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S3 Ep88 Dean Leak: Disagreeing Well
Description
If the room is full of nods but decisions still stall, the problem isn’t a lack of harmony it might be a lack of skilful disagreement. Aaron sits down with leadership and culture coach Dean Leek to unpack how teams can turn conflict into a competitive advantage without burning people out.
From elite sport to FTSE boardrooms, Dean has seen what happens when “win at all costs” collides with real human limits, and why sustainable performance starts with health before high performance.
We dig into one gold‑medal story that still stings: a last‑minute weight cut that delivered a podium but raised hard ethical questions. That moment became a leadership pivot—plan for dilemmas, debrief honestly, and define what “winning well” actually means.
Dean breaks down the practical side too: how to narrow the authority gap so people speak up, how a two‑minute meeting primer invites challenge, and how to build structures like disagreement zones that create clarity about when to debate and when to decide. The goal isn’t consensus for its own sake; it’s progress through rigorous, respectful thinking.
Along the way, we explore serendipity, imposter syndrome as a hidden superpower, and the both‑and mindset that lets empathy and accountability coexist.
If you lead a team, coach, or just want better conversations at home, this is a roadmap for disagreeing well and enjoying it.
Subscribe, share with a colleague who avoids tough talks, and leave a review telling us one norm you’ll try at your next meeting.
Connect with Dean on LinkedIn or via his website.
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