Show Notes
Are you a leader who dreads hard conversations? The uncomfortable feedback. The underperformance chat. The redundancy announcement.
It can be daunting.
But difficult conversations are part of every leader's journey, and mastering them takes skill, EQ and practice.
In this expert-led episode, we bring you tools to help.
Key learnings: • Why fear for even the most capable leaders drives avoidance – and how to break the cycle • How to prepare for tough talks without over-rehearsing • Practical ways to lead redundancy or performance discussions • Turning emotional moments into opportunities for growth • Understanding emotional triggers to finding constructive outcomes
Learn how you can use emotional intelligence (EQ) in five of the most difficult conversations you may have at work.
You'll discover evidence-based techniques to prepare for and conduct challenging discussions that build trust instead of tension.
This episode shows the power of EQ, and why it is often the difference maker in these tough scenarios.
The Career Hacks series is back and episode two is a must-listen for professionals seeking expert advice and guidance in these demanding situations.
Host: Jacqueline Blondell, Editor, CPA Australia
Guest: Amy Jacobson, emotional intelligence expert, speaker and author. Her latest book is titled The Emotional Intelligence Advantage.
For more on Amy Jacobson, head to her website, which includes a section on her books.
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Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube.
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CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting:
With Interest
INTHEBLACK
INTHEBLACK Out Loud
Excel Tips
Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected]
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Change is the one constant in today's work landscape. This episode sparks fresh ideas on leading people through change without losing their trust or buy-in. Expert guest Richard Gerver – who has worked with Google and Deloitte and will speak on Leading Humans Through Continuous Change at CPA Congress 2026 – looks at why restructures so often fail on the human side, not the technical one. He explains why: Asking questions beats presenting answers Change works better when people have ownership of it Organisations need to move from "managing change" to becoming comfortable with continuous change Leaders should unlock the ideas and potential already inside their organisation Psychological safety and leader vulnerability are essential to innovation Resilience isn't about asking people to cope with more, it's something leaders help build If you're leading a team through a restructure, a system migration or AI adoption, this conversation reframes resilience as something you build deliberately, not something people simply have or don't. Give it a listen this week. Host Tahn Sharpe, INTHEBLACK Editor, CPA Australia Guest: Richard Gerver, award-winning change and leadership speaker with a background in education, innovation and human potential For more information on Richard Gerver, head online to his international speakers bureau page. Richard will speak at CPA Congress 2026. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@CPAaustralia/podcasts And don't forget to click subscribe to the channel for a wide range of content that will help your career. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance and accounting: With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/excel-tips Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Chapters: 00:00 Richard Gerver on leadership vulnerability and empowering teams 00:29 Introduction to Richard Gerver, change leadership expert and educator 01:27 How Richard Gerver transformed a failing school through empowerment 04:54 Employee empowerment vs top-down change management 06:15 Why continuous change is the new normal for leaders 10:51 How to get employee buy-in for organisational change 13:00 Leadership, psychological safety and encouraging innovation 16:58 Resilience, failure and learning in a changing workplace 20:29 Leading humans through change, AI adoption and ERP transformation 22:25 Richard Gerver's advice for finance leaders managing major change projects 23:41 Key takeaways and CPA Australia Congress 2026 preview
What does responsible leadership look like when short-term performance still matters? This episode explores stewardship as a practical approach to balancing profit, purpose, stakeholder interests and long-term value. Key learnings include: What stewardship means in today's leadership environment Why organisations are shifting from short-term thinking to long-term value creation The connection between purpose, values and leadership effectiveness How leaders can build cultures of accountability and responsibility Balancing stakeholder expectations in a complex world Practical actions individuals can take to become better stewards in their own roles This podcast aims to help leaders understand how a stewardship mindset can drive both sustainable business success and meaningful societal impact. Tune in now. Host: Patrick Viljoen, ESG Lead, CPA Australia Guest: Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of Steward Leadership Institute and an internationally recognised author, speaker and leadership expert whose work has challenged executives around the world to rethink the purpose of leadership and the role of values in driving sustainable success. You can find more about Steward Leadership Institute on LinkedIn. Loving this episode? Listen to more INTHEBLACK episodes and other CPA Australia podcasts on YouTube. Head to our podcast page CPA Australia - YouTube And of course, click subscribe to the channel today. We deliver regular content that will help boost your career skills and capabilities. Additionally, INTHEBLACK online has stories on everyday ethics issues. CPA Australia publishes four podcasts, providing commentary and thought leadership across business, finance, and accounting https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts INTHEBLACK https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack INTHEBLACK Out Loud https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/intheblack-outloud Excel Tips Excel Tips | CPA Australia With Interest https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/tools-and-resources/podcasts/with-interest Search for them in your podcast platform. Email the podcast team at [email protected] Email the podcast team at [email protected]