Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast

How do you approach your work and life? Is it a serious endeavour? Or is it a game? I think we can choose really fun games to help us evolve as humans and leaders. There are games like Achieving, games like Freedom, games like Happiness. In this Thought Nugget we take a look at what kinds of games you can play, and some ideas to get started.

Is there something that really gets your goat? Something that you can’t stop thinking about? Something you are longing to see different in the world? Then you might be a Changemaker. Find out what you can do to satisfy that itch. Why you should listen: Learn what a Changemaker actually is and if you’ve got the goods to be one (I hope so! We need you) How to find your Big Question as a Changemaker, and how to wrestle it to the ground How to design your world for inspiration - for those Big Ideas We explore: Digby’s moment of awakening as a leader - and how he defines leadership now Polarities (things that are actually complementary rather than competitive) in leadership - and why we need to do more of this kind of work Cool ideas around Essentialism

Are you moving into a new role? Are you taking on more responsibility? Is the scope of your work becoming more complex? Are you hoping to win new business, charge more for your services, or launch into a brand new project? Acclimatization is what is required. Key tips for you today.

Want to be the next Uber and shake up your industry? Chances are you are doing it all wrong. Thinking a disruptive idea will create exponential change is missing the boat. Author, researcher and speaker Charlene Li says focus obsessively on your future customer and burn the boats to serve them best. This kind of commitment creates growth that is disruptive. Join us for some awesome and inspiring insights from her latest book, The Disruption Mindset - why some organisations transform while others fail. Why you should listen: Why you need to redefine growth as impact for more sustained and meaningful change. The most disruptive organisations are the ones that are the most structured - and what you can do to emulate their success. How to identify your future customer - and why you need to obsess about that. We explore: How disruption is never about the technology but obsessing about exponential impact. The four archetypes of disruptive leaders. How to galvanise the worried skeptics and all other

Do you do annual anonymous culture reviews? Do you subject people to anonymous 360s? Should you do any of this? Here’s the better approach than letting people hide behind surveys (and also when they might be good). Why you should listen: What needing anonymous surveys says about your culture 4 things you should look at instead Two situations when you SHOULD use anonymous feedback

Did you scope a career, focus on getting the skills, and hoped the lifestyle would work out? That’s how we were taught, back in the day. Gung-ho drummer extraordinaire Nick Gross is upending what it means to build a career, by helping students (and older folk like me) determine what lifestyle they want, what strengths they have, and THEN what career might work. Welcome to a new way of thinking about your passion and your work. Why you should listen: How to check if your lifestyle, strengths, and careers are aligned (or how they could become so). Why the future belongs to the misfits, and why you want to be one. How to create communities that go beyond geographical location to a global bridge based on interests. We explore: How routines create a success mindset. Success is about enjoying the process and not just the destination (and how to overcome the struggles with that). How a kinaesthetic learning preference shaped his view and experience of the world. The biggest struggles are often a pa

What can art, train stations, and toilet seats tell us about problems in systems? In this Thought Nugget, we look at Italy and Japan - how values create entirely unique systems, and how you can use this to solve your own workplace challenges. Why you should listen: Book recommendation hits and misses Insights into systems that can save you wasted hours of work Fun insights into Italian and Japanese culture

I met Colin Ellis a few years ago when he first arrived in Australia from Liverpool. He makes dapper cool again with his sensational dress sense and million dollar smile. He loves the people stuff as much as I do, and in this podcast episode we geek out on all things culture.  Why you should listen: Why culture change IS NOT HARD (like consultants say it is) and takes 9-18 months (not 3-5 years) How to (and how not to) measure culture Where to start in dealing with toxic cultures We explore: The ultimate measure of culture is how happy people are. As the leader, if you are not addressing the behavior, you're part of the problem. ultimately, in toxic cultures, managers have got to look at themselves in the mirror. As a leader, if you're not in service to the people, you're not a leader. You're a manager doing things the way that you want to do them, not the way that the other person wants them to be done. 

I was intrigued by Jo Metcalfe: as the Global Strategy Development Lead at GHD, I  wanted to know what it took to take on strategy for a global consulting firm for engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. When I first spoke to her, I asked about the people stuff - what she found hard. She said, ‘nothing! I love the people stuff!” First time ever I heard that response. She’s a leader we need to listen to. Why you should listen: How to back yourself as a learner is the key to advancing your career and changing jobs How to access collective wisdom and stop being a hero leader - you get better strategy this way Why you should create feedback loops, and not just give feedback We explore: How love is the most under used word in business, and how you can start to use it better at work Concentric circles as a new organisational chart How a better  definition of success can create a sense of peace instead of competition - define success as learning and growth and not pushing

What can living in the jungle in a refugee camp teach us about leadership? Fearless Leadership expert Corrinne Armour shares wisdom and insights from the frontlines of guerrilla warfare, through to the tough conversations leaders need to have. She shares tips based on neuroscience to help people be more accountable, how to get people to take initiative, and how to create psychological safety. Why you should listen: Practical approach that uses brain science to help people be more accountable 3 step coaching process to keep from being the leader who tells and be the leader who asks How connection is the fundamental skill every leader needs to be successful We explore: Life in the jungle- in a Thai-Burmese refugee camp How - and why - someone becomes a guerrilla warfare leader - and it could be any of us The secret to inspiring people to incredible action Hong Kong riots - don’t it in judgment but ask what is going on in the system that would cause people to protest and stand up so much in suc

I met Craig Dower through LinkedIn when he commented on one of my articles about culture. I was intrigued by his global accolades as CEO: President of Avanade Asia Pacific out of Singapore, CEO Salmat, CEO Xenith Ip, and now CEO of Qantm IP. It’s not the titles but the work he did: growing the business three-fold at Avanade, leading the largest transformation program in the company’s 40-year history at Salmat, and leading through a period of substantial change and steady earnings growth at Xenith IP. His secret? Focus on People First. This rings true for me on every level, so I wanted to mine his experience for more wisdom. Why you should listen: Why you need to reward values and behaviour as well as outcomes How to transformational change fast, at scale: Get the people right, then identify three priorities: Focus, Simplify, Grow As the CEO you need to be the chief change sponsor and chief storyteller The hardest part about building high performing teams is getting the people right: a fit for behavi

Marene Allison is the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Johnson & Johnson. Previously she was head of Global Security at Avaya where she secured the World Cup network in Korea and Japan in 2002. Before that she was an FBI Special Agent, working on undercover drug operations, terrorist bombings, and a mock nuclear terrorism exercise. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military academy at West Point in the first class to include women. With a long list of firsts, in a stellar and remarkable career, Marene shares her insights and lessons on leadership and people. Why you should listen: Why moving from command and control style to collaboration is a key move to thriving as a leader in a corporate environment Learn strategies of a highly successful leader who garners fierce loyalty and commitment from her teams Why the group is always righter than you’ll ever be We explore: What it’s like to challenge tradition and create a new inclusive culture in a trad

What does it take to build a wildly successful business? Author and entrepreneur Frank Fiume shares his deeply personal story on the highs and lows of creating a business based on passion. What looks like a linear journey is rarely that clearcut: Frank shares how he worked his way through each low and the lessons about life and leadership along the way. Why you should listen: Learn from Frank’s experience of turning adversity and a life in poverty to an advantage in shaping his ambitions Three strategies to make through the tough times: hire for your weakness, restructure to make sure you get the balance right and join a group of peers for sounding board and advice Anticipate the three stages of entrepreneurial growth: hunger, resilience, and fulfillment. We explore: When Frank worked out that he was more than his business, and his business was more than him The terrible chasm he experienced between a life of poverty and a life of wealth as he swung between his divorced parents’ very different c

Do you feel like a creative dunce? Do you think that creative people are born with talent, and you’re just not one of them? Author, speaker, and creative powerhouse Kieran Flanagan breaks a few myths and lets us know we can all be commercially creative if we’re prepared to do the work. Why you should listen: Learn the number one strategy to generating awesome ideas How to develop creative judgment How to know you’ve got an idea that really hits the mark: Listen for the ‘ahhhs’ Don’t go into brainstorming cold - you need mental fodder We explore: Why creativity is not artistry, but really about problem-solving Creativity is a skill, not a talent, and is about a lot of really hard work The difference between re-hashing and being ‘different enough’ Commercial creativity is about being in service to helping others solve problems The biggest creative exercise is identifying the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and then creating beliefs, systems, and structures to help bridg

Leadership expert Tim Collings joins me in sharing insights on his leadership path, and core tips for leadership that makes a lasting difference, and transformative leadership. Why you should listen: How to find your leadership calling that will sustain you through tough times Steal Tim’s insights on how to lead mixed Gen X and Gen Y teams What to implement to be a transformative leader: imagine, ignite, immerse, and inspire. We explore: Two key success principles; TECHNE - this is mastery. Do something you love that serves others and become extremely good at it. The other is a Mennonite tenet: ‘have no fear of the work that never ends’ Why an obituary for the business was a transformational experience for Tim, and why you should do it for your own business Three things you can start doing to become a transformational leader: how you will serve through your values and live them each day, how to manage your intentions and avoid unintended consequences, and setting a stillness exercise. Tim’s

Owner of AllBids Rob Evans is a successful Canberra business owner. He’s been through many ups and downs and has now established the Fyshwick Business Association. He shares his struggles and insights. Why you should listen: Learn the specific steps Rob took to turn his workplace culture around that you can use too Find out about the most important strategy that led to business improvement: results mapping How the guiding force of “We’re all in this together” can help shape buy-in for employees and broader stakeholders by simply asking for feedback. We explore: The journey from accountant to sports management to auctioneer How Rob spotted changes in the online environment that helped him scale his business How smart recruitment of graduates set his business up for long-term success Recognising burnout and the attitude shift that changed things Results mapping and the principles of less is more and no ‘weasel words’ in strategies The genesis of the Fyshwick Business Association and becoming

Author of GREAT MONDAYS, ‘one of the best culture books of all time’ Josh Levine shares awesome insights about how to design a culture employees love. Why you should listen: Why you absolutely should NOT reward outcomes, and what to reward instead Learn the six steps to culture design Why Peak Perks has hit Silicon Valley and how it’s a waste of money if you want to build a company to last  Simple culture hacks that are easy to implement for effective employee recognition We explore: How work can improve life, rather than detract from it Culture ‘synapses’ - and building connections between people beyond their role The difference between wanting to build and flip, and building something enduring and meaningful

Co-Founder of Love and Magic Company, Oshoke Pamela Abalu is a leading light for grace and privilege in work. She advocates for a change of language to focus on SYMPHONY, and not diversity. This interview was incredibly moving. Oshoke speaks to our higher nature, calls us all forward to our true human nature where we see, honour, and include each other. This was a TRANSFORMATIONAL interview for me personally, and I’m honoured to share it with you. Why you should listen: Be inspired by the grace and wisdom from a leader who embodies love in all of who she is and what she does Learn simple steps to take to ensure you business success with a symphony approach Learn key distinctions for diversity, belonging, and the role we can play in making bigger contributions We explore: Why we need to change our focus from ‘what job do you have and what role do you play” to “who do you help” and “what problems do you solve”? How grace allows to see the honour and privilege of sharing our superpowers in service to humanity

Author of 6 books (nearly 7), personal branding expert Jane Anderson gives us the nitty gritty on how to manage people’s perspective of you, namely your brand and reputation. Why you should listen: Learn how to figure out exactly what kind of reputation you do have (and is that a good thing or not) How to amplify your best facets and aspects of your personal brand What you absolutely must do to avoid screwing up your reputation We explore: Where to start in building your personal brand (and why you need to do it deliberately as a leader) How to be a Lighthouse Leader and why branding is ultimately NOT about you The need to cultivate influence and a tribe as much as personal brand, and how to do that Ignoring the inner critic by remaining focused on vision and purpose The best sales book: The Challenger Sale

Cindy Wigglesworth is best selling author of SQ21: The Twenty-One Skills of Spiritual Intelligence. Her work has had an enormous impact on my own perspective of leadership. The need to develop wise and compassionate leaders is needed more than ever. This is one of the most important interviews for leadership I have done so far. A must listen for those aspiring to make a bigger difference. We discuss: How the experience of divorce and raising a daughter was a profound stimulus for reflection and the impetus to explore better leadership Why ego-driven leadership and its poorest forms of narcissism and self absorption is exhausting to be around How leadership from the more expanded point of view the Higher Self attracts people willingly to follow you The work of advanced spiritual intelligence as a continual practice  The calling “to be a light onto the world” is within us all, and the work we do can be the candle that lights the way for others Why Cindy is grateful for President Trump as he has been a catalyst