Curious Leadership with Dominic Monkhouse

Have you ever achieved some success and hired people, only to realise that managing people is not for you? Have you become a disillusioned leader?Being a founder is a wild ride - full of exhilarating highs and crushing lows. After starting a "ridiculous number" of businesses himself, Scott Ritzheimer discovered the secret entrepreneur map with seven stages that nearly every founder goes through: from dissatisfied employee to startup entrepreneur, to reluctant manager, and all the way through to becoming a visionary leader. Scott has been in the trenches and emerged with critical lessons learned that he is keen to share.In a short period of time, Scott has launched over 22,000 businesses and, whilst doing that he has seen over and over again how the patterns of failure and success repeat themselves. But when leaders get through that challenging journey, they can become visionary founders again. In his book, The Founder’s Evolution, Scott dives into the seven stages that every founder goes through and educates you how to take your leadership skills to the next level, to conquer the journey – and you can get it for FREE (see link below). Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast: Recognising the pattern of successThe Ever-Changing Challenges of Growing a Business: From Execution to LeadershipTransitioning from Founder to CEO: Learning to Hire and Lead Executives The Importance Of Recognising The Different Stages In Your Organisation’s ProgressionLearning How To Manage People In a Growing Business Follow Scott Ritzheimer:WebsiteLinkedInThe Secrets of a High-Demand CoachGet your FREE copy of The Founder’s Evolution Scott’s book recommendations: Predictable SuccessThe Founder’s Survival GuideRenegades Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review

This week on The Melting Pot, we learned from the founder and managing partner of the CEO Advisory Guru and best-selling author, Adam Coffey. Adam started his CEO journey working for Jack Welsh at General Electrics when it was the biggest business in the world. He's got a new book coming out, Empire Builder, which is a playbook on how to build a billion-dollar business. Adam spent 21 years as a CEO of three national companies for nine private equity sponsors. He's made billions of dollars in exits and completed 58 acquisitions.In this episode, he talks about the difference between buy-and-build and organic growth and how he did that in some of his businesses. He also talks about culture, how to avoid buying the wrong business, how he does due diligence thinking about the CEOs, and the difference between trapping a CEO and letting them run their company post-acquisition. Download and listen to learn more. On today's podcast:  A meticulous approach to acquisitionThe role of the CEO as a motivatorBuilding a sustainable empireEducating about Private EquityCulture and profit: mutually exclusive? Follow Adam Coffey:WebsiteLinkedIn Book recommendations: The Millionaire Next DoorBlue Ocean StrategyGood to Great Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review  

Fully remote work isn’t for everyone. For instance, some people get their energy from having a community at work, whilst others get it from elsewhere. Some can deal with the ambiguity that comes with working remotely, and others struggle with it. Our guest this week believes that working remotely is not just a decision over having an office or not, but an operating system. And that means that you need to curate every aspect of your people operations. This week on The Melting Pot, we learned from Jessica Zwaan, author of Amazon Best Selling, Built for People, and founder of Being People consultancy. She’s also the Chief Operating Officer at Whereby, a calm and user-friendly video call solution that integrates directly into your platform using our API or SDK. In this episode, Jessica joined us to discuss the importance of cultural responsibility and effective performance evaluation within organisations. She delved into the different spectrums of responsibility at different levels, emphasising the crucial role of HR leaders in driving strategic success. She also explores the challenges of traditional HR practices and shares the innovative strategies they’re implemented at Whereby to encourage the team to book holidays in advance.  Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast: Working fully remote. Does it work for everyone?Creating a sense of community remotelyThe three spectrums of responsibilityCalibrating the role of managers in assessing performanceThe philosophy behind Built For People  Follow [Guest Name]: WebsiteBuilt for PeopleLinkedInX Book recommendations: SeveranceCustomer CentricityFour Thousand Weeks Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review 

This week on The Melting Pot, we delve into the world of venture capital, IPOs, and the limitations of traditional investment structures. We learned from Nic Brisbourne, a serial founder of VC firms and founding partner at Forward Partners, which has some rarity value. It's one of only a handful of VC firms in the UK that has gone through an IPO. Every year, they get 4,000 pitch decks, from which they only interview 400. Ultimately, they only invest in 1% of the people they meet. That's a very wide funnel at the top and incredibly narrow at the bottom.In this episode, Nic dives into the complexities of recruitment and the importance of making the right hiring decisions. Along the way, he unveils his proprietary framework for assessing founders and shares valuable lessons on the IPO process and the structure of venture capital firms.  Download and listen to learn more. On today's podcast: Forward Partners investmentsThe recruitment challengeTraditional vs Innovative VCs structureThe CIDL proprietary framework to assess founders Follow Nic Brisbourne:Forward Partners websiteLinkedInTwitter: @brisbourne Book recommendations :The Great CEO WithinBreathThanks for the Feedback Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review

Do you want to create a customer-centric culture that prioritises exceptional customer experience? This week, we enjoyed learning from the internationally sought-after speaker, author, and organisational consultant Joseph Michelli. Joseph started his consultancy journey working for the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. Since those early days in his career, he's worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Starbucks, Zappos, Mercedes Benz and Ritz Carlton. In this episode, Joseph shares some great stories about excellent customer service he has seen throughout his career and how leadership plays a pivotal role in prioritising a customer-centric culture. He dived into his work at Ritz Carlton, Mercedez Benz and Starbucks, all experiences from which he wrote fantastic books. If you want customer service to be at the heart of your strategy. Joseph explains what do you need to do. How to map out the customer journey, finding those high-value touch points.  An energising conversation. Download and listen to learn more. On today's podcast: A passion for being of service to othersThe Ritz Carlton's standard of serviceThe pivotal role of leadership in customer serviceExploring the power of emotionShifting towards technology-aided service Follow Joseph Michelli:WebsiteLinkedInFish Throwing at Pike Place Fish Marketplace in Seattle Book recommendations: The Experience EconomyThe Airbnb wayThe New Gold StandardThe Starbucks ExperienceThe Zappos ExperienceDriven to Delight Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review  

This week on The Melting Pot with Dominic Monkhouse, we learned from David Shonthal, ward-winning Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management and co-author of The Human Element. Overcoming The Resistance That Awaits New Ideas. You will know this feeling if you're an entrepreneur or an innovator inside your business. Something that makes sense to you is being resisted by everybody at every turn. It's often why people leave larger companies and go to smaller ones. Or start up their own where they feel there would be less resistance. It's true for a while, but some of these elements will creep back in if that business succeeds. David has been involved in entrepreneurship, design and innovation for over 20 years, and his work has led to the creation of over 300 products, services, and new ventures worldwide. In this episode, he dives into the four types of friction that stand in the way of new ideas going forward. He also explains why it is important to recognise human behaviour to drive change, whether in B2C sales or B2B. A fantastic conversation with David about how to take your idea and move the organisation to adapt to the change. Download and listen to learn more. On today's podcast: There's more than one flavour of entrepreneurshipThe Friction Theory FrameworkThe four frictions against innovationHow recognising human behaviour can drive change Follow David Shonthal:WebsiteLinkedInTwitter Book recommendations: The End of AverageDemand Side SalesCompeting against luckA Man's Search for Meaning Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review 

Combining great leadership with strong relationships can be a game-changer in our professional and personal lives. Did you know that your early years' experiences can significantly shape your beliefs and behaviours? Uncovering these influences can give us valuable insights into our personal growth and how we manage our relationships. Effective communication and managing expectations are critical in maintaining healthy interactions. Seeking out diverse perspectives can encourage growth and prevent us from falling into the trap of thinking in an echo chamber. Understanding these aspects allows us to propel ourselves towards better leadership and stronger relationships.This week on The Melting Pot, we learned from Wouter van den Berg, the trailblazing neuroeconomist with a passion for understanding the human brain and its impact on performance. From early dreams of being a professional footballer, Wouter has traversed an unusual path that has led him into the field of neuroscience. His stint at a Dutch football academy gave him invaluable insights into peak performance and the intense focus it demands. Wouter's educational journey includes a PhD where he researched predicting success and understanding why people make certain decisions. His work has evolved into Brain Compass, a revolutionary platform that brings together multiple fields to aid people in reaching their peak potential. Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast: From a football player to Neuro-EconomistCan we predict success?Defying our default mental modelsThe impact of our self-limiting beliefsUnderstanding the Attachment theory Follow Wouter van den Berg:BrainCompassLinkedIn Book recommendations:Synaptic Self Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review  

In a world where knowledge is power, one woman dared to question the effectiveness of traditional learning methods. Sherry Coutu's unwavering curiosity led her on a journey of discovery from Cambridge University to the heart of entrepreneurial success. But her path took an unexpected turn when she realised that the resources meant to ignite growth were failing entrepreneurs like her. Now, she stands on the precipice of a groundbreaking solution that could revolutionise learning and unlock limitless potential. This week on The Melting Pot, we learned from Sherry Coutu, a prolific British entrepreneur with an unyielding drive for catalysing progress in business growth. Her portfolio showcases a seamlessly fascinating journey through the tech industry, marked by her triumphant co-founding roles in companies like Interactive Investor International and LinkedIn, which continue to dominate their respective niches. Add her impactful stint as an angel investor, and it's clear she can identify, back, and shepherd startups to exponential growth. Her firm belief in the power of learning has instigated her remarkable contributions towards bolstering educational endeavours, making her an advocate for skills development. Download and listen to learn more. On today's podcast: Helping scale-ups solve the skills problemThe outcomes from the UK scaleup reportThe value of choosing the right learning pathThe five barriers to growthHow Superpower helps scale-ups with talent acquisition and development Follow Sherry Coutu:Superpower websiteLinkedInTwitterThe Scale-up report 2014 Book recommendations: Atlas ShruggedThe AllianceThe Startup of YouMasters of ScaleLessons in Chemistry Enjoyed the show?Leave a Review 

If you're feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by your inability to effectively influence behaviour, despite your best efforts, then you are not alone! You may be tirelessly implementing marketing strategies, leadership tactics, or political campaigns, only to witness minimal impact on the desired outcomes. Instead of influencing behaviour, you find yourself facing resistance, indifference, or even backlash from the very individuals you are trying to engage.Drawing from his experience in the advertising world and his academic background, Marcus Collins stands as a beacon in understanding and influencing human behaviour through culture. He’s put his theories to practice crafting successful campaigns for mammoths like Google and Nike, earning him widespread recognition including a spot on Advertising Age’s 40 under 40. His insightful book, For the Culture, accentuates his understanding of culture's profound influence on behaviour. Nowadays, Marcus continues to influence minds as a professor at the esteemed Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.In this episode, Marcus talks about how to get people to do things that they didn't necessarily think they wanted to do, whether that's buying an iPod or supporting the Brooklyn Nets. Because this is about moving people. How all of those tools and the knowledge that has been garnered by the advertising industry can be applied in churches or organisations to get people to move? Also, as leaders, what can we do to build a culture? What are the elements that define it? What makes people behave the same way as another person? How do you make things attractive to people so that they want to move? Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast: Understanding the power of culture to influence behaviourLeveraging shared meanings in advertisingThe role of culture in personal developmentThe concept of ‘moving people’Defining brand and its cultural implications Follow Marcus Collins:WebsiteLinkedInFor The Culture Book recommendations: The Society of the SpectacleThe Kingdom of Prep Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review

Does this sound familiar? As a founder or CEO of a venture-backed startup, you've likely been told that you need to work harder and longer hours to scale your business. But despite your relentless efforts, you're still facing challenges and not seeing the desired results. The pain of pouring your heart and soul into your business, only to be met with roadblocks and frustrations, is all too real. It's time to break free from this ineffective action and discover the strategies that truly empower you to overcome scaling challenges and maximise your potential for success.This week on The Melting Pot, we learned from Rachel Turner, a seasoned founder coach with over two decades of immersion in the entrepreneurial realm. An early adopter of executive coaching since the '90s, Rachel's journey takes a unique path as she leans into applied psychology to optimise business success. Author of the Founder Survival Guide, she translates years of personal experiences and insights to help fellow founders overcome their own hurdles during the transition from startup to scale-up. Once an entrepreneur herself, Rachel's understanding of founder psychology is unparalleled, making her coaching approach as engaging as it is enlightening. Download and listen to learn more. On today’s podcast: The crucial role of coaching in founder’s successUnderstanding the concept of minimally viable CEOCoaching venture-backed company’s foundersThe warrior, the architect and the monarchThe future of technology and coaching Follow Rachel Turner:VC Talent LabLinkedInThe Founder’s Survival Guide Book recommendations:The AdvantageMeditationsThe Daily StoicHow to make friends and influence people Enjoyed the show? Leave a Review