126. Jeremy Blain - How to lead in the era of open talent & ongoing change

In this episode of Leadership That Sells, I sit down with Jeremy Blain — transformation strategist, leadership expert and four-time best-selling author — to dig into the practical realities of leading in a world that won’t stop shifting. Jeremy has coached leaders in over 50 countries, built award-winning training companies, and previously held senior roles at PepsiCo and P&G. We talk about how leadership has to evolve for the digital age, why the human element is more important than ever, and why managers clinging to outdated models are falling behind fast.

We get into why today’s leaders need a full operating system upgrade, not just a patch or a plugin. Jeremy unpacks what that means in practical terms, and how the best leaders are dropping the need to have all the answers and instead creating the right culture for talent to thrive — including those who just want to do a great job and go home. This isn’t theory. It’s what real leadership looks like now.

Here’s how to upgrade your leadership operating system:

• Accept that yesterday's leadership models are broken. You’re not here to command and control. You're here to enable.
• Be a learner again. The best leaders are learning at the same pace as their teams.
• Shift from vertical hierarchy to horizontal collaboration.
• Stop thinking 'Talent' with a capital T. Everyone has value. Empower from the ground up.
• Understand the open talent economy. It’s no longer about roles, it’s about skills.
• Redefine the role of HR. HR needs to grow some teeth and lead transformation, not just administer it.

Timeline summary:

[02:24] – Why 20th century leadership needs a digital-age upgrade [04:04] – Leadership is now a shared journey with your people [06:06] – Set direction, create climate, and coach for capability [08:54] – The pace of change in Asia vs. a sluggish UK [10:08] – Flattening hierarchies and rethinking the org chart [11:00] – Stop reserving leadership for the "chosen few" [14:47] – What really stops managers from empowering their teams [16:05] – The open talent era: 50% of the workforce will be independent [18:43] – Why HR is not ready and needs a serious reset [23:04] – Culture is the glue that binds all transformation [25:05] – The first step? Slow down, look at the data, then decide [27:48] – "Get comfortable in knowing what to do when you don't know what to do"

Links & resources:

• Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyblain/
• Jeremy’s podcast: Rethink Leadership
• Jeremy’s book: The Inner CEO in Action : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inner-CEO-Unleashing-leaders-levels/dp/1784529338

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