The Lead Story

We're going back to school for episode three of the Lead story, exploring positive leadership in the classroom and beyond. 

Available from 9th September. 

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

In the middle of a crisis, meeting people's basic needs can not only calm a situation, it can give you a chance to figure out what the next move is. Episode 2 of The Lead Story explores preparing for disaster. And how you may already be doing it.  

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Only celebrities need media training, right? Wrong. If you are in an upper management role, have a brand to protect, and your company provides a product or service to the public, you'll likely deal with the media at some point. It's one thing to speak to the press when you're promoting something. It's a different game when there's a crisis to manage. 

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

Did you know President Ronald Reagan had his post-presidency office in Fox Plaza, aka Nakatomi Tower, aka the Die Hard building? Here's a little bonus story from Paul about paying President Reagan a visit, with a nice takeaway we can all put to use. 

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

Episode 2 of The Lead Story explores how to prepare for disaster with some pretty colourful stories from around the world.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Die Hard is one of the most famous action films of all time, but what happens when you're working in Nakatomi Tower and a real hostage situation is taking place? Do you leave the building or work through lunch? Check out episode 2 of The Lead Story to hear what one guy did.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

August 2023 - The Lead Story - Episode 3: “Crisis”

How good are you at an emergency? Good leadership can really be put to the test when a crisis invades the workplace. How does a good leader prepare for the unknown? How you handle an active situation personally can really affect how everyone else responds.  

Episode 2 of The Lead Story explores preparing for crisis. 

Paul Downing is back with over 40 years of global experience in hotel & regional management. He’s a mentor to many (including me) and has a lot to talk about in this episode, given he’s handled bomb scares, presidential visits, natural disasters, enraged mothers-of-the-groom, and protesters in the middle of a national revolution. We chat about how to prepare for an emergency, from crisis plans and hi-vis vests to how building respect amongst your team on a day-to-day basis can really come into play when crisis strikes. 

Stories include:

Crisis Plan: bomb scare in Dusseldorf

Media Training: faux terror attack in Washington DC

Crisis Centre: getting practical in the ballroom

Leadership: keeping calm after 7/7 bomb attacks in London

Back to Basics: feeding 400 during LA Riots

Lessons Learnt: real-life Die Hard hostage situation

Real or Fake: movie bombs & the Secret Service

Keeping your cool: blowing it with MI-5

Not my job: handling potential presidential troublemakers

Respect: keeping things real during Arab Spring protests

Too hot to handle: Penguins in the Venetian Lagoon

 Links:

LA Times article about real-life Nakatomi Tower hostage situation: 

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"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

Have you ever wondered how your manager got to where they are? Ever considered that they may have taken a demotion to move up? Sounds counter-intuitive, but sometimes it's what's needed, especially when making the move from a small company to a large. Paul Downing talks about how he went from leading a small but mighty kitchen to dropping down to sous chef to achieve his goals.

"And I realized then there was no growth, so I needed to do something else. And so I got this opportunity to go to Amman in Jordan, but then as a sous chef, so I had to step down to take that position, but I was in a much bigger organization..."

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms. 

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 + 4 Sini-Mini's are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Introducing The Lead Story, exploring the qualities of positive leadership with people who’ve worked their way up, find ways to inspire, and continue to mentor new leaders. 

My first guest is Paul Downing who worked globally in the hospitality industry for over 40 years, starting in the kitchen and finishing as an in-demand consultant taking care of luxury hotels all over the world. He's mentored scores of people in the industry and continues to mentor me through my career, despite my leaving the hotel business a good 15 years ago (his being my dad may have something to do with his dedication). 

I anticipate many more chats with Paul but for this first episode we'll explore his career path and the theme of OPPORTUNITY – his response to the chances given by leaders who believed in him and how he forged many opportunities not only for himself but the teams he led and motivated along the way.

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.