Flying Solo

In today's episode, we are joined by the incredible Leah Mether, a communication expert and author of the book Soft is the New Hard. Leah's expertise lies in helping individuals navigate the challenges of change, difficult conversations, and communicating more effectively.In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of curiosity and empathy in dealing with resistance to change, especially in the context of the disruptive changes brought about by the pandemic. Leah outlines eight reasons why people resist change and provides practical strategies to address each one.We also discuss the impact of change fatigue and the role of leadership in effectively managing change within teams. We also delve into the significance of soft skills in today's ever-evolving business landscape and why developing effective communication and emotional intelligence is crucial for success.So, grab your headphones and get ready to learn how to navigate change, communicate effectively, and ultimately thrive in this intriguing episode of Flying Solo with Leah Mether!Timestamped overview[00:03:20] The value of soft skills.[00:06:05] COVID impact: Different experiences and why communication is crucial.[00:12:29] Five elements for navigating uncertainty and change:: clarity, connection, candour, compassion, consistency[00:17:52] Resistance to change can be addressed through curiosity and empathy. Understanding the reasons behind resistance, such as lack of understanding or change fatigue, allows leaders to approach it effectively. Prioritizing changes and being mindful of people's capacity can help navigate and implement change successfully.[00:20:55] Approach for communicating change during uncertainty.[00:26:32] Setting expectations to avoid difficult conversations.[00:29:15] Communicate early, often, and with curiosity.[00:32:28] Taking personal responsibility for your communication. Key topics1.   Understanding and Addressing Resistance to Change:·     Importance of curiosity and empathy in dealing with resistance·     Eight reasons why people resist change and how to address each reason·     Change fatigue as a common reason for resistance, especially during COVID-19·     Need for leaders to pace and prioritize change to avoid overwhelming teams2.   Effective Communication during Times of Change:·     Importance of clarifying and checking expectations·     Approach difficult conversations with curiosity and open-mindedness·     Communicate early and often, even if it involves conflict or confrontation·     Use different communication methods (e.g., team meetings, one-on-one conversations, emails) to effectively communicate change3.   Personal Responsibility and Accountability:·     Importance of personal responsibility in improving communication and behavior·     Model the behavior you want to see in others·     Prioritize self-accountability before addressing others' poor behavior·     Set clear expectations with your team to avoid tricky conversations and hold people accountable4.   Navigating Uncertainty and Change:·     Five key elements for navigating uncertainty and change: creating clarity, connecting with curiosity and empathy, challenging with candor, coaching with compassion, and committing with consistency·     Soft skills as the crucial "hard skills" for success·     Recognizing the overlooked importance of developing soft skills·     Future-proofing businesses and careers through the development of customer service and communication skills5.   The Impact of COVID-19 on Communication and Relationships·     COVID-19's varied impact on individuals and teams·     Generational differences in communication preferences·     Need to be intentional and conscious about building relationships and improving communication, particularly during COVID·     Communication's essential role in business success  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Baines is described as one of Australia's most effective solopreneurs. He's a former police officer and forensic investigator who's received the Order of Australian Medal for his humanitarian work as the founder of a well-known charity, Hands Across the Water. Founded by Peter in response to his experiences in Thailand following the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, Hands Across the Water has since gone on to create homes and opportunities for thousands of children. Today Peter lives a life where purpose and passion align and he encourages everyone to do the same. So, if you've ever wondered how to find your purpose and make a real impact, Peter has some great advice on how you can marry the two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women in business, how are you doing? If the answer is less than stellar, the findings from a new report may explain why. Megan Della Camina joins us to unpack the findings from the Voice of Women at Work 2023 report and explains how we can better support women in their career development.Megan Della Camina is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment and progress in the workforce. She is the founder of women's leadership company Women Rising and is a sought-after expert on why we need to invest in authentic leadership that supports women to succeed.In this episode of Flying Solo, Megan unpacks:Key topics discussed in this podcast1. The Importance of authentic leadership in small business: Megan unpacks why authentic leadership is essential and why you need to be clear on your leadership style.   Understanding and meeting the needs of team members, considering strengths, equity, and equality Challenges faced by small business owners in handling multiple responsibilities without infrastructure and support 2. Assessing wellbeing and addressing burnout The importance of self-perception and self-determination in assessing your wellbeing. The high levels of stress and burnout over the past 18 months Providing the necessary tools and environment for teams to thrive - Prioritising well-being, managing stress, and workload 3. Challenges faced by women in careers Why maternal bias as the number one gender bias impacting women's career paths The assumptions about women's interests and commitment after becoming parents- Structural factors and biases to be addressed to support women in their careers 4. The Manager-Employee Relationship: How the manager-employee relationship goes hand-in-hand with an employee's ability to thrive. The importance of being seen, valued, and recognised in the daily grind of business Celebrating wins, allowing for failures, and rewarding your team 5. Fighting Bias in the Workplace How can you flip the script to challenge your own internal biases? Triggering awareness through self-questioning and analyzing thoughts Recognising and challenging unconscious biases and assumptions. Intersectionality and bias: How to move past intersectional biases. Tapping into values as a leader to address bias across the board Episode timestamps [00:03:02] Being clear on leadership in small teams. [00:07:13] The impact of the lack good manager relationships. [00:12:09] Perception of thriving versus burnout is concerning. [00:14:24] Awareness of employees' well-being as business crucial. S [00:19:15] Challenges women face due to maternal bias. [00:22:56] Intersectionality, gender bias, ageism, sexual orientation. Supporting individual needs and authenticity. [00:24:44] Leadership style, support, growth, well-being, bias. Click here for full episode transcript.Host: Cec BusbyProducer: Mikey MarrenGuest: Megan Dalla-Camina. Find out more about Megan You can download the full Voice of Women at Work report here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you desperate for some ‘clean air’ and room to focus on management, innovation and entering new markets for your small business?On this episode of Flying Solo, business mentor and author of the new book, Business by Design, Chris Green delves into the importance of prioritising where business owners and leaders spend their time in order to create effective business systems and build capacity for growth.Tune in to learn about delegating tasks to free up leaders to focus on company growth, and his best tips to take your business from overwhelming and chaotic to scalable and rewarding.Topics covered in this podcast episodeIn this episode, Chris unpacks:1. Building a transition mindset to play a long-term game Leadership pitfalls - ways to focus on improvement Prioritising business owners' time to focus on growth and building capacity Rewriting your job description What should CEOs and business owners be focusing on? 2. Creating systems to build your business How to enhance team alignment and success Capturing knowledge to empower your team Structure, skills, retention + career paths in small business 3. Leveraging teams' expertise The importance of establishing the right culture and strategy in a business Building the capacity of your people How a clear vision and direction for the business attracts the right skills Episode timestamps [01:08] Chris’ journey from law courts to pubs to consultant and author [03:42] Formulating a winning business strategy - a mindset shift for business owners [08:20] Common organisational mistakes for small business owners [10:21] The importance of a modernised operations manual [13:06] Stepping into a leadership role as a business owner [16:03] Why culture and strategy go hand in hand [19:46] Expanding your team as a sole trader [22:52] Goal-setting tips: Inspiration vs strategy [25:19] Business systems to help meet goals [27:05] The problem with ‘media’ statistics about small business Click here for full episode transcript.Host: Cec BusbyProducer: Mikey MarrenGuest: Chris Green – visit Chris' website or buy his book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a small business owner, you may feel out of your depth when it comes to leading a team, but as we all know – teamwork makes the dream work!On this episode of Flying Solo, team performance expert and author of Teams That Swear By Each Other, Not At Each Other, Adrian Baillargeon, delves into the art and science of high-performing teams and explores how to build a strong and cohesive team that is aligned to the success of your business.Tune in for practical advice on the challenges of leadership for small business owners, tips for troubleshooting tricky team dynamics, and how to improve clarity, alignment and strong relationships amongst your employees.BONUS!And as an added bonus, Flying Solo listeners can score a FREE downloadable copy of Teams That Swear By Each Other, Not At Each Other for a limited time with the coupon code: swearbyflyingsolo. Head to teamsthatswear.com to redeem, but act quickly as the offer expires at midnight on Friday, 21 July!Topics covered in this podcast episodeIn this episode, Adrian uncovers:1. The keys to team success The art and science of high performing teams Why relationships, clarity and alignment are crucial in teams Navigating team dynamics - roles, responsibilities and behaviours The difference between finite and infinite goals 2. Aligning your team’s purpose How to turn a shining, sinking or spinning team into a shining team Building strong relationships Addressing alignment and team issues The importance of sharing individual KPIs for team cohesion 3. How to be a better leader When to be a teacher, a director or an empowerer Intentional leadership - the cost of complacency Improving conversations and decision-making Episode timestamps [01:10] The hidden power of swearing in teams [04:30] The art and science of high performing teams [07:32] Roles and responsibilities: The importance of clarity [10:44] Building trust and a psychologically safe workplace [12:00] Team dynamics: Sinking, spinning, spiking or shining? [16:16] Problem-solving: How to help a spinning team shine [20:54] What ‘winning’ looks like: Finite vs infinite games [26:18] Leadership challenges: When to be a teacher, a director or an empowerer [28:21] Small business owners: Learning to be a leader [30:40] The cost of complacency in leadership Click here for full episode transcript. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If financial freedom feels like a pipe dream, this week’s guest is here to set you on the right track. Financial expert and author of Financially Fit Women, Amanda Thompson, joins us on the Flying Solo podcast to reveal the biggest hurdles to reaching financial wellbeing, and how to overcome them.Amanda shares invaluable tips and advice, from retirement planning and understanding superannuation, to investment opportunities and building better cash flow in your business.Tune in to find out how to become confident with your financial decisions and learn the money saving hacks that will allow you to have the money you need to live the life you want.Topics covered in this podcast episodeIn this episode, Amanda unpacks:1. Simple steps to rewriting your own money story Knowledge-gathering is the key to getting started Taking small steps to build financial confidence Action plan for debt, investment, superannuation, cash flow and estate planning Aligning financial life with personal values for success 2. Key factors holding you back from financial literacy Understanding your money and personal motivations for business or financial success Taking a reality check on debt and credit Financial crisis hotlines and government-funded financial counselling services Impact of 'buy now pay later' schemes on lending capability 3. Practical budgeting tips Understanding superannuation and investments Gaining access to finance in business Online tools to help with financial planning Empowering women’s confidence in financial decision-making Episode timestamps [01:54] The importance of financial empowerment for women [05:32] Understanding your cash flow to strengthen your budget [08:36] Hurdles to women accessing business finance and how to overcome them [10:55] Building financial confidence in investment decisions [13:10] Why retirement planning from a young age matters + online tools to help [15:44] Understanding the debt trap – credit cards, payday loans + buy-now-pay-later schemes [18:20] Aligning financial goals to personal values = the key to success [21:36] Empowering women’s financial literacy – where to begin [25:03] How auditing your superannuation fund leads to financial confidence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're looking to buy a business or you're in the market to sell, today's guest has you covered. Kobi Simmat is a business coach, entrepreneur and the author of How To Build A Business Others Want To Buy. After successfully growing and selling his own businesses, he's learned some top tips every business owner should know.He joins us this week to share just what it takes to differentiate your business from its competitors and set it up for a successful sale. He delves into the tax implications and best timings for sale, plus explains the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make and what makes a business worth buying.Tune in to learn his top tips for buying or selling a business, and the importance of building an exit strategy into your business from the very beginning.Topics covered in this podcast episodeIn this episode, Kobi explores:1. The financial implications of buying or selling a business Understanding the value of the business How to maximise profit post-sale Current market trends in business valuations - when is the best time to buy or sell? Why timing is everything and can depend on your age The problem with investor funding and raising capital 2. Navigating the negotiation process Protecting your interests - the importance of skilled advisors for optimal business sale Business valuations and market pricing: Strategies for selling in the current climate Tax considerations in business sales 3. Crafting the perfect exit strategy Importance of having an exit strategy and business continuity plan Ensuring financial stability and succession How to build a business with potential for future saleability Characteristics of ideal businesses for investment – why recurring revenue matters Overcoming the fear of rejection: Empowering small business owners in pricing Episode timestamps [02:21] Kobi’s journey to self-made entrepreneur. [05:12] The keys to a successful side hustle - repeatable and profitable [08:01] Forget fear of rejection - price is the simplest way to differentiate quality [12:25] About the book: How To Build A Business Others Want To Buy. [16:09] What makes a business worth buying? Metrics, profitability, recurring revenue [21:40] Common small business mistakes: avoiding tax, unprofitable expenses [26:02] Effective ways to market a business to attract the best potential buyers [28:12] What makes a business attractive to a potential buyer [31:43] Negotiating the right price when buying or selling a business [36:57] Timing and tax implications when selling a business – why your age matters [43:05] The problem with investor funding and raising capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI isn’t going anywhere, so this week, we're diving headfirst into the world of artificial intelligence and how it can revolutionise your life and business.Donna McGeorge, acclaimed productivity expert and author of the new book, ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Life Admin with AI, explains how ChatGPT and other AI tools can save you time, help you stress less and put an end to repetitive tasks.If you want to inject some creative spark back into your business and life, tune in for Donna’s practical tips, fun ideas and invaluable insights.Topics covered in this podcast episodeIn this episode, Donna unpacks:1. Helpful ways to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT in business and life Delegating repetitive or standardised written communications such as job ads, role summaries, emails, etc. Delegating time-consuming business admin tasks such as data entry, business manual updates, etc. Personal inquiries such as meal plans and family entertainment ideas Boosting creativity - crafting email and customer responses, articles and more The difference between GPT-3 and GPT-4 2. Crafting excellent prompts for better AI output The quality of AI output improves with detailed prompts Output quality can vary due to logic, predictability and probability ChatGPT is not Google - have a conversation to train your chatbot! How feedback improves the AI assistant's response The three Ps of effective prompts: perspective, purpose and personality AI requires human input such as fact-checking and editing for best outcomes 3. Common fears and concerns about AI Job displacement: Why AI is predicted to create more jobs than it takes Combatting misinformation: AI output requires human interaction for factual results Managing security concerns: What you should not share with chatbots Inadequate AI-generated responses: Why you shouldn't give up Episode timestamps [01:07] About the book, ChatGPT Revolution: How to Simplify Your Life Admin with AI [03:53] Improving small business productivity with AI [06:48] The importance of crafting effective prompts for correct output [11:20] AI vs human admin: Better out comes together [13:20] Repetitive business and life admin tasks perfect for AI assistance [17:12] Job displacement – should we be worried about AI? [18:21] Common chatbot mistakes people make [19:50] The three Ps of great prompts: Perspective, Purpose, Personality [23:03] “An extraordinary thought-partner”: Using AI for creativity boosting [24:10] ChatGPT data limitations: GPT-3 vs GPT-4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re ready to make the shift from procrastinator to productive force to be reckoned with, listen up. Sam Tornatore is a performance coach, neuro change practitioner and productivity expert who has been helping business owners and professionals overcome procrastination and achieve their biggest goals for 20 years.In this episode, Sam unpacks the causes of procrastination, from common fears to outdated belief systems, and shares his best advice to overcome them. He reveals his top tips for reaching peak productivity and the power of investing in yourself to create the success you wish for.Tune in to find out how to identify your own causes for procrastination and the steps to take to kick procrastination to the kerb.Topics covered in this podcast episode:1. Identifying procrastination Procrastination robs us of our right to be excellent Awareness to action - the keys to overcoming procrastination Reasons we procrastinate and signs to watch out for Common fears and stepping out of the comfort zones they create Overcoming our inability to take action, making excuses and blaming others. 2. The power of investing in yourself and pursuing passions Putting yourself first is necessary for success – treat yourself like a VIP and others will too Building self-awareness, taking responsibility and changing your narrative The importance aligning goals to your core values - Passion cannot be imposed on us by others How to identify and eliminate limiting belief systems and fears 3. Goal-setting and productivity The power of rewards for consistent action - not just achievements Avoid setting overwhelming goals - how do you eat an elephant? Guarding your time - setting conditions for uninterrupted work increases productivity How to create a distraction-free environment to achieve maximum productivity Episode timestamps [02:45] Procrastination root causes – what’s stopping you from taking action? [06:52] Awareness stops procrastination; excuses are warning signs. [09:08] Common fears that cause procrastination. [12:32] Changing the narrative and challenging childhood belief systems. [17:36] Identifying your passion is imperative to caring about goals. [20:57] The power of breaking down goals + rewards for consistent action. [25:26] Creating a fortress around time is key for productivity. [28:43] Struggling to disconnect and focus? You might be a control freak. [32:22] Setting the right conditions for peak productivity. [36:06] Invest in yourself: the final piece of the procrastination puzzle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could your customer service culture use a boost? Monique Richardson is the author of They Serve Like We Lead and a service expert who has spent decades helping businesses big and small deliver exemplary customer service.On this episode, Monique reveals the alarming increase in customer abuse and aggression since COVID and shares the importance of having clearly defined policies to address it. She also discusses how organisations can improve their service levels and the practical application of servant leadership to drive success. We touch on the role of service leaders in organisations, the importance of making customer service a part of the culture, and how to recognise and motivate team members to deliver excellent customer service.Tune in to get valuable insights on how to improve your organisation's customer service and leadership.Topics covered in this podcast episode:1: Handling customer aggression- 400% increase in customer abuse/aggression during and since COVID.- Clearly defined unacceptable customer conduct policy should be in place and communicated to customers and team members.- Safety and wellbeing of team members should be the top priority, and they should never be left wondering what to do- Induction training in an organisation should include an element of customer service.2: Improving service levels in organisations- Mediocre service needs to be examined to understand why it is happening.- Poor service can be caused by factors such as lack of technology, training, standards or behaviours.- Understanding the reasons for low service levels and identifying solutions to elevate the service experience.- The servant leadership philosophy - serving first and leading second.- Organisations that have adopted servant leadership have shown profitability and business success.- The practical application of servant leadership can have positive impacts on people, organisations, culture and customer experience.3: Characteristics of successful service leaders- The importance of self-awareness and the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses.- Service leadership involves both mindset and skills such as coaching, recognising good work, and providing feedback.- Leading by example is a crucial aspect of their leadership style and they have clear standards and expectations for their team.- Great service leaders are highly visible and provide coaching, feedback, recognition, and reinforcement to their team.- To provide the best customer experience, leaders should provide training and development opportunities, such as interpersonal skills or managing difficult customer behaviour.4: Integrating customer service into organisational culture- Customer service should be integrated into daily team meetings and catch-ups, rather than being a one-off topic.- A culture of taking care of customers and employees is key to success.- The commitment to excellence and a focus on customers and employees must be unrelenting every single day to achieve desired outcomes.- The importance of collecting compliments and sharing positive feedback with the team to recognise good work and boost motivation.- Encouraging teams to share their own ideas on how to improve the customer experience, especially those on the front line who interact directly with customers.Episode notes [02:09] High tech, high touch plus empathy – the customer service holy grail. [04:17] Why leadership's impact on customer experience is crucial. [07:12] Practical roadmap for service leaders' and team improvement. [11:14] Customer service audit tips - analysing problems and pain points. [14:29] Complaint handling tips to improve your team’s confidence. [16:16] Increasing customer aggression since pandemic – keeping staff safe. [22:05] Improving customer service - capture complaints, share compliments. [23:53] The power of servant leadership: serving first, leading second. [26:34] Building a customer-first culture into day-to-day business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices