The Human Loop Podcast

In this episode, I break down what it really takes to transition from being an operator to becoming an effective leader.I share the biggest mistakes I see founders and first-time leaders make, from holding onto the “do everything” mindset to skipping the foundations that actually make teams perform.We also get into how to build strong team cultures, hire for the right reasons, and give feedback in a way that develops people rather than demotivates them.Chapters00:23 Who Is Ben?01:07 Sahara Marathon Challenge02:26 Rugby to Career Pivot05:42 Lockdown Decision Moment07:04 Building a 7-Figure Business08:13 Where Leadership Started12:32 Biggest Leadership Mistakes15:18 The Delegation Problem18:15 Leadership at Every Level20:08 How to Onboard Properly21:11 Culture Explained Simply26:57 Why Feedback Is Hard27:16 The Worst Feedback Ever30:06 How to Give Better Feedback33:14 Difficult ConversationsCheck out the Founders 500: https://founders500.comPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Curtis to explore what it really takes to make AI work inside modern businesses.We unpack why messy data, fragmented systems, and inconsistent processes are holding companies back and why the real challenge isn’t the tech, but people and behaviour.Simon shares where AI actually creates value, why most implementations fail, and how to think beyond revenue to the time AI can give back.If you’re trying to figure out how AI fits into your business and how to balance automation with human input, this one’s right up your street.Chapters00:00 Intro: AI, Recruitment & The Human Loop01:53 The AI Wake-Up Call for Businesses05:12 The Hidden Behaviour Problem in Teams06:21 Why Process Matters More Than AI Tools12:22 The Biggest AI Mistake: Volume Over Quality13:50 Why People Reject AI Outreach Instantly15:09 Measuring AI ROI: Time vs Revenue17:29 How AI Should Reshape Roles23:34 Selection vs Attraction: What AI Can’t Replace27:20 When AI Projects Actually Succeed29:02 Why Most Tech Rollouts Fail30:16 The $100K Mistake: Tools No One Uses33:24 Why Humans Still Matter in AI38:11 Final Thoughts: The Future of WorkConnect with Simon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncurtisrecPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this episode, I sit down with Paul, founder of Ookkee, to talk about how modern service businesses are evolving, the role of AI in day-to-day operations, and what it really means to build an efficient, future-proof company.We dive into how Ookkee operates as a bookkeeping business, how AI is being integrated into their workflow, and why the real opportunity isn’t replacing people, but enabling better decisions, faster delivery, and more value for clients. We also explore how the industry is changing and what founders need to understand to stay competitive.If you’re building a business or trying to figure out how AI actually fits into your operations, this one’s right up your street.Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:20 – The Story Behind the Business04:30 – What the Business Actually Does08:30 – Where AI Fits Into the Business13:00 – How AI Is Used Day-to-Day18:30 – Efficiency vs Replacing Jobs24:00 – Delivering More Value with AI30:00 – How the Industry Is Changing36:00 – The Reality of AI in Business41:30 – Final Thoughts & TakeawaysConnect with Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulclarke-ookkeeCheck out ookkee - https://www.ookkee.co.ukPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this weeks round up I discuss the critical issues facing leadership today, including high stress levels among managers, the importance of talent density, and the challenges of AI integration in organisations. He emphasizes the need for real-time engagement, effective change management, and empathetic leadership to navigate these complexities.00:00 Introduction to The Weekly Loop00:28 The Leadership Stress Crisis01:07 Why Middle Management Matters More Than Ever02:17 Talent Density and Protecting Business Margins03:12 Real-Time Employee Engagement03:39 The Long-Term Stress Leaders Have Faced Since 202004:11 How Leaders Should Handle Constant Change05:04 Why CEOs Believe Their Jobs Depend on AI05:41 Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail06:29 The Change Management Mistake Companies Make07:26 The Change Equation: Why People Resist Change08:18 Closing the Knowing–Doing Gap09:04 The Risk of Losing Your Best Leaders10:02 Why Talent Density Will Define Winning CompaniesPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this episode, I sit down with Ezra, entrepreneur and multi-business founder to talk about leadership, failure, systems, and the real impact AI is about to have on modern businesses.After being forced to shut down 65–70% of his group in 2019, Ezra rebuilt with a sharper focus on structure, accountability, and long-term competitive advantage. We explore why most founders are thinking about AI wrong, what actually creates a moat in today’s landscape and why systems matter more than chaos when scaling, If you're building a company or trying to stay competitive in an AI-driven world, this one's right up your street! Chapters00:00 Systems Thinking Starts at Home  02:00 Leadership Lessons from Childhood  05:45 Chaos vs Systems in Early-Stage Founders  08:35 Why Founders Secretly Love the Mess  09:23 The Collapse: Shutting Down 65–70% of the Group  11:10 Accountability at Your Lowest Point  12:00 Why Failure Makes Better Entrepreneurs  26:01 The AI Question Most Businesses Aren’t Asking  27:42 The Real Moat: Data, Relationships & Expertise  30:40 Brand, Memory & The Human Advantage  43:19 Optimising Humans, Not Replacing Them  44:48 Turning AI Into Competitive Leverage  46:00 From Recruiter to Talent Solutions Architect  Connect with Ezra - https://ezrachapman.comPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

I’m Ben, founder of Atherio and my mission is simple: enable the performance and wellbeing of 10 million managers in the next three years.In this episode, I share why managers have one of the toughest jobs in business, why most don’t get the support they need, and how we’re bridging the gap between knowing what good leadership looks like and actually doing it.From elite sport with England national rugby union team to working with global organisations, I’ve seen what makes teams flourish and what causes them to fail.If you care about building high-performing teams without burning people out, this one’s for you.Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this week’s episode of the Human in the Loop podcast, I sit down with Nikki, Managing Director of Ferox Partners, to explore what AI really means for recruitment, leadership, and the future of work.We unpack how AI can drive speed and efficiency in hiring without losing the human relationships that build trust, culture, and performance. From cultural fit versus skill set, to offshoring, early-career development, and burnout in lean teams.We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout.Chapters00:00 – Introduction & Lunch at Lashings02:30 – Ferox Partners & Running Lean with AI06:00 – AI in Recruitment: Efficiency vs Human Judgment10:30 – Cultural Fit vs Skillset: What Really Matters?14:45 – Will AI Replace Human Roles?19:30 – Trust, Emotion & The “Bad Sandwich” Analogy23:30 – On-Site Client Work & The Value of Human Insight29:00 – Offshoring vs AI: The Future of Recruitment Models36:00 – Entry-Level Jobs & The Impact of AI on Early Careers41:30 – Education, MBAs & Preparing Graduates for AI-First Workplaces47:00 – Parental Responsibility & Work Ethic in the Next Generation52:00 – Burnout, Lean Teams & Manager Capability57:00 – Risk, Development & The Future of LeadershipConnect with Nikki - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-foster-21014223/Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this week's episode I sit down with Lily Kyriacou to discuss the challenges of reactive fixes in business, particularly in the context of team dynamics and performance. Lily shares her experiences at Amdaris, where she observed that traditional approaches to problem-solving were inadequate in a rapidly changing environment.We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Business Challenges01:23 The Impact of Reactive Fixes05:32 Understanding Team Dynamics10:18 The Importance of Adaptability12:13 Exploring Solutions for Resilience19:52 Identifying Key Behaviors in Teams25:34 The Shift from Skills to Job Identities30:08 Reinventing How We Approach Our PeopleConnect with Lilly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilykyriacouPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

In this week's episode, Ruth and I discuss the importance of strategic planning for 2026, emphasising the need for business leaders to reflect on past performance and set clear goals. We explore the integration of AI in the construction industry, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and safety. Ruth also addresses the challenges of adopting AI, advocating for treating it as a team member and ensuring proper training for employees. Chapters00:00 Strategic Planning for the New Year03:13 AI in the Construction Industry10:01 Integrating AI as a Team Member16:59 Enhancing Project Management with AI21:20 The Future of AI in Construction30:21 Transforming Construction Through Data and AutomationConnect with Ruth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-oates-864b2b3/?originalSubdomain=ukPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken