Inner Chief Podcast

A lot of leaders do not make use of 1:1s and yet they are one of the greatest opportunities to inspire your people and lift their performance. In addition, your people's careers and lives are in your hands and you have a responsibility as a leader to coach, develop and support your people. Many people complain about the performance of some of their team members and yet they either don’t do 1:1s or do them very poorly. And this often means that individuals lose interest, they don’t feel valued and they certainly don’t bring the extra effort that is sitting stored away inside of them.    I cover a 4 step process for running inspirational and effective 1:1s - Check-in, Operations, People, Strategy (COPS). 

Every now and then you’ll get a serial low performer that is a toxic presence in your team. They can be incredibly stubborn and many leaders find dealing with these people the hardest part of their work. In these cases it is unhealthy for both them, yourself and likely several other people in the team if they don’t seriously change their ways or move on. I cover a three step process for removing them from your team Coach, Counsel, Shoot.    This is sounds tough and brutal but it really just a framework for either improving or removing low performers.    Great Chiefs are brilliant at shifting low performers into better performance or moving them on. They understand the importance of getting the right people on the bus and letting the wrong people off at the next stop. Shifting this individual can be a huge relief for everyone involved. Many time I’ve seen whole teams take a collective sigh of relief. They didn’t realise how much of an impact the person was having. They spread their wings and really fly. And

In this episode we take an entirely new angle. I’ve been wanting to bring in some gurus on particular topics and it brings me great pleasure to start with our spiritual guru Damien Price on Spiritualism and how it fits in the corporate world.    Damien Price is a Christian Brother and has taught for over thirty years in schools throughout Australia and New Zealand. Over the past twenty years Damien has been involved in working with disadvantaged youth, homeless men and women, refugees and Asylum Seekers. Damien has Masters Degrees in Counselling and Pastoral Guidance. Damien’s Doctor of Philosophy degree focused on the sense of self that youth grew into as they engaged with homeless people over an extended period of time. He is now Regional Ministry Coordinator for PNG, Philippines and Timor Leste in a role that has him travelling and organising all over SE Asia. Some of the questions I ask Damien include:  • What is God and/or who was God and where do people get it wrong? • What is Religion and where do pe

In this episode we cover the power of high performance lifecycles and how to use them to automate the pursuit of excellence.    The pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of all great performers. It means mastering your craft and continually working to improve yourself. It also means leading your team to work collectively to improve itself. The long term benefits have an incredible compound effect on your ability to get results and rise above the pack.    I outline:  - the Prepare, Perform, Recover, Review (P2R2) Lifecycle - How to lock this into as a system that drives performance - How to optimise each step - Some tricks to stay focused and embed the system

In this episode we hear from John Lee Dumas, Founder of Entrepreneurs on Fire.  John is the founder and host of Entrepreneurs ON FIRE, an award winning Podcast where he interviews today’s most successful Entrepreneurs 7-days a week. JLD has grown EOFire.com into a 7-figure business with over 2000 interviews and 1.5 million monthly listens.  Some of the questions I ask John:  • What was the most important lesson you learnt from your time as a soldier in Iraq that shaped you the most?  • You spent time in law firms, real estate and a number of other industries early in your career. Eventually you took a different path to be start podcasts and be an entrepreneur. What were you really looking for that you found in podcasting and EOFire?  • What advice would you give to a middle / snr manager of a large organisation that is stuck in their career, fighting politics and can’t seem to find a way forward?  •  If someone, is thinking that they might like to start their own business. Can you explain what a side-hustle

Most of us at one time or another have had a boss who seems totally disinterested in our work. They’re the opposite of micro-managers, leaving us completely to our own devices and at times in more senior regional roles can go missing for weeks at a time. Here is what you can do.

In this episode we hear from Hetty Johnston, AM, Founder and Chair of Bravehearts. You can support Hetty’s work through Bravehearts at www.bravehearts.org.au CHANGE OF PLAN Normally I put a detailed set of show notes. In this case, I’m electing not to. This will make sense when you’ve heard this episode. Hetty is someone you have to listen to. She is one of the most influential leaders of modern Australia and summary notes just won’t do her justice. So find an hour to really focus on this session. Hetty tells the FULL story of her life and the horrific circumstances that led to the beginnings of Bravehearts after her daughter disclosed she was being assaulted. She also shares some of her techniques for negotiating with Prime Ministers, staying resilient and gives the ultimate career advice if you want to be a GREAT chief.   ABOUT HETTY JOHNSTON AM   Hetty is the Founder and Chair of Bravehearts & Australia’s leading child protection advocate. https://bravehearts.org.au/who-we-are/founder-chairman/   Fo

In this episode I talk about why you should run across a desert (and love it). Huh? What I really mean is why you should do something epic. In 2007/8 I conducted a personal growth experiment by tackling the Gobi March a 250km ultra marathon across the toughest terrain in the world. This is a bit of that story and what I discovered on…and didn’t expect.

In this episode we hear from Brad Gordon, former CEO of Acacia Mining Limited. We cover the importance of getting out from behind your desk, how to create a game that inspires your people and attracts the best talent.  ABOUT BRAD Until recently, Brad Gordon was the CEO of Acacia Mining Limited. Prior to that he has also been the CEO of Entrepid Mines Limited, Emperor Mines Limited and was Managing Director of Placer Dome, New Guinea. Key Questions I ask Brad Gordon: • What you do love about mining and being underground?  • Were there any setbacks along the way? • What is your secret sauce? The thing you can do better than almost anyone else?  • So what advice would you give to someone who's in that middle level of their career and all of a sudden they're stuck, they're not going up any further? • Do you have any moments when you doubt your abilities? What do you do in those moments to keep going?  • Did anyone give you any feedback to you personally that really rang true for you? That was important for the

In this episode we are going to cover How to get and keep a CEO mentor. Every CEO I’ve met has had a mentor of some sort in their career. Interestingly, in most cases, these were through a reporting structure and weren’t formal mentoring relationships. How to convince a CEO to mentor you CEOs are insanely busy people in very high demand. And yet, every one of them I have met finds time to mentor several of the next generation. The fact is they want to help and give back, but they don’t want to waste their time. It is unlikely that you can offer them much from spending time with you except for giving back. So that is the lever to pull. Here are a few steps that have worked time and again when I’m connecting with big chiefs.

In this episode I cover one my personal mottos “Ownership Precedes Victory” and how to use it to really take control of your career and become a great Chief Life in the chaos of the modern business world can be crushingly difficult. The rapid pace of change in technology, as well as new customer and employee expectations is now amplified by a hyper-competitive global landscape. Executive teams now have to navigate their companies through transformational change just to survive. For those reporting to the executive team, and leading the operational charge towards big targets and new cultures, it can be incredibly complex and difficult to stay in front of the game. They work hard all day, every day, on an endless list of tasks at work and home. The politics, red tape and antiquated systems suck their energy and many begin to wonder if there is more to life than this. It feels like the world is happening to them, rather than they’re happening to the world. After spending the last decade with some of the best in

In this episode we hear from Geoff Lloyd, CEO and MD of Perpetual Limited. SUPPORT GEOFF IN THE CEO COOK OFF FOR OZ HARVEST HERE ABOUT GEOFF Geoff joined Perpetual in August 2010 as Group Executive of Perpetual Private and led the development and implementation of the growth strategy for this business. He took on the additional responsibility of Head of Retail Distribution in September 2011 and was appointed Managing Director and CEO in February 2012. Geoff was previously General Manager of Advice and Private Banking at BT Financial Group following the Westpac Group merger with St.George Bank. Before the merger, he led St.George’s wealth management portfolio. He held many senior positions at BT Financial Group, including Chief Legal Counsel and Head of the Customer and Business Services Division. Geoff is the Chairman of the Financial Services Council, an Advisory board member of The Big Issue and the Patron of the Financial Industry Community Aid Program.   He is a Patron of Emerge Foundation and is also Cha

In this episode I want to talk about a deep mindset shift that can lead to meteoric improvement in performance. And that is different between viewing yourself as a Professional or an Amateur. In general terms, an Amateur is someone who turns up and has a crack. They go through spurts of increased interest and their performance spikes and troughs. They don’t take the pursuit as as an artform they are looking to master. And that is where the big line is drawn. Mastery. Being a professional executive means learning to love the fact that this is YOUR artform and you want to build yourself over a lifetime into the sharpest professional you possibly can be. They want to be the best as leading an organisation or whatever their ‘profession’ is. This isn’t something they start doing once their in a big role. No, they do this from the outset. Before they earn the big bucks and have the big job because in essence that is why they end up getting the big job over others. Full summary can be found at www.chiefmaker.com.au

Why leaders micromanage and how you can adjust your approach to improve the working relationship so that it is a. more effective and b. less soul destroying.   Before you dive in and start trash talking your overbearing boss - it is wise to seek some understanding as to why they might be micromanaging you. Take a few minutes to think deeply and through their eyes about what might be causing them to dip down. Full summary can be found at www.chiefmaker.com.au/podcast

Our CEO this week is Angela Buglass, who has recently returned from 15 years in the UK where she held the role of VP Marketing for LF Beauty, part of the global sourcing giant Li & Fung. Her experience includes roles with leading players Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal and Estée Lauder (working on the AVEDA brand). Angela is now the CEO of Trilogy International Limited which you may know through beauty products like Trilogy, Ecoya, Goodness and CS&Co. Her work has taken her from NZ all around the world and back again and her stories are inspirational, insightful and so wonderfully down to earth. Full summary can be found at www.chiefmaker.com.au/podcast  

Kung Fu the most difficult situations with SARS (Smart Automated Response Systems) Have you ever found yourself in a situation and not known what to do? Ever tried to stop a certain scenario at work from happening but it always seems to repeat itself? Ever lose confidence at key moments? In this episode we will be talking a technique that emerged through my work in elite sport and an in particular in martial arts and how you can translate this to the business world. Full summary can be found at www.chiefmaker.com.au/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Greg Steele, CEO Arcadis Asia Pacific.   He is also the Chairman of Engineering Aid Australia and on the board of Roads Australia. He was the Managing Director of Hyder Consulting before the Arcadis takeover. I came across this special man at a mindfulness conference where his authenticity and honesty about the challenge of keeping balance in the corporate world blew the audience away. I couldn’t wait to get him on the show. We cover the importance of making sense of things, making choices and making things happen. And how to drive change, using diversity as a strength and mindfulness to keep you focused.   Subscribe on iTunes here: https://itun.es/au/87Pqkb.c Subscribe on Android: http://tunein.com/radio/The-Inner-Chief-p1004701/ http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=141429   Key Points: Greg’s top quotes from this episode include: 1) Back yourself but be prepared and don't be afraid to speak your piece. I think one of my early lessons in my career that was very formative. 2) I liked

In this episode we will be talking about another pattern that has emerged through many of the CEOs on the show and that is “Taking the Path Less Travelled”.   Have you ever found yourself boxed in to a role or industry? Ever felt stuck in your growth or feel like your network and knowledge set is limited to your profession and industry? Ever had the nagging gut feeling that you need to do something drastic to change things up but you find any number of reasons why you shouldn’t? Feel like the dream of rising to the top of just having a more meaningful career is slipping away? One pattern that has come up time and again is one where they have come to a sort of cross-roads where they feel they are potentially going to be stalled.   WHAT IS TAKING THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED? It can mean shifting industries, roles, organisations or something that expands your horizons. The key here is to aim to build wide ranging experience and knowledge that you can use to become better, smarter and more connected. Normally these k

In this episode you’ll hear from Sue Murphy, CEO of Water Corp. Sue spent 25 years at Clough engineering after completing an engineering degree where she was one of only two women out of 300 students. She has been the Water Corporation CEO since 2008 and on the board at the Fremantle Dockers for 12 months. She is also a director at Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). We cover how to be honest, fun and make a difference in your work.  Key Points: Sue’s top quotes from this episode include: I learnt that it's not what your background is that matters, it's how well you can relate to the people around you. You don't come in and enforce your own self on everybody around you, you learn about the people around you and you learn what matters to them Harold (Clough) was very strong on giving people empowerment. He's philosophy was employ the smartest, most sociable kids you can find straight out of university and let them loose and see what can happen Harold always argued you can fake it for a few hours w

In this episode we explore the terrible consequence of Overwhelm, the high level neuroscience of the brain, the triggers and a rock solid solution for removing it from your life, Subscribe on iTunes here: https://itun.es/au/87Pqkb.c Subscribe on Android: http://tunein.com/radio/The-Inner-Chief-p1004701/ http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=141429   Key Points: The top quotes and messages from this episode include: The Triune Brain Lizard – Flight for fight Monkey – Emotional monkey Mammalian – High order thinking   The consequences of overhwlem: relationships health and fitness work performance, quality, lack of creativity and insight stuck no career opportunityies drags into home not being a dealer in hope What triggers overwhelm: doing too many things at once bouncing around from one task to the next not having an automated response system evil sin of not recovering and doing things like turning your phone on   Three steps to managing overwhelm: Mindmap Daily Focus Session Focus Reset Focus Review meetings