The Power to Choose - How leaders stop reacting & Start deciding, with Robbie Swale

Episode notes

I spoke with author and coach Robbie Swale about how leaders, coaches and experts can feel less overwhelmed and make clearer choices in complex times. His new book, The Power to Choose: Finding Calm and Connexion in a Complex World, is the backbone of our conversation. It shows simple ways to shift perspective, use curiosity when you’re stuck, and choose what actually deserves your time. If you’re juggling difficult conversations, packed calendars and competing priorities, the ideas Robbie shares will help you decide and act with less friction. Three key areas we cover How perspective shapes everything Most of us see the world through a default lens. Robbie uses the old woman / young woman optical illusion to show how the same situation can feel true in different ways. Try on another perspective and you’ll often find conflict softens and options appear. Curiosity as the practical tool for stress and emotion When you feel contraction or a strong emotion, curiosity is the move. Ask - what’s really going on here? That small pause creates space, slows reactivity and gives you room to choose.