Battling with Business

In the first of our Influencers series, we explore the man, the legend, that was Steve Jobs.  Co-Founder of Apple, Chairman of Pixar, Inventor, investor and business magnate.  There's no doubt that he was successful. But what lessons are there that we can learn?

----more----In this episode, Chris and Gareth introduce a new approach, once a month we will take a close look at a particular individual who is or has been influential.  Whilst describing this, we also discuss the role of Heros, the survivor bias, and the role of the Sandhust Capbadge.

In the second of our two-part series with designer Rich Seale from Creatively Challenged, we tackle the complex issue of Artificial Intelligence.  Are we at the foothills of the dystopian nightmare? Is this the end of work as we know it?  Can AI truly be creative? If so, where does that leave the rest of us?

Gareth and Chris recorded this, the first of a two-part series with Rich Seale, a renowned designer, and fellow podcaster, around the role design plays in strategy, leadership and management.  The three of them recorded these episodes at the Future Strategy Club in Peckham, London and it is a collaboration between the podcasts; Battling with Business and Creatively Challenged.

In this week's episode, Chris and Gareth are joined by Theo Bigby, a fellow member of the Future Strategy Club, to discuss Diversity.  Whilst a seemingly simple subject, like all these things, diversity is complex.  Listen as they try to peel back the layers and understand why this is such a divisive and sensitive subject.

What is the point in meetings?  Are they a vital productive exchange of ideas? Or are they simply a distraction that takes you away from doing your actual job, full of drudgery and hot air?  Chris and Gareth talk about good and bad meetings and reflect on their own experiences of being in and running meetings. Chirs ends by introducing an excellent process for running better and more productive me...

This week, Chris talks from experience about the tell-tail signs that a project may be heading off course.  Gareth explores the resonance of commercial project management with campaign management of military operations and the principles of war.

We interview Natalia Talkowska from Natalka Design to discuss the importance of design, creativity, and innovation.  We explore the value of soft sciences and the arts when tackling complex problems and discuss the importance of fun in the workplace.

In the second episode exploring the concept of Operational Art, Chris and Gareth discuss role of campaign asessement and how to measure success rather than activity.  

This is the first of another two-part discussion, this time on the military philosophy of Operational Art.  Gareth explains how the military plans and executes operations to attain strategic success.

In this episode, we chat with Paul Armstrong the renowned technology journalist and author about the future.  Looking at the value of predictive foresight, the Gartner Hype Curve, block chain and the opportunities and risks posed by AI. 

In the second part of the discussion around the factors that effect the way we make decisions, Gareth and Chris chat about some of the influences that can alter decision outcomes.

In the first of a two part discussion, Gareth explains the factors that effect the way we make decisions. Starting with the role of data, information and intelligence.

In this episode Chris explains the concept of the Big Hairy Audacious Goal or BHAG and then the 3HAG.  Gareth and Chris explore the value of aiming big as opposed to chasing incremental growth.