Practical Leadership Podcast
Leadership learning from the 100 most effective, practical people you need to meet. Sharing their hard-earned experience for the good of every people leader out there.
Episodes
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
We talk about a lot. I've never met a neurodivergent leadership developer before.
In this great episode, Kene Erike and I discuss the significance of the number 33, mental maturity, goal-setting, and the importance of having a purpose.
We cover the need for introspection and self-awareness, as well as the value of creating systems and habits that help achieve goals.
Kene shares his work with the neurodiverse community, helping them maximise their potential and overcome challenges.
He also talks about his upcoming audiobook, which focuses on building stronger relationships and fostering cooperation.
Don't miss it.
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You can and should find Kene here:
https://keneerike.com/
https://justtaptheglass.com/
Insta: @k.e.consulting
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
In my latest episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Molly Johnson-Jones, CEO of Flexa, about how to truly embrace and make the most out of flexible working. Flexa is a company that specializes in helping organizations create genuinely flexible working environments, and Molly has some fantastic insights to share.
Molly and I discuss the importance of setting clear expectations and frameworks to help employees thrive in a flexible environment. We delve into the common misconceptions about flexible working and the importance of transparency in job descriptions. We also touch on how crucial it is for senior leadership to role model flexibility and lead with trust.
Are you curious about how to improve your organisation's flexible working culture or want to learn more about the benefits of offering genuine flexibility to your team? Then this episode is perfect for you! Molly's enthusiasm for flexible working is infectious, and her insights are invaluable for any leader looking to create a more adaptable and resilient workforce.
So, grab your headphones and join us for an engaging and informative conversation that will have you rethinking your approach to flexible working. Don't miss out on this chance to learn from a true expert in the field! Listen now to the Practical Leadership Podcast's latest episode with Molly Johnson-Jones.You can find Molly here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-johnson-jones/
https://flexa.careers/
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Perform better as a new manager - or learn to get promoted for the first time - visit : https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Mar 20, 2023
41. How to unlock high-performance health - with Dr. Pat Boulogne
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Dr. Pat - why am I fat and lazy?
Believe it or not, Dr. Pat has an answer...
Dr. Pat Boulogne is a doctor of functional medicine, CEO of Healthteam Network and a "coach with a mentor's heart".
In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Pat Boulogne, a lifestyle medicine expert and chiropractor, who shared her insights on the importance of maintaining a high-performance lifestyle to achieve better health and success. Dr. Pat talked about the five pillars of health: positive mental attitude, diet, exercise, sleep, and posture, and how addressing our weakest link can lead to significant improvements in our overall well-being.
Some key takeaways from our conversation include:
• The importance of nurturing ourselves before we can nurture others, and the role of mindset in achieving our goals
• How daily habits and simple exercises can improve our posture and core strength, leading to reduced pain and stiffness
• Her upcoming collaborative book, "Deck of Cards," where Dr. Pat shares her tips for improving business and health.
Dr Pat says:
"If you don't nurture yourself, you can't nurture somebody else."
"Sometimes hiring a coach with a mentor's heart help you know where exactly to spend your time, energy, and money."
"I just love to see people thrive. I get a lot of joy from seeing people succeed and win."
Dr. Pat emphasized the value of persistence and consistency in achieving a high-performance lifestyle. She believes that with the right guidance and a strong foundation, individuals can reach their greatest potential in less time.
I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and look forward to the release of her book, "Deck of Cards."
If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Pat Boulogne and her work, you can connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, or visit her website at www.Healthteamnetwork.com.
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Jimmy Burroughes, a former British Army captain turned Business Leadership Management coach.
Jimmy shared his journey from his first management role during the Gulf War to becoming a coach, and we bondedn on the importance of focusing on the basics and building on solid ground. (A house built on sand...)
He described the leadership training at Sandhurst, which is all about building trust, consensus, communication, and connection. He says that a leader's job is to seek ideas and input and gain subject matter expertise from those around them, but that the responsibility to make the decision ultimately rests with the leader.
We also discussed the importance of building trust in the workplace, starting with safety, both physical and psychological. Jimmy shared his seven-point plan for building trust, which starts with safety, followed by authenticity, listening, embracing different perspectives, challenging assumptions, staying focused, and following through.
We wrapped up the conversation with five practical takeaways from the podcast, including focusing on the basics, being humble, communicating and connecting, seeking input, and taking responsibility.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed making it.
Come with me and let's dive in and drink from Jimmy's fountain of hard-earned wisdom.
You can find Jimmy here:
jimmyburroughes.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyburroughes/
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When you're ready for that promotion - join my new manager masterclass here:
https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
From part time student to CEO.
Learn how CEO of Sana Commerce Michiel Schipperus made his move and how he hires for success.
When the future minister of finance of the Netherlands offered Michiel his first management job as a part time student, he thought he was joking.
He wasn't.
23 years later, Michiel is on a well-earned sabbatical, mulling over who to chose as the next CEO of B2B eCommerce success story Sana Commerce.
When you're hiring anyone - make the hiring process it as close to real as possible, he recommends:
Find out if they have a learning mindset - give candidates a real business case to work with.
Find a trusted person to judge their suitability for a management role - and believe them!
Join me for a very interesting conversation with a very experienced practitioner of the arts of leadership and management.
You can find Michiel here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michielschipperus/
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Monday Feb 27, 2023
Josh Novelle is an analytical people person. And a former long-haired Metal fan. And a welder. (Different type of metal...)
He's also a pragmatic business leader who annoys the heck out of people by asking "why". A lot.
We talk about
Being a custodian of talent
Tours of duty
People unit economics
The impossibility of objective decision making
and more.
Join me for a fascinating tour of the inside of a fascinating person and learn how he spots the warning signs of dysfunction in organisations and why he's grateful for his teenage laziness.
Find Josh here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshnovelle/
I will help you to improve the performance of your new managers: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Teaching taught him to be prepared for anything! (Has he met my kids?)
Knowing you don't have to know the answer helped him become a better manager.
Faris Aranki, CEO of Shiageto consulting is an advocate of Pre-Mortems (a great technique for avoiding disaster by thinking through risks in advance).
He also suggests that you can build a relationship faster than you might think. There are a few things he does to force the relationship to evolve at speed:
Find something - anything - in common
Find joint tasks to work on (force this if you're the boss)
Set people up to learn together by making the tasks more challenging than they might expect
As a learner by nature - Faris also suggests making whatever you absorb stick by either: Doing it again and again, Speaking about it to an audience, or Writing it down multiple times.
You can find Faris here:
https://www.shiageto.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaranki/
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Raise the potential and productivity of your new managers with my New Manager coaching: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Feb 13, 2023
36. How to promote from inside with Flo Broderick CMO at Carto
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Flo Broderick likes to promote from inside, although she says it is a difficult balance to make.
After all - that's where she came from.
Do you hire just the right experience from outside, or look at the talent you already have, recognise that it's the choice with the fewest unknowns and help them to grow into the role?
We also talk about why you should over communicate. Again, and again. How you should go to work to be respected, not to be liked and why Slack is the new canteen.
When the mike was off, she came up with one more gem: Do the work no one else wants to do.
And - when you're younger, use your holidays wisely. The list of different things Flo did is wild!
Find Flo here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/flobroderick/
When you're ready - help your new managers be more successful and productive: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Vinit Patel co-founder of Filtered.com keeps on going by working in bursts, and designing his job so he takes on different roles every so often. He thinks it's a great thing for anyone in any company to do.
He recommends everyone should find a coach or a mentor to act as a sounding board, and that you should go easy on yourself. It's not all your fault!
You should ask for help. Try your line manager, HR, or an experienced manager from your past.
Vin finds that when he writes his issue down, it's cathartic and can be emotional - self coaching towards solutions by putting process and structure around the problem.
We get into the meat of progression frameworks, why it's important to build them and some good tools to use .
You can find Vin here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinitrpatel/
filtered.com
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When you're ready to help your new managers become more productive - join me at:
https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
I recently interviewed Lasse Hamre, co-founder of TASK.NO, and he shared some valuable insights on teamwork, trust, experimentation, freedom and responsibility. Here's a quick summary of our chat, complete with some funny direct quotes, tips and numbered lists.
Lasse is a true believer in the power of teamwork. As a singer and a military veteran, he has a unique perspective on what it takes to create something beautiful and powerful as a group. According to him, the key to success is to listen to the pulse of the team and to understand where you fit in.
Here are some of the other takeaways from our conversation:
Trust is everything: Lasse believes that trust is the foundation of any successful team. He said "if you want to create something with a group, you sort of have to listen to the group as a whole. And maybe there is room for a soloist somewhere. But the soloist couldn't have become a soloist if it wasn't for the group."
Experimentation is key: According to Lasse, experimentation is crucial for growth and progress.
Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand: Lasse believes that true freedom comes with responsibility. He said "It's wonderful. I have to tap into the right tune and the right rhythm and to have the same beats as everybody else in the group and be part of something bigger."
Lasse sees the choir and his team as a product, and he believes that the audience is not there to listen to him, but to listen to the choir. He said "So the product is something we made together."
So, if you're looking for some inspiration on how to create something beautiful and powerful as a group, look no further. Lasse's insights will help you build trust, experiment, and find your place in the team.
Find Lasse on
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LasseHamre
and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lassehamre/
and on his website: https://task.no
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When you're ready - upgrade your new managers with my short, high-impact, practical group coaching: https://practical-leadership.academy
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Brain-crush alert!
Riffing and role playing with her father on his work challenges, and the product of many mentors - Judy Wairimu has a clear list of five big things managers need to avoid:
1) Over emphasising your own goals - aim to empower others and build their trust instead
2) Have the courage to avoid protecting your own image - ask when you don't know
3) Don't turn competitors into enemies - assume positive intent and look for a 3rd dimension to a challenge
4) Include others in your introspection - bring advisors into your context to help you
5) Don't wait for permission to become a leader.
I have to admit it. I have an enormous brain-crush on Judy Wairimu.
Since Camiel Gielkens kindly introduced us, she's been and continues to be inspirational.
You can find Judy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wairimug/
Monday Jan 16, 2023
32. How to start with your own why - with Michael Hanson, CEO Growth Genie
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Michael Hanson's dad taught him to "just do it".
He thinks we need to start with our own purpose before helping others find theirs.
Through a distinctive and varied career so far, covering four countries and teaching, being a talent scout, political consultant and now successful entrepreneur, Michael says Humility was his best and hardest lesson.
Socrates' wisdom "I know that I know nothing" together with avoiding making assumptions about people drive him and his business.
Find Michael here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hanson-/
https://growthgenie.co/
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Join me in this remarkable 1 hour special episode with Jo Owen on a wide ranging conversation covering:
The mindset of highly effective leaders: Elon Musk, ruthlessness and obsession - is it a bug or a feature?
The Hybrid work revolution - Autonomy, Accountability, Ambiguity Seeking and following inspiration
Having the 'success' conversation
Jo Owen has worked with over 100 of the best, and a couple of the worst, organisations on our planet.
He is a founder of eight NGOs which have a collective turnover of £100 million annually.
He led businesses in Japan, North America and Europe; he created a business bank; he was a partner at Accenture and is one of the founders of Teach First which is now the largest graduate recruiter in the UK.
His career highlights include:
putting the blue speckle in Daz
becoming the best nappy salesman in Birmingham
getting sued for $12 billion (when a billion was worth something)
He also worked with tribes over fifteen years across the world to discover how they survive and succeed, and what businesses can learn from them.
Jo is the only person to winner the Chartered Management Institute gold award four times for his books.
He has written twenty books on leadership and management which run to over 100 global editions.
His titles include How to Lead, Global Teams, Tribal Business School and the Mindset of Success.
His latest book is out now "Smart Leadership".
Find Jo here: https://amzn.to/3YjYafR
https://www.ilead.guru/
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I will help you to improve the performance of your new managers: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Infobesity.
From the sausage works to Formula One, Paul Teasdale has had an international and madly varied career.
Now landing on his own delivering against his RAPID performance framework - we talk about three great topics:
Be humble, be honest, be kind - Paul's mantra.
How to ideate and generate practical ideas - Could do - no ideas are silly - Should do - what do we prioritise - Will do - the commitment to deliver and lastly
Paul's great RAPID framework for performance.
Results - what and how you want to do things
Actions - what can you do
People - understanding who you have and where their strengths lie
Insights - the decisions you can make based on the...
Data - the raw source. Ensuring you don't fall into Infobesity!
Find Paul here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljamesteasdale/
https://paulteasdale.co.uk/
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When you're ready - help your new managers lead in a hybrid environment: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
"Have you tried turning him off and on again?" What would appear in your personal operating manual?
How you want to be informed and kept up to date.
What's your hierarchy of communication?
How do you approach time?
All of these could appear in your own operating manual - the guide you create to help other people 'use' you to your best ability.
Andrew Davies shares his thinking and approach to business and leadership without drama (another line on his manual) and with clarity.
'Empowerment as leasehold not freehold' is another insight - the manager still owns the land, and all the responsibility.
Join me for a great conversation!
You can find Andrew here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andjdavies/
https://twitter.com/andjdavies
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When you're ready to help your new managers perform better, visit: https://practical-leadership.academy
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Gerry Griffin is an author, composer, teacher, entrepreneur and now luthier (maker of guitars).
He's also a storyteller and expert in communications and strategy.
In his illustrious career he has refined his approach to the use of language and leadership and takes us through his way to use language to power your 'self-created', contextual self.
Authentic - comes from Autos Hentes - Greek "Self doing, creating"
Gerry advises
Find out where you are
What's your true context?
How best should you communicate with the people around you
You can find Gerry here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerry-griffin-4301532/
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
27. How to recruit diverse talent - with Mark Creighton ex-CEO & trainee coach
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
A 20-year ad-man, veteran of media agencies, Mark Creighton went looking for innate purpose and found adult learning and apprenticeships He was wise enough in his very first job in his first year to hire diversely.
Looking for a team member to help him build ads in the shiny new "Internets", he purposefully hired someone different to him.
Hiring badly can cause you 3x the pain of not hiring.
Hiring well will repay you 10x the effort of doing it.
He doesn't pay much attention to CVs, preferring to really listen to candidates and understand what's behind their passions.
Join me for another cracking chat!
Find Mark here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcreighton1/
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New managers, and managers of new managers - click here for help today: https://practical-leadership.academy
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
26. How to keep things simple - with Tom Lavery CEO at Jiminny
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
Thursday Dec 22, 2022
"Measure twice, cut once" said Tom Lavery's old design & tech teacher, Dr Knapp.
He's CEO over at Jiminny (Tom, not Dr. Knapp...).
Talking about first aid for new managers - we spoke about How to Simplify things.
Keeping things simple makes them go faster and be easier to test.
Tom started as a leader on the footie pitch.
Eventually building high performing sales organisations and now running his own company.
"Measure twice, cut once" stuck with him - even in the fast-paced high-growth world, there's still time to measure twice.
Find Tom here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomlavery7/
https://twitter.com/TomLavery7
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For your New Managers who need training & coaching, digital & live visit: https://practical-leadership.academy
Monday Dec 19, 2022
25. How to be a creative leader - with Camiel Gielkens, CEO Schouten Global
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Becoming global CEO of a face-to-face training company on the leading edge of a global shutdown is a problem on a planetary scale.
Thankfully, Camiel Gielkens, CEO of Schouten Global, one of the world's biggest and best learning companies, already had a plan to move digital.
He was ready to reinvent. His new learning brand - Relevance - speaks to just that: how do we stay relevant?
By constant learning and reinvention.
Join me as we dig into how to combine and balance Strategy and People.
How to use Power and Influence to get things done.
When to lead and when to sit back.
I'd hire Camiel because he's possibly the best communicator I've met because he knows to focus on his Intent, not his goals.
He speaks about the need for new managers to:
- be fit - mentally and physically
- build and maintain knowledge
- develop the skills to do the job
- create change
Find Camiel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camiel-gielkens-a651a6/
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Leadership is hard. See what people have to say about my focused, practical 25 minute session group coaching here: https://practical-leadership.academy
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
24. How to communicate with influence - with Ruth Penfold-Brown, Founder & Coach
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Ruth would like to thank her 30-year-old self for having the courage to reboot and restart her life anew.
She's been a people person for a long time - 13 years in recruitment, leading the talent team at Shazam, Chief People Officer at the BP new energy accelerator Launchpad and now independent.
Thankfully, she explains why Pancakes and Peacocks are a thing for her.
(Round edible things - the pancakes, not the peacocks.)
New managers don't have to know everything (or anything), and her three steps to being able to communicate better are starting at the end point, consider the Situation, the Implication and the Action you want to drive.
We touch on impostors and mentors and great conversations that have changed both our lives for the better.
Ruth is a force to be reconned with.
She asks: Why don't we all accept and take that which we should be entitled to?
Find Ruth here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthpenfold
https://twitter.com/ruthpenfold
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