Culture Crush

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman welcomes Andy Goram, Founder of Bizjuicer, for a soulful discussion on the importance of understanding purpose and connection in leadership. Andy shares his journey from corporate marketing to establishing his own consultancy, emphasising the role of genuine hospitality in fostering meaningful workplace cultures. They delve into the lessons from the acclaimed restaurant Eleven Madison Park, exploring how empathy and trust can transform not only customer experiences but also employee engagement and satisfaction. Culture Crush 🧡 Will Guidara ➡️ For your groundbreaking work, Unreasonable Hospitality, and your transformational mindset, prioritising both customer satisfaction and employee well-being. Key Takeaways ✅ Understanding your own story and purpose is essential for effective leadership. ✅ Creating an environment of unreasonable hospitality benefits both customers and employees. ✅ Trust and empowerment are crucial in building a resilient team culture. ✅ Small acts of kindness can lead to significant transformations in workplace dynamics. ✅ Continuous learning and adaptation are vital for personal and professional growth. Sound Bites 📢 “When you can connect what people do to a larger purpose, amazing things start to happen.” 📢 “The essence of servant leadership is about setting a clear vision and allowing others to grow.” 📢 “If you’re not energised by what you’re doing, then it feels mundane, and that’s not the path to take.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:20 Meet Andy Goram 02:30 The Journey of Bizjuicer 08:15 The Power of Story in Leadership 12:50 Culture Crush: Will Guidara 17:00 Lessons from Eleven Madison Park 22:45 The Importance of Trust and Empowerment 28:00 The Connection Between Purpose and Performance 35:15 Embracing Continuous Learning 40:30 Final Thoughts: Finding Your Own Unreasonable Hospitality Links 🔗Sparketype Assessment: https://sparketype.com/sparketest/

In this episode, host Dan Dowman is joined by psychologist and culture shaper Danny Wareham. They dive deep into the power of language, leadership dynamics, and the role of organisational culture in driving success. Danny introduces his innovative "Constellation Leadership" framework, where leadership is fluid, based on context and expertise rather than rigid hierarchies. Together, they discuss how language shapes thought, the limitations of traditional values, and the practical steps leaders can take to cultivate a dynamic and adaptive work environment. Culture Crush 🧡 Automattic ➡️ For your innovative recruitment process that aligns perfectly with your mission. 🧡 SF Recruitment ➡️ For your mastery of ‘job crafting’ and creating bespoke roles that enhance employee performance. Takeaways ✅ Leadership doesn’t have to be hierarchical. In the right context, culture can lead teams autonomously. ✅ Values can become restrictive and weaponised; focusing on behaviours that align with organisational goals is more impactful. ✅ Language shapes how we see and navigate the world—changing the words we use in leadership can unlock new ways of thinking. ✅ Organisational complexity slows decision-making and agility; simplifying structures and empowering teams can drive innovation. ✅ Culture is a strategic tool—leaders must intentionally shape it to guide behaviours towards success. Soundbites 📢 "Culture is like the wind—it can either push you forward or make everything harder." 📢 "Values aren't virtues. They’re subjective and miss context. What matters is the behaviour you want to see." 📢 "When you know the goal and the rules of engagement, you don’t always need a person to lead—culture can lead." 📢 "We are what we do, not what we say. Focus on behaviours, not slogans." 📢 "Leadership is fluid. The right person for the right task at the right time." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 01:33 The Power of Language 04:52 Personality Types and Labels 14:30 Values vs. Virtues 24:08 Culture Crush: Automattic and SF Recruitment 30:24 Leadership Challenges and Organisational Complexity 34:05 Introducing Constellation Leadership 44:22 Practical Tips for Leaders 49:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman welcomes Paula Brockwell, Founder of The Employee Experience Project. Together, they explore the intricate relationship between leadership dynamics and organisational culture. Paula shares her journey from the edges of burnout to building a methodology aimed at transforming employee experiences, emphasising the need for leaders to empower their teams rather than merely enforce control.  They discuss the importance of psychological safety, the role of HR in cultural change, and practical steps leaders can take to foster an environment where everyone feels responsible for culture. Culture Crush 🧡 Danny Wareham: ➡️ For your groundbreaking research on Constellation Leadership, shining a light on the crucial environmental cues and collective habits that shape effective leadership. Key Takeaways ✅ Leaders must recognise their role in shaping culture and understand that their behavior influences employee engagement. ✅ The transition from control to empowerment requires clear communication and structured support for teams. ✅ A culture driver map can help leaders visualise the connection between their actions and organisational behaviour. ✅ Small, sustainable steps in culture change can yield significant long-term improvements. ✅ HR should be seen as enablers of culture rather than the sole owners, encouraging broader participation in cultural transformation. Sound Bites 📢 “You don’t see IT giving you your laptop and then typing your emails for you; HR needs to provide the tools, but not do the work for you.” 📢 “Often you don't have the infrastructure, the support, and the capability that you need below you.” 📢 “Small sustainable steps that are concentrated on tangible outcomes will get you much more progress than doing big tick list things.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:30 Meet Paula Brockwell 02:45 The Journey to the Employee Experience Project 10:00 Understanding Leadership and Culture 15:20 Culture Crush: Danny Wareham 18:50 The Role of HR in Cultural Change 23:30 Leadership Challenges: From Control to Empowerment 30:15 Building a Culture Driver Map 35:00 Practical Steps for Sustainable Change 40:20 Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Big Impact Links 🔗 Culture Drivers Map: https://social.anthem.ooo/QGWR

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman welcomes Angie Callen, Founder of Career Benders, to discuss the importance of intention and sacrifice in shaping a fulfilling future. Angie shares her personal story, from civil engineering to coaching, and emphasises the value of taking risks and choosing openness when it comes to taking opportunities. The conversation highlights how leaders need to pursue authenticity, especially in the context of an ever-evolving workforce hungry for human connection. Culture Crush: 🧡 Marie Forleo: ➡️ For being a trailblazer in the coaching industry who has lead by example and inspired countless individuals to pursue their passions. Key Takeaways ✅ Embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. ✅ Intention is key in both personal and professional development. ✅ Vulnerability with trusted allies can reveal the path forward. ✅ Recognising the signs of change is crucial for making impactful career decisions. ✅ Establishing core values is fundamental to creating a fulfilling career path. Sound Bites 📢 “Growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone; it’s in the challenges that we find our true potential.” 📢 “You can always go back to what you were doing before if you take a leap and it doesn’t work out.” 📢 “Being intentional about who you are as a leader is the foundation of building a strong culture.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:20 Meet Angie Callen 02:24 The Journey from Engineering to Career Coaching 09:15 The Importance of Intention 15:53 Culture Crush: Marie Forleo 19:19 Navigating Change and Career Decisions 22:33 The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership 30:31 Embracing AI and Human Connection in the Workplace 38:02 Final Thoughts: Establishing Core Values for Success Links 🔗 Core Values Worksheet: https://careerbenders.ac-page.com/core-values-worksheet

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman sits down with Rachel Collar, founder of Haus of HR, to explore the profound connection between authenticity and leadership effectiveness. Rachel shares her journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, driven by personal experiences that shaped her understanding of psychological safety in the workplace.  Together, they discuss the importance of vulnerability in leadership, practical steps for fostering an inclusive culture, and how organisations can create environments where employees feel safe to express their true selves. Culture Crush: 🧡 Patagonia: This outdoor apparel company is renowned for its commitment to environmental sustainability and authentic leadership. Their policies encourage employees to align their personal values with their professional lives, creating a culture where well-being and employee engagement are prioritised. Key Takeaways: ✅ Authenticity in leadership fosters trust and encourages employees to be their true selves at work. ✅ Organisations must actively listen to employee feedback to create a culture of psychological safety. ✅ Implementing inclusive policies is crucial, but they must be lived and breathed throughout the organisation. ✅ Open conversations about diversity and inclusion can help bridge the gap between intention and reality. ✅ Small acts of vulnerability from leaders can significantly enhance team dynamics and workplace culture. Sound Bites: 📢 “How different could my career have been if I’d been that authentic self?” 📢 “We have to live and breathe our policies; what we say we do.” 📢 “Authenticity fosters that sense of belonging and can transform the workplace into a much more engaging and innovative one.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:20 Meet Rachel Collar 01:30 Journey from Corporate to Entrepreneur 06:50 Culture Crush: Patagonia 10:00 Importance of Authentic Leadership 15:30 Leadership Challenges in Today’s Workplace 22:45 The Role of Psychological Safety 28:15 Feedback Mechanisms for Inclusion 35:00 Practical Tips for Fostering Authenticity 40:00 Final Thoughts on Vulnerability in Leadership

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman sits down with Alice ter Haar, founder of Badass Unicorn, to talk about the powerful connection between personal growth and professional success. They dive deep into how vulnerability can transform leadership and company culture. Alice opens up about her own experiences navigating parenthood and career changes, highlighting the crucial role psychological safety plays in the workplace. Together, they discuss practical steps leaders can take to create an environment where employees feel confident expressing themselves and learning from their mistakes. Culture Crush 🧡 Publicis ➡️ This global media agency stands out for its commitment to learning and development, fostering a culture that encourages growth and innovation across their teams. Key Takeaways ✅ Psychological safety is key for creating high-performing teams that embrace openness and learn from failures. ✅ Leaders who show their own vulnerabilities help build a culture of trust. ✅ The FIB framework (Frame, Inquiry, Bridge) offers leaders a simple yet effective way to cultivate psychological safety within their teams. ✅ ‘Bridging’ enhances team dynamics and supports open, honest communication. ✅ Small acts of vulnerability can have a big impact on culture, leading to a more engaged and motivated workforce. Sound Bites 📢 “When you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” 📢 “The best day to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The next best day is today.” 📢 “Demonstrating personal fallibility creates an environment where people feel safe to share their ideas and concerns.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:20 Meet Alice ter Haar 02:24 Championing Parenthood 09:15 The Birth of Badass Unicorn 14:29 Career Trials and Triumphs 15:53 Culture Crush: Publicis 19:19 The Importance of Culture 22:33 Leadership Challenges and Psychological Safety 30:31 The FIB Framework for Psychological Safety 38:02 Final Thought: Demonstrating Personal Fallibility Links 🔗 Amy Edmondson, TEDx: https://social.anthem.ooo/Pwb7 🔗 Psychological Safety Summary Sheet: https://social.anthem.ooo/PwbD 🔗 F.I.B Pyramid: https://social.anthem.ooo/PwdT

Host Dan Dowman is joined by Tahira Jamani, an expert in emotional intelligence and mindfulness. Together, they delve into Tahira’s transformative journey from burnout to becoming a coach dedicated to helping others break through their internal barriers. The conversation explores the importance of self-awareness, the power of emotional intelligence in leadership, and how mindfulness practices can nurture a more engaged and productive team. Culture Crushes 🧡 Google: For its pioneering Search Inside Yourself program that blends mindfulness with emotional intelligence, showcasing a bold approach to leadership development and employee well-being. Takeaways  ✅ Emotional intelligence is a hard skill that requires courage and accountability to develop.  ✅ Awareness is the first step in recognizing how our feelings impact our decision-making and interactions.  ✅ Mindfulness practices can significantly improve workplace dynamics and personal well-being.  ✅ Leaders often struggle with decision-making due to stress and emotional overwhelm, which can be mitigated through self-awareness and intentional practices.  ✅ Compassion in leadership can empower difficult decisions and promote a healthier work environment. Sound Bites 📢 “I want to help people get out of their own way so they can do epic shit.” 📢 “Burnout doesn’t discriminate; it can affect anyone at any age.” 📢 “Compassion brings courage because it makes us do that hard thing.” Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:00 Tahira’s Journey to Emotional Intelligence 05:20 The Impact of Burnout on Decision-Making 09:15 Mindfulness: A Path to Self-Awareness 14:30 The Role of Compassion in Leadership 20:05 Practical Steps for Leaders to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence 28:45 The Three A’s: Awareness, Action, Amplify 35:00 Overcoming Decision Distress in Leadership 42:00 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations 45:30 Farewell and Call to Action

In this milestone episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman welcomes back Justin Foster, co-founder of Massive and fXO.  They discuss the revolutionary XO model, which aims to bring modern cultural dynamics to business by addressing the flaws of traditional hierarchical structures. Justin explains how the XO model, inspired by military executive officers, can replace outdated command models with collaborative environments.  They explore the importance of combating ego-based decisions and fostering a collaborative stance to adapt to the evolving business landscape. Justin emphasises the need for leaders to critically examine their motivations and to foster equity-based, conscious leadership. Featuring insights on how to identify and challenge cultural entropy, this episode is a deep dive into creating resilient and dynamic cultures. Culture Crushes 🧡 We got sucked into the convo and forgot this bit 😬 Takeaways ✅ Traditional organisational structures and command and control models are relics of the industrial age and hinder collaboration and innovation. ✅ The XO model, borrowed from the military, places a fractional XO in organisations to execute strategic plans and free up CEOs to focus on culture and relationships. ✅ Cultural entropy is normal, but denial of the need for change is the problem. Leaders must examine their intentions and challenge their own biases. ✅ Leaders should practice critical thinking, challenge the status quo, and contribute to a more dynamic and collaborative culture. ✅ Little acts of defiance can help reveal and address cultural entropy, leading to a more equitable and collaborative organisation. Sound Bites 📢 "The org chart is a velocity killer unto itself." 📢 “They're nice to the cows because when they're nice to the cows, the cows produce more milk, it's not because they are liberating the cows to be more collaborative”. 📢 “The whole point of culture is to allow a business to be what it was all along, which is a complex adaptive system”. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:51 The Fractional XO Model 03:16 Challenges of Traditional Org Structures 05:22 The Role of the XO in Modern Business 09:50 Cultural Transformation and Leadership 12:51 Ego and Power Dynamics in Business 20:01 The Importance of Collaboration 28:57 Adapting to Cultural Shifts 37:51 Practical Steps for Leaders 42:31 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of Culture Crush, host Dan Dowman converses with Bryn Rees, a marketing veteran with experience at major brands like Amex, Adidas, and IKEA.  The episode explores the evolution of storytelling, the growing importance of authenticity and transparency, and how brands need to adapt to stay relevant to a new generation of consumers.  Bryn unpacks the concepts of knowledge domain modelling and content engineering as strategies to create a more consumer-centric approach to storytelling.  Culture Crushes 🧡 Lush: For a whole host of reasons! Ethical products, cool collabs, supply chain transparency, advocacy, a counter-cultural approach to product positioning, smelling great - it’s all here! Takeaways ✅ The next generation of consumers values authenticity, transparency, and trust in their interactions with brands. ✅ Businesses need to shift their storytelling approach to be more consumer-centric and focus on meeting the needs and desires of consumers. ✅ Knowledge domain modelling and content engineering are strategies that can help businesses create a more personalised and relevant storytelling experience. ✅ Embracing change and being willing to disrupt traditional approaches is essential for businesses to stay relevant and engage with consumers effectively. Sound Bites 📢 "80% of Gen Z would trust companies more if they were using real consumers. They don't want to see celebrities, they don't want to see actors" 📢 "It's okay to be different. It's okay to do things differently and break tradition. Be a rule breaker, be divergent, be disruptive." 📢 "Things are changing and solutions like knowledge domain modelling and being more structured in your content, even away from your own website, is a solution that I can highly recommend." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Culture Crush 00:16 Meet Bryn Rees 01:09 Bryn’s Career Journey 05:10 Advice for Career Pivots 09:42 The Importance of Authenticity in Storytelling 15:19 Culture Crush: Lush Cosmetics 21:15 Leadership Challenges and Solutions 31:35 Embracing Change in Business 34:04 Conclusion and Wrap-Up

Janine Jakob, Founder, culture shaper, and entrepreneur, shares her career journey and the importance of happiness and positive culture in the workplace. She discusses the challenges of implementing happiness consulting and the need to reframe it as peak performance consulting.  Janine highlights the role of leadership in creating a positive culture and the importance of aligning values and purpose. She emphasises the need for leaders to be role models and actively live the company's values.  Practical advice includes defining and actively living the company's vision, mission, and values, and fostering intrinsic motivation in employees. Culture Crushes 🧡 HP for going beyond the employee value prop and creating a culture of open communication and feedback.  Takeaways ✅ Leaders need to align their personal values with the company's values and actively live them. ✅ Hiring the right employees who align with the company's values is crucial. ✅ Leaders should create a culture of trust and open communication, where employees feel comfortable sharing their challenges and concerns. ✅ Leaders should prioritise intrinsic motivation and create an environment where employees feel valued and supported. ✅ Translating the company's values into actionable behaviours and being a role model is essential for creating a positive culture. Sound Bites 📢 "I can make a global impact by planting one seed." 📢 "You have to be a role model and actively start living it." 📢 "People don't come to work for me or with me because I'm paying the high salaries. They come because of the purpose." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:21 Defining Success and Goals 05:07 Starting with Leadership and Team Development 09:17 The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation 13:26 Leadership Challenges in Chinese Business Culture 20:34 Janine's Culture Crush: HP 32:35 Leadership Challenges and Solutions 38:51 Practical Advice for Creating a Positive Culture 45:23 Conclusion and Call to Action