Five Mindsets to Lead Well with Paula Davis
The Remarkable Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 07/02/2025
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info_outlineIs workplace well-being a strategic advantage or simply a leadership nicety? In this episode, Kevin Eikenberry sits down with Paula Davis to discuss the seismic shifts reshaping our workplaces, including the lasting impacts of the pandemic, ongoing debates about hybrid work, generational expectations, and the rise of AI. Paula makes a case for adopting new mindsets over merely acquiring new skills. These include Sticky Recognition and Mattering, ABC Needs, Workload Sustainability, Systemic Stress Resilience, and Values and Team Alignment. Paula also addresses the deeper root causes of workplace stress, such as unmanageable workloads, lack of recognition, and organizational unfairness.
Listen For
00:00 Introduction
00:08 Workplace wellbeing overview
00:42 Podcast welcome and live events
01:30 About the book Flexible Leadership
01:57 Guest introduction – Paula Davis
04:41 Paula's journey and burnout story
06:21 Why the book matters now
08:34 Why focus on mindsets
10:11 People and performance focus
13:08 Research insights on high-performing organizations
15:05 Root causes of stress and disengagement
16:21 Six root causes explained
20:15 Why these issues matter more today
21:20 Overview of the five mindsets
22:06 Sticky recognition and mattering
24:29 ABC needs: Autonomy, Belonging, Challenge
25:23 Workload sustainability
28:27 Systemic stress resilience
30:15 Summary: human and teaming practices
31:12 What Paula does for fun
32:37 Book recommendation
34:01 Where to find Paula and the book
35:03 Final thoughts and call to action
Paula's Story: Paula Davis JD, MAPP, is the author of Lead Well: Five Mindsets to Engage, Retain and Inspire your Team. She is the founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. For 15 years, she has been a trusted advisor to leaders in organizations of all sizes helping them to make work better. Paula is a globally recognized expert on the effects of workplace stress, burnout prevention, workplace well-being, and building resilience for individuals and teams. Paula left her law practice after seven years and earned a master’s degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the author of Beating Burnout at Work: Why Teams Hold the Secret to Well-Being & Resilience, which was nominated for best new book by the Next Big Idea Club. Paula has shared her expertise at educational institutions such as Harvard Law School, Wharton School Executive Education, and Princeton. She is a two-time recipient of the distinguished teaching award from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has been featured in and on The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post and many other media outlets. Paula is also a contributor to Forbes, Fast Company and Psychology Today.
https://stressandresilience.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladavislaack/
https://www.instagram.com/stressandresilience/
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Flexible Leadership is every leader’s guide to greater success in a world of increasing complexity and chaos.