Episode #171 // Christmas party season is upon us, and many of you may have already partaken in an early celebration to mark the end of the year. If you’re a leader trying to navigate the vagaries of the office Christmas party, there are a few considerations that will help you make good decisions. Let’s face it, you don’t want to be staring down the aftermath of a significant incident in the days following an event. You want everyone to enjoy the celebration appropriately, and at the same time, feel as safe and respected as they do in their normal work environment. In this Q&A episode we cover all things Christmas parties, from venues to fancy dress to alcohol-free zones...and everything in between. It’s our hope that this conversation will help you to navigate this year’s Christmas party with confidence!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #170 // This week, we’re taking a look at team building exercises. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colors… some are useful, some are borderline disastrous! During my corporate career, I had my fair share of both.So, do we need to reevaluate our commitment to the annual off-site meeting? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Does smashing each other with paintballs or abseiling down a cliff face actually bring us closer together?In this episode I give an insight into my own team building fails, cover off the most common problems to be aware of, and offer some suggestions for building team morale without needing to leave the safety of your own office! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #169 // Even after the disruption of the last 18 months, I still see many companies weighed down by a perfectionistic culture. If we’ve learned nothing else from the Covid experience, it’s that we can move so much faster than we initially think we can—but to do so takes a commitment to the principle of excellence over perfection.What will it take to conquer our need for perfectionism and instead, to adopt an achievement orientation?In this episode, I explore why the pursuit of perfection is not as noble as it might first appear, and expose the six key performance elements that are stymied by perfectionism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #168 // Politics is no fun. It can undo you, even if you’re operating with good intent, and doing everything right.On one level, politics can be seen simply as the process of influencing—but on another it can be a devious, divisive, and manipulative tool, used by individuals to further their own power and control. If allowed to fester, this creates a toxic culture, which can ultimately ruin your company.During my corporate career, I was almost brought undone a few times by political attacks that I didn’t see coming… so, today is all about how to recognize and navigate politics, without buying into the political game yourself. I even get a little help from Niccolo Machiavelli, the father of political strategy, who brings a layer of understanding to the numerous scars I’ve acquired! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #167 // We receive a lot of questions about resilience, and we’ve produced several episodes over the last three years that offer some guidance for how to cope when things are tough.While still on the resilience theme, the focus of today’s episode is slightly different, as we explore what happens when teams become addicted to crisis. Well-run teams and businesses don’t wait for a crisis to occur, and then spring into action. Quite the opposite: they mitigate risks proactively, and avoid the types of scenarios that many other companies fall prey to.It’s important to get on the front foot, and preemptively deal with the risks that could otherwise plunge your team into crisis, so I give you my five hot tips for getting ahead of the next crisis (available as a free PDF downloadable at www.yourceomentor.com/episode167). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #166 // Debate is raging about the merits of remote work versus on-site colocation, exposing some real issues for leaders. One of the lighter discussions is on whether people should be allowed to turn their cameras off during Zoom meetings. This has generated some interesting debate in the wake of a research study published recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology.I released an episode a couple of months ago that deals with a few of these types of issues — Ep.154 Return to Work Rules — in which I developed a framework to guide you through the decision-making process. In this episode, I go a little deeper into some of the ways these issues can affect you and your people.I address the Zoom question, in typical “No Bullsh!t” fashion; I give a comprehensive example of what can happen when you let your people take on an air of entitlement; and I give you some rules of thumb for delivering the best outcome for your organization, while still maintaining critical relationships with your people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #165 // A few months ago I was fortunate enough to be interviewed on Jacob Morgan’s podcast ‘The Future of Work’. We had such a cracking conversation that I wanted to get him on our podcast, so that he can share his wisdom with you! Jacob is a 4 x best-selling author, speaker and futurist. I devoured his book, ‘The Future Leader’ in 48 hours, and this conversation covers all my post-read questions. Over 45 minutes Jacob and I cover: How he was able to interview 140 CEOs and 14,000 employees for his book, and what he learned from the study What Jacob thinks the future of leadership looks like (we even talk AI and the impact of technology)Jacob’s ‘Job, Purpose, Impact and Meaning’ model The key mindsets of a leader (some of my favourites - The Chef and The Technology Teenager) Why he works hard to become a chess master, and what that has to do with leadershipThis was such an interesting conversation, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Connect with Jacob below: Website: https://thefutureorganization.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobmorgan8/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/ His book: https://www.amazon.com/2025-Leader-Jacob-Morgan/dp/1119518377/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= His podcast: https://thefutureorganization.com/martin-moore-of-no-bullsht-leadership-shares-how-to-be-an-exceptional-leader/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #164 // We have two types of people who follow the No Bullsh!t Leadership podcast. The first, are leaders who love leadership and want to get better. The second, are people who are unwilling conscripts, as I call them. They don't enjoy leadership and they're looking for some short-cuts that might alleviate the inherent misery they feel in having to lead others. Even if you're in the category of leaders who love leadership, I can guarantee that you have people working for you in leadership positions, who are in the other category. At this very moment, those people are likely wishing that they didn't have any leadership accountabilities at all!This episode is dedicated to helping any of you who aren't enjoying leadership to work out what you can do. If you're already a committed leader, it will help you to identify and deal more effectively with the leaders below you who aren't interested in leading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #163 // In this episode, Em and I cover three brilliant questions from past Leadership Beyond the Theory students! These questions are taken from the Deliver Value, Work at Level and Drive Accountability modules - three of our favourites.  Every week during the program, at the end of the weekly module, we run two live webinars. In these sessions, Em and I answer questions from the cohort so that each individual can put the learnings into their specific context. One of the key benefits to joining the international cohort is that every week you hear questions from leaders of all different levels, industries, backgrounds, and cultures, which makes for an incredibly rich learning experience for everyone. This episode highlights the types of questions we get!  To enrol in the program, head to www.leadershipbeyondthetheory.com. We can’t wait to get started with you on Monday 18th October! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #162 // We get an unbelievable number of questions every month about how to manage up more effectively.It’s important to make sure your boss doesn’t prevent you from performing at your best (or enjoying your work)! So the dynamic you should be trying to create is to manage up to enhance performance, not just to feather your own nest. All too often, managing up becomes a Machiavellian game with a high body count, and the organization suffers tremendously as a result, in terms of both culture and performance.In this episode I cover how to really know what type of boss you’re working for, and I provide 9 hot tips for managing up in any situation. Ultimately, if you do your job really well, a good boss will enhance your work, and a bad boss will be less of a factor!Download the free PDF downloadable I've put together for you '9 Ways To Manage Up' at https://www.yourceomentor.com/episode162//Leadership Beyond the Theory is BACK! 👊️ The most practical and comprehensive online leadership program that will take your leadership confidence, skills, and capability to BRAND NEW LEVELS 🔥We created Leadership Beyond the Theory to bridge the gap between the theory you may ‘know’ intellectually, and the practical skills you actually have in your leadership toolbox to be a confident, capable, results-driven leader.If you join the program, our promise to you is that:👉 ANY question you have is answered personally by Marty👉 You can implement practical techniques from the VERY FIRST LESSON👉 You'll gain the CLARITY and INSIGHT that can only come from an experienced CEO👉 The program content is INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING and easy to fit into your busy life👉 You'll join a GLOBAL cohort of like-minded leaders who are ready to commit (just like you) to being the best leader they can be.Enrolments will ONLY be open until 15th October and class starts on the 18th!LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE!🚀 Enrol now here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #161 // Today is the day, No Bullsh!t Leadership is officially published!It’s been a long road (which you heard about in last week’s episode), and I couldn’t be more excited to get this piece of work out into the world and into the hands of leaders who have the courage to be better. This episode is an [exclusive] replay of the official book launch event, where accomplished television presenter, keynote speaker and author, Riaz Meghji, dove into the nitty gritty with me in a no-holds-barred, no bullsh!t interview. It’s undoubtedly the most personal interview I’ve done, so I really hope you enjoy it. I’ll take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and this project along the way. I’ve called out the key people in the acknowledgements of the book, but there are so many more of you who have spread the word, supported our social media posts, read all the promo emails and of course, pre-ordered copies. I can’t wait to hear what you think about the book once you get your hands on it! This is the realisation of my lifetime dream, and I’m incredibly grateful and proud to be able to share it with you.Please let me know what you think in an Amazon.com review, or via social media - make sure you tag us @yourceomentor and use the hashtag #nobsleadership so that I can personally thank you!You can get your exclusive book bonuses here: www.martingmoore.com/thebook#claim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #160 // With the US publication of my book, No Bullsh!t Leadership on the horizon, we decided to dedicate this episode to tell the story of how the book journey unfolded, from start to finish.There are some important takeaways from this tale, which I know you’ll be able to apply to your own career journeys. I talk in detail about the strategy, delivery, people, marketing, and PR aspects of the publishing process. I also expose some of the obstacles we had to overcome along the way.Anything this episode does to inspire you to be bolder, and attempt grand things will make this totally worthwhile!//Over my career I've done a LOT of interviews. This one was by far the most personal.With COVID hampering our in-person studio plans, Riaz Meghji and I virtually sat down to talk all things No Bullsh!t Leadership to celebrate the book publication!We covered so many personal and professional topics, and my beautiful wife Kathy even made an impromptu appearance to share her experience of me over the past 3 years as I've built this business with Em.I would love for you to join me next week where we'll air this interview! When it's finished, Em and I will be running a live Q&A with you - bring your best, no bullshit leadership questions for me!Register for the free virtual event here: https://bit.ly/3xQ2MeYThe event will be run on the 29th September at 8am AEST / which is the 28th September at 6pm ET. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #159 // With a hot labor market emerging in many countries at present, the threat of your people being headhunted by a competitor is increasing. What steps can you take to keep your people committed to your organization? Who should you be trying to retain, and why (because it’s NOT everyone!)?Even when other companies are able to pay more for the same skills, there are things you can do to ensure you don’t lose your best people. But you may need to make some tough decisions pretty quickly, rather than waiting for the situation to deteriorate to the point where you’re forced to react.  In this episode, I offer some ideas for identifying your key people and locking them in (even when you don’t have a lot of money to throw at them), and I reveal a method for looking at the bigger picture, so that you see the pay disparity issue in the context of the broader performance of the business! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #158 // Blaming others when something doesn’t go to plan is one of the most insidious (and unfortunately, most common) leadership behaviors.Culturally, this is a cancer that has to be eradicated. When a leader tolerates the blame game as a part of the performance evaluation cycle, excuses become the norm, and organizational politics finds fertile ground. In this episode, I look at how the blame game plays out in politics and business, and I revisit an old podcast episode that’s playing out in the US courts at the moment. I also offer some rules of thumb to ensure that you don’t fall into the trap of either blaming others, or allowing your people to shirk their accountability when they don’t deliver on their commitments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #157 // Samantha Wills is an Australian designer, entrepreneur, and author, who achieved global prominence with her eponymous jewelry range. From humble beginnings, Samantha’s designs took the fashion industry by storm, with a host of global celebrities being photographed wearing her distinctive pieces.Her new book, Of Gold and Dust, chronicles Samantha’s journey with her jewelry business, and gives us a no-holds-barred account of both the business and personal challenges she faced over the years.Samantha’s story is utterly fascinating, and has some salient lessons for us all, whether you’re an entrepreneur aspiring to the level of success that Samantha has achieved, or an old corporate dog like me.To find out more about Samantha and get a copy of her brilliant book head to: https://samanthawills.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #156 // I recently came across a new book called Return on Ambition: A Radical Approach to Your Achievement, Growth, and Well-Being. The book exposes a study on ambitious people, in which over half of those interviewed felt as though they’d sacrificed too much to get to where they were, and didn’t feel as though the rewards were commensurate with their effort and sacrifice.This got me thinking about my own ambition, and how I felt about my career achievements and the energy it took to fulfill them.Sure, nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice, but how do you know in advance whether or not you’ll find those sacrifices were worth it when you look back in 10 or 20 years’ time?Everyone is different when it comes to their personal drivers and goals, but in this episode I give four key insights that you might find useful in deciding where you truly want your ambition to take you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #155 // Earlier this month, the Tokyo Olympics provided a welcome distraction from some of the other pressing global issues that have dominated our attention for what seems like an eternity!I couldn’t help but notice the stark leadership lessons that came from watching elite athletes striving to make their long-term vision a reality. These opportunities don’t come around often, so being on your game (on the day) is all-important. For these athletes and coaches, it’s a much less forgiving environment than most of us operate in.So what can we learn about strategy? About delivering in the ‘clutch’ moments when performing under extreme pressure? And what is the surprising lesson on diversity? These seven leadership lessons are sure to give us all pause for thought.// To celebrate the publication of my book No Bullsh!t Leadership, we’re bringing you a free virtual launch event on the 31st August (1st September in Australia)! This event will take you on a journey to insight, with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into my leadership path.This interview isn’t just about the book, it’s about the hardest leadership (and life) lessons that I have gone through--the things that worked, the things that didn’t work, and the underlying motivators that inspired me to take on the US market.Save your spot and join the official launch event here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #154 // As we start to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, and governments around the world loosen restrictions, business leaders are faced with the incredibly difficult task of working out how to get their businesses back to a relatively functional state.The imposition of vaccination mandates has been big news in the US in the last few weeks, and major corporations are taking a variety of positions on this complex issue.What are the right risk settings? What rules should be put in place for employees returning to work? And how should leaders strike a balance between their people’s individual freedoms and the collective good of customers, suppliers, and the business itself?In this episode, I provide a 5-step decision making framework to help you work through the issues for your own unique circumstances, and have created a handy template for you to work through which you can download for free at https://www.yourceomentor.com/episode154 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #153 // This Q&A episode deals with two excellent listener questions! The first, is about how to communicate the uncertainty of the current environment, while still making employees feel supported and secure. Sometimes, it can be tricky to find the balance between honesty and optimism.In the second question, we explore how to manage your emotions when a new employee comes in, all shiny and keen, and casts a shadow over you. The contrast between their attitude and energy, and your own, can make you feel even more jaded and exhausted. So how do you cope with these feelings?This episode has some great hacks to help you approach these types of situations with confidence and ease!We LOVE answering listener questions, so if you've got something you'd like us to cover, send your question to [email protected] and we'll add it to the Q&A list.Have you got your copy of 'No Bullsh!t Leadership', the book? Order now and claim your pre-order bonuses at www.martingmoore.com/thebook If you enjoy the podcast you're going to absolutely love the book! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#152 // We get so many questions from listeners about career management and progression. I normally shuffle these to the back of the deck, purely because I always feel as though this isn’t my sweet spot - leadership is! But, due to popular demand, I’ve decided to do an episode (with a little help from a friend). My special guest is Laurie Ruettimann, and this topic is absolutely her sweet spot! Laurie’s an ex-HR professional who became disillusioned with how organizations worked, and chose to go out on her own so that she could make a real difference. She spends her time in personalized coaching, executive recruiting & training, and organizational consulting to solve people-related hurdles. Her recently-released book, Betting on You: how to put yourself first and (finally) take charge of your career, is a fabulous guide to all things job and career related.You can find out more about Laurie, her book and her podcast here: https://laurieruettimann.com/books/betting-on-you/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #151 // I was being interviewed for a podcast in the US a few weeks ago, and the interviewer asked an excellent question: he said, “it’s all well and good when you talk about motivating professionals and senior leaders, but not everyone has jobs like that. How do you motivate people who have mundane, repetitive, and mind-numbing jobs?”Although we tend to imagine occupations like cleaners, fruit pickers, and production line workers when we think about mundane jobs, we may have many of these types of workers in our own offices and work groups. Think of the payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable departments.In this episode, I reference a fabulous documentary, American Factory, which treats this subject exceptionally well. I also give six tips for motivating the people who do these difficult jobs. You don’t have to be a high flyer to deserve competent leadership - it’s a right, not a privilege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #150 // Our listener base incorporates leaders from a massive range of different circumstances and experiences…leaders in over 70 countries, in countless industries, leading at all levels, in organizations of all shapes and sizes. That’s why not everyone gets the same things out of each episode - it’s obviously context dependent! This episode attempts to bridge all of these worlds, by addressing the issue of organization size, and highlighting some of the differences you’ll face in running a multi-billion dollar business (which I’ve done), to running a startup business (which I’m doing now). I help you to understand the common elements, what’s valuable in each context, and how to scale your approach to make it fit-for-purpose, no matter what size organization you’re currently in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #149 // Quite often, when we push back on a boss who wants us to take on more work, we’re told to “just do it”. Or sometimes, when we raise risks, issues, and problems with our boss, they gloss over or ignore them, and we’re told to “just do it”.Given that the world’s leading athletic brand has the tagline, “Just Do It!”, I took to calling this type of leader the Nike Boss.You don’t want to be that boss, and you certainly don’t want to work for that boss. This episode gives both perspectives! I've also created a free PDF downloadable for this episode '4 Ways to Push Back on a Nike Boss', which you can get at www.yourceomentor.com/episode149 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #148 // Everyone has different levels of mental capability, emotional capacity, resilience, drive, and ambition. To make things even harder, on any given day these can vary for an individual, depending on what’s going on in their world. What works today may not work next Friday.Knowing what this means for each of your direct reports at any given point in time, is the baseline for understanding how far you can stretch them (without breaking them)!In this episode, I explore why positive stress is essential for your people, and why it’s the key to unlocking exceptional performance. I explain why overloading people with work doesn’t actually stretch them - it just demotivates them. And I offer some ideas for using the Challenge / Coach / Confront framework to lift every individual to their peak potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #147 // In this episode we have another couple of great questions to work through! First we’ll deal with how to manage the fallout of peer envy. There’s no doubt that when you start to rise above the pack, the pack will try to pull you back to them (especially in Australia - say hello to Tall Poppy Syndrome). I saw a lot of these situations in my corporate career, and watched some people deal with this better than others! I’ll be sharing with you what I think works best. Secondly, we had a great question come in from one of our Leadership Beyond the Theory alumni, Kaleb, who asked how he can more effectively manage handovers between teams on a change of shifts. We’re going to broaden this one out a little to start with all handovers, and then narrow down to the specific situation Kaleb has described.This is one of our longer episodes, but it's well worth the listen because we get really detailed on all these topics - it's a deep dive you don't want to miss! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #146 // Regardless of the size of business you’re in, one of your primary objectives is to prepare for the future. This means ensuring that you have the talent and capability in place so that, if something untoward happens to you or one of your key people, your business doesn’t skip a beat.So how do you actually ensure you have stability and continuity in your talent, especially in a micro-business where your options can be limited? Knowing your people, the market, and what skills are truly core to the effective operation of your business is important if you are to make smart succession planning decisions. In this episode, we talk about one of the world’s most famous key person risks, and I give you my eight tips for avoiding the cracks that can appear when you haven’t planned around your talent sufficiently.We've also got a [free] downloadable for this episode, my 8 Rules of Thumb for Succession Planning, so head to www.yourceomentor.com/episode146 and grab your copy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #145 // We spend a lot of time talking about the difficult elements of leadership, and how to overcome them. Mastery of the right habits, behaviors, and mindset is crucial if you want to have a successful and happy career.But what about having fun at work? Let’s face it - we have very serious jobs, doing very serious work for our very serious stakeholders. But it doesn’t mean that every interaction has to be deathly serious! Knowing when and how to lighten the mood is a delicate balance that takes years to master.This episode unlocks the benefits of bringing your sense of humor into the workplace, and shows how you can improve your team dynamics and culture by knowing how to introduce some humour. Giving your people permission to have fun is something they will value, and the whole team will benefit from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #144 // Since Covid, it has become a lot more difficult to attract and retain the right talent (which is a little counterintuitive, given how many people’s livelihoods were affected during the pandemic). But government stimulus measures in many countries have distorted labour markets.As it becomes increasingly difficult to secure quality candidates, it’s important to understand how to secure the right capability at the front end. Let’s face it, you just want to hire the best person for the job - someone whose values and objectives are aligned with yours - and then turn that into performance!What does it take to showcase your organisation in its best light (without overselling), and what can you do to attract and secure the best candidates from the available pool? I’m sure you’ll find my seven tips for attracting and retaining talent pretty useful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 143 // Some companies have turned the concept of believing your own bullsh!t into an art form! It’s really easy to convince ourselves that we are achieving amazing things when, in actual fact, very little is changing.The Emperor’s New Clothes, the classic fairytale from Hans Christian Andersen, is a wonderful metaphor for this. Leaders often pretend that they’re in control, that they have all the answers. They even convince themselves that they’re excellent leaders, whom people love to follow. But the reality can be starkly different.This episode explores the psychological factors that push us to believe our own bullsh!t, and I give some tips to stop you from falling into this trap as your leadership career develops and flourishes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #142 // When tech firm Basecamp released some new company policies, around a third of their people resigned (hey, it’s only a small business, but even so)! What’s all the fuss about?  These fairly innocuous changes made by co-founder and CEO, Jason Fried, drew clearer lines between social and work-related interactions, and set some boundaries that Basecamp deems appropriate. So how much should we let our people integrate their social and political interests with the work they’re paid to do? How much social interaction in the workplace is acceptable? And how would we address the issue if we think things are starting to get a little out of hand? You can read the original Basecamp blog here: https://world.hey.com/jason/changes-at-basecamp-7f32afc5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #141 // Understanding risk, and being able to respond in a manner that’s both appropriate and proportional to the level of risk is a fundamental capability for leaders.When we talk about judgement in leadership and decision making, a lot of it comes down to how well we can assess and respond to risk, given the uncertainty that faces us at any given point in time.This episode brings the discipline of risk management to life, with a number of examples that take the mystery out of the subject. It will help you to implement a fit-for-purpose risk management approach that’s sure to enhance your decision-making.I've also created a FREE PDF downloadable to accompany this episode 'The 6 Principles of Good Risk Management' which you can download here: https://www.yourceomentor.com/episode141#download Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 140 // In this week’s Q&A, we’re going to cover two questions about the subtle art of managing upwards and how to deal with a passive aggressive boss.We do get an awful lot of questions about how to deal with those leaders above you, so much so that we’re actually planning out a mini-course about it!In the meantime, the two questions we’ve chosen for this episode cover the main issues that we see. The first question from Genevieve is about how to influence upwards when you feel as though you don’t have any basis for doing so, and the second from Chris is about working under a passive aggressive boss.We cover a lot of ground in this one, dialling it right down to the practical questions you can ask your boss today to better influence up the line. If you've got a horrible boss, this episode is going to give you the perspective and practical tips you need to move forward with confidence!A few other useful podcasts that we mention during this episode are:Episode #132 What do CEOs Do?Episode #134 Being More StrategicEpisode #138 It's Not WHAT You KnowEpisode #110 Getting In The Arena Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #139 // This week we take on a great listener question that will be on many people’s minds at the moment.Fear has been stoked to extraordinary levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent impact of lockdowns and travel bans on many businesses has been severe. Many people are living in fear, as they see their companies struggling to survive, and are faced with the harsh reality of their own lack of job security.What impacts are felt when individuals operate from a position of fear? What can we do to keep our fear in check? And what are the techniques for helping the people around us to keep going, so that we don’t see catastrophic impacts at the organisational level?This episode offers some practical guidance for dealing with the fear that we all feel at times like these. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #138 // I recently had a robust after-dinner discussion over this old expression. It’s often said by someone who’s trying to explain the reasons behind another person’s success. And, yes, it’s designed to somehow diminish their achievements.It implies that learning and knowledge are inherently more noble and worthwhile than building relationships… or perhaps there’s an element of favoritism or nepotism at play… or that anyone who leverages their connections is (at best) taking a shortcut and (at worst) doing something vaguely distasteful.This episode explores why the attitude that it’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know can be damaging, and takes a deep dive into some of the key areas that will really determine the level of success you enjoy, in any area of your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #137 // This week’s episode is another interview, this time with marketing icon, Eric Siu! Em managed to secure this interview with the man who was instrumental in us understanding how to build our business, in a world that requires mastery of both physical and digital marketing channels.For those of you building your own businesses, this episode will be invaluable. For those working in larger corporations at any level, Eric shares his insights and hard-earned wisdom on everything from:Long-term v short-term focusDealing with company turnarounds in the direst of circumstancesWhy continuous improvement is so important, yet sometimes elusiveBuilding success by getting through the daily grind, andHow to handle a work-from-home cultureYou can connect with Eric below: Instagram: @ericosiuTwitter: https://twitter.com/ericosiuYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC3owDdLk7HL1dyQnkoBuRew LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ericosiu/Get the book: www.levelingup.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #136 // How do you know when it’s time to leave an organisation?Like almost every question in leadership, the answer is - it depends. Every situation is completely different, and only you know the factors that affect you: the workplace culture, your personal circumstances, the impact your boss has on you, and your ultimate career aspirations.But wouldn’t it be great to have a framework that could help you make smart decisions whenever you face a career dilemma?!This episode provides that framework, and some scenarios to help you figure out how to apply it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #135 // Is there such a thing as “too much empathy”? Despite what many pundits say, I believe that there’s a place for almost limitless empathy in a leader. The more you have, the better you’ll be able to lead your people. The risk is that weak leaders often allow their empathy to devolve into sympathy, which is a very different thing.If you combine empathy with the right leadership behaviours - strength of character and uncompromising standards - it will build the foundations for everything you need to do as a leader.In this episode, I take a critical look at the nexus between empathy and sympathy. If you’re aware of this distinction, you’re more likely to resist the temptation to become a weak leader who rationalises, avoids, and freezes when faced with difficult choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #134 // Have you ever been told that you need to be “more strategic”?t can come as part of the dreaded post-interview feedback, when you find out that you haven’t got the job, or in a talent management discussion when your boss tells you that you aren’t seen as someone who might rise to the next level.Telling someone that they need to be more strategic means… well, nothing!This episode explores what your boss really means when she says “you need to be more strategic”, and I give my 6 top tips for becoming more strategic (with some work and commitment, over time).I've put these 6 tips into a FREE downloadable PDF so that you can keep it on hand to reference at any time! Head to www.yourceomentor.com/episode134 to get your hands on it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #133 // INTERVIEWAfter 130-odd episodes of me giving my two-cents worth on all things leadership, we’re starting to introduce the occasional interview with a leader who has really made a difference in the world.In this episode, I interview Luc Robitaille, President of the Los Angeles Kings National Hockey League franchise. After a 20-year career as an elite athlete in one of the toughest sporting arenas on the planet, Luc made the successful transition to corporate executive ranks.We all face difficulty when we transition to an unfamiliar role, especially when moving from a technical role to a leadership role. Luc goes into the nitty-gritty of how he did this: the challenges and the triumphs.There's a lot of talk in business about the concept of world class performance, and today, we'll give you some insight into what that actually means!You don't want to skip over this episode, Luc drops gem after gem that you can apply as a leader in any industry! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #132 // There are many variables that have an impact on what a CEO role entails at a given point in time - industry, company size, maturity of the business, external market forces, customer segmentation, ownership structure etc.On top of this, every day can be vastly different, which is why some of the most important attributes for a CEO to possess are adaptability, change tolerance, and mental agility. Add to these the ability to communicate and align the organisation around a compelling value proposition, and you’re starting to get close! This episode explores both the theory and the practice of the role of the CEO. I share my views on the non-negotiable outcomes that are relevant to every CEO role, and I also give you a “Day In the Life Of” as I reflect on my time as CEO of CS Energy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #131 // I run into leaders all the time who struggle with the personal impact that a leadership role has on their lives. It can be emotionally draining, and it can have far reaching impacts through every aspect of their lives.To be a successful leader in the longer term, and at the most senior levels, you first have to learn how to manage yourself. As they say during the airline safety briefings, “if oxygen is required, fit your own mask first before assisting others”.Strong leaders are strong people - strong enough to shoulder the duty of care that comes with a leadership career, and equipped to help others develop.This week, we look at the common types of fallout that many leaders experience, and provide seven practical tips for dealing with the emotional toll of leadership.We've also created a FREE PDF downloadable summary that wraps this all up in a nice bow for you, which you can download at www.yourceomentor.com/episode131 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #130 // As leaders, we expect most things to be logical. They should make sense to us, and be easy for us to explain to our people. And to a large extent this is true.But we also can’t overlook the fact that some of the most important principles of success are actually counterintuitive, and we need to be able to hold this dissonance in our heads.It’s in our nature to look for easy answers to the things that challenge us. The fact of it is, though, there are no silver bullets. Any ground we make as individuals and leaders is hard fought and won. Embracing this reality makes us stronger, but trying to bargain for an easier path will see us rooted where we are, eventually feeling like victims, and wondering why life is so unfair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #129 // INTERVIEWIn today's podcast, I talk about the 'Executive Breakthrough' with Michelle Foley, Chief Customer Officer at The Arnott's Group.Michelle has been with The Arnott’s Group for over 17 years now, and knows the company intimately. The iconic Aussie brand that brings us Tim Tam cookies and Jatz crackers is now going through some change, and Michelle is one of the key executives guiding the company through its next phase.In this exclusive pre-recorded interview, Michelle shares her tactics for striking a balance between being a cheerleader for your people, and still being driven by results. She takes a deep dive into building competitive advantage, the work life juggle, and the legacy she wants to leave.This is a live event interview recording, so the audio quality isn't as sharp as usual, but the content is absolute gold so I really hope you enjoy this change in format!//Leadership Beyond the Theory is now taking enrolments for the March 2021 cohort! Head to www.yourceomentor.com/program and claim one of the limited places before we start class on Monday 1st March! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #128 // In this episode, Em & I discuss a few brilliant listener questions relating to promotions.The first question is from Anne, who asks about breaking through the middle management ranks to get to more senior levels when you think you’re overdue for a promotion, but your bosses don’t see your potential the same way you do.The second question is from John, who asks about some of the ways you can prepare the future leaders whom you’re intending to promote from within the organisation.These questions are faced by virtually every leader at some point during their careers, so there are some great tips in here for everyone!A word of warning, this episode is VERY detailed, so you may need to listen to it a few times with a pen and paper on hand! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #127 // We’ve had a lot of people recently asking us about the role of purpose in business. In this episode, we answer a great question from one of our Leadership Beyond the Theory alumni, David.What should we make of the push for organisations to be ‘purpose-driven’? Can we truly put people before profits? What are the pros and cons of setting up a purpose, and trying to use that to drive your organisation? And is there ever justification for putting people through the pain of restructures and redundancies?As a pragmatic former CEO, I unpick some of the pitfalls you’ll encounter if you decide to turn your organisation into a purpose-driven business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #126 // At some point, every leader needs to present proposals to their boss in order to gain approval for deploying the organisation’s resources.After years of analyzing and approving investment proposals (many for hundreds of millions of dollars), I demystify the process, giving you the practical tips that will enable you to deliver a winning proposal, every time.Whether you’re asking for $50m to invest into a research and development project, $5m for a new software package, or $5,000 to upgrade an ailing piece of equipment in your office, the thought process is the same. Knowing what to present can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. All leaders need to speak the language of finance, especially when it comes to making investment decisions.I've also put together a free downloadable cheat sheet for this episode, as there's quite a lot to remember! You can download the Ten Tips for Building a Winning Proposal at www.yourceomentor.com/episode126 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #125 // How do you develop a mindset to make decisions confidently, while removing any concerns about the implications it could have for your job - your promotability and future prospects?This can be a particularly vexed question when you work in a larger organisation, where the politics can sometimes be quite vicious.So how do you learn to take smart career risks, knowing that things will work out for the best? Is it at all possible to teach this to others?In this episode, I offer some practical suggestions that you can use to help build character. It may even help your people to develop it as well! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode #124 // There are very few people who are totally comfortable presenting in a public forum, whether it’s a submission to the board, a ‘town hall’ style meeting for people who work on your team, or a sales presentation.We released an episode over 12 months ago, called “Epic Presentation Fails”. This focused mainly on how to structure a presentation, and how to not bore your audience to death by simply delivering dry information without insight and context.This week, we’re going to go beyond the original episode to speak about the actual delivery of a presentation. Communication is a core skill for leaders at every level. If you can’t communicate clearly and confidently, you’ll struggle to lead! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.