Curious Leadership with Dominic Monkhouse

There’s no secret that, in today’s business climate, innovation is the only way companies can maintain an advantage over their competitors. No matter the field or industry you position yourself in, if you manage to create extra value for your company and the customers your company serves, you are almost undoubtedly destined for success.But, in order to achieve this holy grail and transform your organization into an innovating engine, you first need to learn to listen to your customers and your employees and understand the role they play in helping you identify real problems and the right solutions for those problems.Today’s guest on “The Melting Pot” is Ben M. Bensaou, professor and former Dean of Executive Education at INSEAD and business innovation thought leader. In his book, “Built to Innovate- Essential Practices to Wire Innovation Into Your Company's DNA”, Ben shares the proven system for building relentless innovation and culture that he discovered while researching companies from all over the world. We talk about all of his findings and the skills he thinks are required to create that perfect innovating culture, so make sure to download and listen to this fascinating episode! In today’s episode: Solutions for businesses that struggle with innovationListen to your customer- they hold the key to discovering the weaknesses in your businessThree skills you need to develop in order to create the perfect exchange of information between you and your clients (or potential clients)The importance of middle managersHow to identify real problems that need solvingImprove your ability to spot and develop good ideas for your business Links: Website - Built to InnovateLinkedin- Ben M. BensaouTwitter- BenBensaouBlog- Built to Innovate by Ben M. BensaouBiography & Publications- Ben M. BensaouBen’s book- Built to Innovate- Essential Practices to Wire Innovation Into Your Company's DNA Follow Dominic: WebsiteLinkedinYoutubeBlog Mentions: We Solve- an inclusive community engagement platform for companies and organizations that Co-create sustainable and lasting solutions together. Kordsa- develops reinforcement technologies for the tires of automobiles, airplanes, motorcycles, agricultural and industrial vehicles. Fiskars- a Finnish group company; its products are related to the home, outdoor activities, interior decoration and table setting. Allianz Insurance- the largest general insurer in the UK, offering a range of personal and commercial insurance solutions for their customers. W.L Gore & Associates- an American multinational manufacturing company specializing in products derived from fluoropolymers; it is best known as the developer of waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex fabrics Book recommendations: 

Like most good ideas, the idea for Hoxby, the purpose-led organisation that exists to create a happier, more fulfilled society through a world of work without bias, came to co-founders Alex Hirst and Lizzie Penny, in the pub. Fed up with, and burned out from the traditional way of working, they decided it simply wasn’t what they wanted. So they decided to take matters into their own hands. Fast forward a decade and Alex and Lizzie not only changed the way they work, but they’ve also changed the way their community works too. A community made up of more than 1,000 handpicked, talented and diverse freelancers who work remotely in 30 countries around the world. Alex and Lizzie have recently published a book, Workstyle, about how workstyle is better for wellbeing, improves productivity, and can reshape inclusion for the benefit of society. And in this episode of The Melting Pot, they share why they’re so passionate about autonomy at work, what Hoxby is, the conditions necessary to foster workstyle, and how to create connections remotely. Book recommendationsNatives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire - AkalaRebel Ideas: The Power of Diversity - Matthew SyedLessons in Chemistry - Bonnie GarmusHow The Future Works - Brian ElliottOn today’s podcast:What is Hoxby?Wellbeing, productivity & societyThe three conditions needed to foster workstyle How to implement Workstyle in your organisationHow to create connection remotelyLinks:Book - Workstyle RevolutionTwitter – @ah_hirst, @Lizzie_Penny, @WeAreHoxbyLinkedIn – Alex Hirst, Lizzie PennyWebsite – https://hoxby.com/, Workstyle Revolution

Have you ever felt that you’re in a job that doesn’t fit your genius, but you’re not sure how to find your real purpose? Then don’t miss Jay Radia on this episode of The Melting Pot. Having spent a few years in banking, working in a job that didn't bring him the joy he was after, Jay realised his unique expertise lay in coming up with ideas that need to be funded.Today, Jay is the founder of startup studio, Bliss Growth. And he has founded three tech startups - the first three got to £1 million in 12 months, and two of them got to £10 million in three years. While Jay has invested in 25 angel investments, coming up with the idea is his secret sauce. In this episode, Jay shares what the challenges of coming up with new ideas and funding rapid trajectory are, and what he's learned along the way, and how he got comfortable with not being the CEO anymore. This is a truly insightful episode from a passionate entrepreneur, download and listen.Book recommendationsEckhart Tolle - A New EarthUntethered Soul - Michael singerConscious Capitalism - John MackeyOn today’s podcast:Founding a corporate gifting companyFind your genius zoneHow the Startup Studio worksUnderstanding Screen LoopThe importance of listeningLinks:Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/Happy_Millionaire_ListenWebsite: BlissgrowthLinkedIn: Jay RadiaTwitter: @jayradia_

Did you know that the 80:20 principle also works in reverse? Whilst 80% of your output will come from 20% of your people, the same is true of your problems. Meaning 80% of the errors will be caused by 20% of your people. But, says Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Organisational Psychologist, currently Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, companies spend way more time on development than they do on talent acquisition. So, what can you do about that? Well, don’t miss Tomas on this episode of The Melting Pot explaining how technology is revolutionising the recruitment role, why assessing candidates is a costly mistake, the difference between genders in terms of curiosity, why the world is so full of rubbish leaders, and how we can bring about change in leadership. This is a fascinating episode, truly insightful. Download to listen. Book recommendationsLisa Barrett Feldman - Seven and a Half Lessons About the BrainCarmine Gallo - The Bezos Blueprint John Petrocelli - The Life-Changing Science of Detecting BullshitOxford Very Short IntroductionsBill Perkins - Die With ZeroOn today’s podcast:The problem with testing candidates It’s hard to know if you hired the right personWhy is the world full of rubbish male leaders?How to bring about change in leadershipThe definition of leadership competenceLinks:Website: Dr. Tomas Chamorro-PremuzicLinkedIn: Dr Tomas Chamorro-PremuzicTwitter: @drtcpBook: Why do so many incompetent men become leaders? Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Are you looking for your next big adventure? How does rowing across the Atlantic sound? Think you’re not fit enough? Too old? Think again. Guy Rigby, chair of the Entrepreneurial Services Group at Smith & Williamson, and founder of advisory and mentoring business, The Entrepreneurs’ Adviser, holds the world record for the oldest, fastest man to row across the Atlantic (aged 68), and he’s looking for crews to do the same for 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.   But before we get into that, in this episode of The Melting Pot, we find out why a man in his late 60s would want to row the Atlantic, and more importantly, how on earth did he pull it off?   Want to learn more? Of course you do! Download and listen today.On today’s podcast:UnLtd - the charityRowing across the Atlantic OceanThe daily rowing routine Training for the rowThe Talisker Whisky Atlantic ChallengeLinks:Website: Guy RigbyBooks: From Vision to ExitLinkedIn: Guy RigbyTwitter:  @guyrigbyCharity - UnLtd

How do you deal with uncertainty? Do you avoid it at all costs or do you embrace the unknown excitedly?To discuss the upside of uncertainty is husband and wife team, Nathan and Susannah Furr, authors of The Upside of Uncertainty. As the Professor of Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD, and with a PhD from Stanford, Nathan is an expert in innovation and technology strategy. Susannah is an entrepreneur, designer, artist, and contrarian who’s recently started a bio-intensive garden as part of a ‘hope accelerator’ in Normandy, France. On this episode of The Melting Pot, Nathan and Susannah share their experiences of tackling uncertainty, and discuss how you can improve and train your risk tolerance and seek the upside of uncertainty. And in doing so, how we can then impact organisations. Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast:The portal to possibility Uncertainty balancesHow do you teach uncertainty?Regret minimisation decision makingDriving innovation inside businesses Links:Books: The Upside of Uncertainty: A Guide to Finding Possibility in the UnknownTwitter:  @nathan_furrLinkedIn: Nathan FurrWebsite: The Upside of Uncertainty

Do you want to be a force for change in the world? Of course you do, but how to begin? That's actually the title of Michael Bungay Stanier’s latest book - How To Begin, a book written to help people be ambitious for themselves, for the world, to help them find their Worthy Goal, and start something thrilling, important, and daunting.Best known for writing The Coaching Habit, a best selling coaching book that’s sold over 1.2 million copies world wide, Michael is back on The Melting Pot once more to talk about how you can figure out what that thing is you want to do, and then how you stop procrastinating so you can go and have an impact. Having handed over the reins of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company, Michael has had to find his own worthy goal, and in this episode he shares how he stepped away from Box of Crayons, how to find your purpose, and the key elements of what makes a worthy goal. To hear all this and more, download and listen today.Book recommendations High Conflict - Amanda RipleySuper-Infinite - Katherine RundellOn today’s podcast:How to BeginStepping away from Box of CrayonsFinding your purposeThe key elements of a worthy goalThe Care MatrixLinks:Books - Top Books & Training for Coaches, Mentors, LeadersTwitter – mbs_worksLinkedIn – Michael Bungay StanierWebsite – Michael Bungay Stanier

How do you think about compensation in your organisation? In this episode of The Melting Pot, Verne Harnish, a world-leading expert, speaker, author, and entrepreneur in the field of business growth, shares his recent research into how different organisations tackle compensation.  Having founded the Entrepreneurs' Organisation in 1987, Verne’s also the Founder and CEO of Scaling Up, as well as author of Scaling Up, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits, and co-author of The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword. But it’s his latest book, Scaling Up Compensation, a short read at just over 100 pages, that Verne is discussing here. In this book, he explores over 100 case studies to help you move top and bottom lines by hundreds of percent, just by tweaking your existing comp plan. While the case studies aren’t there for you to copy, let them inspire and guide you in how you can take compensation and make it work for you, so you can attract and retain the best possible talent you can afford, so you can build the best team money can buy for your organisation. This is a fabulous conversation, download and listen now. On today’s podcast:Scaling up compensationHow to afford the A-playersLet compensation set you apartSales commission - yes or no?Promotions and a pay riseLinks:Book - Scaling Up CompensationTwitter – thegrowthguyLinkedIn – Verne HarnishWebsite – scalingup.com

In this incredibly tight labour market where the power well and truly sits in the job seekers’ hands, how can you optimise your LinkedIn profile so that you make yourself (and your company) more attractive to A-players and job seekers? Don’t miss Donna Serdula, author of LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies, and founder of LinkedIn specialist firm LinkedIn-Makeover, on this week’s episode of The Melting Pot. What should you do as a company? More specifically, what should you do as individual leaders and hiring managers to try and make it more likely that candidates, prospects, even partners, find you and connect with you on LinkedIn? Donna details how people should be thinking about this. She shares what you as an individual leader, a CEO, should be doing. How often should you post? Should you put hashtags on? If you do, which ones? Should you share content that's already on the LinkedIn platform? Or try to get people to connect to content off the platform?To find out all this and more, download and listen to this episode today. On today’s podcast:How to show up to prospective candidatesSelling the company culture in the description The LinkedIn algorithmHow often to post on LinkedInThe golden hour All about hashtagsLinks:Podcast: Dream Big with Big DreamersTwitter: @donnaserdulaLinkedin: Donna SerdulaWebsite: LinkedIn-Makeover.com

If you’ve grown your organisation and you’re now at the point where you don’t quite remember everyone’s name, and the coffee cups aren’t being stacked in the dishwasher, perhaps it’s time to reassess your company culture. To share how they’ve transitioned their culture as the organisation has grown to just over 150 people in 6 years, is co-founder and CEO of Jahnel Group, Darrin Jahnel. In this episode, Darrin explains why they’ve moved away from an executive team to implementing an extended leadership team, why he’s maniacal about company culture, and why they believe they've cracked the code on hybrid working. He also talks about inclusion, how he’s got people to show up to work being their authentic selves, as well as a fantastic metric for how many culture drivers per employee you need in your business.So, to learn more about how to transition your culture as you grow, download and listen today.On today’s podcast:Great culture starts with having a great teamHow to create a buzzCracking the remote culture codeThe benefits of a buffet culture Overcoming scaling up hurdlesLinks:Twitter: @djahnelLinkedIn: Darrin JahnelWebsite: Jahnel Group