Here's an idea worth playing with

In this episode, I break down the productivity system that helps me manage work, family life, content creation, and side projects - all without feeling overwhelmed.

It’s not about doing more, but about choosing the right plates to spin. I’ll share how I use tools like Google Calendar, Trello, and ToDoist alongside paper and notebooks to stay organised, prioritise what matters, and keep a clear overview of everything on my plate.

If you’re looking for a practical, flexible way to manage competing demands while staying sane, this episode will give you ideas to design a system that works for you.

During World War II, the OSS (precursor to the CIA) released the “Simple Sabotage Field Manual”—a handbook for disrupting enemy organisations from within. The shocking part? Much of it reads like a modern business playbook: excessive committees, slow decision-making, perfectionism on unimportant tasks, and endless meetings.

In this episode, we unpack the uncanny overlap between sabotage tactics and today’s workplace behaviours, why they persist even with good intentions, and how leaders can spot and dismantle them before they derail performance.

It’s a reminder that agility isn’t about speed — it’s about removing the hidden habits of sabotage baked into our ways of working.

--> View the associated post on Cultivated website - https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/we-are-sabotaging-our-own-workplaces/

In this episode, I explore 10 practical principles that will help you study anything more effectively.

We’ll break down why active engagement beats passive highlighting, why depth matters more than sheer volume, and how teaching others sharpens your own understanding.

I’ll share how principles create a foundation for long-term mastery, why rest is essential for retention, and how embracing different learning styles keeps you flexible and open. Whether you’re developing professionally or pursuing personal growth, these tools will help you study smarter and turn knowledge into action.

--> A deeper and richer article on this subject is here: https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/how-to-study/

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to create a true learning culture inside an organisation.

Not just training programmes or box-ticking courses, but learning as a shared behaviour that drives growth, engagement, and collective intelligence.

From role modelling as a leader, to giving teams time and space, to encouraging personal learning with no strings attached—you’ll hear practical ways to make learning part of your company’s DNA.

Plus, I share a surprising story about a mechanic course that reshaped an entire organisation’s culture.

--> Find more in-depth details and more resources on the website - https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/building-a-learning-culture/

What are the timeless skills that make someone invaluable and successful at work?

In this episode, I break down the five core “Trade Skills” — persistence, facing facts, risk management, hands-on learning, and grasping numbers — and explains why they matter more than ever in today’s business world.

Learn how mastering these skills can elevate your career, sharpen your commercial awareness, and turn everyday challenges into opportunities for growth.

Accompanying article : https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/trade-skills/

Crafting a Winning Conference Talk Proposal - and getting it selected

Want to share your expertise on a conference stage but feel stuck at the Call for Papers submission process? You're not alone! Getting your talk accepted is the crucial first step, yet it's often where aspiring speakers fall short.

In this episode, I share ideas straight from the Zero to Keynote book, on why, even if you have a cracking story to tell, your conference talk proposal is the first hurdle, demanding far more effort than you might think. From finding the perfect Call for Papers (CFP) to understanding conference themes, I'll guide you through the entire process.

Plus, I share my 10-step masterclass on writing a proposal that reviewers will shout "YES!" to.

Whether you're just starting your public speaking journey or aiming for bigger stages, learn how to craft a compelling submission that increased your chances of being accepted.

Read more and download a free speaker's checklist : https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/conference-talk-accepted/

You want to speak at a conference, but you have nothing to say

It is one of the most common reasons capable people never give a talk.

They have been in their industry for years. They have solved real problems, built real things, navigated real challenges. They have genuine insight, earned the hard way. And yet the moment the conference call for speakers opens — or someone casually asks whether they'd ever consider presenting — the same quiet conclusion arrives.

This is the Curse of Knowledge at work, and it is almost always wrong. 
You have a unique voice, a unique perspective, a unique set of stories. Nobody else has lived your career, encountered the people you have encountered, solved the problems you have solved in the way you have solved them. 

The question is rarely whether you have anything worth saying. 
The question is how to find it.

That is what this episode is about.

Grab the free chapter from Zero to Keynote all about generating conference ideas: https://www.cultivatedmanagement.com/generate-talk-ideas/

This is episode 5 of 5, of the Releasing Agility mini series, where I share the model and how it works. 

This episode of about learning and making ourselves, and the business, better

The model is designed to get leaders and managers to think about what they want to move smoothly and quickly towards - and then to focus energy and attention towards the things that really matter. 

This model is what I use when coaching managers and leaders - and the first three steps firmly belong to them. 

Step 1 - Paint a picture of the future - tell a story

Step 2 - Lean into the current reality - what's stopping you from achieving this bright future?

Step 3 - This is the team to get it done, or is it?

Step 4 - Routines and Habits

Step 5 - Learning - there's always a chance to get better

This is episode 4 of 5, of the Releasing Agility mini series, where I share the model and how it works. 

This episode of about building routines and habits - that lead to the painted picture.

The model is designed to get leaders and managers to think about what they want to move smoothly and quickly towards - and then to focus energy and attention towards the things that really matter. 

This model is what I use when coaching managers and leaders - and the first three steps firmly belong to them. 

Step 1 - Paint a picture of the future - tell a story

Step 2 - Lean into the current reality - what's stopping you from achieving this bright future?

Step 3 - This is the team to get it done, or is it?

Step 4 - Routines and Habits

Step 5 - Learning - there's always a chance to get better

This is episode 3 of 5, of the Releasing Agility mini series, where I share the model and how it works. 

This episode of about building the team to get it done.

The model is designed to get leaders and managers to think about what they want to move smoothly and quickly towards - and then to focus energy and attention towards the things that really matter. 

This model is what I use when coaching managers and leaders - and the first three steps firmly belong to them. 

Step 1 - Paint a picture of the future - tell a story

Step 2 - Lean into the current reality - what's stopping you from achieving this bright future?

Step 3 - This is the team to get it done, or is it?

Step 4 - Routines and Habits

Step 5 - Learning - there's always a chance to get better