Beyond The Back Paddock with Cynthia Mahoney

Beyond The Back Paddock

Cynthia Mahoney is a facilitator, coach, mentor, speaker and author with a passion for personal disruption, neuroscience, positive psychology, courageous conversations, human performance and well-being. Her mantra (taken from the latest neuroscience research) is that “Happier people are higher performing,” and she strives to help leaders and teams achieve this in the workplace.

Her first book, Cultivate: How Neuroscience and Well-Being support Rural Leaders to Thrive, helps leaders understand how to use the latest brain science and positive psychology and add to their toolkits with practical ways to thrive in our modern world that is full of disruption and change.

Cynthia is passionate about working with people to develop their life and leadership skills and to increase diversity and participation in decision-making in industry, government and the community. She’s a strong believer in bringing people together to identify issues, exchange ideas and develop solutions that work for them, their business or organisation, their family and community.

In this chat Cynthia shares her personal story and the moment that changed her perspective on life. She discusses the challenges of identity and ego, particularly in the context of farming. Cynthia also talks about her background and career in agriculture, including her transition to facilitation and coaching. She highlights the importance of authentic leadership and cultivating a positive work environment. Cynthia provides insights on how individuals can cultivate their own leadership skills. In this conversation, the importance of self-care and wellbeing as a leadership skill. She emphasizes the need for leaders to prioritize their own wellbeing in order to set an example for others. Cynthia also highlights the significance of personal accountability and self-awareness in leadership, explores the negative impact of treating leadership as a tick-box exercise and emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive organisational culture. Cynthia discusses the role of reducing stress and making better decisions in effective leadership. She also emphasizes the need for creating a psychological safe environment and shifting from transactional to relational workplaces. Cynthia shares the wisdom of Taylor Swift and the importance of being authentic and true to oneself. Lastly, she reveals the story behind her dog Alfie's name and invites listeners to connect with her and her work. Takeaways:

• Authentic leadership involves being true to oneself and walking the talk.
• Leaders should challenge and develop their team members, providing clear feedback and accountability.
• Effective leaders create cultivating environments that prioritize the well-being and growth of their team members.
• Leadership is not limited to formal positions and can be demonstrated in various aspects of life. Self-care and wellbeing are essential leadership skills.
• Personal accountability and self-awareness are crucial for effective leadership.
• Leadership should not be treated as a tick-box exercise; it requires genuine commitment and integrity.
• Creating a positive organizational culture is vital for success.
• Reducing stress and making better decisions are key aspects of effective leadership.
• Psychological safety is essential for creating a supportive work environment.
• Shifting from transactional to relational workplaces fosters greater employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Being authentic and true to oneself is a powerful leadership quality.
• Finding joy and inspiration in passions, such as sports, can enhance overall wellbeing.
• Embracing and utilizing one's unique talents can contribute to personal and professional success.
• Connecting with others and seeking support is important for personal and professional growth.

Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 01:10 Moment that Changed Perspective on Life 08:11 Loss of Identity in Farming 10:14 Background and Career in Agriculture 13:12 Transition to Facilitation and Coaching 31:23 What Leadership Looks Like 40:27 Cultivating Leadership Skills 41:24 The Importance of Self-Care and Wellbeing 43:00 Personal Accountability and Self-Awareness 45:01 Leadership as a Tick-Box Exercise 46:31 Cultivating a Positive Organizational Culture 48:49 Reducing Stress and Making Better Decisions 51:26 Creating a Psychological Safe Environment 53:20 The Shift from Transactional to Relational Workplaces 56:05 Being Authentic and True to Yourself 58:38 The Wisdom of Taylor Swift 01:02:59 Embracing Your Unique Talents 01:09:49 The Story Behind Alfie's Name 01:12:09 Connecting with Cynthia and Her Work https://cynthiamahoney.com.au