Subject Matter

Self-understanding is a competitive advantage. Leaders who understand themselves can capitalise on opportunities with conviction. In this episode, we'll share a practical 4 step technique from Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman to dramatically accelerate your ability to understand yourself, and therefore make key relationships feel understood too.

As explained in Darwinian theory we survived today because our ancestors before us allowed us to. There are benefits when you overcome your fear and leave your comfort zone. Matthew Parris wrote compiled remes of research on how being forced out of your comfort zone with trauma can result in genius. English poet Edward Lear grew up traumatized and succeeded not in spite of his background, but because of it. Choose to leave your comfort zone to create a greater source of strength in your leadership ability. 

A practical guide to how nature can help you create connection with key relationships. When we talk about the "nature" of something, we mean the truth of it.

Nature is true, and leaders can use it as a tool to understand truths about themselves. This lets them ultimately find the all-powerful subtleties in their story, which unlocks their empathetic communication: messages that connect with people's heads and hearts.

Robbie Crabtree's turns stories into powerful tools. His Performative Speaking model reveals a subtle secret: When it comes to stories, it's not just what you say, it's how you say it.

Most people underestimate just how many stories they have to tell. If experience is the greatest teacher, leaders are sitting on a powerful range of lessons they can use to create connection with the people that matter. In this episode, Robbie's framework will show you exactly how.

At Astutely, we believe your brand's potential is unlocked by one thing: When you identify the subtlety in your story. Today we're showing this principle in action with one of history’s empathetic leaders: Abraham Lincoln.

Daniel Priestley's personal branding framework has more to it than meets the eye. He uses the same principles that have been quietly leveraged for thousands of years. In this episode, we unpack an ancient Chinese strategist's lessons on reputation management, and show how modern leaders can build personal brands that speak for them while they're not in the room.

Empathetic communication starts with finding the subtlety in your story. To find that subtlety, you have to embrace your uniqueness. Ancient Greece provides practical wisdom on what happens when you apply your unique strengths, and a cautionary tale for when you let short-sighted thinking get in the way...

Radio personality Jordan Harbinger teaches us 2 practical techniques for how leaders can build rapport with clients: Using F.E.W. (Facts, Emotions, Why) and Question-Answer-Statement. Whether with customers or your team, building rapport is an essential part of creating connection.

Success as a business leader often comes down to the relationships you build.

On the third season of Subject Matter, we're showing you how to build powerful relationships with empathetic communication: messages that connect with people's heads and hearts.

Join Astutely Founder Ben Bradbury as he shines a light on the subtle strategies the leaders of the past and present are using to build powerful relationships as we speak.

Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Kids say it how it is. Adults complicate things. In fact, children might be better than adults at building healthy relationships.

Today’s interview with Lex Deak will show you what kids can teach us about becoming more honest communicators, empathetic leaders, and all round better people.