Hey, have you ever felt like you're trying to do the right thing in your business, but it just feels like too much? Like you want to merge profit with purpose, but it seems overwhelming. You're not alone. Many leaders struggle with this, and it can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Let's tackle this together and find a way to align your values with your business practices without feeling overwhelmed.
My special guest is Bessi Graham (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bessigraham/)
Today, we are honored to have Bessi Graham as our guest on the show, joining us from Melbourne, Australia. Bessi is a highly respected entrepreneur with over two decades of experience working closely with business owners, government entities, and major funding bodies. Her extensive involvement ranges from grassroots initiatives with business owners in the Pacific Islands to impactful contributions at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. Bessi's unparalleled perspective and deep understanding of merging profit and purpose have made her a sought-after authority in the realm of ethical and sustainable business practices. Her commitment to guiding individuals in aligning their values with their business endeavors has led to the creation of impactful legacies. With her wealth of experience in ethical and purpose-driven enterprises, Bessi brings invaluable insights to our discussion today.
I think regardless of where your leadership position is in the organization, it's starting with those pieces of where do I have decision making control, or at least some influence, and then how do I shape things from there towards this idea of business where we're unapologetically pursuing both? - Bessi Graham
In this episode, you will be able to:
• Discover how to merge profit and purpose for a more sustainable business model.
• Explore the importance of authentic leadership values in driving organizational success.
• Learn the benefits of embracing diversity in decision-making processes for better business outcomes.
• Humanize your leadership style to create a more inclusive and empowering workplace environment.
• Find out how to effectively balance profit with social impact for a meaningful and successful business.
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Diversity in decision-making
Diversity fuels creativity, fosters a broader perspective, and aids in making more informed decisions. Bessi advocates for diverse perspectives in decision-making processes and leadership roles, believing it leads to a more inclusive and effective work environment. She stresses the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone to gain a deeper understanding of various contexts, making decision-making a shared and holistic process.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
• Visit Bessi Graham's website at Bessigraham.com (https://bessigraham.com/) to learn more about her work and access valuable resources.
• Download a free resource from Bessi Graham's website that includes five essential questions for decisive leaders (https://bessigraham.com/5-questions-every-decisive-leader-can-answer/) to gain clarity on important decisions.
• Join the Patreon community at www.patreon.com/aWorldofDifference (https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference) to access an exclusive interview with Bessi Graham, where she delves deeper into self-leadership and resilience for leaders.
You need to apprentice with the problem. Don't just assume you understand something. Don't think that good intentions are good enough. - Bessi Graham
Authentic leadership values
Leadership, as per Bessi, should echo authentic values. It is important that leaders' actions align with their stated values to build trust, credibility, and influence. Moreover, these values should inform decision-making processes ensuring organisational integrity and fostering a culture of honesty and transparency.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Bridging Profit and Purpose
00:06:49 - Impact of Living Abroad
00:10:14 - Humanizing Leadership
00:14:06 - Influence of Values
00:15:14 - Meaningful Values
00:16:04 - The Importance of Core Values
00:17:10 - Aligning Values with Action
00:18:11 - Core Values in Organizations
00:19:03 - Decision Cascade and Clarity
00:25:00 - Bridging Systemic and Grassroots Perspectives
00:31:08 - Apprenticing with the Problem
00:36:17 - Balancing Purpose and Profit
00:39:57 - Shaping Decision-Making
00:42:19 - Purpose and Opportunity
00:43:44 - Connecting with Bessie
00:45:55 - Learning from Experience
00:46:32 - Resilience and Self-Leadership
00:47:07 - Taking a Break without Compromising Impact
00:47:45 - Embracing Individuality
We need to hold these two. This goes back to your both and mindset. Right. So as a leader, being able to hold two things that seem contradictory and say they're equally true. - Bessi Graham
Merge pro...
