the subsets of the people professions, it’s difficult to measure the impact of our work in a credible, business-friendly, and commercially relevant way. So today, Dr Paul Brewerton invites Josh Allan Dykstra, CEO of #Love Work, to talk about all of this and more to provoke some thinking and discussion around th…
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Strengths and entrepreneurism with Rachel Carrell, CEO of Koru Kids
53:24
53:24
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53:24An insightful conversation between Strengthcope Founder, Paul Brewerton, and CEO of Koru Kids, Rachel Carrell, as they dive into the strengths within leadership and entrepreneurship. Hope you enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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Scott Christie on strengths vs skills: defining the future world of work
59:07
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59:07Are strengths or skills going to be more important when we think about the future world of work and the future workforce? And quite frankly, right now? What are strengths, and how are they different from skills? Can you have one without the other? Find out in this episode with Dr Paul Brewerton - Founder & Chair of Strengthscope, and Scott Christie…
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Research alert – how to get the most from strengths at work… the evidence!
15:41
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15:41Listen in as Dr Paul Brewerton dives into the 5-step model to maximise the chances of achieving positive outcomes from the application of strengths at work. All research-backed, of course. Hope you enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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Bringing your people to the centre of change and transformation, with Dr Pete Thomond
1:09:00
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1:09:00Dive into this jam-packed episode with Dr Paul Brewerton and Dr Peter Thomond as they discuss the dynamic topic of change and transformation and how you can bring your people to the centre of it all. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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Assessments in recruitment - from social desirability to the full candidate picture with strengths
11:14
11:14
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11:14Do you work in recruitment, talent acquisition, or in a broader HR role responsible for recruitment? Have you ever applied for a job or participated in an assessment centre or development centre, or you may do so in the future? Are you interested in the strengths approach and how it can create a fairer, less biased, more open and relaxed recruitmen…
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Get ready for candidate-led recruitment, the strengths way
8:48
8:48
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8:48Recruitment today is no longer a ‘two-way’ process. It’s more ‘candidate way’ than ever, irrespective of the ebbs and flows of the recruitment market. Recruitment today needs to allow a candidate-centric, candidate-led approach in order to win the war for talent and to keep people engaged and retained for as long as it makes sense for both parties.…
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Kent Frazier, CEO of ParadoxEdge - a strengths-based approach to becoming more fully human
59:26
59:26
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59:26Tune into this insightful conversation between Paul Brewerton, Founder and Chair of Strengthscope, and Kent Frazier, CEO of ParadoxEdge, on a strengths-based approach to becoming more fully human. Hope you enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S16E12 5 strengths must-dos to keep strengths in your daily practice and in the flow of work
7:21
7:21
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7:21Research tells us that people who use their strengths every day see many positive outcomes: less stress, better relationships, greater job satisfaction, higher levels of well-being and improved problem-solving. So how can you be part of that group? Today I want to share my top 5 tips for making strengths part of your daily practice and bringing the…
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P36 The Future of Work with Ollie Pickup – what role for humans?
31:11
31:11
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31:11The Future of Work: What role for humans? An episode with Ollie Pickup. Listen as Ollie Pickup and Paul Brewerton dive into the future of work, touching on topics such as AI in recruitment. Hope you enjoy. Ollie is a London-based technology and business journalist. He has been labelled a "future-of-work influencer" and writes and talks about all of…
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S16E11 - The 8-point plan that will guarantee your strengths-based organisation lasts
10:41
10:41
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10:41How do you implement a strengths-based approach that sticks in the long term? In this episode, you'll uncover eight key principles to help you sustainably achieve an organisation with strengths embedded in its culture.By Dr. Paul Brewerton
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S16E10 - How you can change a culture in 5 simple steps
12:44
12:44
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12:44Where does culture come from, and what influences it? Why is culture so hard to change? We delve into these questions and explore 5 simple steps to change a culture. This is the final part of our culture trilogy. Check Season 12, Episodes 7 and 11 for the first 2 parts.By Dr. Paul Brewerton
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S16E9 - Why social identity theory matters to us all and what you can do about it
11:35
11:35
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11:35In this episode, we explore how individuals adopt different identities based on their social groups and why they do this. The social identity theory is relevant in various life contexts, particularly work environments. From the impact on teams and organizations to the critical aspect of leadership, you will gain valuable insights into harnessing th…
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S16E8 - Why would anyone want to be led by you? The question all leaders should still be asking themselves
9:22
9:22
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9:22In this episode, we delve into the enduring question posed by professors Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones: "Why should anyone be led by you?" We explore the challenges of authentic leadership, reflecting on how this concept has evolved over the years, and discuss the struggle of aligning academic research, business demands, and popular opinion in the re…
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Why would anyone want to be led by you - The question all leaders should still be asking themselves
9:22
9:22
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9:22In this episode, we delve into the enduring question posed by professors Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones: "Why should anyone be led by you?" We explore the challenges of authentic leadership, reflecting on how this concept has evolved over the years, and discuss the struggle of aligning academic research, business demands, and popular opinion in the re…
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S16E7 - How can you tell if your organisation is ‘strengths ready’?
10:24
10:24
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10:24In this podcast, we explore the journey of adopting a strengths-based approach in organizations. From defining the approach to understanding its impact, we delve into what it takes to make the strengths approach work. Discover the keys to success and the common pitfalls to avoid.By Dr. Paul Brewerton
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S16E6 The loneliness of the leader (and what you can do about it)
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12:58
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12:58Stepping into a leadership position is one of the most challenging career transitions you can make, but, If becoming a leader can lead to a sense of loneliness, and continuing on your leadership journey can get more and more isolating, what are the risks of that, and what are the solutions that have worked for other leaders? Here is my four-step gu…
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S16E5 - How the strengths approach can support a neurodiverse culture
6:45
6:45
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6:45Neurodiversity is a super important topic for everyone in the workplace, not least for managers and for people professionals in HR, talent and learning and development teams. Neurodivergences need to be understood at work so that they can be accommodated, so that ND individuals can continue to feel included and valued.…
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In today’s podcast, you'll learn about six clear steps for upping your influence game using your own strengths. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S16E3 Using strengths to support DE&I in today’s lockdown-affected generation
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8:46
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8:46How should your talent acquisition strategy be modified to accommodate the lockdown-affected generation? The strengths approach can help! Find out how in this episode - hope you enjoy.By Paul Brewerton
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S16E2 The power of compassion - social support is the most crucial driver of our health
12:02
12:02
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12:02Today’s episode is about the power of compassion and how you can bring more of it into your life, into the lives of the people you care about and into the lives of everyone you come into contact with, in practical ways. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S16E1 Unlocking early careers - the power of strengths based onboarding
8:09
8:09
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8:09Successful onboarding programmes play a pivotal role in retaining and engaging graduates and apprentices. Embracing a strengths-based approach to onboarding allows employers to bridge the gap between expectations and the realities of the workplace. That's the topic for today's podcast. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E12 How strengths can positively impact your early career
7:11
7:11
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7:11Whether you’re a graduate, an apprentice, or someone else early in your career, or whether you’re someone who works with those in early careers, today’s episode is for you. I want to share how strengths can really help those coming into the workplace in various ways. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E11 Research alert - is Gallup's latest 'global trends' engagement survey helpful or hurtful
9:45
9:45
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9:45In today's podcast episode, Dr. Paul Brewerton provides a personal view of not just Gallup’s annual engagement survey findings but also some pointers on making sense of any research report – what to look out for from a positive point of view and from a contrary perspective, so that you can draw your own conclusions on what’s helpful and what’s not …
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S15E10 How managers can get the most from a strengths approach
10:36
10:36
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10:36In today’s podcast, I want to offer some practical tips to managers for getting the best use of the strengths approach. I’m going to answer three questions: How can you bring your strengths into day-to-day management practice? How can you start a dialogue about strengths with your direct reports? What are some concrete actions you take immediately …
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P35 Strengths in team coaching with Andy Chandler
59:52
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59:52This podcast with Paul Brewerton and Andy Chandler (MD of Barefoot Coaching) explores using strengths in the context of coaching, and particularly, team coaching. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E9 Building a feedback culture in 8 steps
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8:45Today’s episode is about building a feedback culture by focusing on culture first. So here is my 8-step guide on how to get feedback flowing in your organisation.By Paul Brewerton
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S15E8 Research Alert - This is what makes an effective leader
11:38
11:38
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11:38Our study found that 1. Successful leaders have very different strengths that they draw on to achieve results, 2. That it matters more how you use your strengths and not whether you have specific strengths, 3. That to be rated as an effective leader, you need to show breadth of behaviour across 4 key areas and that 4. The highest predictor of leade…
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S15E7 Does 360 degree feedback actually work? How can you get the best from it?
12:01
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12:01In today’s episode, I want to explore the evidence for 360-degree feedback and the evidence against. I want to give you some top tips on how to get the best from 360-degree feedback when you’re the feedback recipient and how to get the best from your feedback process as an organisation. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E6 The power of strengths-based feedback
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10:30Today I want to throw the spotlight on the power of strengths-based feedback – when to do it, how to do it and what happens because of it. Hope you enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E5 Research alert – strengthening teams to deliver on their goals
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7:13There isn’t a huge amount of high-quality peer-reviewed research out there on the benefits of using strengths in a team setting, which is why this new research paper I'm going to share is so exciting and why I’m keen to share it with you. Hope you enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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P34 Effective leadership in times of change - the value of strengths with Nyawera Kibuka
43:48
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43:48In today's episode, Paul and Nyawera talk about leadership in times of change. A conversation about what leaders need to do more of, less of, to learn, to focus on during change… for the good of their people and for the good of their organisations. And the role of strengths in this. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E4 A pathway to a high performing team - Tuckman x strengths
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12:02In today’s podcast, I want to smush together two tried and tested philosophies: the strengths approach and Tuckman’s model of team development, to give you some practical pointers on developing teams towards high performance using team members’ strengths. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E3 No not that AI… Appreciative Inquiry as a powerful method for change
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12:51In today’s show, I’m going to focus in on why Appreciative Inquiry is such a powerful tool for personal, team, organisational and even societal change. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E2 Taking control of your career with strengths
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11:06Today’s podcast is how to use your strengths as foundations to support you when you decide that you need to make a career move. Or when your employer decides for you. I have 5 top tips for you. Enjoy!By Paul Brewerton
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S15E1 Applying the strengths approach to learning through change: 4 top tips
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9:46Change can take so many forms. And for most of us, it is registered in the brain as a threat rather than an opportunity. But, if change is now so commonplace, maybe we can consider reframing it so that we’re less likely to deny or resist it and more likely to look for learning and growth opportunities for ourselves. Hope you enjoy!…
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P33 Strengthening my squiggly career with Shetel Khimashia
35:35
35:35
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35:35Today, Dr Paul Brewerton talks to Shetel Khimashia as they share some tips on managing and strengthening your own career. While also diving into Shetel's own impressive professional experience as she explains how and why she has been through many different roles in the past 3 years, for various reasons. Tune in!…
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P32 Strengths in education with Paul Mehra
52:23
52:23
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52:23So today’s podcast is on a topic that I know will be of major interest to a lot of our audience, as it regularly comes up in conversation – strengths in education. Why do we need the strengths philosophy in education? How can we introduce more strengths thinking and practice into schools, colleges, universities, all places of education? And what ne…
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S14E12 How you can insulate your career from new technology by focusing on strengths
8:40
8:40
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8:40Fast forward to today, and AI is powering the majority of customer service interactions for many businesses. In Strengthscope’s case, this runs at up to 85% for a typical month. In today’s episode, I would like to give you, fellow non-AI human, 6 tips for staying relevant as AI advances accelerate.By Paul Brewerton
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S14E11 Combatting change fatigue with strengths
6:51
6:51
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6:51One of the top priorities for HR leaders in 2023? Organisational change. If change is everywhere, and we know it is everywhere, how can we keep our people insulated from change fatigue? That’s the topic of today’s episode on combatting change fatigue with strengths.By Paul Brewerton
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S14E10 How to give feedback well - 7 top tips
8:01
8:01
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8:01Today I want to give you seven top tips for getting the best from feedback, particularly when giving it, but with a couple of references to receiving feedback too.By Paul Brewerton
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