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15 Growth Tips for Founder-Run Businesses

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Change 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 make
• The difference between change management and change leadership (and why the latter matters most)
• What makes the “valley of despair” so dangerous — and how to help your team move through it
• 10 straight-talking tips to lead people through discomfort, resistance, and real transformation
• Why honesty, visibility, and relentless communication are your most powerful change tools

Whether you’re facing a major transformation or trying to embed small but meaningful shifts, this episode will challenge your mindset and sharpen your approach to leading change that sticks.

0:00 - Introduction and Monthly Resources

9:31 - Embracing Change as a Leader

16:47 - Leadership vs. Management in Change

22:31 - Leading Yourself Through Change First

27:55 - Ten Tips for Successful Change Leadership

35:49 - Effective Change Communication Strategies

Resources mentioned:

• 10 Mistakes Leaders make during Change (infographic)
• Leading Change (eBook)
• Lead through Change with Confidence (leaders guide)
• Why Most Change Fails...And What Great Leaders Do Differently (blog)

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Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

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Unresolved 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 team
• The two biggest mistakes organisations make when dealing with conflict
• A five-phase process every leader can use to manage disputes effectively
• Practical tips to turn uncomfortable conversations into constructive outcomes

It’s a straight-talking, practical episode for leaders who want to create stronger, healthier team cultures by leaning into conflict instead of avoiding it.

Summary of Episode:
0:00 - Introduction to Mediation for Managers
4:45 - Common Mistakes in Handling Conflict
10:12 - Why Unresolved Conflict Is Corrosive
13:24 - Real-World Conflict Examples
20:26 - Five Steps to Effective Conflict Resolution
27:04 - Nine Practical Tips for Facilitation
35:54 - Final Thoughts and Resources

Links and resources mentioned in the show

Leaders Guide to Mediation - 5 Phases of Conflict

The Managers Mediation Conversation Map

Do You need a Mediator?

7 Mistakes Leaders Make When Handling Conflict

Plenty in 20: When Managers Need to Mediate

The Culture Nerds Monthly Newsletter: 

Authentic Leadership

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Good 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 successors

A 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 the biggest challenges for new managers– developing leadership skills and strategies to deal with the people they lead. If you have created a robust Emerging Leaders process, they will have been developing these skills before they need them, so they are ready when the opportunity comes.

Mistake or choice?

Recruiting leaders from outside the organisation isn’t a bad thing. They can bring fresh perspectives, promote positive change and enhance innovation. It just shouldn’t be your only option because of a lack of emerging leaders within your organisation.If you need to replace a manager and you have no option but to look externally, that’s a mistake. Learn from it. If it happens again, that’s a choice and it suggests you didn’t learn.

Our guests today are from R&J Batteries, Australia’s fastest growing battery company. Each played a pivotal role in implementing an Emerging Leaders program. Two participants took on management positions within less than 12 months & most others showed significant growth.

• Jo Preece, National Training Manager
• Glenn Kennedy, Beresfield Branch Manager
• Dylan Smith, Team Member at Beresfield & participant in the Emerging Leaders program
  
  Links and resources mentioned in the show
  
  Case Study on Emerging Leaders Program
  
  Emerging Leaders Program Product Page
  
  Emerging Leaders Free Resources
  
  Re-Released Podcast Episode
  
  Plenty in 20:
  The Culture Nerds Monthly Newsletter:
  Authentic Leadership
  
  What's next?
  Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

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Visit our website The Real Learning Experience

Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

Text us your thoughts or questions

What 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 0:00
• Three Barriers for New Leaders 4:07
• Retention: Growing to Keep Talent 8:10
• Creating Opportunities for Leaders to Emerge 12:42
• Culture That Fosters Leadership Growth 17:07
• Key Takeaways and Resources 21:45

Links and resources mentioned in the show

Case Study on Emerging Leaders Program

Emerging Leaders Program Product Page

Emerging Leaders Free Resources

Re-Released Podcast Episode  

Plenty in 20:

The Culture Nerds Monthly Newsletter: 

Authentic Leadership

What's next?
Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

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Visit our website The Real Learning Experience

Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

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Still 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 0:00

The Danger of Leadership Clichés 3:25

Throwing Leaders in the Deep End 8:54

The Ripple Effects of Poor Development 13:49

Better Solutions for Leader Growth 18:32

Proactive Leadership Development Strategies 22:52

Links and resources mentioned in the show

The 5 Shifts Authentic Leaders Make - PDF

Are you Leading or just Managing - Blog Post

Pulse Check for Authentic Leaders - PDF

Plenty in 20:  Elevating your Leadership Through Coaching Conversations

The Culture Nerds Newsletter: a free monthly summary of subscriber resources

Authentic Leadership – a product page for those who want to explore the services we offer

What's next?
Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

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Visit our website The Real Learning Experience

Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

Text us your thoughts or questions

Summary
Does 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, more importantly, what you can do to fix them. Whether you’re a leader or a team member, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to turn dreaded reviews into genuine growth conversations.

Let’s dive in.

Links and resources mentioned in the show
The Real Cost of Poor Performance (downloadable infographic)

5 Conversations Every Manager Must Master (downloadabale PDF)

Is Your Leadership Style Enabling Accountability - or Making Underperformance Comfortable? (self-assessment questionnaire)

Plenty in 20: Managing Poor Performance (free, on-demand webinar with actionable strategies and tips)

The Culture Nerds Newsletter, a free monthly summary of subscriber resouces

Managing Poor Performance & Inspiring High Performance – a product page for those who want to explore the services we offer

What's next?
Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

Detailed show description
Performance appraisals can feel like a futile pain in the backside. Many leaders view them as administrative burdens rather than developmental opportunities. When conducted effectively, performance reviews are transformative tools for growth, alignment, and improved team dynamics. 

The fundamental problem with many appraisals is they're approached as tick-and-flick exercises rather than meaningful conversations. The opportunity to build connection, provide direction, and foster growth is missed. The most effective appraisals balance reflection on past performance with planning for future development. This pairing is essential – looking back without planning forward leaves team members without direction, while planning development without addressing current performance issues ignores potential barriers to growth.

Some key topics from this episode:

• The real value: reflecting on past performance and planning future development
• Customising frequency based on individual needs
• Creating two-way feedback conversations 
• Selecting the appropriate time and location
• Providing micro-feedback throughout the year 
• Planning effectively by sending questions in advance to encourage reflection
• Balancing technical performance with team/cultural fit

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Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

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Summary

Does 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 mentioned in the show

The Authentimeter (free culture survey with option for detailed analysis of results)

Plenty in 20: Holding People Accountable when you Can't Afford to Lose Them (free, on-demand webinar with actionable strategies and tips)

The Culture Nerds Newsletter, a free monthly summary of subscriber resouces

Organisational Culture Surveys for those who want to explore our services

What's next?

Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

Detailed show description

Workplace values should be the most powerful tool for shaping your organisation's culture, but that is rarely the reality. Often, values are reduced to meaningless phrases on coffee mugs and posters that no one can remember or explain.

In this episode, Simon Thiessen discusses the disconnect between proclaimed values and actual workplace behaviors. He unpacks ten critical reasons why organisational values fail to drive meaningful change. From values that no one can name to those that create cynicism because they're never enforced, this practical guide exposes the common pitfalls that make values ineffective.

Drawing from real-world examples, Simon explains why overcomplicated processes, values dictated from above, and attempts to replace human judgment with rigid rules all undermine cultural alignment. The most damaging practice? Allowing certain people to be exempt from living the values while holding others accountable—creating a culture where 'that's just how they are' becomes a way to validate unacceptable behavior.

You'll discover how to transform your values from tokens into genuine drivers of great workplace culture by ensuring they're behavior-focused, universally applied, and reinforced through peer-to-peer accountability rather than top-down enforcement. The episode concludes with an immediate, actionable strategy you can implement today: consistently celebrating when people embody your values.

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Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

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Summary

Have 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

The Authentimeter (free culture survey with option for detailed analysis of results)

Plenty in 20: Holding People Accountable when you Can't Afford to Lose Them (free, on-demand webinar with actionable strategies and tips)

The Culture Nerds Newsletter, a free monthly summary of subscriber resouces

Organisational Culture Surveys for those who want to explore our services

What's next?

Talk to one of our culture and leadership experts - a free 30 minute consultation to problem solve any issue you are facing.

Detailed show description

The culture of your workplace doesn't just happens—it's shaped by leadership choices and team behaviours. In this episode, Simon Thiessen use the 'monkeys running the zoo' metaphor to discuss 'three zoos' that perfectly capture different workplace cultures and the leadership approaches that create them.

What happens when the monkeys are running the zoo? This environment emerges when leaders fail to set clear standards or hold people accountable. Mediocrity becomes normalised, high performers grow frustrated, and when leaders try to raise standards, resistance is fierce. Simon unpacks the affiliative or absent leadership styles that create these situations.

The second zoo represents workplaces ruled by fear, where people avoid taking risks, hide problems, and dread coming to work. These environments stem from directive, demanding, and critical leadership that breaks trust and stifles initiative. Simon shares real-world examples of this fear becoming embedded, requiring consistent positive experiences to rebuild confidence.

But there's a third option. The ideal workplace where people operate with freedom within clear, agreed-upon standards. Here, people understand their purpose, collaborate naturally, and hold each other accountable. Research consistently shows these environments produce happier employees, better customer experiences, and superior results across all metrics.

Creating this culture requires conscious leadership rather than defaulting to comfortable habits, clarity of vision about what excellence looks like, willingness to change (starting with leaders), and a tolerance for the uncomfortable. The journey isn't easy, but the rewards are transformative.

Workplace culture is shaped by leadership choice. We each have a best self and a worst self, and workplace environments can bring out either. Which environment are you creating?

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Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

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The Rules of the Pool
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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 a specific product offering for those who need more support
• The connection between individual actions and choices, and workplace culture
• Using metaphors to foster discussions on accountability 
• The importance of courageous conversations in addressing issues
• Encouraging teams to create their own shared understandings around standards of performance and interpersonal communication
• The role of leadership in modelling positive culture
• Recognising conflict as a constructive aspect of team dynamics
• Strategies for fostering ownership of workplace culture
• Rules of the Pool download  = resource download for managers

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Visit our website The Real Learning Experience

Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org