Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

Today I’m taking you behind the scenes of a values project I’m running for a client who has operated for twenty years with no formal values. They now want clarity for the next twenty years, and my job is to help them create values that aren’t generic, fluffy or destined to die on a wall.I walk through how I’ve set this up: collecting real employee stories, stripping out my own bias, keeping the integrity of their language, then preparing a core group of twenty to come together tomorrow for the heavy lifting. I share exactly what I’ve told them to expect, why they’ll probably get annoyed with me, and the traps teams fall into when they chase nice-sounding words rather than decision-making tools.You’ll hear the three things I’m setting them up with:Their actual role in the room What good values really feel like when they’re not corporate wallpaper.The red flags that show you’re playing small, copying the ASX top 500 and kidding yourself that “integrity” is a differentiator.I also talk about why stories are non-negotiable, why values are ultimately about trade-offs, and why the hardest part isn’t writing them but operationalising them into the day-to-day reality of the business.If you’ve ever tried to define values or need to refresh the ones you’ve got, this episode will give you a sharper lens and a few hard truths.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s episode is a look behind the curtain at what actually happens when you come home from a massive trip and try to slot straight back into “normal life”. Spoiler: nothing feels normal. I’m juggling a big work week, a suddenly superhuman Peloton ranking, a weighted vest obsession, and a social calendar that went from zero to unhinged in 48 hours.I also talk about a documentary that cracked me open in a way I didn’t expect, the type of planning philosophy that secretly keeps entrepreneurs stuck, and the one question that hit me like a brick while mapping out 2026.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This week I’m talking with someone who knows exactly what it takes to shift people out of old habits and into new ways of thinking and behaving. Yoke van Dam is a behavioural change coach, facilitator and leadership trainer with deep expertise in NLP, emotional intelligence, communication and sales. What I love about Yoke is her ability to take big, psychological concepts and translate them into practical tools leaders can actually use. She’s also got sixteen years of corporate and consulting experience, so she understands the reality of organisations, not just the theory.In this conversation we unpack the real mechanics behind behavioural change: why one-off workshops rarely create breakthroughs, how to get results through repetition and follow-through, and what NLP looks like when it’s applied in the wild, not in a textbook. Yoke shares strong examples around reframing, language patterns, and dealing with difficult groups, plus a fascinating breakdown of how to create your own PR and position yourself as someone worth paying attention to.If you’re a facilitator, coach, speaker or leader who wants people to actually change, not just nod along, this episode gives you the tools, language and structure to make that happen.Key takeawaysNLP techniques create new neural pathways, but they only stick through repetitionReframing language is incredibly effective in conflict and client conversationsOne-off workshops give insight, but long-term coaching creates transformationThe facilitator’s role is to stay neutral, stay present and listen beyond the surfacePR isn’t luck — it’s targeted outreach, relevance and credibility signalsPeople won’t trust your pitch if they can’t find proof of you onlineEnergy shifts when you go live on camera — structuring sessions around that mattersYou build a reputation by showing your work consistently, not waiting to be discoveredSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This week I’m exploring how something as simple and tactile as Lego can open people up, shift conversations, and spark ideas in ways most traditional workshops can’t touch. My guest is Michael Fearne, founder of Pivotal Play and an expert in Lego Serious Play. He works with everyone from startup founders to corporate leaders, helping them break out of business-as-usual thinking and communicate in more human, meaningful ways.What I loved about this conversation is how practical and grounded Michael is. He cuts through the myths, the scepticism, and the “I’m not creative” excuses we all hear in workshops. He explains why Lego Serious Play isn’t about building pretty models, it’s about generating insights, levelling power dynamics, and surfacing the stories and ideas people usually keep buried. We also talk through the messy parts: the sceptical participants, the leadership roadblocks, the workshop that went off the rails, and how he learned to handle high-stakes groups with more confidence and clarity.If you’re a facilitator, trainer, leader or someone who wants a more reliable way to get every voice in the room heard, you’ll get a lot from this one. And if you’re curious about using Lego in your own work, Michael has literally written the book on it and breaks the method down step by step.Key takeawaysLego Serious Play is a tool for thinking, not a toy activityIt democratises conversation by giving every participant a structured voiceThe value is in the stories, not the “model building”Reliability matters more than novelty in workshop designYou must choose clients and environments that match your styleLeadership groups with fixed mindsets can derail a process if you don’t manage themPhysical tools work brilliantly in virtual spaces when designed intentionallyPreparation and environment matter more than most facilitators admitA repeatable warm-up sequence builds trust and confidence every timeWriting a book forces you to codify what you actually knowSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today's Work Fame article. Read it / comment over at: https://www.workfa.me/In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my Everest Base Camp trip. And no, this isn’t a hiking podcast now. This is about what happens when you say yes to something you feel wildly unqualified for, and then get punched in the face by altitude, exhaustion and your own self-doubt.I share the email that kicked off the whole adventure, the training and prep I underestimated, and the three reasons EBC is tougher than people think. More importantly, I unpack the six lessons I walked away with that have nothing to do with hiking and everything to do with how you lead, create and make decisions when you’re stretched past your comfort zone.Highlights include • why the only safe step on ice is a committed one • how invisible “tightness” limits your performance • the hidden wall-and-river sitting inside every “quick job” • what happens when you can’t escape discomfort • the real gap between what your mind says and what your body can actually do • how fear shrinks with repetition, not reflectionIf you want a raw look at resilience, capability, and what you learn when convenience disappears, this one will hit home.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today I’m pulling out two standout passages from my friend Sally Prosser’s new book, Voice Print. Sal and I go way back to a mastermind in 2020 when she was toying with TikTok. Within a year she’d exploded to 300k followers because she’s sharp, specific and actually helpful. We’ve collaborated on workshops, client gigs and public sessions, and she’s the person I trust when it comes to helping people actually use their voice, not just think about it.This episode is really about that. You can have the smartest ideas in the room, but the world judges you on how you communicate. My whole 365 project has been a self-imposed bootcamp to figure out what my voice sounds like when I show up every day. Less than 40 days to go. Wild.I read two excerpts: one on finding your voice and one on breathing. They hit because they expose the real pattern I see constantly. People say the thing after the moment, not in it. Regret, remorse, hindsight bravery. Sal’s book addresses that gap and shows you how to speak the truth when it counts. And on the breathing side, she’s dead right. If your breath is shallow, your voice is shaky. If you ground yourself, the whole tone shifts. It’s the difference between sounding tentative and sounding like you know why you’re here.If communication is part of your work (and if you’re human, it is), you’ll want to grab Voiceprint. Check the link in the show notes.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

In this episode I’m back home at my desk, testing my tech before a webinar and settling into the strange, slightly disorienting experience of re-entry after my Everest Base Camp trip. I talk through the mix of appreciation and fatigue that hits on the first day back: the joy of good coffee, hot showers, proper humidity and tap water, alongside the unexpected sadness of leaving the simplicity of mountain life behind. There’s something grounding about being off the grid with no sense of what day it is, and it’s jarring to return to everyday structure so quickly.I also share a small but powerful observation from my flight with Singapore Airlines. During turbulence, the captain announced that the cabin crew could “proceed with caution”, which stood out because most airlines follow an all-or-nothing rule when the seatbelt sign is on. Their approach balanced safety with service, and it sparked a question about where we apply rigid rules in our work or life when a more nuanced, flexible response would be better.The episode is really a reflection on this whole transition phase: noticing what I’ve missed, recognising what I’d lost touch with, and paying attention to the insights that surface before everything slips back to normal.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

Today’s episode comes straight from a rooftop bar in Singapore, where I’m easing my way back into city life after weeks in Nepal. The contrast hit me hard. Clear air. Tap water. A sunset skyline instead of dust and diesel. I’m sitting here with a cocktail in hand, a good book, and that classic Singapore view of cranes, towers and ocean. It’s exactly the pause I needed before heading home.I also went deep into my favourite Singapore ritual: shopping. Not the boring, cookie-cutter stuff we get in Brisbane. I’m talking real variety, sharp colours, actual service, and people who know how to style you quickly and well. I had three assistants swapping outfits, belts and accessories like a pit crew. The retail world here plays the status game smartly: loyalty lanes for change rooms, paid stylists you can redeem on purchases, and membership perks that immediately matter. There’s a lot Australian retailers could learn from that.Key takeaway Smart service isn’t complicated. Make people feel looked after, give them speed, give them status, and they’ll spend more and come back.Resource mentioned None today, just rooftop cocktails and retail strategy observations.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

I recorded this one from my favourite cafe in Kathmandu (Rise and Grind Coffeee) on my last day in the city. Same table, same first-day coffee spot, but a very different version of me sitting here. This trip has pushed every limit I thought I had and exposed all the places where I cling too tightly to certainty, control, comfort and pace.I share four lessons from the last couple of weeks:Loosen the straps. Literally and mentally. I’ve learnt I grip too hard to outcomes and timelines, and Nepal doesn’t care about any of that.That which can be planned is too small. YouTube, blogs, even this podcast barely scratch the surface of the real thing.Don’t escape-room the hard stuff. The only way through the rough days was to face them. No shortcuts.Always expect five extra steps. Nothing is linear here, and that unpredictability builds range, resilience and sharper awareness.Key takeaway: The world works on its own schedule, and the sooner you stop fighting that, the more interesting your life gets.Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

This conversation with Sophie Scott felt like a masterclass wrapped in a reality check. She’s one of the few people who can talk about burnout, anxiety, performance and communication without drifting into clichés or soft advice. Her story about hitting the podium, feeling the room spin and realising her nervous system had finally had enough… that lands. It’s the kind of story facilitators rarely admit to, even though half the room has been there in some way.Sophie broke down exactly how she rebuilt herself, why five minutes of meditation every morning matters more than the big “reset” moments, and the way she flips nerves by shifting the focus onto the audience. Her breakdown of panel facilitation was ridiculously useful: pre-interviews, open questions, managing airtime, ditching jargon and remembering that your job is never to be the star… it’s to be the glue.If you ever get jitters before a workshop, want to run cleaner panels, or keep finding yourself skating on the edge of burnout because you “push through”, this episode gives you the truth and the tools.Key quotes• “Your body will tell you before your mind will admit it.”• “If you want a great panel, do the pre-interviews. People forget their best stories on stage.”Resources• Sophie's website: sophiescott.com.au• Insight Timer (meditation app)• Balance appSign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: hello@leannehughes.comWould you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.