Business Leader Breakthroughs

EP 113 - Big announcement: The end of an era and new beginnings

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +1200

In this final episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby reflect on over six years and 100+ episodes of podcasting, sharing how their journey has evolved. They announce the exciting launch of their new podcast, Level Ten Leaders, coming in September 2025. This new show will feature a mix of long-form interviews and quick, actionable leadership tips based on feedback from their community.

A big thank you to all of our amazing listeners for joining us on this journey. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements—we’ll see you soon on Level Ten Leaders!

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty
Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 112 – 94% of Gen Z and millennials don’t want leadership: are your managers ready for them?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, we’re trying something different—an AI-powered deep dive into what Gen Z and Millennials really want from work.

Here’s the headline: 94% of Gen Z don’t want traditional leadership roles. The problem? Most managers aren’t equipped to deliver what this generation actually values. They manage tasks. They don’t build people. And that disconnect? It’s costing companies future leadership, innovation, and engagement.

Using Google's NotebookLM to analyse Deloitte's 2025 global survey, we unpack the manager gap—and what needs to change.

Is this the future of podcasting? Fast, fact-packed, and future-focused? Hit play, decide for yourself, and tell us what you think.

Useful links:
2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, Deloitte
Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 111 - The Growth Mindset: How to develop your business and team

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +1200

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the challenges of learning and why it's often harder than we expect. They explore the natural resistance we face when trying to change and the mental energy required to push through it.

They break down the stages of learning—from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence—and share how business leaders can apply these stages to develop their teams. With practical insights on overcoming learning struggles, the episode also highlights the importance of repetition and consistent practice for mastering new skills.

If you’ve ever struggled with helping your team learn or develop new habits, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make learning stick and drive results.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 110 – Why good employees leave: The real cost of poor management

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +1200

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty
In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby get real about the hidden cost of bad—or as they call them, crap—bosses. They break down how poor management shows up in micromanagement, low trust, and missed opportunities, and how it kills culture, productivity, and engagement.

They share practical steps to move from micromanaging to active management, plus a story of one manager who shifted their whole approach with one mindset change. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too in the weeds—or suspect someone else is—this episode is a must-listen.

Useful links:
Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall - Amazon (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 109 – How to harness AI for business growth and innovation with Brian Russell, PhD

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 23 May 2025 11:00:00 +1200

In this episode Ryan Castle sits down with AI expert and entrepreneur Brian Russell, PhD to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping business growth and innovation. Drawing on his PhD and deep industry experience, Bryan shares practical insights on how business leaders can harness AI, from large language models to advanced decision-making tools, to scale expertise and solve complex problems.

Bryan breaks down key AI concepts like prompt engineering, agents, and validation, explaining how these technologies can be integrated into organizations to unlock breakthrough performance without losing the human touch.

Connect with Brian Russell, PhD - LinkedIn

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 108 – Navigate uncertainty: how to lead through turbulent times

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 09 May 2025 10:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the pressing challenges of leading a business in unpredictable times. With Trump’s proposed tariffs, global instability, and economic uncertainty dominating headlines, how can leaders stay grounded, keep their teams calm, and still move forward?

Ryan and Mike explore why traditional strategies don’t work in today’s climate—and what to do instead. They unpack how to develop an Active Mindset, make smarter decisions under pressure, and create space for clear, strategic thinking even when chaos reigns. If you're feeling overwhelmed by today’s volatile business environment, this episode offers practical tools and sharp insights to help you lead with intention—not reaction.

👉 Free Resource: tbco.at/ambook Download The Active Manager book – your field guide to leading through uncertainty

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 107 – Win back your time: Stop being busy and start leading

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle one of the most talked-about, least-mastered skills in business: time management. Everyone’s busy. But are we spending our time on what matters?

Ryan and Mike break down why most time management fails — and how it's really about energy, attention, and mindset. They introduce the concept of the Active Mindset, and share smart, practical tools to take back control of your day. You’ll hear how small changes like a 5-minute meeting with yourself, setting fixed work hours, and identifying your “productivity window” can help you stay focused, make better choices, and get more done without burning out.

If your day feels out of control or you’re always chasing tasks that never end, this episode will help you shift from reactive to intentional. Expect sharp insights, real-world examples, and tips you can use today.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 106 – From stuck to scaling: 3 business growth strategy questions

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +1200

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the challenge of breaking out of business plateaus. Many owners feel stuck, tweaking small things but not seeing real progress. Ryan and Mike unpack three powerful strategy questions that unlock fresh thinking and new paths to growth.

They share real-world stories of businesses trapped in incremental improvements and show how bold, simple questions can shift mindsets from maintenance to momentum. You'll hear how to think like a new entrant to your industry, how to imagine scaling your business, and how to challenge your assumptions about resources and growth.

If you’re feeling stuck or want to push your business to the next level, this episode offers clear, practical insights to spark bigger thinking and real action.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 105 – How to build high-performing teams with IQ, EQ and adaptability with Jennifer Aubin

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle chats with early-stage tech leader and HR expert Jennifer Aubin about what it really takes to lead teams in high-growth, high-stress environments. With 20+ years in startup leadership, Jennifer brings real-world insight into how great teams stay aligned, adaptable, and emotionally intelligent—without burning out.

Jennifer introduces her “three-pronged” leadership model: IQ, EQ, and AQ (Adaptability Quotient)—a simple but powerful way to assess talent and build capable, well-balanced teams. She unpacks why smart people alone won’t get you across the line, and how adaptability is the trait that separates average teams from high performers.

Useful links:
Connect with Jennifer Aubin - LinkedIn
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson - Amazon (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)
Grit by Angela Duckworth - Amazon (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)

Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 104 – Katie O'Malley, Founder and Leadership Coach at Encourage Coaching, on self-awareness and why great leaders master listening

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle sit down with leadership coach Katie O'Malley to explore the essential qualities of great leadership—self-awareness, psychological safety, and listening skills. Katie shares her personal career journey, from pursuing political science and nonprofit work to discovering her true passion for coaching. She reveals how a misalignment between values and career choices can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, and why developing self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership.

Ryan and Katie also discuss how leaders can create psychologically safe workplaces where employees feel heard and empowered. Katie explains why listening is the most underrated leadership skill, how different communication styles impact team trust, and practical strategies leaders can use to foster open, productive conversations. Whether you’re looking to enhance your leadership skills or rethink how you engage with your team, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Useful links:
Katie O'Malley’s Coaching Practice – Encourage Coaching
Dr. Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety – Harvard Business Review article

The Five-Factor Model of Personality – The psychological framework behind Hogan Assessments

Armchair Expert Podcast – One of Katie’s favorite podcasts on psychology and leadership

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 103 – The office debate: is remote work over?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby dive into the heated debate on returning to the office. With major corporations and governments pushing for in-office mandates, they explore the real drivers behind these decisions—productivity, company culture, and even cost-cutting disguised as policy shifts. They break down how different industries are approaching hybrid work and why a one-size-fits-all policy is often ineffective.

Ryan and Mike also discuss the critical role of leadership in setting fair and practical workplace expectations. They examine why some leaders push office attendance while choosing to work remotely themselves, how hybrid policies impact team dynamics, and why great management—not location—is the key to high performance. If you're a leader navigating the return-to-office landscape, this episode offers practical insights to help you make decisions that drive both engagement and results.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 102 - Managing stress: how to thrive under pressure

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby break down the difference between pressure and stress—why one fuels high performance while the other leads to burnout. They share actionable strategies for recognizing stress signals, using breathing techniques to reset, and shifting your mindset to stay in control under pressure.

They also explore how great leaders help their teams thrive under pressure, from cutting out unnecessary noise to fostering human connection. You’ll learn how to keep your team focused, engaged, and performing at their best—without adding extra stress. If you want to manage stress effectively and turn pressure into an advantage, this episode is a must-listen.

Useful links:
Eckhart Tolle – "The Power of Now" - Amazon (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)
The Yerkes-Dodson Law (Pressure vs. Performance Curve) - Simply Psychology

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 101 - Better decisions: 3 rules every manager should know

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the keys to making better decisions as a leader. They share practical principles like being less certain, evaluating probabilities, and asking, “What could go wrong?” You’ll hear real-world examples, including a kayak adventure that taught lessons in preparation and perspective.

They also discuss why “fit for purpose” should guide your approach, how to leverage outside perspectives for smarter choices, and when “good enough” is the right call. If you want sharper decision-making skills that lead to better outcomes for your team, this episode is for you.

Useful links:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig (Note: We are not affiliated with this link; it’s shared for reference only.)

Between Two Beers featuring Sean Quincey: Rowing 2,200km Across The Tasman, Building a Business & Investment Empire
Make Better Decisions by Thomas H. Davenport, HBR

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 100 - Effective manager training: 7 best leadership strategies

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +1300

What makes manager training truly effective, and why should you prioritize it? In this episode of Business Breakthroughs, Ryan and Mike explore how equipping managers with essential people leadership skills can transform their performance and the productivity of their teams. They discuss the challenges of promoting technically skilled individuals to managerial roles without proper training and why this often leads to inefficiency and frustration for both managers and their teams.

You’ll also hear practical insights on creating a robust leadership development strategy, including the importance of coaching, peer learning, and hands-on practice. Ryan and Mike reveal how structured programs not only build confidence but also free up managers’ time, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business success.

Download the guide: 7 Best Ways to Train Your Leaders

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 99 - Develop your team: Your role as a leader

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:00:00 +1300

Discover how to develop and retain talent by fostering a culture of learning and growth within your team. Ryan and Mike dive into the critical role leaders play in helping their people grow, exploring why continuous development is key to team performance and business success.

Learn practical strategies for identifying future value in team members, creating a learning mindset, and providing fear-free feedback that drives progress. Ryan and Mike share insights on balancing internal talent development with external hires and outline simple yet powerful techniques like structured coaching, skill practice, and reflection.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 98 - 15-Minute coaching: Fast-track your team’s performance and growth

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +1300

Unlock the power of coaching with simple, effective techniques you can implement in just 15 minutes. Ryan and Mike break down what coaching really is (and what it isn’t), while addressing common barriers like time constraints, lack of confidence, and the misconception that you need all the answers. They share practical ways to shift from telling to asking and guide your team to uncover their own solutions. Learn how short, focused coaching sessions can be easy to schedule, stick to, and deliver big results over time.

Discover how to use quick coaching moments to spark growth and build trust, even in day-to-day interactions. By asking transformative questions like “How would you do it?” and offering real-time feedback, you can empower your team to take ownership and boost their performance. Coaching doesn’t need to be formal or time-consuming – start small, stay consistent, and watch your team thrive.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 97 - How to delegate effectively: Task vs. capability delegation explained

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +1300

Discover the power of two distinct delegation approaches: task delegation, focusing on efficient task completion, and capability delegation, aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of your team members.

Learn to overcome the common "too busy" excuse and embrace delegation as a crucial leadership tool. Ryan and Mike will guide you through a practical framework for successful delegation, including identifying tasks and capabilities to delegate, implementing the "Watch me, then I'll watch you" approach for task delegation, and providing ongoing support and guidance for capability development. Tune in to unlock your team's potential and elevate your leadership to new heights.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 96 - The art of difficult conversations: leadership with empathy and purpose

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs, where hosts Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby discuss how to excel in challenging but crucial workplace situations: difficult conversations. From managing underperformance to addressing behavioral challenges, this episode dives into strategies, emotional intelligence, and tools for turning tough talks into opportunities for growth.

Tune in to learn how to approach conversations with care, respect, and purpose, ensuring positive outcomes for both individuals and the business. Plus, hear insights from real-life leadership scenarios and the Active Manager Program.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 95 - Clear communication: Your superpower to build stronger teams and foster trust

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the art of clear communication and why it’s critical for effective leadership. Discover how to deliver your message with clarity, listen actively, and create space for meaningful contributions from your team.

With practical strategies, real-world examples, and proven frameworks, this episode equips you with the tools to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and build high-performing teams. Perfect for leaders ready to break through communication barriers and drive better results.

Check out this guide to powerful communication and team success. Subscribe now for more actionable business breakthroughs!|

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 94 - Conquer big goals: Practical leadership strategies for growth and resilience

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby share actionable leadership strategies to help you focus on what matters most. Learn how to prioritize your top three goals, harness the power of dedicated development time, and embrace daily discomfort to fuel growth and resilience.

With real-world insights, proven frameworks, and inspiring stories, this episode gives you the tools to lead with purpose, plan for the future, and create meaningful progress. Perfect for leaders ready to carve out space for high-impact work.

Don’t miss this guide to intentional leadership and future-focused success. Subscribe now for more practical business breakthroughs!

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 93 - Understanding different working styles: How team diversity enhances productivity

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +1300

Ever wondered why others don’t think or work like you? In this episode, we dive into the impact of diverse working styles on team productivity. From Drivers to Pioneers, we explore how understanding each style—whether detail-oriented or big-picture—can enhance collaboration and improve outcomes. Join us as we unpack how these differences make teams stronger and offer tips for communicating across styles. Perfect for leaders, managers, and anyone curious about what makes a successful team dynamic.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 92 - The secret to productive meetings: Build culture and drive results

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle a critical issue: how to transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools that drive culture and boost team energy. They share strategies to ensure meetings create purpose, accountability, and energy, rather than draining team morale.

Join Ryan and Mike as they discuss:

Why meetings are essential but often go wrong
How meetings can either boost or kill culture
Practical steps to energize your team meetings and increase focus
Managing meeting challenges like topic drift, late arrivals, and the "Dominator" effect

Whether you’re a CEO, manager, or team leader, learn how to make your meetings work for you, not against you. Tune in to discover ways to create meetings that inspire, align, and drive results.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 91 - How to manage your priorities: Focus on what really matters

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +1300

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the “busyness trap.” We all know the feeling: a week packed with tasks, yet by Friday, we’re not sure what we’ve achieved. Sound familiar? Mike and Ryan dive deep into the Active vs. Reactive mindset, helping leaders refocus on genuine contributions instead of endless to-dos.

They discuss:

The Pitfalls of "Busy": Why busyness can feel like progress, but often isn’t.
Active Mode: A tool for leaders to hit pause, evaluate priorities, and stay present.
The Eisenhower Matrix: A simple framework for deciding what’s truly urgent and important.
Development Days: Setting aside time for strategic, uninterrupted work that drives real progress.

Whether you’re managing a team or a company, this episode helps you break free from the noise and move towards impactful, focused work.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ep 90: Mindfulness at work – Break free from autopilot

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:10:13 +1300

In this episode, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the concept of mindfulness in the workplace. They discuss how many people operate on autopilot, going through the motions without being fully present. Mike explains that mindfulness isn't just about meditation – it's about being engaged in the moment, especially at work. They share practical ways to build mindfulness into daily tasks and how breaking away from habitual, reactive behavior can unlock true greatness.

Key Topics:

Understanding mindfulness beyond meditation
How autopilot thinking hinders success
Practical tips to bring mindfulness into your workday
How to identify and overcome reactive habits
The value of focusing on important, not urgent, tasks

Takeaways: Learn how to implement mindfulness at work, improve decision-making, and boost productivity by being fully present and engaged.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S3 E4 - Micah Lorenc, owner of Tailored Consulting, Leadership unveiled: insights from on self-awareness and coaching.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:43:38 +1300

Today, we have Micah Lorenc, the owner and head executive coach of Taylor Consulting. With a wealth of experience spanning the spectrum from startups to Fortune 500, Micah is a Gallup-certified StrengthsFinder Coach, guiding individuals and teams towards unlocking their full potential.

Micah brings a dynamic perspective to leadership. He's here to share three profound insights that understanding why self-awareness is often underrated, the transformative impact of leaders who know how to coach, and the critical distinction between average leaders focusing on work and great leaders shaping the environment.

So, strap in for another insightful journey as we explore the realms of leadership and personal development with Micah Lorenc. Without further ado, let's dive into this enriching conversation!

Links:

Connect with Micah Lorenc
Tailored Consulting

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S3 E3 - Chris Morsley, the CEO of CMC Global, on charismatic leadership

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1200

Our guest is Chris Morsley, an accomplished entrepreneur and business consultant based in Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Chris is the founder and CEO of CMC Global, a leading consulting firm that provides innovative solutions in strategic planning, marketing, and business development. Throughout his career, Chris has helped numerous clients to achieve their goals and reach new heights of success.

Today Chris is sharing his insights and knowledge on charismatic leadership. We discuss that charisma is a trait that can be learned, that storytelling is a number one weapon in successful communication and how Chris fell in love with bungy jumping while filming an Anchor Butter ad in Christchurch. So without further ado, let's dive into our conversation!

Links:

Connect with Chris via LinkedIn
CMC Global
Instagram

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S3 E2 - Nadine Tereora, the CEO of AA New Zealand, on how you become a leader worth following.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +1300

AA is one of the most trusted and recognised brands in New Zealand, and with over 1300 employees spread across Aotearoa, the leadership responsibility is a big one. Nadine shares that in the first few weeks in her role with the AA, she deliberately spent time on the road with her staff, even learning how to tap starter motor.

Nadine shares her top three leadership insights; a great combination of her hard-earned lessons, observations as a leader, and how these helped her to learn how to be her authentic self, and that failure is inevitable in leadership. But it's how you recover from those failures that are important.

Links:

Connect with Nadine via LinkedIn

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S3 E1 - Mark McConnell, L&D Manager at Argenta, on 6 C's of leadership.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +1300

Ryan is joined by Mark McConnell, the Global Lead of Learning and Development at Argenta, the world's only CRO/CDMO for animal health. Mark shares his 6 C's of leadership that he sees as the foundational pillars of any great leader. He helps us explore those pillars and shares insights on how they've been observed and applied during his 20-year career.

Mark is also a speaker and an author. Mark opens up about some difficult times in his life that inspired his book, The Prime of My Days.

Links:

Official website of author: https://www.primedays.org/
Buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-My-Days-Mark-McConnell/dp/1725259540
Connect with Mark through his LinkedIn

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S2 E7: How to attract and retain your stars

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 11:54:00 +1300

Talent is becoming more demanded. Employees have a wealth of opportunities today and the market is very much in their favour. So join Ryan and Mike to see how to keep people at work and how to develop your managers to increase productivity with the people you have. We'll also discuss how to succeed in the labour market through competitive advantage.

To attract, keep and get the best from good people, companies have to improve the quality of their operational managers, so building your employer's brand is very important.

Links:

Research: McKinsey Quarterly ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours

Gallup: It’s the Manager, Moving From Boss to Coach, by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter 2019

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S2 E6: How to Have Difficult Conversations

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 20:38:15 +1300

Difficult conversations are part of life. We might want to avoid them, but it is about three things: what happened, feelings and how to keep your balance. Sometimes all you need to do is acknowledge other feelings.

Each party will have their version of reality. There’s no such thing as ‘facts’ in a difficult conversation, there is only our interpretation, which is coloured by things like the Truth Assumption, the Intention Invention and the Blame Frame. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan are looking at a real-life examples and the best way to resolve them.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S2 E5: Alicia Purtell, CPO of Lion Co, on Unlocking a Greater World Through Flexible Thinking

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 11:43:36 +1300

Alicia Purtell is a Chief People Officer at Lion with 20 years of experience in People and Culture, strategy, change and organisation development. Alicia has a passion for Coaching and Positive Psychology, bringing this passion to life as a Senior Associate with the Positivity Institute working with not for profits and the education sector.

In this episode, Alicia shares her top three leadership insights into being a leader, including what she wished she knew earlier in his career about thinking flexibly and her take on being an authentic leader, including how to stay true to yourself even when your values are being tested. Alicia and Ryan also discuss the loneliness that comes with being at the top and the importance of building a support network

We also learn about swimming with sharks. Why Viktor Frankl would be someone to channel, and why creativity is Alicia's superpower.

Links

Connect with Alicia through her LinkedIn here

You can find us here

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

S2 E4: Sources of Stress at Work and How to Combat Them

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:39:10 +1300

There can be many sources of stress in the workplace, this for the most part is unavoidable. These sources lead to a sense of overload – too much, too hard and/or too soon. What you can control is how you deal with those situations. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of gaining control over the situation and your decisions. If you want to reduce your sense of overwhelm, it's time to get comfortable:

Getting help
Letting go
Delegating
Prioritising

Listen to the podcast to get in-depth detail on how you can implement any (or all!) of these options at your workplace.

Links:

Blog: Sources of Stress at Work and How to Combat Them by Mike Ashby, October 2022

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S2 E3: David Mair, CEO of Skellerup, on How to Grow Your NZ Business Using Japanese Business Practices

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1200

David Mair is the CEO of iconic South Island brand Skellerup and Deloitte Top 200 ‘CEO of the Year 2021’. As a part of the team at Panasonic in Japan, he developed a deep understanding of Kaizen / Kaikaku and Product Development that has helped him develop rapid ways of improving businesses regardless of size.

We all know of the famous Red Band gumboots. But how does one take rubber products and turn them into a symbol? David shares how 10 years in Japan and a lifelong commitment to judo have introduced him to a revolutionary way of doing business and helped shape his leadership style to what it is today. He also talks about three essential learnings in his career. The first one is learning by doing, then focusing on structure, then people, then process. And finally the ability to deal when things go wrong, as David says: “It's not people that fail. It's the process”

He told Ryan about the kaikaku and kaizen concepts in Japanese production philosophy, which focuses on continuous self-improvement. Kaikaku means a radical change, during a limited time. Kaizen, on the other hand, is a system of incremental system changes.

Links

Check out Who Stole My Customer?: Winning Strategies for Creating and Sustaining Customer Loyalty

Connect with David through his LinkedIn here

You can find us here

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

S2 E2: The Myth of the Great Resignation

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1200

The Great Resignation is the idea that after the Covid pandemic, people re-evaluated their lives and left their jobs en masse. It sounds like a cultural movement where people don’t want to work anymore, but really, that's just an excuse used by employers.

In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the myth and the copout that helps us avoid evaluating our performance as leaders and managers. The conversation also turns to the latest McKinsey research that confirms the old saying that people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. They share exactly what employees value in their careers and how you can provide this as an employer - and no, it isn't all about money!

Links:
Blog The Myth of the Great Resignation, by Mike Ashby, June 2022

Research: McKinsey Quarterly ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

S2 E1: Breaking the Barriers for Women in Leadership with Jen Scoular, CEO of NZ Avocado

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 11:12:35 +1200

In this podcast, Ryan interviews Jen Scoular, Chief Executive of New Zealand Avocado, where she shares her three leadership insights: Everyone is different, competency is important and leadership is not the same thing as being at the top.

Jen's journey from trade diplomat heading the New Zealand Consulate in Hamburg, Germany to going up against some of the biggest markets in the world to lead (and win!) the campaign for NZ to host the next World Avocado Congress in New Zealand in 2023 has gifted her a unique perspective on being a woman in leadership on the world stage.

Ryan and Jen also discuss women in leadership. While the latest Australian statistics are showing that the progress is slow, Jen strongly believes that we have to look at the good things as well. There are some amazing woman leaders doing great things. It’s all about progress and perfection.

Links

Check out World Avocado Congress 2023

Check out New Zealand Avocado website here

Connect with Jen through her LinkedIn here

You can find us here

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 37 - Why the Loss of a Big Prospect Isn’t Really a Loss

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. In this episode, Mike and Ryan give an example about a big failure we at The Breakthrough went through, but why it was the best thing to happen to us.

Going off a popular belief from a member of The Breakthrough's Board, "What are you going to delete, what are you going to develop, what are you going to grow, and what are you going to milk" and carrying on the discussion around failure, Mike and Ryan share a true story from when we lost a huge prospect and how it shaped the business (for the good).

Listen to the full episode here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 35 - Get Good at Measuring Your Engagement

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1300

Mike and Ryan discuss how we can accurately measure engagement and direct it in a way that provides value to both your business and your employees. Although engagement in the workplace has been a focus in the leadership space for the last 10-15 years, it's still a measurement that is very hard to pin down. Engagement will have a leading influence on your business performance measures, such as contribution and productivity, but it doesn’t provide value in of itself, so looking at your employees engagement as a whole and then actively working on changing those measurements will show growth in the areas of the organisation that engagement touches.

Listen to the full episode here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 79 - Rebecca Houghton on How to Level up as a B-Suite Leader

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:14:41 +1300

Rebecca earned her stripes leading large teams in complex organisations and built quite a reputation for doing business differently. Today, she is among Australia’s leading Talent and Leadership coaches and facilitators – helping leaders and their teams work. She is particularly passionate about helping mid-level leaders, the B-suite, to step up in the face of complexity. She is sometimes called the "fairy godmother" of middle management.

In this podcast, Ryan interviews Rebecca on how to be a bold leader. She shares just how important it is as a leader to be creating fun in the workplace and how doing so can leader to higher performance and creativity, but also how it's equally important to remember that fun looks different to everyone. Together they look into the challenges specific to middle management and share solutions around those, including how to create space when overwhelm starts to build.
Rebecca shares some great tips on how to build and prioritise your tasks in a way that you can actually feel the impact you're creating in your business, along with allowing you to work with upper management in a way that doesn't see you working above capacity.

Links

Check out Rebecca's website here
Connect with Rebecca through her LinkedIn here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 32 - How to Work From Home Post Lockdown

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 13:24:43 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode covers the question so many of us are asking "What is the ideal working model going forward in levels 1 and 2?" For many businesses and their people what was once the norm is now a choice; to work from home, to return to the office or something in between.

In this podcast, Mike and Ryan share many stories of how people working from home during lockdown experienced different gains, losses and challenges, and the learnings we can take from their situations. And as the requirements ease, companies have been adopting a variety of new models of working, some of which may not last long term.

The important thing to realise is that there isn't a one size fits all solution, not only for the organisation but for individuals. We need to be continually adjusting and asking questions like "is this still working for us?" and "what do we need to change?"

Listen to the full episode here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 31 - Managing the Tension Between Stabilising and Adapting after the COVID-19 Lockdowns

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 10:41:20 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode was recorded right after our first 8 week lockdown in 2020, so with that in mind, Mike and Ryan discuss the tension for business leaders between stabilising the business after a lockdown, while also adapting our business models to make sure we stayed afloat during the 'new normal' of business after COVID.

Managing the tension between stabilising and adapting is difficult, even without the added pressure of a pandemic. In the process of stabilising our business, we must look at our business model and operations for what and how we can recover, rebuild, reinstate and reassure. So we must engage in the process of adapting, think about how to stay relevant, reimagine, reengineer, and disrupt so we exceed. The good news, you don't have to know all the answers right away, your role as a business leader is to help navigate the space and come up with solutions as the problems come, which is where we can help.

Links

- Click here to listen to the full episode
- Read more https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/coronavirus-leading-through-the-crisis

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 78 - Jack Keeys of KPMG on How to Create Dynamic and Inspiring Leadership

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:46:58 +1200

This week, Ryan got a fresh perspective on leadership from Jack Keeys, a Research and Insights analyst at KPMG. Jack has led the market entrance of an agricultural computer software company into the UK and Ireland, while also conducting business development and training around New Zealand. Jack has been involved in several industry initiatives including co-developing the Rabobank Agri-Leadership programme and being selected for the first AGMARDT international placement award in 2019.

Drawing upon his experience working for one of the "Big Four" accounting organisations, Jack shares his top three insights on what can create really impactful leadership. He discusses 'dynamic leadership' and how to create space for different people and skills to take their turn leading as well as how to allow inspiring leaders to contribute at their highest value, rather than boxing them into results-driven work and projects.

We also get some really interesting insight into the future of the food production sector and where New Zealand stands within that. He shared some innovative technology such as the 3D printed steak and a (very) smart fridge that can even help you with your shopping!

Links

Check out 's KPMG's website here
Connect with Jack through his LinkedIn here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 30 - Your Organisation Has to Change if You Want Your People to Change

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +1200

Think about the learning workshops you've done over your career. Did you go away, have an inspiring day or two, only to go back to your workplace and keep doing what you've always done? You may have been introduced to some great new ideas and skills, but there was no path to bring that into your work within the organisation.

In this episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how learning must be embedded to create transformation in the organisation, and its the organisation itself that has to change if you want the leaders to change.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 77 - How to Navigate Hybrid Working with Ali Hill

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:00:00 +1200

Alison Hill is the CEO of AFR Fast 100 company Pragmatic Thinking, working with organisations to build better leaders, grow better teams, and shift cultures. Ali is a Psychologist, an award-winning business woman, an influential keynote speaker, producer and host of Stand Out Life podcast, regular on mainstream media, and a best-selling author.

A hybrid work environment has become commonplace, and it’s no wonder considering the huge potential benefits to both employers and employees. But how can you make it work for your team?

This week, we interviewed Ali Hill on what exactly hybrid working is and how you can use it to create a high performing team. She answers questions like 'How do you know your people are working while at home?', 'How do we keep a good work culture?' and 'What if we have people that HAVE to be in the office?'.
Ali also shares the three pillars of success when it comes to creating a framework for your hybrid work environment and how you can implement them in your organisation.

Links

Buy Ali's book here
Check out Ali's website here
Connect with Ali through her LinkedIn here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 29 - How To Make Working From Home Work For You

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +1200

Mike and Ryan cover how to successfully work from home during these challenging times of COVID-19. When this episode was first recorded, working from home was a brand new thing, so moving to solely WFH was a big change for our business and mental states. Although the tips and mindsets Mike and Ryan share in this podcast may not be relevant full time anymore, it's still important to remember how to work from home effectively and efficiently for workplaces that have decided to keep working from home as an option for their employees.

Links

See one of the many available pomodoro-timers here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 76 - Rob Pyne on Transforming Your Leadership Team Through Emotional Intelligence

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:38:48 +1200

Rob Pyne, is the author of Unlock: Leveraging the Hidden Intelligence in Your Leadership Team. He is a former Chief Strategy Officer, and now is an adviser to CEOs and senior leaders. He is a leadership coach and facilitator who helps teams unlock their collective intelligence and become smarter than the sum of their parts.

In this week’s podcast, Ryan interviews Rob Pyne to discuss how focusing on the EQ of your leadership team before their IQ can create a collective leadership that performs better than any one person ever could alone. This is no easy feat, however, which is why Rob Pyne shares where you can begin the journey towards collective leadership within your own business, by laying down the emotional foundations that answer the why, the what, and the how of your business. They’ll also talk about how to close the gap between the strategic plan of the leadership team and the execution of that strategic plan by your frontline workers.

Links

Buy Rob's book here
Check out Rob's website here
Connect with Rob through his LinkedIn here
Email Rob at rob@robpyne.online

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 28 - What's Productivity Worth to Your Business?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:55:49 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode covers an important question most business leaders have when they are about to invest in leadership training – How do you measure the results of leadership development programmes?

It is difficult to attribute a hard dollar value to soft skills, or translate it directly into measures like profit, so this can be a challenging question to answer. Mike and Ryan cover what they respond to questions like this, and continue to discuss the measuring ROI of leadership training, by referencing the Kirkpatrick Framework. This is a four dimensional training evaluation model that has evolved over multiple decades through application by learning and development professionals around the world.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 75 - Make Clear Communication Your Superpower

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:45:55 +1200

We have more tools to communicate with than ever before, so you’d think we’d be better than ever at communicating, right? Unfortunately, what we’ve learnt from the leaders and teams we work with, is that poor communication and lack of clarity is one of the biggest concerns in their business.

In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan share how to turn clear communication into your teams superpower. They share tips on what to do, such as the “and what else” trick and how to communicate with different team members based on their working styles. As well as what you should avoid if you want to get the best communication and contribution out of your team.

They also remind us how to listen. Really listen.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 27 - The Regrets of the Dying

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +1200

Inspired from the book by Bronnie Ware, this week we revisit the 5 Regrets of the Dying, as the title suggests, this podcast is all about the top 5 regrets the dying patients of Bronnie Ware shared with her over the years.
Bronnie Ware has had a long career in palliative care during which she would speak with the people she took care of, with many of them being on their death bed and being moved by what a lot of her patients shared, she wrote down their insights which she turned into her best selling book.

The Breakthrough Company has applied the lessons learned from this book for a long time, finding that business success is unsustainable and meaningless if your personal and family life is neglected. In this episode, Mike and Ryan go over the 5 main regrets of the dying, what can be learned from them, and how to apply these to improve both your business and personal life.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 74 - The Power of Daily Scrums

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 11:14:16 +1200

Daily scrums became an integral part of The Breakthrough over a year ago driving connection, communication, and focus within the team. In today's VUCA* world we need to respond faster and be more agile and scrums are the way to achieve this – not long boring meetings.

In this week's podcast, Ryan shares how we structure our scrums and how you can implement them into your business. He also shares all the do’s and don’ts that we've learned along the way to keep the scrums running smoothly.

*VUCA = volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

Links

Check out Mike's article on the "Culture of Contribution" here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 26 - Changing the Organisation From the Middle, Out

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +1200

Your business will only change if your managers match your energy for improvement. Change comes from direct contact, so you need to put in the work to develop your managers. In this podcast Mike and Ryan chat about the “leadership diamond” framework as developed by McKinsey in their book “Leadership at Scale”, and discuss and relate it to their own insights and experience with transforming organisations.

Find out more about McKinsey’s book “ Leadership at Scale” here
Read Mike’s summary of McKinsey’s insights applied to the Breakthrough here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 25 - 4 Types of People Who Take Meetings off Track

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 14:39:28 +1200

Mike and Ryan discuss how to effectively run a meeting, and how to deal with people that get your meeting off track. They talk about why face to face meetings are so fundamental and beneficial but they feel less beneficial when they are taken over by the de-railers. This minisode covers 4/6 situations that Mike and Ryan point that that can derail meetings and how the meeting runner can resolve them.
To listen to the full podcast to get advice on all 6 de-railers, click here.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 24 - How to Fix Your Boring Meetings

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:57:45 +1200

Mike and Ryan talk about the importance of team meetings in shaping your company culture. Believe it or not, they are instrumental in creating (or bringing down) energy. No one wants a day full of boring meetings!
They talk about do’s and don’ts in team meetings and share examples from our own meetings at the Breakthrough Co, providing a great starting point for you to create a more energising meeting and culture for your team.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 73 - Critical Trends for Ops Leaders and What You Can Do About Them

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 25 May 2021 10:50:56 +1200

We recently conducted a survey with over one hundred operational leaders in the productive sector asking about their challenges, opportunities, growth/decline, focus, and goals. We also interview economist Cameron Bagrie on his insights about what these results might mean for leaders in the economic environment over the next twelve months.

Mike and Ryan have cherry-picked the most relevant insights from the report and interview to discuss in this week's podcast, sharing some of the biggest challenges being faced by businesses in New Zealand, including the war for good talent and productivity. Luckily, a lot of the challenges that came to light can be offset by one key thing. Proper training and development of your staff.

Links

Check out the Voice of the Ops Leader report here
Check out our webinar with Cameron Bagire here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 23 - You Can't Fake Work Culture

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 18 May 2021 12:46:02 +1200

Creating a company culture is not just writing some values on the walls and expecting your employees to live them, or even expecting yourself to live them. Along with defining culture in the work place, Mike and Ryan also cover why having a positive culture is important for every part of the business and, most importantly, how you can achieve a good culture, or if you already have a good culture, how you can ensure it keeps flourishing.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 72 - How to Develop Your Team

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 11 May 2021 10:28:08 +1200

In an economy where skilled talent can sometimes be in short supply, it's imperative you are developing skills within your own team. It might just be the edge you need against your competitors.

In this week's podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss exactly how you can develop that talent in your team to create greater business results. They provide actionable steps you can take to begin developing your staff along with the most effective way to give feedback. They also share the two things that make a great manager. The first is creating aligned goals across the organisation. The second is enabling your people to be as successful as possible.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 22 - Mindfulness is Valuable for EVERY Business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +1200

No, this episode isn't about yoga and meditation. Mike and Ryan cover mindfulness in a work context. This means being present and open in the moment and actively thinking about how you can add the most value for your organisation.
Along with explaining just how important it is that you stay mindful at work, they share their own experiences with mindfulness and tips and practices they use every day.

Links

Find out more about asana here
Listen to the full episode here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 71 - 3 Things All Staff Want of Their Leaders

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +1200

In this week's podcast we turn Mike from host to guest to ask him what he thinks are the top three things all staff want from their leaders.
1. Someone to believe in
2. Something to believe in
3. Someone to believe in them

Understanding how these three insights can have a multitude of positive effects on your business, from improved culture to greater engagement to improved trust. Mike and Ryan discuss these in depth and give examples of how you can implement these insights into your business.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

MINISODE 21 - How Outsourcing and Freelancing Jobs Could Change Your Business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 12:56:04 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode Ryan is joined by Milena, head of digital at The Breakthrough, to talk why outsourcing work on websites such as Upwork has been a vital part of growing our business.

They share with you the lessons they have learned during the various times they have outsourced work at the Breakthrough, whether it was a large job or small. And they cover the tips and tricks that they have learned along on the journey of outsourcing, including how to find the right person or agency to hire, why much detail you must prep (hint: you can never provide too much detail!), how to make the relationship as mutually beneficial as possible, as well as what to do when you run into challenges.

Links

Upwork: freelancer platform

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 70 - How to Delegate Effectively

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:56:45 +1200

Delegation is a great tool to give yourself something everyone wants... more time and less work to do!
In this weeks podcast, Mike and Ryan share their knowledge on how to use delegation to take your business to the next level. They explain the different types of delegations and give tips on how to decide what should be delegated and what to do with tasks that no one wants to do, because guess what - you don't actually HAVE to do those.

Delegation isn't just a tool to give yourself more time, it's also a tool to help your team grow into their potential. Mike and Ryan share how to let go of your tasks for the benefit of the business and how to approach giving these to your team.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 20 - The 3 Questions Every Business Owner Should Ask Themselves

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode surrounds itself around 3 important questions that everyone business owner should ask themselves, regardless of where you are at in the business.

Mike and Ryan talk around 3 big strategic questions that they use to help clients think about where their business is currently at, how it can do better and why it isn't reaching the heights that they want it to.
- If you were a new entrance into the industry, what would you be doing different?
- What would your business look like if it was double/triple the size it is now?
- What would you do with one million dollars that you had to spend ON the business?

These questions will unlock thinking not only around your personal business, but also around the industry it is in, the people you have with you right now and what kind of customers you have. Mike and Ryan discuss them in depth and give real life examples of how asking these questions has helped them and their clients improve their businesses, and will no doubt will assist you in thinking about your own business and how it can improve and change for the better.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

EP 69 - How To Manage Your Priorities to Create More Value and Less Busy-ness

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 13:36:42 +1300

How many of you wish there was more time in the day to get everything done? Well we can't help with that but what you can do is create more value out of the time you do have. How? By managing your priorities correctly.

In this week's podcast Mike and Ryan share a wealth of knowledge on exactly how to evaluate what should be prioritised, starting with making only 3 big goals (and no more!), thinking about what tasks are actually important vs what's just urgent. And how to be more active throughout the day to make sure you're not being distracted by those priorities you've committed to.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 19 - Is Your Marketing as Good as Your Product?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:22:44 +1300

Being good at product isn’t enough, you need to be great at marketing too for your business to be successful. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of having clear principles. They share the principles we have at the Breakthrough Co around our marketing, and give examples on how having these principles and coming back to them every meeting have positively impacted the company.

The Marketing Principles discussed in the podcast are the following:

Be as good at marketing as we are at product
No one-shot wonders
Plan every campaign
Building our tribe
What is the problem or result
Building momentum through focus
Get it done then get it better
Authenticity

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

Ep 68 - Rocket Lab's Head of People and Culture, Estelle Curd, on Being an Authentic Leader

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 14:04:20 +1300

Estelle Curd started her HR career as HR advisor at New Zealand Steel in 2012, and has since then held a number of senior management positions, before joining Rocket Lab in September 2019 as head of people and culture.

This week, Ryan was joined by Estelle as she inspires us with her top three insights on what makes a great people leader. She opens up with how to always stay authentic to yourself and shares how she has done this, not only throughout her career, but in even more challenging environments – like the Miss Universe competition! And gives us some great tips on how to be a genuine people leader and build trust with your employees.
Estelle also gives us some insight on what it’s like being the HR leader to some of the most intelligent people in New Zealand and the challenges that can bring, along with the goals Rocket Lab have for their future.

Links

Check out Rocket Lab here
Connect with Estelle through her LinkedIn here
Check out the book Estelle mentions, Tools of Titans here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 18 - Learning Ladder - Unlocking you and your team's potential.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +1300

Learning's hard but if you want to embed what you are learning, it should be hard! In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan share their insights around learning and give advice on how to learn effectively. They discuss what learning is exactly, what the stages of learning are, why learning is hard and why it’s supposed to be hard, and how you can motivate yourself to achieve your learning goals.

You’ll hear about the 4 stages of the learning ladder in an easy to understand example-
Unconscious incompetence - you don't know what you don't know.
Conscious incompetence - you know what you don't know.
Conscious competence - you know what you know but you are very aware
Unconscious competence - the skill is now second nature.

Links

Read the Harvard article on the Future of Leadership Development here
Read Dr Mikes white paper “The Future of Leadership Development” here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 67 - Creating a High Performance Team

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:00:00 +1300

A company’s performance rests on creating a great team. We all know that diversity of gender, age, ethnicity and everything else is important. However, there is another type of diversity is often forgotten... the diversity of thinking - neurodiversity.

A great team has all the bases covered - the big picture, drive, concern for people and making sure it all works. So how can you make sure your team is covering its bases?

One way to achieve this is using Deloitte's Business Chemistry of Teams model consisting of four working styles: Pioneer, Driver, Guardian, and Integrator.

These styles all have very different ways of approaching their work and contribute differently to the team. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan take us through what each style is and how each style contributes to create a high performing team.

Links

Check out Deloitte's Business Chemistry of Team model here
For more information and to hunch types, go to https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/operations/solutions/business-chemistry.html

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 17 - The no bulls**t approach to fitness, health and wellness

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every second Tuesday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode is about the no bullsh*t approach to fitness, health and wellness and how we need to shift the focus from crash dieting to living a healthy lifestyle.

Ryan is joined by Milena Cooper, head of digital at the Breakthrough co, and they discuss how people can achieve a real state of wellness – without all the diets, potions and pills out there.

Covering 4 main dimensions of health - physical, emotional, cognitive, and environmental – they share insights on how to improve these dimensions through simple practices and habits. They also share some personal experiences in these areas and reference various resources and people that are all about wellness and health.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 66 - Angela Cameron, CEO of Consult Recruitment, on the Importance of People

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 12:00:41 +1300

Angela Cameron is an accountant by qualification, and a recruiter by nature. She started Consult at her kitchen table with a toddler in tow back in 2009 and won NZ recruitment leader of the year in 2019. To Angela, the most important aspect of her business is the people, staff, clients and candidates alike.

On this weeks podcast, Angela shares the secret of the success of her company – people. Understanding that building trust and relationships with staff, clients and customers alike leads to greater long term financial success.
Angela shares her journey from scientist, to auditor for Deloitte, to an “unhirable” mother, to an entrepreneur who made her business work for her through her willingness to adapt day to day. We also hear her top 3 insights to what has made her the successful leader she is today and advice she would give her 20 year old self.

Links

Check out Consult Recruitment here
Connect with Angela through her LinkedIn here
Email Angela at angela@consult.co.nz

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 16 - Get F'd!

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:03:33 +1300

This episode is all about attitude, and how you can change your life by simply changing the way you think and therefore, your attitude.

Ryan discusses three distinguished zones of attitude: The Frustrated zone, The Fine zone, and The Fizzing zone. Wit this, he also covers the growth mindset, a well-researched concept which is key in being your version of successful.
Ryan also shares how choosing an attitude has affected him personally, and encourages you to choose your own attitude.

Resources

Read more about Dr. Carol Dweck’s research into growth mindset here
Watch Angela Lee Duckworth’s Ted Talk “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” here

EP 65 - Time to Get Uncomfortable

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 12:11:22 +1300

In this week’s podcast we talk about two important changes you can make in how you work in your business to actually complete your goals. They may be uncomfortable but … all growth lies outside your comfort zone.

This episode will help those who are finding their to do list growing while their goals get further and further away.
The first thing you can do set a limit of three goals. Focusing your resources on only three goals will help you reach them much faster than if they’re spread too thin. The second is to take at least two hours a week to focus on the future of your business. Picking a time of week where you will work best with no distractions or interruptions will allow you develop your business in a way that wouldn’t be possible if you’re only focusing on what’s urgent in your everyday work.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 15 - Learning From The All Blacks

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +1300

The All Blacks are one of the most successful organisations in the world. It is not just about how they perform at Rugby, but also how they are governed and do their sponsorship deals.

The All Black’s focus on two key ideas that any business could use to build a more successful organisation. The first is their immense focus on team and being good in the team. Another is implementing “devolved leadership” by creating a senior leadership group to make on field decisions.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 64 - Jason Paris, CEO of Vodafone NZ, on Strategy and How to Be a People Leader

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:34:23 +1300

Jason Paris is the current Vodafone NZ CEO. After living in London for three and a half years, working for Nokia, he was headhunted by TVNZ and returned home. Over his four years at the company, Paris and his team set up the On Demand service before leaving to join MediaWorks. Jason then got the opportunity to become CEO of Spark NZ, something he always dreamed of, after 6 years there he joined Vodafone NZ where he is today.

This week, Ryan is joined by Jason Paris to talk about something that Jason Paris is certainly an expert on: leadership. They discuss Jason’s key ideas around leadership, including ensuring that he often leaves “loud and early” to drive home that his employees can prioritise home life over work.
He also dives deep into the strategy of Vodafone NZ. Jason talk’s about their focus on customer retention, transparency and their decision making process - including a framework from Amazon that you can borrow.
Jason get’s personal on what it’s like being the CEO of a large organisation, and how his family are key in supporting him through difficult times. He also shares how his environment growing up helped shape him to be who he is today.

Links

Check out Vodafone here
Connect with Jason through his LinkedIn here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

MINISODE 14 - Are You The Best In Product, Price or Customer Experience?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 15:54:20 +1300

Mike and Ryan discuss the competitive tripod - a framework to help you get clear on what you need to be great at to differentiate your offer in the market. Every business needs to think about their price, their product and their customer experience, but SMART businesses go deeper and think about which one will be the main focus. When you focus on beating the market in one area, and then meeting the market in the other two, you’ll set yourself apart from your competitors and it'll make running your business a whole lot easier.

Links

View and download the model here
Listen to the full episode here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 63 - Coaching - What Is It and How to Do It Right

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 12:02:58 +1300

Coaching is at the heart of gaining leverage as an organisation, yet a lot of business leaders feel as though they could do more of it.

In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan share exactly what coaching is and help solve common obstacles holding leaders back from beginning their coaching journey (hint: is not as time consuming as you’d thing and you don’t have to know all the answers!).
They get specific on HOW to be a coach and share some great tips on how to have a coaching mindset. Mike and Ryan share 4 phrases that can help you catch and take advantage of valuable coaching opportunities:

1. “This is a coaching moment”

2. "Because"

3. "How would you do it?"

4. "How do you think that went?"

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 13 - 5 Things To Remember When Hiring and Growing Employees

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This weeks episode is a 'homemade' framework from Ryan, giving you a simple way to ensure that you are hiring the right people for the organisation, and then making sure those hire's are growing within the business.

People are truly what make a difference in an organization. This weekly podcast is focuses on hiring and growing your best employees. Ryan and Mike talk about a helpful model which Ryan refers to as the 5 Olympic rings of people. These are:

Career: Where do you see the employee going and where do they see themselves going?
Culture & Values: Hire based on values and whether the employee will fit with the organization. Are they an energy sustainer or drainer?
Capability: Do you have the capability to deliver on responsibilities and career development?
Responsibility: Being very clear on expectations
Remuneration: What is the market pay for this role and how do you deliver commercial value for the dollars you are paid?

Links

View and download the model here

EP 62 - Time Management. How to Increase Your Contribution While Working Less.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:54:15 +1300

In this week’s podcast, we talk about something everyone never has enough of... Time!

Time management is a key skill to being an effective business leader. When time is not being managed effectively, people get busy. Busy people get disorganised, lose perspective, start second guessing themselves and make mistakes.

Mike and Ryan give a great framework on how to increase your contribution to your business while actually decreasing your time spent working. They suggest limiting your work hours, creating a window of productivity and investing a little time now to save time in the long run. Mike and Ryan also share a great daily activity you can do that will help your prioritise to your work throughout the day, keeping you focused on making the most valuable contributions.

Link to Dermott Crowley podcast here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 12 - Grow Your Business Further Than Just Revenue

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +1300

Most business owners get trapped in the sense of overwhelm and urgency trying to keep up with today’s business. In this episode, Mike and Ryan get you to focus on strategies for growing tomorrow's business, they share their expert advice and offer insights into growth models. They take through the Ansoff Matrix and use helpful examples in the 4 quadrants to give you ideas on how you can grow your business further. Throughout this podcast you'll also get valuable knowledge into some do's and don'ts when it comes to your business, such as, marketing a new product to a new customer will rarely be successful.

Click here to learn more about the Ansoff Matrix

Click here to listen to the full episode with even more strategies

EP 61 - How to Build Your "Unicorn" Factory

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 11:58:54 +1300

Every business leader wants a unicorn in their team. Someone with lots of skill, experience and training in a functional role who, once promoted, becomes a great people leader. However, people don’t turn into unicorns by magic. Many leaders take one of two approaches to developing their best employees: they promote them and do nothing expecting they’ll know what to do, or they send them on some short courses expecting they’ll come back transformed.

Mike and Ryan share insights on how to notice challenges within your business that suggest that your approach isn't working, such as low culture engagement, high turnover or projects being delayed. They talk about what works, the three C’s of learning and development: Continued, Consistent and Connected. They have seen businesses become unicorn factories when their business leaders commit to teaching leadership skills through an agreed curriculum that is applied in every day work on a regular cadence supported by peer learning, coaching and feedback.

Links

Check out our resources page here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 11 - Everyone Needs a Board

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:54:18 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. In this episode, share insights in the value having a board for your business. Having both chaired for other organisations and their own, they share their experiences and offer advice for listeners who might not currently have board structures in place.

Mike and Ryan talk about the value of having external advisors and offer insights into how they bring different perspectives, unbiased viewpoints, and help to avoid groupthink. Mike shares his advice on what an external advisor provides in a framework he refers to as "the bright light, clear mirror and the kick in the pants."

Ryan shares his thoughts on the value of having board reports. For him, they offer a forced reflection not only from a financial perspective but from a people, capability, customer and partner perspective. The monthly forced discipline of reviewing performance, discussing barriers facing the business, strategic goals, reviewing important goals and lastly agreeing on what needs to be done to improve performance, is invaluable.

Click here to listen to the full episode

EP 60 - Miriam Chancellor on How to Become a Powerful Public Speaker

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:15:14 +1300

Miriam Chancellor is one of New Zealand’s leading public speaking/presentation coaches. As a public speaking coach, she has trained teams from numerous businesses including BNZ, Bay of Plenty DHB, Coca-Cola Amitel, Jasmax, and Publicis Groupe. She also coaches some of New Zealand's top C-suite business executives.

In this week’s podcast we talk about something that can give one person nervous butterfly’s and the next person a full nervous breakdown. That’s right, we’re talking about public speaking. Thankfully, Miriam shares a wealth of knowledge you can use to overcoming public speaking anxiety along with tools the most confident public speaker can use to create a powerful presentation.
Miriam also give us practical tips around how we can have a great presence through video conferencing, such as how we can use lighting to our advantage and digital vs natural background.

Visit Naked Audience here
Connect with Miriam on LinkedIn here
You can contact Miriam at miriam@nakedaudience.co.nz

MINISODE 10 - Your Wealth Path from Employment to Business Owner

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. Mike and Ryan give you insight on moving forward in your career from self employed, business owner and then investor.

In this episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how people progress through their careers. Specifically, how they transition from employment to business ownership and eventually to an investor. They identify how people can often get trapped in the move from self-employment to business owner because the business is so reliant on them. In order to change this, they recommend a few leverage points.

Firstly, simplify the business – focus on your biggest leverage point initially which is often people. Those who share your values, culture, and vision. Secondly, clarify your process and think about systems to make things highly repeatable and scalable. Every good business is one that is systemised, standardised, and automated. This is what they refer to as the business machine. Once achieved, the transition into investor can be made with ease as you can move out of an operational role in your business.

EP 59 - What it Takes to Build Great Culture in your Business (Panel)

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 15:00:00 +1300

This week’s podcast was recorded at our very own Challenger workshop last week. We hosted a panel with Aurelie Le Gall, Kevin Boroevich, and Britta Christiansen to discuss what it takes to build a great culture, what works well, what doesn’t, and learnings we can take into our own businesses and teams.

This diverse panel shared a range of views about what is really important to company culture. Aurelie’s background in recruitment gives insight into what exactly culture is and how to hire in a way that is beneficial to shaping culture. Kevin draws from his incredibly broad range of experiences to pick and choose the best builders of culture and bring all of those into his current business, along with his personal life. Britta’s 20 years in business coaching has allowed her to see culture struggles across many organisations and industry sectors. She gives great practical tips such as how to align culture across locations and departments and how we can improve KPIs simply by asking our team what culture can do to help.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 9 - Traditional Training is a Waste of Time and Money

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. Mike and Ryan cover the reasons why traditional workplace training is a waste of money.

The idea of the classroom as the sole place of learning is dead and the vast majority of money spent on training is a waste of money. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the issues with the traditional approach to training and learning and offer insights into a new effective approach. The current model of adult learning posits that 10% of learning effectiveness comes from content (i.e. the classroom), 20% from exposure through socialisation, and 70% through experience.

The old approach of sending people away to a block course to develop their management skills has always been an exercise in hope. Participants may get new ideas, but the gap between knowledge and application equals the distance between the classroom and the workplace. Mike and Ryan discuss a new learning concept called blended learning. An approach that uses a mix of online and classroom content. The key advantage being a lower cost delivery of soft skills (communication, people, relationships) that can be applied immediately. To find out more, check out the links below.

Links

Watch the full episode here
Dr. Mike has written a free Whitepaper on the future of leadership development. Which you can download here
Active Management Programme mentioned here: https://thebreakthrough.co/management-training/

EP 58 - Derek Handley on Shifting your Perspective to Create a More Sustainable Future

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Derek Handley is a New York-based New Zealander and social entrepreneur. He has founded multiple ventures, including the B Team with Sir Richard Branson. He is the founder of Aera, a charitable trust investing in causes and companies addressing social issues in imaginative ways. Derek is also the current Social Innovator in Residence at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania; an Adjunct Executive Professor at AUT in Auckland.

This week, Ryan is joined by Derek Handley in a deep and thought-provoking discussion on some of the greatest challenges we face as a society right now and what we can do to combat them. He takes us on his journey from founding an award-winning mobile marketing and media company and through his transition to social innovations and efforts support the visionaries working towards a sustainable future and economy. Derek also shares how he maintains balance and perspective in our current climate and gives valuable guidance on living as your most authentic self.

Links

Check out Derek's charitable trust Aera here
Check out Derek's podcast "Wiser Conversations here
Buy Derek's book "Heart to start" here
Connect with Derek through his LinkedIn here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 8 - If You're Doing Your Managers' Job, You're Doing a Poor Job Managing Them

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Most managers end up in management roles having progressed through an organisation because they’ve been good at a technical role or job, and somehow they’ve gotten “manager” in their title. So, they often don’t have the necessary skill set required of a great manager.

Business owners want their managers to step up, they don’t want to do their managers jobs for them which is often how it feels. They end up micromanaging and just pissing their managers off. Fortunately, there are options. Mike and Ryan take you through the awareness you must discover in your business and TRUELY find out if your managers are doing a great job managing, or are you as the business owner picking up the management duties they could be doing?

EP 57 - Returning to the Office Post Lockdown and Impact of Working From Home (Survey Results)

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Post lockdown #1 there was a lot of speculation about the effect working from home was having on businesses. We had our own hypothesis’, but we wanted to see real data from real businesses, so we conducted a survey with 75 businesses to see what their experience was during lockdown and if their businesses working style had changed permanently.

In this week’s podcast we discuss the results of the survey looking at the impact working from home had on productivity, innovation, work/ life balance, cohesiveness, communication and much more.
For those businesses who are still operating on a flexible working policy, Mike and Ryan give great tips on how to manage your team to maximise results in all areas looked at in the survey. They also give a great reminder that a low performing employee at home is not going to be magically improved by being at their work desk. A leader must develop essential tools, frameworks and capability's around your people so that they can perform anywhere.

To see the survey results click here
To read Mike's article on contribution click here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 7 - Using "The 7 P's" to Overcome Frustration in Your Business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 12:39:00 +1300

Many leaders and business owners find themselves in a state of constant frustration. Ping pong balls racing around in your head sound familiar? In this episode, Mike and Ryan share their advice on how to overcome frustration in your business by using the 7 P’s framework.

A great practice they recommend in gaining clarity and awareness is a process they call the mind dump, by putting pen to paper on a blank piece of paper. This allows you to get clear on the important things that matter and to declutter, this makes space for the higher value stuff.

The 7p’s are outlined as follows to help guide overcoming frustration by gaining clarity.

1) People: The internal team, how is everyone going with their tasks
2) Patrons: Our customers, clients (how we deliver the customer experience)
3) Platforms: Importance of technological platforms.
4) Product: The programmes that we deliver.
5) Process: Everything from how we get from start to finish.
6) Profit: A wrapper for finance, how we deal with cash flow and capital.
7) Promotion: How we attract sales through marketing.

Lastly, at the backbone of everything, having purpose they consider to be highly important as it provides context for why we do what we do.

EP 56 - Janine Garner on Leading a Life of Influence and Unlocking your Brilliance

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +1300

Most business leaders have felt self-doubt, imposter syndrome, blame and fatigue at some point in their career. For some, it’s a brief thought that they get past within minutes. For many, it’s debilitating and what’s holding them back from achieving brilliance. Janine Garner is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, educator and author helping thousands of high-profile leaders from around the world. Janine believes that today, more than ever, we need people, teams and companies willing to put in the extra effort to be truly brilliant.

This week Janine joins Ryan to discuss how to free ourselves from the “fake it till your make it” mentality and operate from a place of truth and authenticity allowing us to build deeper connections and unlock true innovation. Janine gives us her 4 laws to help us unlock our growth potential by developing self-leadership which is something that needs to be mastered before we can truly lead others.

Discover and own your spotlight
Harness your natural energy
Connect and collaborate with intent
Enhance and magnify your influence

Check out Janine's website here
Connect with Janine through LinkedIn here
Purchase Janine's first book "From me to we" here
Purchase Janine's second book "It's who you know" here
Purchase Janine's book "Be Brilliant" here
Reminder: If you buy Janine's book, email your receipt to order@janinegarner.com.au for a free 82-page practice journal to help put her practices in place.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE 6 - How to work ON your business, not in your business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This week, Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of working ON the business as opposed to IN the business. Many leaders in businesses get stuck in the operational tyranny of getting things ticked off the to-do list and fire-fighting the urgent issues.

Mike and Ryan suggest taking a step back and having a greater awareness of the bigger picture of where you want to take the business and what you need to do to get there.
They talk about the importance of religiously making time to carve out a day in the week solely focused on working ON the business. This is referred to as a Development Day; a day focused on the future of the business. They use the framework of improve, develop, transform to help guide this type of work.

Improve: Improving existing products, services and processes, develop and train staff
Develop: New initiatives such as new products, new technology, new processes, new markets
Transform: What your business might it look like in the future, where is the industry heading?

It’s simple but not always easy to do because the urgent always speaks louder than the important. Working on the future of your business is absolutely critical.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here change
The Breakthrough Company: https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 55 - How to Accurately Measure and Direct Engagement

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +1200

Engagement in the workplace has been a focus in the leadership space for the last 10-15 years. While it’s important for employees to be engaged, focusing on engagement as a target can be limiting and is often challenging to measure. While engagement will have an leading influence on business performance measures, like contribution and productivity, it doesn’t provide value in of itself.

In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss how we can accurately measure engagement and direct it in a way that does provide value to both your business and your employees.

MINISODE 5 - Overcoming the overwhelming state of busyness in your business and personal life

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This week, Mike and Ryan talk you through why busyness isn't a good thing and how being productive is an entire different ball game.

Business owners today seem to be have become obsessed with keeping busy. Creating ridiculously long to-do lists and check boxes that often lead to an overwhelming sense of busyness that isn't productive in growing the business - which should be the end goal to all your tasks in the first place.

Links

Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full video on YouTube here
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 54 - Mark McCrindle on a data driven approach to wellness in the workplace

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +1200

Mark McCrindle is an award-winning social researcher, best selling author and influential thought leader. The focus of this podcast is on workplace wellbeing.

No, we aren’t talking about the ‘fluffy’ feng shui, yoga and fruit bowl in the office. We talk data driven, cultural aspects of workplace wellbeing. Data that says “40% of workers reported that work was a key source of stress” makes it clear how important this is.

Mark shares real benefits of focusing on workplace wellbeing. This including lower employee turnover, higher engagement, and higher productivity, all leading to better ROI. Even the biggest skeptic can’t argue with that! He gives us an easy to understand equation called CPI to help make work a place for individuals, teams

and communities to thrive.

This podcast is bursting with interesting talking points such as the importance of true leadership vs management. You’ll hear about the three circumstances which cause real growth in our lives (spoiler alert: extreme diversity, massive dissatisfaction and exposure to a world class leader). Mark also shares how absolutely anyone in an organisation can influence change, yes, even you!

Check out Marks business here
If you want to get in touch with Mark, you can find his details here
Purchase Marks book here

MINISODE EP 4 - Four surprising success principles to boost your business and improve your life

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This week, Mike and Ryan talk you through the four unlikely principles you need to follow if you want to achieve success.

Being a business leader is stressful. You have both the urgent and important screaming at you to be complete, but you don't even know today's date. It's time to change that. Mike and Ryan share with you the four success principles that they use in order to make the business thrive, as well as their personal lives. In this podcast you'll learn why limiting your hours, having a day to develop the business every week, creating and sticking to personal lives and prioritising health, family and THEN work will boost your life and your business in ways you've never imagined.

Links

Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full video on YouTube here
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

In the full episode linked above, they share a range of examples as to why a boringly predictable business is the new fashion. This podcast episode was recorded in 2019 and mentions programmes and workshops that are no longer running at The Breakthrough Co. If you wish to see what programmes we are running in 2020, click here.

EP 53 - Turning failure into long term success

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +1200

Failure is something we all fear, but failure doesn’t have to be bad thing. While we should always strive for success, success doesn’t allow us an opportunity to learn and grow. Mike and Ryan give insight on their own business failures and what they learnt from them, along with questions you can ask yourself if you feel yourself heading towards a disaster. And after a failure has happened, what steps you can take to assess what happened and learn from them so that you improve your chances of long term success. Failure is inevitable so the most important thing people can learn is how to fail successfully.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE EP 3 - How to have a boringly predictably profitable business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This week, Mike and Ryan discuss why having a boring and predictable business is the best way to ensure a 20% growth in profit.

You’ll certainly be demanding a boringly, predictable, profitable business after having listened to this podcast. The challenge that most businesses face is inconsistency. They often don’t have the systems in place and are chasing their tails, encountering the same problems over and over. They tend to be trapped in start-up mode and haven’t worked out how to stop fires from breaking out. Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of locking in a method, one that you can refine, perfect and practice.

In the full episode linked below, they share a range of examples as to why a boringly predictable business is the new fashion. This podcast episode was recorded in 2019 and mentions programmes and workshops that are no longer running at The Breakthrough Co. If you wish to see what programmes we are running in 2020, click here.

Links

Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full video on YouTube here
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 52 - Dermot Crowley on Productivity and How to Reduce Senseless Urgency

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +1200

Dermot Crowley is the founder of Adapt Productivity and is a well-known thought leader on Personal Productivity. His company ‘Adapt’ provides training and coaching programmes that change behaviours and help participants to apply the concepts discussed in Dermot’s best-selling books ‘Smart Work’, ‘Smart Teams’, and his latest release ‘Urgent!’

This week, Dermot joined Ryan for a discussion around all things productivity, from how to increase productivity from home to his famous ‘PASS’ process that he uses every day to set his schedule. He shares tips on how to get the coveted empty inbox, including reducing the number of emails coming in the first place. Dermot touches on urgency vs importance and where ‘senseless urgency’ can come from. He gives practical tips on how to start discussions with management to shift the whole organisation to decrease urgency resulting in less stress and higher productivity. Win-win! Dermot also takes us through some of his life lessons and his morning routine (Spoiler: it’s not what you’d expect from this productivity guru).

Links

Check out Dermot's website http://www.dermotcrowley.com.au/
Check out Dermot's productivity programs here
Purchase Dermot's first book "Smart Work: Centralise, Organsie, Realise" here
Purchase Dermot's second book "Smart Teams: How to Work Better Together" here
Purchase Dermot's third and best selling book "Urgent!: Strategies to Control Urgency, Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity" here
Connect with Dermot through Linked In

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE EP 2 - How to Get Your Head, Heart and Hands Working Together

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. This week, Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of getting your head, heart and hands working together to succeed in your endeavours.

In this podcast Mike and Ryan use a 'home made' framework- Heads, Hearts and Hands, to show how you can propel your business forward. They discuss the importance of not only coming up with a winning idea, but then aligning your heart with what you want to get done, to make your hands follow with action and only then, will you see the success you desire.

In the full episode linked below, they share a personal story, with in depth examples and their thought processes, to show how you how they used this framework to generate a previous course The Breakthrough Co had running during the time of recording.

Links

Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full video on YouTube here (needs to be updated)
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 51 Why contribution, not productivity or engagement, should be at forefront of your mind

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +1200

So Auckland is back in Level 3 lockdown. This certainly will have an impact on your business going forward, but logistics aside, what about your people? Productivity, efficiency and contribution are 3 things that all business leaders expect from themselves and their teams. Mike and Ryan discuss why contribution should be at the forefront of leaders' minds right now.

Mike and Ryan speak extensively on contribution and what that means in a larger sense. The idea of contribution is an important concept for yourself, what you do for your organisation, your customers, your community, our society and our wider planet. Mike pulls from his own research around contribution that he's written into an article he has put in for review to the Harvard Business Review. He speaks about how contribution is doing something for the business that wouldn't be in your job description (Eg. be a shoulder for co-workers to lean on). They both talk about their personal experiences around contribution, highlighting how important it is at not only an individual level, but the wider view.

Links

Read Mike's Culture of Contribution article he submitted to HBR here
Link to the image Mike and Ryan reference here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

MINISODE EP 1 Are you going ALL IN in your business and life?

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 14:45:00 +1200

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs Minisode Series. Every Friday, we will post a shorter version of a popular previous episode so you get all the best bits in half the time. Linked below is the full episode for today's minisode if you want to hear more about how to go "All In".

In this episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of going "All In" - a concept central to being able to transform yourself and your business. They stress the value of being fully committed, prioritising and letting go of low-value activities. Lastly, they talk about the challenges of going "All In" and share insightful advice on how to do it.

Links

Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full video on YouTube here
Business Freedom plan. Check it out here: https://advisor.thebreakthrough.co/bfp
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 50 - Mykel Dixon on Rediscovering Your Creativity to Make Work More Meaningful

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:00:00 +1200

Mykel Dixon, award winning speaker, author, musician helps business leaders and teams seek truth, rediscover creativity and make work more meaningful. He pushes the boundaries in business coaching, and prides himself on being a fearless non-conformist.

This week, Ryan has the pleasure of 'zooming' in with Mykel Dixon, award winning speaker, author, musician and advisor on how he is using creativity, artistry and vulnerability to boost businesses, improving performance metrics and also making work more meaningful for employees and leaders. Mykel takes us through why his name is spelt so uniquely and his personal journey from his first piano lessons composing unique songs to using music as a mother language and emotional expression to inspire change in business leaders. Mykel shares his business model based around team building activities and workshops on creativity and vulnerability to create hearty cultural leadership within organisations.

Bio
Mykel Dixon is an award winning speaker, author, musician and recognised authority of Creativity, Culture and the Human Future of Work. He helps leaders and teams rediscover their natural appetite and aptitude for Creativity with extraordinary success. Through the design and delivery of explosive keynote presentations, immersive team-building activities and transformative talent development programs, Mykel leads a new-wave of entrepreneurial savants showing forward thinking companies how to reinvent for relevance in a 21st-Century Renaissance.

Links

Check out Mykel Dixon's website https://www.mykeldixon.com
Purchase Mykel's book "Everyday Creative" here
Connect with Mykel through Linked In
Follow Mykel on Twitter

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 49 - Building a Kingdom of Inspiration with Cam Calkoen

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:00:00 +1200

Cam has gone from doubting his ability to run, to representing New Zealand in athletics which then lead to winning championships in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Through the journey to make it into the top ten in the world for his sport Cam started to see the world as his playground and exited near the peak of his running career. Wanting to leave a much bigger impact on the world, he didn’t want to compete in an environment governed by the abilities of his Cerebral Palsy but determined by the abilities of himself as a human being where he could encourage more people into their top ten - the top ten of their business, job, sport or school. The top ten percent of who they can be through striving toward a personal best.

In this weeks podcast episode, Ryan invited Cam Calkoen to our studio for a chat after a very successful Breakthrough Workshop that Cam guest spoke at. Inspired by his story, experiences and his outlook on life, Ryan dives deep into all things that motivate Cam. They talk about Cam's first experience in athletics and how his Cerebral Palsy never stopped him from smashing records, Cam shares his awesome story about climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and relates the challenges of going up and down the 17,000 ft mountain to business and the two share their positive and uplifting thoughts about life and staying positive.

Links

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 48 - 4 Ways Lying Has Become the Norm In Your Business with Ron Carucci

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +1200

How often do you sit around your meeting table, pull out your mission statement and brand values, and say "Hey, how well do we live these?"
Are you constantly changing around your most important values to match what is the top priority that month?
Do you even KNOW the values you say your business lives by?
Finding it difficult to answer one or more of these questions, don't worry, this podcast episode will give you a clear guide.

This week, Ryan virtually caught up with Ron Carucci, co-founder and Managing Partner at Navalent, an organisational and leadership development organisation, to discuss Ron's findings on systematic and long-lasting ways to change your organisation using the revolutionary results that came out of his recent 15 year-long study.

The study
Conducted over 15 years with over 3,200 leaders, the intent of the study was to isolate factors that predicted if people inside a company would be honest or lie. The research yielded four factors at an organisational level (not individual) that will either encourage people within your organisation to be truthful, just and honest, or to be deceitful, selfish and lie. Ron dives deeper into these factors: Strategic Clarity, Accountability, Governance/Decision Making and Collaboration.

The good news is that each one of these factors is completely within an organisation's control, meaning that improving it will make your company more honest, boost your reputation and fix financial disasters that may have occurred. Throughout the podcast, Ron gives you very practical things you can do to improve these four areas that will not only make your workplace more ethical but more enjoyable, and your people will be more proud to work there.

About Ron
Ron Carucci has a 39-year track record of helping executives tackle challenges of strategy, organisation, and leadership — from start-ups to Fortune 10s, non-profits to heads-of-state, turnarounds to new markets and strategies, overhauling leadership and culture to re-designing for growth. With experience in more than 25 countries on 4 continents, he helps organizations articulate strategies that lead to accelerated growth, and then designs programs to execute those strategies. The best-selling author of eight books, a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, a contributor to Forbes, and a two-time TEDx speaker you know can trust his very valuable and experience-driven insights.

Ron's newest book "To Be Honest: Lead With The Power of Truth, Justice and Purpose" will be available mid-2021, until then, linked below are many free resources Ron has published, or his books are available on Amazon.

Links

HBR Research article citing all research 4 Ways Lying Becomes the Norm at a Company
List of Forbes article's Ron has written
Free eBook - Leading Transformation: An Owners Manual
Connect with Ron Carucci through is website
Connect with Ron Carucci through Twitter
Connect with Ron Carucci through Linked In

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast

EP 47 - The future of working from home now that lockdown’s over

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +1200

Mike and Ryan discuss the question so many of us are asking "What is the ideal working model going forward in Level 1?" For many businesses and their people what was once the norm is now a choice; to work from home, to return to the office or something in between.

It can be challenging to sift out the pull of the familiar versus the opportunity to reimagine and reengineer a new way of working, along with what will be practical in the longer term. There's tension between a number of different factors:

Where do we add the most value - personal, team and organisational?
What is the most convenient for me and is that aligned with the best outcomes for the business?
What types of work needs to get done?

In this podcast, Mike and Ryan share many stories of how people working from home during lockdown experienced different gains, losses and challenges, and the learnings we can take from their situations. And as the requirements have eased, companies have been adopting a variety of new models of working, some of which may not last long term.

Listen to this week's podcast for tips on how to be more deliberate and aware in trialling different models for working for your organisation and your people.

Breakpoints book by Dr Mike Ashby https://thebreakthrough.co/shop/breakpoints/

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 46 - David Galbraith, Unleashing Greatness author, on living your best life with courage and care

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +1200

WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE

David Galbraith shares frank insights and funny personal stories on how to live your best life with courage and care. He draws on a wide range of experiences as a clinical psychologist, high performance mental coach of athletes from Super Rugby (Chiefs) to Olympic sports, youth worker, author, husband and dad.

Known as the HOGman, Habit of Greatness, he committed early on to be authentic and create his own framework for understanding ourselves, understanding others, and understanding the space between others. David built and then wrote about this in his book “Unleashing Greatness”.

David talks about with authenticity and honesty about courage: what it is and how we can step willingly into the unknown with intention. He also illustrates how being fixated on outcomes differs significantly from the mindset of mastery, and how it plays out in people’s lives.

David has seen many contrasting leadership styles through coaching. He identifies the one defining principle that led people to perform well under pressure in the key moments. And when leaders model this primary value, everything flows and performance takes care of itself. David shares life changing stories as a parent and from working alongside Dave Rennie at the Chiefs whose care of his people was absolute.

In explicit words, David talks about the courage it takes to care less about what other people think and more about what we think about ourselves – to be “uniquely weird”. As individuals and organisations, we can take steps to build a strong identity that acts as an anchor to ground us in tough times.

Links

Jay Carter Talking Performance Facebook Live every Monday at 8pm: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261148161574131/
Website: David Galbraith https://www.habitofgreatness.co.nz/about/
Book: “Unleashing Greatness” In Sport and Life Through The Pathway of Courage by David Galbraith https://www.habitofgreatness.co.nz/product/book-unleasing-greatness/
Everyone just want to be liked and accepted. Except for Tim. Image – Mark Manson: https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 45 - Managing the tension between stabilising and adapting

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 26 May 2020 02:00:00 +1200

Welcome to our first podcast "back" with Mike and Ryan recording in our office together instead of through Zoom (which has been the mainstay for so many of us during these past 8 weeks of our nationwide lockdown). We are all adjusting from what was our old normal to the new normal or, as Mike says, our different normal.

Being a business leader during this time comes with a lot of tension. Most of us experienced an emotional roller coaster as we adjusted to working from home and all the other changes that lockdown brought to bear. While businesses and people were not equally affected, we all are dealing with the uncertainty and anxiety caused by pandemic in different ways, and much of the pressure and stress will sit below the surface. It will take some time before the full scope of the impact and (possible) damage is known, yet we must begin now to deal with these tensions.

In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the tension for business leaders between stabilising and adapting. In the process of stabilising, we must look at our business model and operations for what and how we can recover, rebuild, reinstate and reassure. We need to manage the tension between stabilising and adapting without trying to lock in what's gone, reinstating things that are not longer relevant. So we must engage in the process of adapting, thinking about how to stay relevant, reimagine, reengineer, and disrupt. The good news is that as a business leader it's your role to help navigate but you don't have to have all the answers. Mike and Ryan talk about the kinds of questions you should ask yourself, your team and your customers.

Links

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 44 - Real transformation happens when you change who as well as how

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 12 May 2020 11:30:00 +1200

In this episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how learning must be embedded to create transformation in the organisation, and who needs to make these changes to see real change.

Links

Read more about Mckinsey Leadership at Scale
Read a sample chapter of Leadership at Scale
Scroll down on our website’s home pages to read a summary with sources of the statistics mentioned by Mike and Ryan about why traditional leadership development isn’t working

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 43 - David Pich, CEO of IML ANZ, on Impactful Leadership, Workplace Culture and The 4 Day Week

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 05 May 2020 09:15:00 +1200

In this week’s podcast, Ryan sat down with David Pich, CEO of the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand. David has worked as a leader for more than two decades across all sectors, which has lead to his long held and deep seated passion for sound and impactful leadership. David has truly found his home within leadership and strategy, has his two best selling novels, Leadership Matters and Leading Well, prove this.

Violently agreeing on all topics covered, the two share relatable stories and insights around the importance of growing middle management, how workplace culture can make or break an organisation, the much needed move to a 4 day working week and why everyone should be a feminist.

This podcast was filmed before the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Links

· To connect with David Pich, check out his Linked In

· For more information on The Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia New Zealand.
· Learn more about David's best sellers, Leadership Matters and Leading Well

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-leader-breakthroughs/id1469843394?l=es
Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 42 - Heather Polglase, HR Director at Spark, on being agile, collaboration and the importance of people

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 02:10:00 +1200

In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of talking with Heather Polglase, who has 20 years’ experience as an HR professional and is now the HR Director at Spark New Zealand. She has led a number of critical initiatives at Spark, such as Spark's Leadership and Development Programme, and held key roles across the Customer and Marketing areas of Spark.

Heather talks about the implementation of these projects at Spark. She shares how she managed the large scale transformation into a new Agile way of working and how collaboration was a key component of its success. Heather also goes into detail on how her resilience muscle has strengthened over her professional career, why it's been so important and challenges that can come with being a woman in business.

This podcast was filmed before the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Links

· Learn more about Spark moving to Agile

· Connect with Heather Polglase through Linked In

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/
Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 41 - How To Make Working From Home Work For You

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +1200

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss how to successfully work from home during these challenging times of COVID-19. They share the mechanics of working remotely and give tips on finding ways to get into a productive routine. They also talk about ways to maintain both physical and emotional health, stressing the importance of physical routines, communication, and accepting to be emotionally affected. They remind people of the Stockdale paradox, which says that you have to confront the reality of the situation while never giving up hope that things will get better.

Links

See one of the many available pomodoro-timers here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 40 - How to Measure the Results of Leadership Training

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan address the question that most business leaders have when they are about to invest in leadership training – How do you measure the results of leadership development programmes? Since it is difficult to attribute a hard value to soft skills, or translate it directly into measures like profit, this can be a challenging question to answer.

Mike and Ryan briefly discuss several studies that indicate that traditional leadership development programmes generally don’t work and waste a lot of money. They then go on to answer the question on measuring ROI of leadership training, by referencing the Kirkpatrick Framework. This is a four dimensional training evaluation model that has evolved over multiple decades through application by learning and development professionals around the world.

Links

Watch this podcast on YouTube
Scroll down on our website’s home pages to read a summary with sources of the statistics mentioned by Mike and Ryan about why traditional leadership development isn’t working.
Read more about the Kirkpatrick model
Listen to Troy’s testimonial

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 39 - Gihan Perera on Futurism, Artificial Intelligence, and Diversity

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of talking with Gihan Perera, who is an author, conference speaker and consultant. As a futurist, Gihan researches trends that will impact the future of work and brings these insights to audiences in a relevant way.

Gihan talks about one of the biggest trends at the moment, artificial intelligence, and explains how it is already everywhere in our lives, how it helps us do our jobs better, and how it will continue to evolve. He also discusses digital disruption and the challenges around it, skills leaders of today need to have, and innovation. He shares his insights on creating a high performance culture characterised by diversity and inclusion, as well as the importance of learning from the younger generations like Gen Z. Lastly, he talks about his book “The Future of Leadership” and some of the insights that can be learned from it.

Links

Read more about or get in touch with Gihan Perera here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/
Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 38 - The Regrets of the Dying

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan get philosophical and talk about the top 5 regrets of the dying, from the book by Bronnie Ware. Bronnie Ware has had a long career in palliative care, during which she would talk with the people she took care of, and wrote down their insights in her book.

Links

Watch this podcast on YouTube here
Learn more about Bronnie Ware and her book “The Top 5 regrets of the dying” here
Learn more about the Enneagram framework here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 37 - Transforming a Business from the Inside Out

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how to transform a business. They use the “leadership diamond” framework as developed by McKinsey in their book “Leadership at Scale”, and discuss and relate it to their own insights and experience with transforming organisations.

Do you have any experience or insights on transforming a business? Let us know in the comments!

Links

Watch it on YouTube
Find out more about McKinsey’s book “ Leadership at Scale” here
Read Mike’s summary of McKinsey’s insights applied to the Breakthrough here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 36 - Joanne Fair on Flipping the Traditional Freelancer Model with FutureWork Studios.

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan interviews Joanne Fair, co-founder of FutureWorks Studio. FutureWorks provides an alternative solution to the traditional 9-5, by pioneering an integrated platform that allows talent to work on projects in different departments of the organisation they work in, as well as allowing the organisation to bring in external talent from other organisations on a freelancer basis.

Joanne talks about how and why FutureWorks was founded, how it works, and its benefits. She also discusses why New Zealand needs to adopt a more flexible way of working and why the current state of technology creates opportunity for this.

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 35 - How to Stop THAT Person From Taking Your Meetings off Track

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss how to effectively run a meeting, and how to deal with people and situations that get your meeting off track. They talk about why face to face meetings are so fundamental and beneficial, given they are run well. They go over 6 situations that can derail meetings and how a good meeting runner can resolve them and “rerail” the meeting.

Do you have any insights into what makes a great meeting? Share your experiences with us in the comments!

Links

Watch it on YouTube

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 34 - Do Your Team Meetings Suck? Here’s How to Fix Them

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about how team meetings can shape your company culture, and how they are instrumental in creating (or bringing down) energy. They talk about do’s and don’ts in team meetings and share some examples from our own meetings at the Breakthrough Co, providing a great starting point for creating an energising team meeting and culture.

How do you create energy in your team meetings? Let us know in the comments!

Links

Watch this podcast on YouTube
Listen to our podcast “Using "The 7 P's" to Overcome Frustration in Your Business” about how to gain clarity and awareness

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 33 - Michelle Gibbings on The Power of Teams to Create a High Performance Culture

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 09:35:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Gibbings. She is the founder of consultancy Change Meridian and a best selling author of 2 personal career development books with a third coming out in May.

Michelle and Ryan talk about the future of work and how leaders, teams and team members can adjust themselves to a more technology-driven work environment. Michelle shares how she went from being in corporate to starting her own business, and how she helps leaders and organizations develop themselves to be fit for the future of work. She talks about the importance of understanding that every person is unique and ever evolving, and how taking individuality into account ties in with creating a positive team culture. She also shares her insights on the consequences of Agile working and the disappearance of the middle manager, as well as the need for pushing boundaries and speaking up.

Michelle and Ryan also discuss the content, contexts, and insights of her books and Michelle gives a sneak peak of her coming book, Bad boss: what to do if you work for one, manage one, or are one.

Listen to it on YouTube

Links

· Find out more about Michelle Gibbings

· Find out more about Change Meridian

· Find out more about Michelles books “Step Up: How to build your influence at work” and “ Career Leap: how to reinvent and liberate your career” here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 32 - Take your Company Culture off the Walls and into the Halls

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss culture in organisations. Creating a company culture is not simply writing some values on the walls and expecting your employees to live them. Mike and Ryan talk about how to define culture, what the most important components are, and why having a good culture is important for performance. Most importantly, they discuss how a good culture can be achieved, and how you can implement a system for improving culture.

Do you have any comments, feedback, or your own experiences with achieving culture? Share it with us in the comments!

Links

Listen to it on YouTube

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 31 - Mindfulness at Work: It's Not Yoga

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan talk about mindfulness at work. Mindfulness at work is about being open and present in the moment and actively thinking about how to add the most value for your organization, rather than practices like meditation and yoga that are characteristic of personal mindfulness.

Mike and Ryan explain what mindfulness at work entails and why it is so important, and share some of their own mindfulness practices as well as tips on how to get started on being more mindful at work.

Links

Listen to it on YouTube
Find out more about asana here
Find out more about the book The Tao of Leadership here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 30 - How to Outsource Work you Can’t or Won’t do

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan and Milena discuss outsourcing and freelancing. They share with you the lessons they have learned during the various times they have outsourced work at the Breakthrough. They talk about when you should think about outsourcing and how to decide on the right option for each situation, whether it be a virtual solution or a freelancer or agency. They give tips on finding the right person or agency to hire and how to make the relationship as mutually beneficial as possible, as well as tips on what to do when you run into challenges.

Watch it on YouTube

Links

Some of Milena’s and Ryan’s favorite outsourcing resources (as mentioned in the podcast):

Upwork: freelancer platform
Technology solutions:
- Temi: video transcription software
- X.ai: virtual scheduling assistant AI

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 29 - The 3 big questions every business owner should ask themselves

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan share 3 big strategic questions that can help you bring your business to the next level. These questions will unlock your thinking and open possibilities you had never thought of before. Mike and Ryan discuss them in depth and give real examples of how asking these questions has helped their clients improve their businesses.

Links

Watch it on YouTube
Find out more about the book Breakpoints here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 28 - Kate Daly on the future of banking and building a high-performance culture

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 02:00:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Kate Daly, director of people at BNZ. She has held roles in human resources in many of the world’s largest brands and some of New Zealand’s household names, and is a board member at Auckland Rugby and The Blues.

In the podcast, she talks about what culture means to her and what they are doing at BNZ to improve it, giving examples of various great initiatives the bank is currently undertaking. She also talks about the future of banking in an age of digitalisation , bringing with it both opportunities and challenges. Other topics talked about include employee wellbeing, diversity, LGBTQI+ inclusion, the upcoming rugby season for The Blues, and work-life balance.

Watch it on YouTube

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 27 - How to be as Good at Marketing as you are at Product

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 02:00:00 +1300

Being good at product isn’t enough, you need to be great at marketing too for your business to be successful. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of having clear principles. They talk about how crucial it is to have clearly defined values, and the importance of keeping these principles alive and exercised by every member of the team. They share the principles we have at the Breakthrough Co around our marketing, and give examples on how having these principles and coming back to them every meeting have impacted the company.

The Breakthrough marketing principles as discussed in the podcast are the following:

Be as good at marketing as we are at product
No one-shot wonders
Plan every campaign
Building our tribe
What is the problem or result
Building momentum through focus
Get it done then get it better
Authenticity

Their challenge to you: the next time your team meets, have a discussion around what your principles are, and then reference them every week.

What are your organisation’s principles? Do you keep coming back to them in your meetings? Feel free to share your principles with us in the comments, or ask for feedback from Mike and Ryan!

Links

Watch it on YouTube here
Find out more about the book The Tao of Leadership here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 26 - A Look Inside Xero's Flexible Working with Ryan Ghisi

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 02:00:00 +1300

In our new podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Ghisi, the general manager of global people programs at Xero. Xero is one of New Zealand’s most successful tech companies and has had phenomenal growth over the last few years. Ryan talks specifically about flexible working, an important part of Xero’s work environment.

Ryan dives into what Xero's flexible working looks like and what the benefits are, and digs deep into the challenges around it and how they can be overcome. He also discuss how flexible working ties into Xero’s focus on employee (mental) wellbeing, and gives tips on how to where to start with implementing flexible working in a workplace.

Links

· Find Ryan Ghisi on LinkedIn

· Watch it on YouTube

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 25 - The Learning Ladder - Unlocking you and your team's potential

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 02:30:00 +1300

Learning can be hard, but it’s the key to unlocking your own and your organization’s potential. In this podcast episode, Mike and Ryan share their insights around learning and give advice on how to learn effectively. They discuss what learning is exactly, what the stages of learning are, why learning is hard and why it’s supposed to be hard, and how you can motivate yourself to achieve your learning goals.

You’ll hear about the 4 stages of the learning ladder and how you can move up on it, supported by several common and personal examples of learning. You’ll find out why, of the $200 billion US dollars spend annually corporate training and development, only 10% is considered as valuable, and how you can maximize your value when you learn something.

Mike and Ryan provide a great starting point for anyone who wants to develop themselves or their organization further, and unlock their and their team’s potential.

Links

Watch it on YouTube
Read the Harvard article on the Future of Leadership Development here
Read Dr Mikes white paper “The Future of Leadership Development” here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 24 - Franceska Banga on Being a Woman in Business, Pushing Boundaries, and Personal Courage

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 10:30:00 +1300

In this podcast episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Franceska Banga, or Frank as we know her. Frank is a recipient of the Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit Award, is the former Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, and has held board roles on many of New Zealand’s most prominent tech and economic development boards. She is passionate about working with women in business and helping them find their personal courage, and she’s in the process of setting up a movement called Stand Up For Yourself (SUFY), to help give women courage to live the life they want.

In this episode, Frank provides insight into what shaped her willingness to push the boundaries and explains one of her Breakthrough moments was realizing she needed to display courage to speak up. She also takes us through her journey of beating a brain tumor and being partially paralyzed for 2 years and how this has shaped her life and career. She gives advice on being a woman in business, finding your way in life, and personal courage.

Links:

Find out more about Stand Up For Yourself (SUFY) here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 23 - The no bulls**t approach to fitness, health and wellness

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +1300

“We’ve reached peak wellness. Most of it is nonsense.” This is the title of a recent article by the Outside group and the topic of this podcast episode. Ryan is joined by Milena Cooper, head of digital at the Breakthrough co, and they discuss how people can achieve a real state of wellness – without all the diets, potions and pills out there.

They cover the six main dimensions of health - physical, emotional, cognitive, social, spiritual, and environmental – and share insights on how to improve all of these dimensions through simple practices and habits. They also share some personal experiences in these areas and reference various resources and people that are all about wellness and health.

Links

· Read the article “We've Reached Peak Wellness. Most of It Is Nonsense.” here

· More about the book “Woman Code” by Alisa Vitti here

· Listen to our podcast “Darren Ellis, owner of Crossft NZ, on optimal nutrition, sustainable fitness and work/life synergy” here

· More about the Blog “Mark’s Daily Apple” here

· More about Brene Brown here

· More about Mates in Constuction here

· Read Brigham Young University study about loneliness here

Where else you can find us

Website: https://thebreakthrough.co

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/

Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thebreakthroughco

EP 22 - Get F'd!

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 02:00:00 +1300

In this week’s podcast episode, Ryan challenges you to get F’d – yes, you read that right. It’s not what you might think though. This episode is all about attitude, and how you can change your life by changing your attitude.

Ryan discusses three distinguished zones of attitude: The Frustrated zone, The Fine zone, and The Fizzed zone. He also talks about growth mindset, a well-researched concept (e.g. by Carol Dweck and Angela Lee Duckworth) which is key in being successful. Ryan also shares how choosing an attitude has affected him personally, and encourages you to choose your own attitude.

Resources

Read more about Dr. Carol Dweck’s research into growth mindset here
Watch Angela Lee Duckworth’s Ted Talk “Grit: the power of passion and perseverance” here

EP 21 - Sharn Rayner on Entrepreneurship, Hiring the Right People, and Mental Health

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +1300

In this week’s insightful podcast, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Sharn Rayner, founder and former owner of business strategy and HR consultancy Pod, which is now part of AdviceFirst. Her work has always been people and performance centric, and she is a passionate advocate for removing the stigma around mental health in business.

She shares her journey of founding her company and the professional and personal challenges that came with it. She talks about how her partner reacted when she told him she would be leaving the safety of her corporate job to start her own company and how important resilience was in making Pod successful. She also discusses one of the most fundamental things in a healthy business: clearly defined values, and living these values.

The podcast covers a range of topics that are bound to give you valuable insights for your business, (mental) health, and personal life, such as:

· Hiring the right people for your business

· Aligning your company’s values with your team and your life

· Overcoming challenging times in her business

· The need for a change in New Zealand’s professional culture around failure

· The importance of a personal connection with clients and business partners

· How to implement mindfulness in both the workplace and in your life

Get in touch
If you would like to get in touch with Sharn, find her at:
sharn@pod.co.nz
LinkedIn
AdviceFirst

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Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 20 - The All Blacks Business - On-Field Leaders

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 02:00:00 +1300

In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss one of New Zealand’s most successful and beloved organizations: The All Blacks. While most don’t associate a rugby team with business, the All Blacks are very much a business organization, whose product happens to be a sport. Their unparalleled success over the years, and right now with their successes in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, makes it a great organization to study and learn from in a business context.

Mike and Ryan talk especially about the impact of Devolved Leadership, which is the practice of distributing decision making to on-field leaders instead of leaving all the decisions to a single, top-ranking, detached leader.

In this episode Mike and Ryan also cover:

The All Blacks’ change in coaching culture and how it was instrumental to their current successes
The need for an individual view in coaching while also maintaining a team culture
The key to the strongest type of leadership
How business leaders can apply the insights of this podcast to raise their organization to the level of the All Blacks

Links:

Find out more about the book Legacy by James Kerr here
Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 19 - The Competitive Tripod

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 14:30:00 +1300

In this podcast Mike and Ryan discuss the competitive tripod - a framework to help you get clear on what you need to be great at to differentiate your offer. When you focus on meeting the market in two areas and beating the market in one area, you’ll set yourself apart from your competitors.

You’ll hear examples of organisations that have been successful by focusing on one of the differentiators and those who have missed the mark because they’ve tried to be all things to all people.

Mike and Ryan provide a good starting point for those who aren’t sure of their direction, what they want to famous for.

Links

View and download the model here
Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 18 - Matt Church on leadership, speaking, and his personal insights on living authentically

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 14:35:00 +1300

In this episode, Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing one of Australia’s top conference speakers, Matt Church. Matt speaks at conferences and runs development programs for leaders. He been named one of the top ten motivational speakers in the world and is also a prolific author having written 10 inspiring leadership books.

One of Matt’s great philosophies can be summed up in one word: NEXT! Ryan starts the interview by asking what that means for him – “Tomorrow can be as good if not better than today. You don’t want to shrink your way into the future. You stretch your way by pushing the edges of what’s possible both physically, mentally, spiritually, energetically and commercially.”

Matt goes on to talk about what the future may look like and offers insights into how businesses can evolve and adapt.

In this episode Matt and Ryan cover:

His favourite book he’s written (bonus: he offers them digitally for free!) https://www.mattchurch.com/books
How he overcame a challenge and what it taught him about the value of encouragement and belief
How suffering through a nutcracker day (where his identity of being a good person got totally hammered) he found inner peace
What he believes are the most important steps for a leader to build progress
The value in giving not criticism but kindness – getting in the habit of love and kindness as a leadership capability
Where his journey into speaking began
How to give the ultimate speech that converts clients
He answers the often-asked question “Are speakers made or born?”
The importance of pronouns when delivering speeches– how to engage and excite listeners
What speakers inspire him
His perspective on the philosophy of “Not a lot matters in life but what matters, matters a lot” - may seem cliché but how the truth will set you free

Links

Follow us on Facebook and go in the draw to win a free ticket to Matt Church’s Speakership programme (Valued at $3000) https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/
Register to attend Matt’s world class course “Speakership – The Art of Speaking” in Auckland on Mon 2nd and Tues 3rd Dec 2019. https://www.mattchurch.com/speakership#ssp
https://www.mattchurch.com/

EP 17 - Hire and Grow the Best Employees - The 5 Rings

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:00:00 +1300

People are truly what make a difference in an organization. This weekly podcast is focused on hiring and growing your best employees. Ryan and Mike talk about a helpful model which Ryan refers to as the 5 Olympic rings of people. These are:

Career: Where do you see the employee going and where do they see themselves going?
Culture & Values: Hire based on values and whether the employee will fit with the organization. Are they an energy sustainer or drainer?
Capability: Do you have the capability to deliver on responsibilities and career development?
Responsibility: Being very clear on expectations
Remuneration: What is the market pay for this role and how do you deliver commercial value for the dollars you are paid?

Links

View and download the model here
Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 16 - Darren Ellis, owner of Crossft NZ, on optimal nutrition, sustainable fitness and work/life synergy

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:15:00 +1200

Ryan has the pleasure of interviewing Darren Ellis, owner of CrossFit New Zealand. He talks about his journey, where it began and what he’s achieved along the way including becoming the first CrossFit affiliate in the country. He mentions how powerful CrossFit has been in instilling a sense of community and social belonging in its members, as well as - his insights into health, well-being, fitness and running a business.

In this Q&A interview Darren shares insights on topics such as:

His earlier career and coming across CrossFit in 2007, as well as - what drew him to become an affiliate.
Deciding to obtain a degree in exercise science which rolled into a Master’s degree at the University of Auckland.
The importance of Health, family and work and prioritising them in that order.
The synergy around health, nutrition, and movement.
How beneficial personal relationships and social connections are. And how his gym promotes nutrition, sleep, stress management, meditation, hanging out with friends, finding good friends to associate with and doing do some exercise along the way.
How he puts a lot of care and effort into coming up with fresh variations in workouts to cater to the different levels of people’s abilities ensuring, they get the right level of stimuli.
The CrossFit Games, and his experience of competing in the elite level sport.
Advice on nutrition – the fundamentals.
How he creates customer lifetime value by chasing excellence and trying to be better every time, while at the same time not jumping on the latest fad.
What he is most proud of.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 15 - Grow tomorrow's business today

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:30:00 +1200

Most business owners often get trapped in the sense of overwhelm and urgency keeping up with today’s business. In this episode Mike and Ryan get you to focus on strategies for growing tomorrow's business, they share their expert advice and offer insights into growth models. From their experiences helping other business owners grow their companies to their personal experiences growing their businesses. They share all the important do’s and don’ts.

They suggest helpful frameworks to help with future growth. In particular the Ansoff Matrix, a strategic planning tool that helps business owners devise strategies for future growth.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
We can help you grow your business here

EP 14 - Alia Bojilova, an organisational psychologist on leadership, diversity and surviving being kidnapped in Syria

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 14:30:00 +1200

In this powerful episode, Ryan interviews industrial and organisational psychologist, Alia Bojilova. She shares with us how migrating to NZ as a teenager shaped her future and gives us insights into the power of the mind and what she learned about working with the NZ military, in particular, the elite SAS regiments.

She shares her own experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint in Syria and how it has also shaped not only her experiences but what she now understands about the power of the mind. If you want to know what makes high performers tick, today's podcast guest Alia is just who you need to hear from.

In this Q&A interview Alia shares insights on:

What drew her to a career in psychology.
Her thoughts on diversity, in particular, diversity of thought in the workplace.
The importance of removing white noise amongst the never-ending to-do lists and to be deliberate about the things we choose to engage with.
What drew her to the military.
How interesting she has found working for the NZ Defense Force with its many layers of complexity.
How she came to be in Syria, her experience, and what she learned
Her story on being kidnapped at gunpoint in Syria [30:30]
Her Ph.D. topic on establishing the link between curiosity and resilience.
How she shifts her mindset when she’s not in a good place.
What she’s most proud of and what she'll be doing in 10 years time.

Watch the full video interview on Youtube here

EP 13 - Board Reports are not for the Board

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 14:00:00 +1200

In this episode, Mike and Ryan share insights into the value of board reports and external advisors. Having both chaired for other organisations and their own, they share their experiences and offer advice for listeners who might not currently have board structures in place.

They talk about the value of having external advisors and offer insights into how they bring different perspectives, unbiased viewpoints, and help to avoid groupthink. Mike shares his advice on what an external advisor provides in a framework he refers to as the bright light, clear mirror and the kick in the pants.

Ryan shares his thoughts on the value of having board reports. For him, they offer a forced reflection not only from a financial perspective but from a people, capability, customer and partner perspective. The monthly forced discipline of reviewing performance, discussing barriers facing the business, strategic goals, reviewing important goals and lastly agreeing on what needs to be done to improve performance, is invaluable.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Interested in putting in place an advisory board in your organisation? Click here: https://thebreakthrough.co/advisory-board/

EP 12 - Your Wealth Path from Employment to Business Owner

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +1200

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Active Management Programme (AMP) mentioned: https://thebreakthrough.co/management-training/

EP 11 - Raelene Castle - CEO of Rugby Australia on Leadership, Diversity, and Resilience

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 15:00:00 +1200

In this episode Ryan interviews Raelene Castle, CEO of Rugby Australia. Raelene shares her journey, where it began, and what she’s achieved along the way including becoming the first female CEO of a NRL club. Working in an industry heavily dominated by men, Raelene shares the many challenges and adversity she’s faced.

Her story begins at early childhood, to eventually working with the likes of Xerox, Bank of New Zealand, and Telecom. She then transitioned from big corporates to sporting organisations, becoming CEO of Netball NZ, followed by a move to Australia with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and now CEO of Rugby Australia.

Raelene shares insights on:

Her earlier career. How it began with a strong corporate career before moving into commercial sporting roles
Childhood experiences and how they shaped her into the person she is today
How she has developed resilience
The importance of culture and how she ensures a strong culture as CEO
First experiences in Australia and being the CEO at Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Proudest achievement commercialising of Netball NZ and taking it to a place where female athletes could make a living
Her experience of being a woman in a heavily male dominated industry and gender issues in leadership roles
Dealing with social media and bullying
The challenge of Alopecia and what it has taught her
What matters most in her life
Areas for growth related to a personal goal and a business leadership goal
The one thing that really makes a difference as a leader

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 10 - Traditional Training is a Waste of Time and Money

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +1200

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Dr. Mike has written a free Whitepaper on the future of leadership development. Which you can download here
Active Management Programme mentioned here: https://thebreakthrough.co/management-training/

EP 9 - If You're Doing Your Managers' Job, You're Doing a Poor Job Managing Them

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +1200

In this podcast, Dr Mike and Ryan cover important issues around business management. Most business owners end up in management roles having progressed through an organisation because they’ve been good at a technical role or job, and somehow they’ve gotten “manager” in their title. So, they often don’t have the necessary skill set required of a great manager.

Business owners want their managers to step up, they don’t want to do their managers jobs for them which is often how it feels. They end up micromanaging and just pissing their managers off. Fortunately, Dr Mike and Ryan have developed the Active Management Programme (AMP) - it equips managers with the core skills to step up their capability and confidence running your day-to-day business. And you can step back and focus on opportunities to grow your future business. You don’t have to worry about teaching because we’ve got the content for you. We provide a facilitator who will help, but you still have to take ownership of the clarifying the expectations of your people” (something you can’t contract out)

Links:

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Quiz for management effectiveness here
Active Management Programme here: https://thebreakthrough.co/management-training/

EP 8 - Using "The 7 P's" to Overcome Frustration in Your Business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +1200

The 7p’s are outlined as follows to help guide overcoming frustration by gaining clarity.

1) People and Patrons: The internal team and our customers, clients, (how we deliver the customer experience)
2) Partners: Important path to market. Partner channel and suppliers,
3) Platforms: Importance of technological platforms.
4) Product: The programmes that we deliver.
5) Process: Everything from how we get from start to finish.
6) Profit: A wrapper for finance, how we deal with cash flow and capital.
7) Promotion: How we attract sales through marketing.

Lastly, at the backbone of everything, having purpose they consider to be highly important as it provides context for why we do what we do.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
The Breakthrough Company: https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 7 - How to work ON your business, not in your business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:15:00 +1200

In this episode, Ryan and Mike discuss the importance of working ON the business as opposed to IN the business. Many leaders in businesses get stuck in the operational tyranny of getting things ticked off the to-do list and fire-fighting the urgent issues. Mike and Ryan suggest taking a step back and having a greater awareness of the bigger picture of where you want to take the business and what you need to do to get there.

They talk about the importance of religiously making time to carve out a day in the week solely focused on working ON the business. This is referred to as a Development Day; a day focused on the future of the business. They use the framework of improve, develop, transform to help guide this type of work.

Improve: Improving existing products, services and processes, develop and train staff
Develop: New initiatives such as new products, new technology, new processes, new markets
Transform: What your business might it look like in the future, where is the industry heading?

It’s simple but not always easy to do because the urgent always speaks louder than the important. Working on the future of your business is absolutely critical.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
The Breakthrough Company: https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 6 - Q&A with Darrell Trigg, Trigg Construction and National President, RMBA

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 07:00:00 +1200

In this podcast, Ryan interviews Darrell Trigg of Trigg Construction Ltd, who is also the National President of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand. In this Q&A session, Darrell shares his insights on topics:

The importance of personal goals: why he feels like lugging 20 kilos of equipment up the world’s highest buildings is a really good thing to do
His view on the tendering model and why he thinks that it is flawed
How to get your fair share of work, even though you might predominantly operate in a tender environment
His success in acquiring one of the biggest construction projects to hit the Northern Region that is going to have a huge impact on the community and tourism in the area
Why focus in business is so critical, and how he chose his focus and the outcomes for him

Links:

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Trigg Construction - https://trigg.co.nz/
Registered Master Builders https://www.masterbuilder.org.nz/

EP 5 - Overcoming the overwhelming state of busyness in your business and personal life

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 12:00:00 +1200

Business owners today seem to be have become obsessed with keeping busy. Creating ridiculously long to-do lists and check boxes that often lead to an overwhelming sense of busyness. Mike and Ryan question whether or not people add value in the long run, amidst all the never ending to-do lists.

They suggest a reflection on getting the most important things done as a start.

Ryan discusses a great exercise he uses in workshops to get people to gain clarity on what’s important.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here

EP 3 - How to have a boringly predictably profitable business

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 12:00:00 +1200

You’ll certainly be demanding a boringly, predictable, profitable business after having listened to this podcast. Ryan and Mike talk about what’s involved in shifting a business from an endless startup mode to a business that is achieving 20% revenue growth consistently every single year.

The challenge that most businesses face is inconsistency. They often don’t have the systems in place and are chasing their tails, encountering the same problems over and over. They tend to be trapped in start-up mode and haven’t worked out how to stop fires from breaking out. Mike and Ryan discuss the importance of locking in a method, one that you can refine, perfect and practice.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Active Management Programme mentioned here: https://thebreakthrough.co/management-training/
The Breakthrough website here: https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 1 - Are you ALL IN in your business and life

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 12:00:00 +1200

Mike and Ryan introduce themselves in the very first episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs. They discuss the importance of the "All In" a concept central to being able to transform oneself and business. In order to achieve this, they stress the value of being fully committed, prioritisation and the removal of low value items. Lastly, they talk about the challenges faced in achieving the "All In" and share insightful advice on how to achieve it.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Business Freedom plan. Check it out here: https://advisor.thebreakthrough.co/bfp
The Breakthrough Company https://thebreakthrough.co/

EP 2 - How to Get Your Head, Heart and Hands Working Together

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 12:00:00 +1200

In this podcast Mike and Ryan use the framework, heads heart and hands to show how you can propel your business forward. They discuss the importance of aligning the heart with what you want to get done in your business and only then, will you see success. They share their personal story and show how they used this framework to generate the Business Freedom plan.

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Business Freedom Plan mentioned link here: https://advisor.thebreakthrough.co/bfp

EP 4 - Four surprising success principles to boost your business and improve your life

Ryan Castle, Dr Mike Ashby — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 12:00:00 +1200

In this episode, Mike and Ryan share four surprising success principles to boost your business and improve your life. Putting these principles into place, the transformation that will happen in your life and business is phenomenal.
1) Limit your hours

2) Development days

3) Personal Goals

4) Health, Relationships, Work (in that order)

Links

Watch the full video on YouTube here
Carol Dweck on Growth Mindset
Angela Lee Duckworth on Grit: The power of passion and perseverance
Business Freedom Plan: Create phenomenal change here: https://advisor.thebreakthrough.co/bfp
The Breakthrough website: https://thebreakthrough.co/