The Culture of Things

In today's episode - the 50th episode of The Culture of Things, Brendan's guest is Jo Hanlon. Jo is an expert business coach and mentor in the area of boosting productivity and opening communication channels and cultivating positive workplace culture. She runs a business called “Mind Your Ps” (referring to People, Productivity and Potential). They are a team of consultants who provides HR Coaching to employers and business owners, specialising in helping these leaders get the best out of themselves and their team.  Brendan chats to Jo about the role that advisory boards play in a business environment and why a business owner would want to put together an advisory board in the first place. She shares some really interesting insights on what you should have in place as a business before starting to work with an advisory board to ensure you get the most ‘bang for your buck'. Advisory boards work best when the business owner has a clear idea of the outcomes they wish to achieve from the process. Jo points out that it is also important to be open to new ideas and changes when you are considering putting an advisory board together to solve a problem for your business. Advisory boards aren't suitable in all businesses or in all situations but there are a lot of businesses that could greatly benefit from implementing such a structure - and with Jo being an expert in this fairly new field in business, this episode is a great place to get started if you are looking to find out more about advisory boards. Discussion Points Jo's background What is an advisory board? What sort of business can benefit from an advisory board? Challenges that warrant an advisory board Criteria and requirements for advisory board members The Importance (or not) of teamwork in advisory boards Governance board vs advisory board Where to find information around advisory boards Situations that would not benefit from an advisory board Why networking is important to Jo Situations where a business uses both a governance board and an advisory board When a business should grow from a sole consultant to an advisory board Cons around advisory boards Advice for businesses considering advisory boards Become an advisor  The cost of an advisory board Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel The Culture of Things Instagram  Jo Hanlon Website Jo Hanlon LinkedIn Mind your Ps Website

Bretton Putter is passionate about company culture and his work has brought him to focus on remote working environments. He is CEO of a culture, leadership software and service platform called CultureGene - a platform that has changed the culture-trajectory of a multitude of companies who have had to make major adjustments and changes, thanks to the current “COVID new-normal''. Brett's knowledge stems from years of consulting and working with a multitude of leaders in business who needed guidance on tackling culture challenges in their businesses.  Brendan chats to Brett about his book “Own your Culture” - their discussion revolving around the nine best practices of a successful remote working environment. Bretton points out which practices he deems to be most critical in a hybrid or fully remote business. Interestingly, Brett also debunks the myth that “structure stifles creativity in remote working”. He also makes it clear that it isn't just up to the CEO and management to decide on what works for everyone in terms of structure - it should be a consultative process.  If you are a leader in a business that was unexpectedly ‘forced' into remote working thanks to the pandemic over the last year - this episode is sure to give you some tips and things to consider about your management style. Even if you have been doing everything right - chances are, you will still learn something from Brett when it comes to bettering your company culture in future. Especially since it's becoming clear as time goes on that going back to the “old-normal” is not going to be a viable option for most businesses post-COVID.  Discussion Points: Bretton's background How the book “Own Your Culture” came about Challenges in managing culture in a newly remote working environment  Difference between remote work and the Hybrid model Why hybrid organizations are more difficult to lead Frustrations in hybrid culture 9 Best practices in working remotely Build social connections at a distance Create recorded processes for your business Focus on communication Document everything Create a structure Develop and nurture transparency, trust, and accountability Focus on results, output, and outcomes Customize your hiring process Be deliberate about your culture Remote Recruiting processes Advice on remote working practices Key Takeaways from Brendan Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel The Culture of Things Instagram  CultureGene Bretton Putter LinkedIn Own your Culture Book  Bretton Putter Twitter

Brendan's guest on this episode is Norman Wolfe - founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders and author of the book “The Living Organisation”. Norman is a veteran in the business world when it comes to leadership and he is a thought-leader in the world of business transformation because of the way he goes about helping leaders do things differently when they're looking for a culture-change in their organisation. In this episode, Brendan delves into more detail on the specific theories behind Norman's book “The Living Organization”.  Norman Wolfe has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share and he does so with no holds bar in this episode. He shares tips that can make an impact in any industry and he has a way with words that make it easy to understand the reasoning behind his theories.  Achieving the results that you as a leader are aiming for - according to Norman - could be so much easier than it often ends up being because of his “flow” vs “control” theory. Brendan and Norman discuss this and other major ideas from Norman's book and they actually get some truly valuable insights thanks to great examples from Norman's wealth of experience as a business consultant. Leaders can change their organisations by focusing on the context rather than the people -and then the people who you want in your business will automatically fall in line and flourish. Brendan delves deeper into this with Norman, finding out why and how that is possible.  An interesting discussion about a powerful theme that has the potential to change the way leaders lead.  Discussion Points: The Mystical Norman Wolfe The Living Organization Framework Explained Change the Context to change the behavior Parts of the Living organization  Heart-centered wisdom and communication How Norman Encourages leaders Control vs Flow Most impactful skills to learn Integrating opposites - a significant skill Advice to leaders on how to start seeing their organization as a “Living organization” Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel The Culture of Things Instagram  Quantum Leaders Website Norman Wolfe LinkedIn Norman Wolfe Facebook Norman Wolfe Twitter

What is thought leadership? What is it that thought leaders are doing, and who decides who is and isn't a thought leader, anyway? According to today's guest, a lot of people are doing it wrong by calling themselves thought leaders – instead, it should be a title that others bestow on you. It's up to your audience to decide whether or not you're actually leading.  Peter Winick is the Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. He has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms for two decades. He has also guided and advised for the increasing business-to-business sales of Thought Leadership products. Listen to today's episode to hear Peter talk about how he got into the thought leadership space in the first place and what the term means to him. He discusses both what's leading the thought leadership field now as well as what's coming in the future. If you're interested in how to become a thought leader and what you might do to get started in the thought leadership space, this episode is for you.  Discussion Points: The term “thought leadership” and what it means Where thought leadership comes from  Whether people should call themselves thought leaders What got Peter into the space he's in now What's leading the field in thought leadership and what's coming in the future How you become a thought leader Whether thought leadership needs to be around an individual Frameworks in the thought leadership space Where a thought leader needs to be in their career and life The biggest challenges for the thought leader space Social media platforms in the thought leadership space Advice for people at the beginning of a thought leadership journey What the next year or two looks like for Peter Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel Peter Winick Email Peter at peter@thoughtleadershipleverage.com Thought Leadership Leverage Leveraging Thought Leadership Podcast

In today's episode, Brendan and his guest Amy Lynn Durham explore the factors that allow business leaders and CEOs - to create a magical, happy work environment for themselves and their employees.  Amy calls herself a “Corporate Mystic” and she is the author of the book “Create Magic at Work”. In it, she shares some profound ideas around how spiritual intelligence (SQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) in business leaders are incredibly influential forces in how their employees feel at work. This, in turn, means that as a leader,  you have a powerful influence on your company's employee morale, directly affecting their productivity and thus, profit margins. Attracting and retaining the best employees will also become a natural outflow of this result.  Amy has spent years working with top corporates to help them find better ways to deal with their anxiety and emotions at work - including practical guidance to improve their public speaking and how to deal with anger and stressors at work. This has helped thousands of CEOs become better leaders. Some of her clients have seen so much value in their work with Amy, that they often call her up for support and advice - long after they have completed their course.  Spiritual intelligence opens up a multitude of new ways in which CEOs and leaders can take control of their own health, wealth and happiness along with that of the people who work for them. Not only does Amy help in the “experience” of a better work environment, but she also backs up these “feelings” with actual measured data making it easier for the practical-minded CEOs to justify putting in the effort of working on their SQ.  Discussion Points: What is a “Corporate Mystic”  What it means to create Magic in a corporate environment What is Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) PQ vs IQ vs EQ vs SQ EQ in the workplace Appreciation Anchors Dealing with CEO's who have a more “practical” view of the world SQ 21 Model The Moses Code Making wise and compassionate decisions The impact of low EQ/SQ in leaders Intentions study Exercise How to facilitate sharing in groups What gives Amy energy Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel Create Magic at Work Website Create Magic at Work Facebook Page Create Magic at Work Instagram  Amy Lynn Durham LinkedIn Page

Often, the impression of a company's Human Resources department and the people who work there is on the negative side. However, Erica Johnson is trying to change that through her work as Head of Diversity, Equity and Belonging at Chime. After personally experiencing moments in her career that made her feel alienated, Erica understands how important it is to stop that from happening with others. She now lives and breathes the idea of making sure that all the different voices in the company are heard and all the same opportunities are available to everyone in the workplace regardless of their race, gender or ethnicity. She explains why it's worthwhile for companies to do the hard work from the moment they hire their very first employee. Also pointing out that this process is not a “once-off” project to implement and “be done with”, but rather an ongoing culture that needs to be instilled in the business. Continuing to do the hard work on an ongoing basis will ensure that all employees feel included even as the company grows. Erica believes that this mindset boosts the potential of - and holds endless benefits for companies who get it right. While inclusion and diversity in the workplace may be a trending topic at the moment - Erica makes it clear that it is not just a passing fad. DEI is here to stay and it needs to be seen as an important part of success in businesses - and why not? It means you actually care about the people who dedicate their time towards building your business!  It is always inspiring to listen to someone who is clearly very passionate and dedicated to their field and listening to Erica sharing her thoughts on diversity equity and inclusion, is no different.  Discussion Points: What is diversity, equity and inclusion? Why aren't all companies focusing on this? What is Erica's measure of personal success at Chime? The importance of employee nicknames. Keeping Focused on Diversity continuously  A culture of DEI is not just for big companies Diversity management is not just an HR fad Challenges in Erica's role in DEI at Chime Leading the change through Empathy How Erica got into the role  Making sure your motivation is right Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page The Culture of Things YouTube Channel Erica Johnson LinkedIn Erica Johnson Twitter Chime Website

  In today’s episode, Brendan has an inspirational chat with his very own Toastmasters club president Kate Purcell. She shares her story of, from a young age, always finding herself getting tripped up by her debilitating fear of public speaking (or, in fact, even the slightest possibility of public embarrassment). So much so, that she often avoided doing things she enjoyed, for fear of being put in a position that would put her in the spotlight. However, she has made it her goal to overcome this fear and enjoy the freedom that comes with it. She admits that she is still not 100% “cured” of this fear of speaking impromptu and she is working on speaking without her notes in front of her, but, since joining Toastmasters, Kate has learned the importance of having a “just do it” attitude – which she now tries to apply whenever she feels apprehension creeping in. She even went as far as saying “just do it” to becoming her Toastmasters’ Club President – a role that would stretch her in many ways – including of course being “forced” to speak in front of others on a more regular basis. However, she has found her passion in this role and she is able to apply her incredible leadership skills behind the scenes as well, and helping the club organise and set up processes that they are really benefiting from.   Discussion Points: A bit about Kate What is Toastmasters? Going to her first Toastmasters meeting Joining Toastmasters Enjoying the support of her husband Benefits of toastmasters Improving confidence every day Deciding to run for President of Brisbane Water Breakfast Toastmasters Club Priority in her role of president What Kate enjoys about being president Being vulnerable and humble as a leader Advice to become more self-confident   Key Takeaways Leaders lead with vulnerability Leaders are always improving themselves Leaders leave a lasting legacy   Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page Brisbane Water Breakfast Toastmasters Club LinkedIn Brisbane Water Breakfast Toastmasters Club Facebook Brisbane Water Breakfast Toastmasters Club Website     If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.

Randy McNeely lives and breathes kindness and he has dedicated his life to sharing ways to be kind and getting a culture of kindness engrained into organisations. Randy has written a book on the topic of kindness called “The Kindness Givers Formula” and in it, he shares how acts of kindness have the powerful ability to change people's day (and even change lives in some instances).  In this episode, Brendan chats to Randy about his journey into teaching individuals and organisations to leverage kindness to improve their world and the world of people around them. They go into how being kind, actually has the power to make the person being kind, feel good. Yes, scientific evidence that shows that kindness literally goes both ways. Being kind is easier than it may seem in the moment and the more you look for opportunities to be kind, the more such opportunities will tend to arise. This will, in turn, mean cultivating a Circle of Kindness and positivity all around you. So whether it's in your business or personal life, Randy reminds us about the BIG impact a small act of kindness can have.  Randy is truly passionate about his mission to get the world to become a kinder place - and boy, we can all do with a kinder world, right? Discussion Points: Meaning of PEPOK Why Randy values Kindness Memorable moments of kindness The Meaning of Chief kindness officer Practical Actions:  Kindness by Design, The Circle of Kindness Kindness Givers Formula Examples of kindness Kindness in organisations filters down Societal Climate change Our thoughts precede our actions The Daily Dose of Positive book series Resources Brendan Rogers Website Brendan Rogers LinkedIn The Culture of Things Podcast Website The Culture of Things LinkedIn The Culture of Things Facebook Page Randy McNeely LinkedIn PEPOK Institute Kindness in Action