Leanne on Demand Daily with Leanne Hughes

Today’s episode is part two of a CliftonStrengths mini-series (but don’t worry, you don’t need to listen to part one to jump into this one).I’m diving into my Top 5 strengths and how they actually show up in my life and business. This tool has been such a game-changer for me—not just in understanding myself better, but also helping teams I work with tap into their own brilliance.Here are my five:Ideation – My brain is a popcorn machine. Ideas, everywhere. All the time.Maximizer – Good is… fine. But can we make it great?Futuristic – I live in the future (sometimes too much… working on that).Activator – Let’s stop talking. Let’s go.Positivity – Energy is contagious. So I try to bring it, always.In this episode, I unpack what each one means, what stood out for me, and some funny-but-accurate blind spots (like when I assume everyone sees the connections I see—spoiler: they don’t!).I also share:Why I think everyone should try this toolHow these strengths combine to create both superpowers and challengesAnd how it plays out when working with others (especially in teams)🧠 Curious about your own strengths? Just Google “CliftonStrengths Gallup” and you can take the assessment there. No affiliate link, just a genuine recommendation.Would love to hear your Top 5 if you’ve done it—or if you’re keen to!🎧 Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you tomorrow.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 diving into something I absolutely love—strengths. Specifically, I’m chatting about a tool I’m using with a team this week to help uncover individual strengths and map them across the team landscape.The tool? CliftonStrengths (by Gallup), which completely changed my life back in 2017 after I read Jenny Blake’s book Pivot. At the time, I felt like the odd one out in my job, questioning my fit and contribution. Then I took the CliftonStrengths assessment—and BOOM! Everything shifted.It was the first time I’d seen a report that didn’t just point out what I lacked, but spotlighted what I could do really well. From that moment, I started running strengths workshops, and eventually turned that into a role that took me all over the world. Wild!In this episode, I unpack:Why strengths-based work isn’t just a warm and fuzzy idea—it’s tied to engagement, innovation, and even quality of lifeThe CliftonStrengths formula: Talent x Investment = StrengthMy love/hate relationship with psychometric tools and why this one stands outHow misalignment with your strengths shows up in your work life (hello, quarter-life crisis!)A sneak peek at my top five strengths (more on that tomorrow!)💬 I’d love to hear from you: Have you done the CliftonStrengths tool? What are your top 5? Slide into my DMs or reply to this podcast—I'm genuinely curious!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. This episode is for my fellow runners—and travel lovers. I’m sharing my absolute favourite running routes around the world. These are the runs that bring me pure joy. You know the ones—those flat-ish, scenic, energising 5–10K loops where you just feel alive the entire way.Now, I’ll be honest—I'll probably remember a dozen more the minute I hit publish (so expect a part two!). But here’s what made the cut today:🏃‍♀️ London: Running past the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, and St James’s Park—early in the morning before the city wakes up? Magic.🌆 Las Vegas: Yes, there’s the scent of weed and the odd drunk person still roaming—but running the Strip at sunrise feels like you’re jogging through a surreal theme park.🌳 New York: Central Park is iconic for a reason. Plus, running along the East River piers or down Fifth Avenue is next-level.🏙️ Shanghai: Pollution aside, running along The Bund is incredible—especially when you cross into old Shanghai and get that cultural contrast.🧘‍♀️ Bangkok: Lumpini Park is buzzing with morning Tai Chi, dance classes, and the world’s best post-run guava iced tea.🏄‍♀️ Gold Coast: Mermaid Beach to Burleigh—flat, beachy, breezy, and bursting with fitspo and post-run coffee options.🌁 Sydney: Yes to the Opera House route… but for the best view? North Sydney at sunrise.🚣‍♀️ Melbourne: Love the inner-city Yarra River loop and the Port Melbourne to St Kilda coastal stretch (perfect for sunset).🌉 Perth: Start at Elizabeth Quay, loop across South Perth’s bridges, and enjoy a mix of skyline, water, and just enough incline to feel smug.🌊 Brisbane: With the new Kangaroo Point bridge, you can now create an epic bridge-to-bridge loop with stunning river and city views—one of my all-time favourites.Got a running route I must add to the list? I’d love to hear it. Tag me, message me, or send a Strava route 😄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.

This episode was sparked by a great comment I got on LinkedIn from Sally Portus (hi Sally!), asking: How do you consistently prioritize things like training for a hike—outside of just ‘putting it in your calendar’?So today, I’m sharing how I approach consistency—not with rigid discipline, but with a very healthy dose of fear.🧗‍♀️ I’ve got a goal that genuinely scares me: Trekking to Everest Base Camp and Lobuche Peak in November. I’m terrified of not making it… and that fear is a brilliant motivator.Inside this ep, I unpack:Why I swapped my Sunday hike for a Friday one (hello, ultra-marathoners!)How I’ve built a business that supports asynchronous work and flexibilityWhy having a coach removes decision fatigue (and adds accountability)The surprising power of tiny digital dopamine hits (hello, green dots on my app!)How outsourcing trust helps me just follow the program without overthinkingI also reflect on why health is non-negotiable—and why I’m willing to trade three hours of work time for three hours of hiking with a weighted vest.🎯 My takeaway? Set a goal that’s just scary enough to pull you forward. (And if you can’t trust yourself to stay consistent—hire someone to help.)Now I’m curious—what gets you moving consistently? Is it a big goal? A daily reward? A vibe? Let me know. I love hearing your thoughts.See you tomorrow!– LeanneSign 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'my, joined by the hilarious and legendary Dave Jackson. You might know him from the School of Podcasting, or maybe you've seen him speak at one of the many podcasting events around the world (including the one where I first met him—We Are Podcast!).But here's the twist: instead of diving deep into podcasting tips, I wanted to tap into Dave's decades of experience as a technical trainer and uncover how he brings humor, energy, and storytelling into his sessions.Dave has taught Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, navigated layoffs, gone back to university, been replaced by a phone (yep), and landed his dream job at Libsyn where he gets paid to podcast and speak. He also shares how playing in a band influenced his stage presence, why he practices presentations 30+ times, and the wild story behind his impromptu preacher moment at a podcasting conference.We talk:Edutainment: Why it's essential for adult learningStagecraft and how to hold attention with energy, volume, and contrastThe importance of breathing, preparation, and making mistakes in publicHow Dave handles nerves before a big presentationThe value of feedback and why your audience wants you to succeedThis episode is a masterclass in making training fun and unforgettable.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.

In this episode, I’m bringing back a firecracker of a guest: Sarah Cordiner — course creation expert, published author, former youngest university director in Australia and all-around powerhouse.We talk about:How she went from losing a $2.7M business overnight to building a global, seven-figure online course empire from a spare bedroom in BroomeHer exact content repurposing process (seriously, she lays it all out!)The “celebrity chef” strategy she uses to give away her best stuff—and why that’s made her more successful, not lessThe hidden opportunities of living and working regionallyWhy giving > guarding when it comes to your IPWhether you're a consultant, coach, facilitator, or creator—you’ll walk away from this episode rethinking how you package, share, and scale your expertise.Sarah’s got a way of breaking things down that’ll have you thinking: Wait, I can totally do this.✨ She’s also generously giving you free access to her flagship $500 program. Grab it here: sarahcordiner.com/freedomBig thanks to Sarah for her generosity and gold, and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow.– LeanneSign 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.

Yesterday I posted about my experiment interviewing with an AI recruiter called Jane, created by the tool Tavus. Jane represents a global consulting firm, and honestly, the experience felt surprisingly real, yet clearly robotic. I shared this encounter on LinkedIn thinking the response would be intrigue or curiosity, but instead it triggered strong pushback about AI being "dehumanising" and "disrespectful."At first I felt neutral about this tech—just curious, experimenting, and seeing what's possible. But after reading some emotional responses, I found myself starting to lean towards defending it. Here's why:Right now, recruitment is already highly impersonal and frustrating. People get ghosted, left uncertain about their future, creating anxiety and disappointment. Could AI actually humanise the first round of interviews by ensuring everyone gets a fair shot and timely feedback?I'm still figuring out where I stand, but I think this conversation is worth having openly. Thanks to Steph Clarke for her voice-note insights helping me process this debate.I'd love your thoughts: Do you think an AI interviewer could be better than our current broken recruitment processes?Mentioned in this episode:Tavus (AI interview tool)Steph Clarke (Thanks for the voice 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 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.

This episode starts with a contradiction: a gorgeous blue-sky walk... paired with a doomsday AI podcast.In this reflection, I explore:What I actually think about AI (spoiler: no one really knows)A sharp, pragmatic post by Greg Isenberg on the real impact of AI on jobsMy commentary on what’s already playing out in workplaces I consult withHow this will affect facilitators, consultants, educators — and the entire idea of “relevance”Why trades and creativity are about to see a big upswingWhat education should be focusing on instead of rote recallWhy I believe we’re heading into the “beehive era”: lean giants surrounded by thousands of powerful 1-person businesses👀 Referenced:Greg Isenberg’s post on LinkedIn: “AI won’t take your job. Someone who knows AI will.”My earlier walkthrough on building a tool using Google’s Gemini AIThe shift I’m already seeing in hiring policies and team structuresA warning + invitation for anyone who thinks “my work is safe”🔗 Connect with me or share your take:What’s the skill you believe will matter most in this AI-powered shift?Where are you seeing this play out already?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.

In today’s episode, I’m digging up a concept I wrote about last year that’s suddenly getting a second life: The Influence Manifesto.While I didn’t get to cover every part of it, one line in particular really stood out to a client today—and I wanted to explore it with you here. That line? “Learn the lyrics. Sing them back to your stakeholders.”Credit to Pat Flynn for sparking the idea in his book Superfans, but the principle is something I use all the time—in facilitation, in writing, in influence, in marketing.🎤 In this ep, I share:How I ran a listening tour during COVID (and made friends + money from it)Why using their words is more powerful than trying to be cleverThe sneaky power of mirroring (and why NLP practitioners love it)How I sold out a program simply by quoting someone’s exact phrase back to themWhy I think learning the lyrics is an underrated superpowerYou don’t have to be a wordsmith to be influential—you just need to be a great notetaker and listener.✨ Want to get better at influencing people inside a big org, or even in your own business? Start here.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 friends! In today’s episode of Leanne on Demand, I’m diving into a concept that helped me have one of my most productive (and weirdly peaceful) mornings in a while: Signal vs Noise.Yesterday, I mapped out my top 3 priorities. Today, I smashed out one of the big ones—a client proposal—and stayed laser-focused on designing two workshops. But here’s the twist: I didn’t check email obsessively, didn’t scroll LinkedIn, didn’t even look at my WhatsApp messages. Why? Because none of that was signal. It was noise.You’ll hear:What “signal vs noise” actually means (and where the metaphor comes from)Why creative work like workshop design isn’t just about being at a deskMy take on why responding fast ≠ being productiveHow to protect your “decision fuel” and avoid mental fatigueA challenge to help you figure out your signal for tomorrowThis is a quick, reflective episode—but I hope it gives you a powerful filter to use when everything feels urgent.🎯 Mentioned:My daily non-negotiables (podcast + movement!)The joy of finishing one high-impact task early in the dayLet me know if this concept resonates—or if you’ve used it yourself lately! Catch you tomorrow.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.