In this compelling episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell sits down with Tom and Sanja Hendrick, co-directors of a thriving speaking and communication training business, to explore their remarkable journey from direct competitors to life and business partners. Their story reveals how authentic vulnerability, strategic communication, and calculated trust-building can transform potential rivalry into extraordinary collaboration.

Key Takeaways

Strategic vulnerability accelerates relationship building - When time is critical, having structured conversations about non-negotiables, values, and expectations can compress years of relationship development into weeks

Communication frameworks enable difficult conversations - Establishing clear protocols like "hear my heart" and "let me talk in draft" creates safe spaces for honest dialogue without defensive reactions

Complementary strengths multiply impact - Fast thinkers and slow thinkers, makers and managers, visionaries and analysts can achieve more together than either could alone when roles are clearly defined

Healthy conflict drives innovation - Teams that challenge each other appropriately create better outcomes than those that avoid all disagreement; conflict becomes a feature, not a bug

Test and trust methodology builds solid foundations - Early testing of assumptions, difficult conversations, and collaborative models, followed by daily choices to trust the process, creates sustainable partnerships

Audience-centric communication trumps speaker-centric approaches - Like basketball players who don't look at the ball while dribbling, skilled leaders focus on reading their audience rather than perfecting their delivery

Clear lane delineation prevents co-leadership chaos - Understanding personality profiles, work styles, and natural strengths allows co-directors to operate efficiently without stepping on each other's toes

Pressure can create diamonds in relationships - High-stakes situations with time constraints can accelerate trust-building and reveal character more quickly than extended courtship periods

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction and the serendipitous meeting at a networking workshop

08:30 Tom's journey from mumbling teenager to tax lawyer to public speaking entrepreneur

15:40 The COVID crisis, business closure, and fertility challenges that created urgency

20:15 Strategic conversations that built trust rapidly - both personal and professional

28:45 The "hear my heart" communication protocol and other relationship frameworks

35:20 How Yin and Yang personalities complement each other in leadership

42:10 Managing teams with different work styles - makers vs. managers

48:30 Final advice on audience-centric communication and the test-and-trust methodology

Featured Discussion

Tom and Sanja Hendrick's story defies conventional wisdom about competitor relationships and business partnerships. When COVID-19 threatened to shut down Sanja's 12-year-old speaking training business, a chance encounter with her "direct competitor", Tom, at a networking workshop led to an extraordinary collaboration. Their approach to rapid trust-building through structured, vulnerable conversations offers a masterclass in authentic leadership communication.

From Tom's early confidence-building journey with radio mentor Hal Bannister to Sanja's theatre background and fertility challenges, their individual stories shaped complementary leadership styles. Tom's analytical, slow-thinking approach to decision-making perfectly balances Sanja's intuitive, fast-thinking crisis management skills. Their success demonstrates how clear communication protocols, defined roles, and mutual respect can transform potential conflict into collaborative advantage.

Quotable Moments

"No one should go through this alone" - Tom's support during Sanja's IVF journey

"Collaborate, don't compete" - The foundational principle that guided their partnership

"Communication can time compress five years into five minutes sometimes" - On the power of strategic conversations

"Everything's possible, everything's achievable - it just comes down to people" - Tom on the fundamentals of success

"Healthy conflict is a feature, not a bug of good teams" - On the value of constructive disagreement

"If they're all doing their job, they'll all annoy the heck out of each other" - Describing functional team dynamics

"Test and trust - testing assumptions early and then choosing to trust daily" - Sanja's advice for collaboration

"Vulnerability is an absolute strength, not a weakness" - Reframing perceived soft skills

Connect with Tom & Sanja

Sanja Hendrick LinkedIn

Tom Hendrick LinkedIn

Adelaide Uni - Sanja Hendrick

Talent Academy

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell sits down with Jude Henshall, former professional actor turned creative technology producer, to explore the intersection of innovation, storytelling, and authentic leadership. Jude reveals how her journey from the theatrical stage to cutting-edge creative technology projects has shaped her unique approach to leading through uncertainty and calculated risk-taking. The conversation delves deep into the art of collaborative leadership, the power of walking away from projects that have outgrown you, and why embracing the mindset that "everything's possible" is essential for driving meaningful innovation in today's rapidly changing world.

Key Takeaways

Innovation requires calculated courage - True innovation isn't about fearless leaping; it's about thorough risk assessment, stakeholder alignment, and strategic planning that transforms uncertainty into opportunity

Ownership is an illusion in creative leadership - The most profound projects become public goods; great leaders create lasting impact by building works that transcend individual ownership

Collaborative problem-solving multiplies success - Breaking down silos and encouraging cross-functional thinking creates outcomes that exceed what any individual contributor could achieve alone

Clear vision anchors team motivation - Leaders who can connect daily tasks to overarching meaning and community impact inspire teams to move from competence to excellence

Failure contains valuable intelligence - Even ventures that don't survive provide critical learning experiences and validation that can influence broader industry innovation

Risk mitigation enables bold action - Identifying every potential failure point and planning contingencies transforms intimidating projects into manageable strategic initiatives

Relationships are the foundation of innovation - Complex creative technology projects succeed or fail based on the quality of human connections and communication within the team

Uncertainty is the new normal - Effective leaders acknowledge collective anxiety about climate, politics, and social change while fostering hope through creative action

Creating heals communities - Arts, technology, and storytelling serve as powerful tools for processing trauma, building connection, and inspiring positive change

Future generations hold transformative potential - Young leaders bring profound wisdom and courage that can guide society through current challenges toward hopeful futures

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Jude Henshall's journey from actor to innovation leader

08:30 The evolution from live theatre to permanent digital storytelling

16:40 Deep dive into the Ediacaran fossil animation project in the Flinders Ranges

25:10 Learning to walk away from projects and embrace collaborative ownership

28:50 The startup experience: from big data dreams to federal competition

35:20 Risk assessment frameworks for high-stakes creative technology projects

42:10 Building teams that thrive on shared vision and mutual support

48:30 Leading through uncertainty while maintaining hope and purpose

Featured Discussion

Jude Henshall brings a rare perspective to innovation leadership, combining theatrical storytelling expertise with cutting-edge creative technology experience. From training AI robots to speak authentically to creating immersive museum experiences in remote locations, Jude has mastered the art of making the impossible possible through meticulous planning and collaborative leadership. Her work spans from intimate theatre productions to large-scale public installations, including a groundbreaking project that brings 550-million-year-old Ediacaran fossils to life through projection mapping and visual effects. Jude's leadership philosophy centers on calculated risk-taking, transparent communication about potential failures, and the profound impact that comes from creating works that serve the greater good rather than individual achievement.

Quotable Moments

"Innovation is a huge gift - we couldn't have thought it was possible even 10 years ago"

"We don't own anything really, do we? Works of scale like this really get handed over to the public"

"Everything's possible, everything's achievable - it just comes down to people"

"Calculated risk is a really healthy, excellent way of moving through uncomfortable spots"

"If I'm not clear about what we're trying to achieve, then you're a bit lost - why are we doing all of this?"

"We all get to celebrate together rather than an individual hand-on-the-back slap"

"Risk doesn't sit with someone - it can be objectified and viewed analytically as something outside of ourselves"

"We're often battling similar things and they tend to pop up in cycles - we don't own the idea all by ourselves"

"Creating can heal - we continue to do these activities to understand ourselves and our environment"

"The future will be in good hands - it's up to us to continue to shepherd them in"

This episode provides essential insights for leaders navigating innovation in uncertain times, offering practical frameworks for risk assessment, team collaboration, and maintaining hope while driving meaningful change. Jude's unique blend of creative storytelling and technology leadership offers valuable lessons for transforming bold visions into lasting public impact through authentic, values-driven leadership.

Connect with Jude Henshall

Carclew - Youth arts and community engagement programs

LinkedIn - Professional insights and creative technology updates

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In this compelling episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell sits down with Matt Hyde, founder of Speakers Corner and accomplished actor, to explore the transformative power of communication and storytelling in leadership. Matt reveals how psychological, physical, and vocal "armour" that we develop over time creates barriers to authentic leadership and shares proven techniques from the acting world to help leaders strip away these protective barriers. The conversation delves deep into the art of quieting the "monkey mind," the strategic power of silence, and why emotional connection through storytelling is essential for effective leadership in today's corporate environment.

Key Takeaways

Armour affects authentic leadership - We all develop psychological, physical, and vocal armour from childhood that prevents us from communicating with confidence and authenticity

Core values anchor true power - Leaders who anchor themselves to their three core values communicate with unshakeable confidence, even in high-pressure situations

Less is more in communication - Verbose leaders often ramble from nerves; clarity comes from knowing what your audience needs to know, do, and feel

Silence creates a powerful connection - Real communication happens in the pauses; strategic silence allows profound responses to emerge

Stories reveal leadership character - Every number tells a story, and personal mini-stories demonstrate values in action, creating trust and followership

Peak state memories overcome anxiety - Priming yourself with moments when you "smashed it" counters the monkey mind's negative self-chatter

Emotion makes data memorable - We are feeling human beings who think, not thinking beings who feel; emotion transforms dry information into compelling communication

Vulnerability enables authentic authority - True leadership power comes from allowing yourself to be seen, not from maintaining protective barriers

Storytelling is a hardwired human connection - We naturally respond to narrative structure; great leaders use stories to inspire, connect, and drive change

Breathing from your core transforms presence - Diaphragmatic breathing creates vocal power and physical confidence that commands attention

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Matt Hyde and Speakers Corner

02:50 Understanding psychological and physical armour in leadership

05:57 Drama school techniques for stripping away protective barriers

09:11 The role of authenticity versus performative leadership

12:07 Anchoring to core values for unshakeable confidence

15:00 Techniques for quieting the monkey mind and negative self-chatter

18:05 The strategic art of speaking less and embracing silence

20:56 The transformative impact of storytelling in corporate leadership

23:59 Creating emotional connection through mini-stories and vulnerability

27:13 The critical importance of arts and human connection in leadership

Featured Discussion

Matt Hyde brings a unique perspective to leadership communication, combining two decades of acting expertise with practical corporate training experience. From working with Olympic athletes to training the London Metropolitan Police, Matt has witnessed firsthand how communication under pressure can either create safety or cause trauma. His approach focuses on identifying and dismantling the "armour" we've built up since childhood - those protective mechanisms that actually prevent us from leading with authenticity and power. Matt's framework reveals how leaders can transform from armoured presenters into compelling storytellers who inspire genuine followership through vulnerability, values-based decision making, and emotional intelligence.

Quotable Moments

"Fear is the biggest handbrake to achieving our goals"

"We all develop armour - psychological, physical, and vocal - that we've built up over years"

"Real communication happens in a silence"

"Less is more - don't go for the obvious, go for the subtlety"

"We are feeling human beings that think, not thinking human beings that feel"

"True power comes from our values - no one and nothing can take those away from you"

"If you don't look or sound confident, why would we have confidence in what you've got to say?"

"Stories change lives - the right story at the right time can change the world"

"Unless you've been living under a rock, you qualify to tell a story"

"We're starved of genuine human connection - that's why when it happens, it's so profound"

This episode provides essential insights for leaders seeking to develop authentic communication skills, overcome speaking anxiety, and harness the power of storytelling to create deeper connections with their teams. Matt's unique blend of theatrical training and corporate expertise offers practical tools for transforming from armoured communication into vulnerable, values-driven leadership that inspires genuine followership.

Connect with Matt Hyde

Speakers Corner - Public speaking and communication skills training

LinkedIn - Professional insights and updates

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell welcomes Leah Fogarty, performance psychologist, who explores the psychology behind peak performance and reveals how fear becomes our biggest barrier to success. Leah shares transformative insights on reframing failure, building trust, and developing emotional intelligence that can revolutionise performance in both sporting and corporate environments.

Key Takeaways

Fear management is fundamental to performance - Fear acts as the biggest handbrake to achieving our goals, but making friends with fear transforms it from enemy to ally

Reframing failure accelerates growth - Viewing failure as a learning opportunity rather than defeat creates resilience and continuous improvement

Curiosity beats judgment in feedback - Approaching performance reviews and mistakes with "what happened?" instead of criticism leads to breakthrough insights

Emotional intelligence drives high-pressure success - Managing emotional responses in critical moments separates good performers from great ones

Selective opinion filtering protects mental performance - Identifying whose opinions truly matter shields you from destructive external noise

Trust is the foundation of team performance - Teams with deep trust anticipate, support, and elevate each other's performance naturally

Vulnerability enables accountability - Leaders who show vulnerability create environments where team members take ownership and responsibility

Connection creates emotional safety - Performance thrives when individuals feel psychologically safe to take risks and be authentic

Fun environments reduce performance anxiety - Creating enjoyable atmospheres naturally diminishes fear of failure and enhances creativity

Feedback prevents negative narratives - Regular, constructive feedback stops destructive internal stories from taking root and damaging confidence

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to performance psychology and overcoming barriers

03:00 Understanding the role of a performance psychologist in various settings

06:00 The impact of fear and anxiety on performance across sports and corporate environments

08:56 Reframing failure: introducing the three F's framework for growth

12:08 Applying psychological principles in corporate settings and leadership

19:10 The power of curiosity and present-moment awareness

20:06 Emotional intelligence strategies for high-pressure situations

22:01 Identifying whose opinions matter: filtering external criticism

24:43 Building trust within teams and organisations

26:42 The science of trust and interpersonal connection

29:38 Accountability and vulnerability in effective leadership

30:51 The importance of feedback and validation in team dynamics

Featured Discussion

Leah Fogarty brings a unique perspective to performance psychology, working across both athletic and corporate environments to help individuals and teams unlock their potential. She reveals how fear operates as the primary barrier to peak performance and shares practical strategies for transforming that fear into fuel for growth. Her approach emphasises the critical role of emotional safety, trust-building, and reframing failure as essential components of high-performance environments. Leah demonstrates how the principles that drive sporting excellence translate directly to corporate leadership, offering listeners actionable insights for managing pressure, building resilient teams, and creating cultures of continuous improvement.

Quotable Moments

"Fear is the biggest handbrake."

"We need to make friends with fear."

"Remain curious instead of judgmental."

"Be curious, not judgmental."

"Whose opinion of you really matters?"

"We might have to get you back on."

This episode provides essential insights for leaders, coaches, and high performers seeking to break through psychological barriers and create environments where individuals and teams can thrive under pressure. Leah's expertise in both sports and corporate psychology offers listeners practical tools for managing fear, building trust, and developing the emotional intelligence necessary for sustained high performance in any challenging environment.

Connect with Leah Fogarty

Instagram

Between The Ears

LinkedIn

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell welcomes Dr. Ben Robbins, high-performance psychologist at Essendon Football Club, who shares his remarkable transformation from AFL player to mental health advocate, revealing how elite sports psychology principles can revolutionise leadership and performance in any high-pressure environment.

Key Takeaways

• Mental training is as crucial as physical training - Just like lifting weights builds muscle, practising pressure management builds psychological resilience
• Present-moment focus prevents performance breakdowns - Getting stuck on mistakes takes you away from what needs to happen next
• Emotional regulation requires deliberate practice - Moving past perceived injustices quickly is essential when the game (or business) keeps moving
• Attention control is a trainable skill - In our distracted world, knowing where to direct your focus is a competitive advantage
• Curiosity beats criticism for performance improvement - Asking "what happened?" instead of self-blame leads to better solutions
• Feedback culture accelerates team development - Elite sports environments excel at continuous improvement through constant, constructive feedback
• Connection builds trust and team performance - When team members know each other deeply, they anticipate and support each other better
• Young people adapt faster to feedback-rich environments - 18-year-old athletes often handle performance reviews better than seasoned executives
• Whose opinion matters most - Filtering external noise by focusing only on feedback from people who truly matter to your success
• Psychological support isn't weakness, it's performance optimisation - High performers need safe spaces to process pressure and maintain mental health

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to high-performance psychology and Ben's background

01:52 A day in the life of a sports psychologist at AFL level

05:05 Managing pressure and performance: mental training fundamentals

09:07 Emotional regulation techniques for high-stakes environments

12:01 Coping with rejection: being dropped and career transitions

14:03 Mental health challenges and social media impact on young athletes

15:57 Building team dynamics, trust, and connection in competitive environments

20:01 Feedback culture: why sports teams excel where corporate teams struggle

24:03 Transferring sports psychology principles to corporate and blue-collar settings

27:00 Attention control and emotional regulation techniques for everyday application

Featured Discussion Dr. Robbins reveals the stark contrast between his playing days (zero psychological support in 10 years) and modern AFL environments where mental health and performance coaching are integral. He explains how elite athletes train their minds, such as muscles, and develop skills in pressure management, emotional regulation, and attention control that directly translate to corporate leadership. His work extends beyond sport into high-risk industries where focus and concentration can be matters of life and death, demonstrating the universal application of sports psychology principles.

Quotable Moments

• "You go into the gym, you lift weights, you get stronger... If we want to improve our ability to manage pressure, the inevitable pressure, manage adversity... You cannot get bogged down in a mistake because it takes you away from what has to happen next."
• "It's a skill to focus and pay attention. So it's got to be trained... we call it attention control, shifting your attention from wherever it is to where you want it to be."
• "Everyone's vying for your attention. That's the currency of sort of the modern world: attention. And so, where's yours going? Who's getting it? Do you want that thing to get it?"
• "Sometimes you just need somebody to talk to. Who's not gonna judge you? And so that's honestly a very big part of my role."
• "It's more than a bit lonely at times... Sometimes you just need somebody to talk to."
• "The team lives and dies by it, really" - on the power of feedback culture in high-performance environments

This episode offers invaluable insights for any leader operating under pressure, from managing emotional responses during critical decisions to building resilient, connected teams. Dr. Robbins' unique perspective - having experienced both sides as player and psychologist - provides listeners with proven strategies for mental performance optimisation that extend far beyond the sporting arena into every aspect of leadership and high performance.

Connect with Dr. Ben Robbins

• Essendon Football Club
• High Performance Psychology Consulting
• LinkedIn

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell welcomes Kristy-Lee Billett, an HR expert with a unique background in forensic psychology, who shares her extraordinary journey from aspiring criminal profiler to transforming workplace cultures across Australia.

Key Takeaways

• Letting go is essential for growth - Leaders must overcome perfectionism and control tendencies to empower their teams truly
• 80% done by someone else beats 100% done by you - Effective delegation creates freedom and develops team capabilities
• Psychology applies powerfully to workplace dynamics - Understanding behavioural patterns helps identify and address team challenges early
• Clear communication prevents most conflicts - "Clear is kind, unclear is unkind" when setting expectations and KPIs
• Hiring decisions impact everything - Most long-term people problems stem from poor initial hiring choices
• Curiosity is a leadership superpower - Asking questions instead of making assumptions transforms difficult conversations
• High performance and positive culture aren't mutually exclusive - Both can coexist with the right approach
• Technical brilliance doesn't excuse toxic behaviour - Cultural fit matters more than individual skills for team success
• Leaders must have their own difficult conversations - HR should support, not replace, direct leadership communication
• Values alignment trumps desperation hiring - Better to wait for the right person than settle for the wrong one

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Kristy-Lee and her forensic psychology background

02:05 Mindset shifts for leaders: Embracing team dynamics and letting go

05:55 Creating a positive workplace culture through clear communication

09:28 Setting effective KPIs and performance measurements

11:50 Performance management and the power of curious conversations

15:11 The challenge of finding time for one-on-ones and meaningful connections

18:03 Dealing with talent scarcity in regional areas without compromising standards

21:31 Managing toxic high performers and the damage they cause

24:24 The transition from technical expertise to team leadership

26:08 HR's proper role: support, not replacement for leadership conversations

27:13 The magic wand question: Better hiring decisions solve most problems

Featured Discussion Kristy-Lee reveals her philosophy on "people-powered businesses," explaining how successful companies require the right team members to achieve both growth and freedom for leaders. She breaks down the common trap of micromanagement versus abdication, sharing practical frameworks for effective delegation and performance management. Her forensic psychology background provides unique insights into reading behavioural patterns and having curious conversations that solve problems rather than create defensiveness.

Quotable Moments

• "Learning to let go is a huge mindset shift because we're perfectionists, we're sometimes control freaks, and we think that we have to have our finger in every pie."
• "Clear is kind and unclear is unkind. If we're clear about expectations, then that's actually really helpful for our team."
• "Curious is a superpower we don't tap into enough as leaders, and we really should - it's so powerful."
• "Just because someone is technically exceptional at their job does not mean they are the best person for your team."
• "So many of the issues that I see people dealing with, whether it's 12 months in or 20 years in, are because it's a hiring mistake at the outset."

This episode offers essential guidance for any leader struggling with team management, from avoiding micromanagement traps to making better hiring decisions. Kristy-Lee's unique perspective combining behavioral psychology with practical HR experience provides listeners with both the mindset shifts and tactical tools needed to build truly people-powered businesses.

Connect with Kristy-Lee Billett

• People Powered Business
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• People Powered Business Podcast

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In this season premiere of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell welcomes Trang Nova, a dynamic speaker and coach who shares her extraordinary journey from a shy Vietnamese Australian child to an empowering leadership voice.

Key Takeaways

• Cultural identity shapes resilience - Trang's Vietnamese heritage and family history provided perspective that built inner strength
• Quarter-life crisis can spark transformation - Questioning career choices led Trang to discover her true purpose
• The Enlightened Model requires balance - Body (action), mind (strategy), and heart (passion) must all be present for true thriving
• Confidence is created, not discovered - Through deliberate practice and embodied techniques
• Visualisation with all five senses creates neural pathways that increase confidence
• Power posing for two minutes can increase testosterone by 20% and decrease stress hormones by 25%
• People's judgments are arbitrary - The same traits can be valued differently in different contexts
• Effective leadership requires heart connection - Technical expertise isn't enough without authentic passion

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Trang Nova and her background

03:41 The quarter-life crisis that changed her direction

09:08 Learning resilience from family history and personal experiences

11:56 The Enlightened Model: body, mind, and heart

17:52 Connection between leadership and effective speaking

24:16 Creating confidence through embodied cognition

26:11 The power of visualisation and using all five senses

Featured Discussion

Trang shares her powerful "Enlightened Model" (also called the Thriving Three), explaining how true fulfilment requires alignment of all three pillars: body, mind, and heart. She illustrates how leaders often excel at action and strategy but neglect emotional connection, resulting in accomplishment without satisfaction. When applied to public speaking, Trang reveals how this framework helps leaders develop authentic confidence and connection with audiences.

Quotable Moments

• "People's judgments are transient. They're arbitrary. They're not even real."
• "It's not that you have confidence to do something. You have to do something to get confidence."
• "How many people are passionate about a topic... but they think, 'Who am I to be able to speak? Who am I to be able to lead?'"
• "Our brain doesn't actually know the difference between a very powerful visualisation and reality."
• "If any one pillar is missing, you'll always be just one step short of truly thriving."

This episode offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to develop their leadership voice, overcome self-doubt, and create meaningful impact through authentic communication. Trang's journey from isolation to empowerment provides inspiration, while her tactical approaches to building confidence give listeners immediate tools for growth.

Connect with Trang Nova

• Speaker Coach & Leadership Consultant
• Linkedin
• Instagram
• More

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell engages with Simon Derrick-Roberts, Executive Director of BNI South Australia, in a discussion about effective leadership principles within business networking communities. Simon shares valuable insights from his 15-year journey with BNI, highlighting strategies for conflict resolution, volunteer engagement, and creating successful business communities.

Key Takeaways

• Servant leadership is crucial - focusing on service over prestige creates thriving chapters
• Effective conflict resolution begins with listening and understanding good-faith intentions
• Members should "carry their own bags" - take ownership of their experience and outcomes
• Storytelling motivates action better than metrics or abstract concepts
• Balance between systems and heart is essential for sustainable community leadership
• Leadership visibility enhances credibility and referral opportunities
• Clear boundaries and processes provide safety nets for volunteer engagement
• Prevention is better than resolution when it comes to interpersonal drama
• Selection of the right leaders who care about the group is fundamental to success
• Success in BNI is collective - as members succeed, they have more to give back

Episode Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Simon Derrick-Roberts and BNI

02:54 Leadership traits in successful BNI chapters

06:08 Approaches to conflict resolution and managing disappointment

10:37 The power of storytelling in leadership

12:03 Balancing systems and people-focused leadership

15:10 Working effectively with volunteers

22:12 Cultivating belonging and engagement

26:14 Tough leadership lessons learned

Featured Discussion

Simon explains how the most successful BNI chapters operate under the principle of "the leadership team works the systems, the systems run the chapter, and the chapter serves the members." This creates alignment where leaders understand their purpose, allowing their heart to follow. He shares how this structure enables members to take ownership of their experience while contributing to collective success.

The conversation explores the delicate balance between providing clear systems and processes while fostering genuine human connection. Simon emphasizes that when members understand how serving benefits both themselves and others, engagement naturally follows.

Quotable Moments

• "Service over prestige - people who take on roles because they really care about their chapter."
• "The leadership team works the systems. The systems run the chapter. And the chapter is there to serve the members."
• "Give people a big enough why and they will find their own how and what."
• "How you do one thing is how you do everything."
• "Carry your own bags - take ownership of your own experience."
• "Too much by too few for too long is not sustainable."
• "People want to belong desperately. Make it easy for them."
• "Don't do drama. Drama sucks energy and enthusiasm and all fun out of people's experience."

This episode offers valuable insights for leaders in any organization, particularly those working with volunteers or community groups. Simon's experience demonstrates how clear systems combined with servant leadership create thriving communities where everyone contributes to collective success.

Connect With Simon

• BNI South Australia
• LinkedIn

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In this episode of The Huddle Leadership Podcast, hosts Kate Russell and David Watts tackle a common leadership challenge as they answer a question from listener Alex, who is struggling with the transition from a technical role to a leadership position.

Key Takeaways

• Technical expertise doesn't translate to leadership skills - What makes someone excellent in a technical role can actually hinder their leadership effectiveness
• Micromanagement stems from discomfort - Leaders often control more when they feel they're losing control
• Achieving through others - Finding satisfaction in team success rather than personal achievement is a critical mindset shift
• Team conflict may have hidden causes - Including competition for the leadership role or unclear responsibilities
• DiSC profiles can help teams understand communication preferences and stress responses
• Team norms need resetting after leadership changes - Teams return to the "forming" stage with any personnel change
• Vulnerability builds trust - Acknowledging limitations and being authentic creates psychological safety

Episode Timeline

00:01 Introduction to Alex's leadership challenge

02:26 The mindset shift from having answers to empowering others

04:40 Leadership is about people, not tasks

06:59 Finding satisfaction in "achieving through others"

09:16 How micromanagement affects team confidence

11:36 Using DiSC to understand team dynamics

13:55 Communication preferences and misunderstandings

16:15 Leveraging team strengths and alignment

18:42 Understanding leadership stress responses

21:03 The importance of coaching and team huddles

23:27 Creating safety through vulnerability and transparency

Featured Discussion

Kate and David explore how Alex, newly promoted from a technical expert to a team leader, is struggling with team disengagement and conflict between team members. They discuss how technical experts often see the world through tasks rather than people, leading to micromanagement when faced with uncertainty.

The conversation highlights how leadership requires a fundamental shift from personal achievement to finding satisfaction through the success of others. As David explains, "The sense of satisfaction that he's not gaining at the moment is because he's been so used to being the achiever, he now needs to better seek the satisfaction through achieving through others."

They propose several strategies to support Alex, including DiSC profiling to understand communication styles, establishing team norms, exploring what respect means to different team members, and individual coaching to develop emotional intelligence and leadership skills.

Quotable Moments

• "Leadership is not about the tasks that need to be done. We often think leadership is about how do we get things done, but it's about how do we empower people in our team to get things done." - Kate Russell
• "We achieve, I achieve. Whereas perhaps in his previous role, it was I achieve, I achieve. And it's quite a different shift and it's a very mental shift." - Kate Russell
• "Every time you make a change, you go back to forming. It doesn't matter where you were, you go back to forming." - David Watts
• "When people don't feel safe, you'll get conflict and they won't speak up." - David Watts
• "Let the team know that when I get stressed, this is what it might look like... Then that creates that safety." - Kate Russell

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In this insightful episode of The Huddles Leadership Podcast, host Kate Russell engages with clinical psychologist Annemarie Menne in a thought-provoking conversation about the relationship between stress, trauma, and leadership. Annemarie shares valuable insights from her private practice where she treats anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma-related concerns.

Key Takeaways

• There are no "difficult people" - behaviors that seem difficult are usually stress responses
• Every human behavior communicates something and is typically aimed at managing threats
• Leaders must manage their own stress first before addressing others' behaviors
• The body holds wisdom that can help identify and regulate stress responses
• Awareness of triggers is essential for breaking negative behavioral cycles
• Safety is paramount when addressing any stress or trauma response
• Trauma-informed approaches focus on reconnecting mind and body
• Our nervous system responds to patterns that may resemble past traumas
• Breathing techniques can help regain cognitive function during stress
• Trauma-informed yoga helps people experience their bodies as safe places

Episode Timeline

00:01 Introduction to Annemarie Mene and her private practice

01:33 Discussion on "difficult people" and stress responses

04:20 Understanding why people behave in challenging ways

05:59 The importance of leaders managing their own stress

08:12 How personal triggers affect leadership

11:10 The hand model of the brain and stress responses

15:24 Relationship between stress and trauma

17:08 Managing trauma responses in the workplace

20:55 Leadership self-awareness and emotional regulation

23:43 Introduction to trauma-informed yoga

29:18 The body as a source of wisdom and safety

Featured Discussion

Annemarie explains how our brains function under stress using the "hand model" of the brain. When stress activates our limbic system (represented by the thumb), it can cause our "lid to flip" (fingers lifting), shutting down our frontal lobes' capacity for rational thought. This physiological response explains why we can't "think our way out of stress" and must instead focus on calming our bodies first.

The conversation explores how seemingly disproportionate reactions to workplace situations (like someone taking your yogurt from the office fridge) might actually be trauma responses triggered by pattern recognition in the nervous system. Annemarie emphasizes that providing safety is the most important element when addressing these responses.

Quotable Moments

• "Every human behavior communicates. There's no such thing as a behavior that just happens out of the blue, and humans don't, by and large, do things just to be difficult." - Annemarie Menne
• "When we are stressed, then our limbic system is activated... with an activated limbic system, the frontal lobe switches off. It's literally like flipping our lids." - Annemarie Menne
• "We can't think our way out of stress. We really need to work with the body to then get back into the thinking space." - Annemarie Menne
• "The most important element when it comes to addressing any type of stress response and any type of trauma is safety." - Annemarie Menne
• "Our bodies hold a lot of wisdom. And when we allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable and to actually notice what's going on, there's a lot of information there." - Annemarie Menne

This episode offers valuable insights for leaders seeking to understand the psychological underpinnings of workplace dynamics and provides practical strategies for creating safer, more supportive environments that acknowledge the impact of stress and trauma on behavior.

Connect With Annemarie

• Private practice in North Adelaide AM Clinical
• AM Mind Your Body
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

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