Shows
The Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast15 Growth Tips for Founder-Run BusinessesText us your thoughts or questions15 Growth Tips for Founder-Run Businesses******************************************************Visit our website The Real Learning ExperienceThanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org
2025-11-1939 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastEvolution or Revolution: Why Leaders Must Embrace Change to Stay RelevantText us your thoughts or questionsChange doesn’t fail because of the plan — it fails because of how people are led through it.In this episode, Simon explores why leading change isn’t just about managing logistics — it’s about leading emotions, expectations, and resistance with purpose and clarity.You’ll learn:Why “evolution or revolution” isn’t just a clever phrase — it’s a choice every organisation must makeThe difference between change management and change leadership (and why the latter matters most)What makes the “valley of despair” so dangerous — and how to...
2025-09-2942 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastMust Managers be Mediators too?Text us your thoughts or questionsUnresolved conflict isn’t just uncomfortable - it’s corrosive. It impacts trust, performance, and team culture more than most leaders realise.In this episode, Simon explores why managers can’t afford to act as mere conduits for problems, waiting until issues spiral out of control or outsourcing them as a “quick fix.” Instead, he walks through a practical, step-by-step approach to tackling conflict early, setting boundaries, and building team accountability.You’ll learn:Why unresolved conflict multiplies its impact across every relationship in a teamThe two biggest...
2025-08-2637 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastEncouraging Leaders to Charge Into Leadership with R & J Batteries (Rebroadcast)Text us your thoughts or questionsGood decisions when replacing managers are critical because their actions flow through to the performance and morale of their team. Having Emerging Leaders ready to step into management roles is essential for every organisation, big or small.Ready-made successorsA robust Emerging Leaders process fosters ready-made leaders within the organisation. They already know the organisation and sector and they have lived the workplace culture. Presumably they represent your ideal culture. If not, take them of the list of candidates. This means they can focus on...
2025-08-1154 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastWhy Your Next Great Leader Is Already Working For YouText us your thoughts or questionsWhat do great organisations do to grow their next generation of leaders — instead of watching potential die on the vine?In this episode, Simon unpacks the three biggest barriers new leaders face and how developing talent from within solves them all. Plus, hear why some internal candidates get overlooked and how to change that.It’s a sharp, practical listen for any leader serious about growing other leaders.Summary of Episode: Introduction to Emerging Leaders Theme 0:00Three Barriers for New Leade...
2025-07-1722 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastThe Deep End Delusion: Why Throwing Leaders In Doesn't WorkText us your thoughts or questionsStill throwing new leaders in the deep end and hoping they’ll swim?In this episode, Simon unpacks the dangerous cliché of “sink or swim” leadership — and why it’s damaging your culture, your results, and your people. Learn how to replace lazy leadership defaults with intentional development strategies that actually work.You’ll walk away with a new lens on leader development — and a few clichés worth retiring forever.Monthly Theme: Developing Leaders 0:00The Danger of Leadership Clich...
2025-06-3025 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastAre Performance Appraisals Worth Your Time?Text us your thoughts or questionsSummaryDoes your team actually look forward to performance appraisals? Or do they brace themselves for an awkward, box-ticking exercise that feels like a waste of time?If you’re in the second camp—you’re not alone. For many leaders and teams, performance reviews are uncomfortable, ineffective, and do little to drive real improvement.But they should be one of the most valuable conversations you have.In this episode, we’re breaking down 15 reasons why appraisals fail to deliver and, mor...
2025-05-1652 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast10 Reasons Your Workplace Values Are BSText us your thoughts or questionsSummaryDoes your organisation have values that should make a difference - but don't? That people think are bullshit or tokenistic or lip service?Do they look great on the poster but mean nothing in the way people behave, work, and treat each other?If that's your organisation, your missing a HUGE opportunity to create a workplace culture where both morale and performance are high. Fortunately, this episode is packed with tips to make your values real.Links and resources...
2025-04-1631 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastAre the monkeys running the zoo?Text us your thoughts or questionsSummaryHave you ever thrown your hands in the air, frustrated, and said, 'the monkeys are running the zoo!' If you haven't, I bet one of your co-leaders has.What does that mean, though? And why does it happen? In this episode we talk about how leaders should respond when they feel the monkeys are running the zoo and discuss another type of 'zoo' that should be avoided at all costs!Links and resources mentioned in the show...
2025-04-0232 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastThe Rules of the PoolText us your thoughts or questionsThe Rules of the Pool-This episode focuses on the role of accountability in shaping workplace culture and emphasises the impact of individual contributions. We discuss how open communication, courageous conversations, and shared responsibility lead to a healthier work environment.Key points from the pod:Our new approach to the content we create for you – monthly themes. Each month will developed pods, blogs, free 20 minute webinars, and resources around a specific theme (this month is Creating a Culture of Accountability) – along with...
2025-02-2038 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastTim Davenport (Director at OzFish Ltd.) on Delivering Bad News with Incredible HumanityText us your thoughts or questionsThis week’s podcast features an interview with Tim Davenport, the Director of Fundraising & Sponsorship at OzFish Unlimited. Tim spent a significant part of his career as a senior executive in the media. After a period of stability, the organisation changed constantly and rapidly. That involved a succession of mergers, acquisitions and takeovers - each coming with change and a clash of workplace culture. His insights for leaders dealing with change (so all leaders!) are invaluable.Interview SummaryOur interviews are conversational, and not al...
2024-09-2659 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastThe Role Values Play in your OrganisationText us your thoughts or questionsThe Role Values Play in your Organisation. How often do you revisit and refine your company's core values? In this milestone episode, we promise you'll discover the transformative power of regularly reassessing your organisational values to bridge the gap between current and desired cultural states. Learn why reevaluating your values every 18 months to two years is critical to maintaining alignment with your evolving organisational aspirations.Join us as we explore the role of company values in fostering accountability within teams. Hear the inspiring story of a young P...
2024-08-2818 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastThe Contemplative Leader with John Hardy (CEO, RSL Tasmania)Text us your thoughts or questionsIn today's episode, we spoke with the incredibly insightful (and entertaining) John Hardy, CEO of RSL Tasmania.John is the ultimate story teller, and takes us on his own leadership journey which started in the UK Military and has led him to now being CEO of RSL Tasmania, and living in his own slice of paradise near Hobart. His ability to always remember where he began and the challenges he has had throughout life leads him to be an incredibly grounded and insightful leader - and a bit of...
2024-08-0849 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership PodcastBuilding a Robust Culture with Kathryn Keenihan from Junction AustraliaText us your thoughts or questionsDiscover how to foster an exceptional workplace culture and drive organizational success with insights from Catherine Keenahan, Executive Manager for People and Culture at Junction Australia. Catherine reveals the secrets behind her organization’s mission to help people thrive, emphasizing the importance of a purpose-driven, values-oriented approach. Listen as she shares personal anecdotes about inspiring leaders who valued individuals and provided clear direction, revealing how authentic leadership can profoundly impact culture. Catherine also provides an insider look at Junction Australia's Culture Shaping Initiative and the pivotal role leadership plays in creating a...
2024-07-2523 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️ Audio Blog: A 5 Minute Test of AuthenticityText us your thoughts or questionshttps://reallearning.com.au/No one does it as well as you do, right? Have you ever had that feeling that if you want a job done properly, you'll have to do it yourself? Have you ever asked the question why aren't my people as committed as me? Both questions are indicators that Employee Engagement may not be as high as you would like it to be. But are your expectations too high or is engagement actually low? There's a simple test that managers can use to gain some insight...
2024-05-0109 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️ Audio Blog: The three needs your workplace culture must deliver onText us your thoughts or questionsWhy does your organisation exist? In fact, why does any organisation exist? It really comes down to meeting needs. At a superficial level, it is obvious that we need to meet the needs of the people we serve. But, in reality, for organisations to succeed long term and to be sustainable, they need to meet needs on three different levels. When organisations ignore any of the three needs, the culture skews and both morale and results become unsustainableThe first level is the obvious one: me...
2024-04-2603 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗨️ Authentic Conversations: The Urgent Conversation We Need to Have.Text us your thoughts or questionsIn this episode we have an Authentic Conversation, a raw and honest conversation about men's violence against women. To say it's a massive problem in Australia is an understatement. Violence and aggression can take many forms that span from small micro-aggressions all the way through to rape and murder. It effects ALL women, with the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community, at the greatest risk. We don’t have the answers to solve it. But we don’t want to remain silent. If you are a man co...
2024-04-1943 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️ Audio Blog: A Snake Under Every Rock - How Leadership Style Impacts PerformanceText us your thoughts or questionsA few years ago, one of my sons and I completed a four-day bush walk, lugging an enormous backpack along the extraordinary Tasman Coastal Trail in Tasmania’s southeast. Along with magnificent memories, aching knees and sore shoulders, I returned with a new insight into leadership style and performance.Each day of the walk we encountered numerous snakes on the track. Most of them slowly made their way into the scrub and we were able to pass safely. A few lingered, making us wait until they were rea...
2024-04-1108 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗨️ Authentic Conversations: Leadership v Management: Exploring Career Progression & Leadership ObligationsText us your thoughts or questionsIn todays episode we delve into the often overlooked aspect of career progression: leadership obligations and the unconscious journey many individuals embark on when they accept promotions solely for career advancement without fully considering the responsibilities that come with leadership roles.Drawing from experiences with various senior leaders, we explore how individuals are propelled into leadership positions driven by ambitions for career growth and financial gain. Yet, they shed light on the common scenario where these individuals find themselves ill-prepared for the complexities of managing people and relationships, realising...
2024-04-0426 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️ Audio Blog: Managing Poor Performance - there are only three outcomesText us your thoughts or questionsDo you have a poor performer in your team? No someone who is doing well but could do better, which describes most people in most workplaces. We're talking about someone whose performance or behaviour is below a threshold of acceptability.As uncomfortable as it may be, it is your responsibility as a leader (and not just a manager) to address this. The way to do that is by recognising there are only three outcomes when managing poor performance - and then eliminating one of them. Before we dive into...
2024-03-2809 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️ Audio Blog: 7 types of leader that create toxic workplace cultureText us your thoughts or questionsI finished my presentation and the CEO beamed at me.‘That’s brilliant,’ he said. ‘It’s great to have confirmation that we are doing all the right things.’He smiled around at the rest of the assembled executive team, stopping only just short of reaching up to pat himself on the back. Meanwhile, one executive rolled their eyes at another, while three more stared down at the table.The presentation was called Demystifying and Transforming Workplace Culture. I had offered to do it for the executiv...
2024-03-2014 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗨️ Authentic Conversations: The Bookends of High PerformanceText us your thoughts or questionsIf we want high performance from team members, we have to set them up for success.There are two critical things that you, as the leader, can provide make that high performance significantly more likely. They are both free and abundantly available to leaders. Both of these ingredients - the bookends of high performance - are misread by most leaders. They believe they are providing much more of them than their teams believe they receive - and that is flowing through to performance and engagement.W...
2024-03-1435 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️Audio Blog: Should you be Throwing People in the Deep End?Text us your thoughts or questionsEvery leader has done it - 'thrown someone in at the deep end.'But is it the right thing to do? Does it help people grow, sort those who can cope from those who can't, or make them stronger?Or are those just comforting cliches we use to make us feel better about lazy leadership? Would it be better to work out how well someone can swim and throw them in at the appropriate depth? Perhaps get people wet at the shallow end, teach them to...
2024-03-0605 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast📰 Front Page Leadership - Flexible work arrangements - a right or a privilege?Text us your thoughts or questionsThe line between flexible work arrangements and some emerging employee trends is becoming blurred.On one had, too many employers refuse to offer flexibility because of outdated systems and beliefs - leading to employees being dissatisfied and pushing the boundaries.On the other hand, insidious trends like quit quitting and being over employed are being used by a small number of employees - leading to cynicism and caution about flexibility from employers.Who is right? And should flexible working arrangements be a right or a...
2024-02-2948 minThe Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast🗣️Audio Blog: Who creates culture? Leaders... Team members... or Both?Text us your thoughts or questionsThis epsiode is an audio blog A theme has emerged in several workplaces we are currently working with to help them shape their culture. Each of these workplaces have solid workplace cultures but are striving to create excellent ones. In each of them, we have been asked the same pair of questions.The question from the leaders. How much impact do the decisions we make have? Decisions are only intentions, but culture comes down to what everyone does and the choices they make.
2024-02-2206 min