Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

I was driving the other day, catching up on some old Alan Weiss recordings (yep, I upload them into my own private podcast feed so I actually listen to them instead of letting them die in a Dropbox folder).One simple but powerful Consulting 101 lesson hit me right between the eyes again: define your Min and Max before every conversation.Alan calls it MinMax — your minimum measure of success and your maximum. It sounds obvious, but most of us don’t do it. We just show up to a meeting thinking it’s win/lose, binary. Either they ask for a quote = win, or they don’t = lose. But there are so many other outcomes that count as success — building rapport, identifying the economic buyer, getting a referral, or just knowing the next step.Here’s the kicker: without those guardrails, you can’t really steer the conversation. Alan uses the metaphor of a boat in a channel — the tides and winds (aka other people’s agendas) will push you off course unless you’re steering deliberately.This applies everywhere: prospect calls, stakeholder meetings, even internal conversations. When you set your MinMax, you shift from “that was a waste of time” to “that was a success on the continuum.”I’ll be sharing this idea in a workshop later this week, but wanted to remind myself (and you!) here first.✨ In this episode:Why “binary wins” set you up for disappointmentAlan Weiss’ MinMax framework explainedPractical examples you can apply to client calls and team meetingsHow to steer conversations back on track without being pushySign 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 2025 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’m joined by Mark McKeon—ex-AFL player, high-performance coach with Collingwood, creator of The Go Zone and Everyday Counts. We dig into the real-world parallels between elite sport and facilitation: preparation, energy management, room design, AV (yes, batteries!), and what it truly means to be audience-centric.Why listenIf you want practical, field-tested ways to run the room (from set-up to mindset) and still have fuel left in the tank, this one is gold.What we coverSerendipity to stage: How a one-off corporate talk turned into 1,400+ presentations.Sport → Facilitation: The “you on game day” mindset and why it matters when you’re the one with the ball (aka the mic).Start with the end in mind: The magic-wand briefing question: “If this goes perfectly, what three outcomes happen?”Audience-centric delivery: Get out of your own head; read the room; respond to cues (phones out = change it up).Split-brain skill: Stay present and steer the session toward outcomes—at the same time.Room craft (the unsexy advantage):Avoid long, skinny rooms; position yourself in the middle if you must.Always use a stage for big rooms.Ditch the lectern; go lapel mic (hands free).Ask AV for fresh batteries (non-negotiable).Prefer rounds, open at the front for smaller groups; block off the back in large rooms so people sit closer.Expect the unexpected: Sirens, alarms, gear hiccups—your calm sets the tone.Energy management: Arrive early, then disappear until showtime. Take breaks solo. One coffee. Move your body in the morning. No alcohol the night before.The Go/Slow/No Zone system (sustainable peak performance):Go Zone (≈2 hrs): Door shut, notifications off, single-task the most important items. Buzzer on.Slow Zone: Still productive, lighter context-switching.No Zone: True recovery—phone off, do what restores you.Aim for a 2:1 ratio of Go:No across the week; schedule both and move it, don’t lose it.Memorable, not gimmicky: Use images/props only when they’re congruent with the message (007 = Organization, Optimism, 7 Habits; crocodile suit = thick skin in sales). Don’t let tricks upstage the teaching.Breaking in: Do every rep you can (Rotary, clubs, internal meetings). The best marketing? Do a great job.Favorite lines“Be audience-centric. You’re there to serve them, not your slide deck.”“Stress isn’t the problem—lack of recovery is.”“Don’t be a prisoner to your structure—steer toward outcomes.”“Move it, don’t lose it—especially your No Zones.”Practical checklist (use before your next workshop)Ask the magic-wand outcomes question.Confirm room shape, stage, seating, lectern = no, lapel mic = yes.Fresh batteries in the mic pack.Schedule this week’s Go blocks (2 hrs) and No blocks (recovery).Plan a “phone-out pivot” (what you’ll do if attention dips).Decide your entrance and first 60 seconds.Script 2–3 audience-centric checkpoints (pause, pulse questions, turn & talk).Timestamps00:00 Intro & Mark’s left-field path to facilitation06:30 Sport → stage: pressure, ownership, performance12:10 Briefing right: outcomes first, then design17:45 Audience-centric delivery & reading cues23:20 Room set-up that actually helps you facilitate31:05 Mic choices, AV etiquette, and battery rules36:30 Energy rituals: pre-show, breaks, and recovery43:20 The Go/Slow/No Zone system (with ratios)52:10 Stories vs. gimmicks: making images serve the message58:00 First-time facilitator advice that still hitsLinks & mentionsMark McKeon – Go Zone & Everyday Counts (search his site/books to dive deeper)Collingwood FC (context for Mark’s high-performance background)Try this this weekBlock one Go Zone (120 minutes) before lunch, every day for five days. One task at a time. Door shut. Notifications off. Then book three No Zone hours across the week. Report back—I want to hear what changed.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 2025 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.

If you’ve been hanging around here a while, you’ll know I love sport. Playing it, watching it, analyzing it—I’m in awe of what athletes and high-performing teams pull off under pressure. That’s why I was so excited to chat with today’s guest, Dr. Fergus Connolly.Fergus is a coach, teacher, mentor, author, speaker, and lifelong student of resilience. He’s worked with some of the biggest sporting and business teams in the world—think the San Francisco 49ers, Liverpool FC, the University of Michigan, Cricket Australia, and even elite special forces units. He’s also the author of Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science.This conversation dives deep. We explore:How Fergus builds trust and rapport quickly when parachuting into elite teams.The common challenges he sees across sport, business, and military environments (spoiler: communication always comes up).His three critical questions to uncover who you are, what you do, and why you’re here.Why authenticity and purpose aren’t fluffy concepts—they’re the anchors for resilience.How to hold up the mirror for yourself, gain awareness, and sustain success long-term.Fergus’ workshop prep process, including how he uses graphics to explain complex ideas.I loved this chat—it’s equal parts practical and profound. If you’ve ever wondered how to find your purpose, build influence, or thrive in chaos, you’ll love this one.👉 Find out more about Fergus at fergusconnolly.com.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 2025 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.

Hey, thanks for tuning in today! Yesterday I shared my crazy little experiment with you—what would happen if I gave myself just 12 hours to see if a brand-new event idea had legs? No venue, no speakers, no fancy marketing—just a vision, a date, a location, and a cap of 50 people.Here’s what went down:I put the idea out quietly—via a Substack PS, a couple of LinkedIn + Insta posts, and a waitlist (78 people).At 8:00 AM tickets opened. By 8:21 AM, we’d hit the threshold of 15. Game on.By 2:10 PM, 31 tickets had sold. That’s for an event happening 292 days away. People are flying in from New Zealand and Perth for it.I didn’t send it to my full list. No chasing. Just: idea → test → result.Why I did this: 👉 To validate the idea properly (likes ≠ commitment, credit cards = commitment). 👉 To share the risk of running an event (why should hosts carry 100%?). 👉 To use real scarcity to create action—only 50 seats, only 12 hours, and no expansion.I also share behind-the-scenes lessons:Why I used Luma and Tally instead of freebie tools like Google Forms.How scarcity, mystery, and bold-action language shaped the vibe.Why this approach attracts the kind of people I want to work with—those who thrive in ambiguity and act fast.The result? Con Con 2026 is ON. 🎉 19 tickets remain. And I’m honestly a little scared (in the best way possible).Big thanks to everyone who jumped in early—you’re the bold action-takers. Tonight I’ll go live to debrief the experiment and share what’s next.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 2025 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 first: I’m recording this while riding my exercise bike (training for Nepal waits for no one!).I wanted to share what’s happening in real time with Con Con. At this stage, it’s still a fictional event—but I’ve set up a 12-hour experiment to see if it should actually exist.Here’s the deal:I’ve locked the event at 50 spots only.I’m putting “Bold Action” tickets on sale for 12 hours.If 15 people sign up, Con Con is on.If 14 or less, I refund everyone the next day.It’s kind of like an election-night style launch: I’ll be going live on LinkedIn Thursday night at 8pm to share the results.In this episode, I talk through: 🎟 Why I’m rewarding people who make bold, fast decisions 🎟 How I set up the waitlist and survey 🎟 Why I’m deliberately not over-marketing this 🎟 What it feels like to launch something in real time without being attached to the outcomeIt could be a sell-out. It could be a flop. Either way, I’ll share what happens.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 2025 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.

Truth be told, I had no idea what I was going to talk about when I hit record. So, I did what I often do when I’m stuck: I asked ChatGPT to give me 10 episode title ideas. Instead of choosing one, I decided to read them out loud and riff on each for about 30 seconds. We cover everything from my “two-drink test,” spotting everyday Work Fame moments, and why B-roll is actually the real show, through to my constant battle with perfection when using AI. It’s a bit of a grab bag — but that’s kind of the fun of it.As always, if you’ve got a question you’d love me to riff on, shoot me an email at hello@leannehughes.com or drop me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram.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 2025 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 answering a great question from a friend: “Do you decide to write a book and then pick the topic, or do you already have the topic and then decide to write?”For me, the answer was simple — I just wanted to be an author. That identity was important to me. The easiest path? Writing about something I’d already been talking about for years: workshop design. That’s how The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint came to life.In this episode, I share:Why author identity came before topic for meThe role my podcast, community, and hundreds of conversations played in shaping my first bookHow procrastination (and a coffee with Jade Miller) helped spark my SPARK frameworkWhy Substack has become my “book lab” for my next big idea around Work FameThe one reason you shouldn’t write a book (spoiler: it’s not for quick money)If you’re thinking about writing your own business book, this episode will help you reflect on the bigger questions first: Who do you want to become? Who do you want to attract? And what do you want to create in the world?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 2025 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.

What this one’s about: I riff on a killer Diary of a CEO roundtable (Codie Sanchez, Alex Hormozi, Daniel Priestley) and share a study on grooming, attractiveness and pay—plus my $150 Mecca “makeup school” hack I used before a 350-person talk.My big takeaways:You don’t need capital to start — pre-sell, validate fast, borrow audiences, and use relationships as leverage. That was the common thread from all three guests. AThe beauty premium is (mostly) a grooming premium for women. A 2016 paper using a large U.S. sample found attractive people earn ~20% more on average; for women, that edge comes almost entirely from being well-groomed (makeup/hair/style). For men, grooming explains about half. Agency > genetics. ScienceDirectSciSpaceMy practical play: I booked Mecca’s 90-min lesson (redeemable on product), filmed the steps (with permission), and now have a personalised tutorial I can replay before big stages. Zero YouTube rabbit holes; pro tips, done.Stuff I mention:Diary of a CEO: Money Making Experts: This 3-Step ‘Offer’ Formula… (Codie, Alex, Daniel). Great for no-excuse starters. Apple PodcastsSpotifyStudy: “Gender and the Returns to Attractiveness” — Jaclyn S. Wong & Andrew M. Penner, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (2016). Read the abstract/summary here. ScienceDirectSocial Sciences UCIMedia explainer on the findings (optional primer). TIMEMy POV: I like this research because it gives us levers we can pull. I can’t change my bone structure, but I can decide whether to “play the game” for a high-stakes day. For me, working with pros (shout-outs to Kate Massey, and my stylist-friends who just see outfits I don’t!) is an energy and confidence shortcut.Try this:Book a lesson with a pro, film the steps (ask first), and create your mini-library.Build a simple stage-day checklist (base, brows, eyes, lips; hair plan; outfit A/B).Decide your rule: “I turn it up one notch for key moments.” No moral drama.Question for you: Where do you sit on this? Is “playing the game” strategic… or does it grate? Ping me—I’d love your take.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 2025 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.

We’re all doing great work… but is it working? Today I chat with Kevin M. Yates, the global L&D detective who measures whether learning fulfills its purpose. He shows us how to move beyond smile sheets and activity metrics to evidence that behaviour changed and business goals budged.What you’ll learnNorth Star clarity: Define results up-front as “measurable activation of behaviour/performance that advances a business goal.”Discovery before delivery: How to run a pre-workshop “investigation” with stakeholders (goals, performance requirements, gaps, risks, context).Performance gaps 101: Establish baselines → agree the “from–to” shift → align measures.Fulfilment of purpose > ‘impact’: Avoid the buzzword. Get specific, intentional, and target-led.Useful post-workshop data: What to ask (and what to ditch) so your survey reveals actions—not platitudes.Being brave + authentic: Kevin’s personal pivot on showing up as himself (on stage, online, and at work).Try this — Detective’s ChecklistDefine the result (before design):Which business goal is at stake?Which behaviour(s) must change?What’s the baseline now? What’s the target after?Map the chain: Workshop → specific behaviour(s) → performance metric(s) → business goal.Co-own measures: With your sponsor, choose 1–3 leading indicators (behavioural) and 1–2 lagging indicators (business).Post-workshop, ask better questions (3–5 only):“Which specific action from today will you do in the next 7 days?”“What could block you, and what support do you need?”“How confident are you to perform X on the job (1–5)? What would raise that by one point?”“Which metric/outcome will this action influence for your team?”“When will you do a quick check-in on progress (date)?” (Skip: food, room, generic ‘did you like it?’)Follow-up cadence: 30/60/90-day nudges to capture evidence (manager confirmation, system data, quick self-report on behaviours used).Nuggets I loved“Not easy ≠ not possible.”Swap “impact” for “fulfilment of purpose.”Discovery conversations transform us from order-takers to performance consultants.About KevinKevin solves measurement mysteries for L&D, using facts, evidence, and data to show whether learning changed behaviour and moved business goals. He’s worked globally for 20+ years and is affectionately known as “The L&D Detective.”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 2025 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.

Guest: Nikki Bush — human potential & parenting expert, bestselling author of Future-Proof Yourself, Certified Speaking Professional, and the first woman inducted into the Professional Speakers Association of South Africa Hall of Fame.Why this episode?If you run virtual workshops and want fast, practical ways to read the room, dial up energy, and keep people with you (without circus tricks), this conversation is your new playbook. Nikki shares smart ways to “test the emotional temperature,” build connection through play, and lead like a facilitative speaker. Also: a parrot lands on her head mid–EXCO call (!) and the metaphor you’ll steal forever for presenting to an “invisible” audience.In this episode, we cover:The 3 human drivers to design for: attention, control, belongingHow to test emotional temperature in the first 5 minutes (exact poll prompts)Why top execs are “just humans” (and how to design accordingly)Turning a keynote into a facilitation—seamlessly“Third-party sell”: why your message lands better when you’re not the bossThe Past / Present / Future thinking check (Caspar Craven) to align teamsMicro-moves that re-energise a Zoom room: elephant ears, cross-body “hookups,” breath resets, figure-8 eyesThe “glider” analogy: presenting to an invisible audience without losing presenceA tidy format for CEO panel Q&A right after your talk (no awkward transitions)Crafting short, sexy soundbites and why media reps are reps that sharpen your sawTry this in your next virtual sessionTemperature Check Poll (90 sec): “Right now I’m feeling… a) Overwhelmed/Confused b) Fearful c) Positive about future possibilities.” Share results, reflect back what you see, tailor tone accordingly.2-minute Brain Reset:Elephant ears (uncurl ears to “switch on” listening)Cross your arms/legs (cross-midline “hookups”)Two slow breaths in/outFigure-8 eye traceThink Mix (Past/Present/Future): Ask everyone to split 100% across past/present/future thinking. Compare in pairs. Who’s anchoring memory? Who’s driving momentum?Links & resourcesConnect with Nikki: nikkibush.comBook: Future-Proof Yourself (Penguin Random House)Casper Craven’s Be More Human (for the Past/Present/Future prompt)Join my facilitator community, The Flipchart, on FacebookMy free weekly Substack: Work Fame — link in the show notesSign 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 2025 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.