Big Dreams Great Teams® with Paula Maidens

Have you ever wondered why some tasks energise you while others leave you drained? Or why certain people’s problem-solving approaches make perfect sense to you, while others leave you feeling baffled?  In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula Maidens explores the fascinating world of thinking preferences and how understanding them can transform your leadership style and team dy...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Allana Ford, the founder and CEO of Muse Pilates, who has built an incredible fitness empire across Australia in just five years. Since opening her first studio in December 2019, Allana has grown Muse Pilates to 13 locations with nearly 100 team members - and she's just getting started. In this conversation with Paula, Allana openly shares her leader...

In this episode, Paula shares her thoughts on the debate between time management and energy management.  Paula reflects on a recent discussion she heard about the shift from time management being the gold standard to energy management taking the lead and explores how both concepts are crucial for productivity and well-being, ultimately arguing that they complement each other rather than compete. H...

In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula sits down with Dr. Jodi Richardson, a leading expert on anxiety and mental health, to dive deep into the complexities of anxiety, stress management, and burnout. Dr. Jodi shares her personal journey and professional insights, offering practical tools and strategies for managing anxiety in both personal and professional contexts. You&apos...

In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula dives deep into the strategic activities you can prioritise in Q4 to wrap up 2024 on a high note and set your business and team up for success in 2025.  From celebrating wins and reflecting on lessons learned to checking in on your team's well-being, this episode is packed with actionable insights for small business owners.  Paula s...

In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, we dive into the strategies that can help small business owners turn challenging days into opportunities for growth and innovation and ultimately make business more profitable and sustainable.  Paula is joined by special guest Peta Serras, founder of Professional Babe, who shares her extensive entrepreneurial journey and insights into profitab...

In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast , we're diving into one of the most crucial aspects of building a strong and loyal team—rewarding employees. As your small business grows, choosing the right remuneration model can be a game-changer for attracting and retaining top talent. From salary-based pay to commission structures and staff incentive schemes, we’ll cover the simplest...

In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, host Paula Maidens dives into the five critical leadership habits that CEOs of small businesses need to break in order to scale successfully.  As your business grows, the leadership strategies that worked in the early days often become roadblocks to further success. Paula explores common pitfalls such as expecting employees to work at the same...

In this episode, Paula reveals five proven strategies to measure and optimise your team’s productivity. With real-world examples, she demonstrates how increasing team productivity leads directly to higher profitability and greater financial success for your business. If you’re a small business owner committed to growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you quickly identify a...

Jane McFadden, an entrepreneur, former psychologist, author, neurodiversity specialist, and neuroscientist, shares her personal experience and academic knowledge on ADHD, entrepreneurship, and business.  She discusses her journey from traditional psychology to starting her own psychology company (now the largest in Australia), and the challenges she faced in the early years as a neurodivergent ind...

In today’s episode, Paula shares her #1 philosophy in business and life and that is… the power of choice.  In this personal share, she opens up about how this applies to various aspects of her life and business and how this belief is empowering and stress relieving! Paula shares personal examples of how she has applied this philosophy including closing her yoga studio during the pandemic and makin...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of Team Events and how to build High Performing Teams with the incredible Mykel Dixon - a jazz musician, award-winning speaker, award-winning author and recognised authority and professional speaker for Fortune 500 and ASX200 listed companies. He shares his expert insights on engaging participants and creating transformative experiences at team event...

In this episode, Paula dives into the different types of subcontractors that are available, and in particular she compares hiring a Subcontracting Team to a Freelancer.  She explains that while the terms are often used interchangeably, there are technical differences between the two and like all things, each different type has benefits and considerations to consider, to know what’s right for you....

This episode addresses a commonly asked question which is How to Retain Employees.  Paula discusses the elements to both Attract and Retain Loyal Employees and Team Members which to her, is much more than someone who just ‘stays’ and ‘shows up’ every day in your business. Paula starts by sharing what loyalty means to her and shares examples of how various employees have demonstrated that in her ow...

In this episode, Paula Maidens addresses the importance of reference checks in the hiring process for small business owners. She shares unique insights into a candidate's past performance and work ethic, which you can gather from a reference check, including information that cannot be obtained through interviews or resumes.  When conducted effectively, reference checks can confirm the accurac...

Welcome to our Client Lessons Series. These are short sharp episodes where Paula Maidens draws on her client coaching calls each week to share a key lesson, learning or tip in a way that is quick and easy for you to digest. Client Lesson Summary  In this episode, Paula shares a personal lesson from the universe about the importance of delegation and recognising when to ask for help.  Despite havin...

In this episode, Paula Maidens discusses the difference between hiring a subcontractor and an employee. She addresses common assumptions and myths about each option and provides insights into the pros and cons of both.  Paula covers the importance of considering three key factors: time, commitment, and control and offers insightful questions to help you assess what you need in relation to each of...

Welcome to our brand new Client Lessons series. These are short sharp episodes where Paula Maidens draws on her client coaching calls each week to share a key lesson, learning or tip in a way that is quick and easy for you to digest. Client Lesson Summary The theme of this lesson is the importance of pausing and not reacting immediately to every urgent situation that arises. By finding the power o...

In this episode, Paula Maidens discusses the stress that comes with having employees and provides practical tips and strategies to reduce that stress. She emphasises the importance of normalising the stress and reframing the mindset to view employees as an investment rather than just an expense.  Paula also talks about the significance of effective communication, time management techniques, settin...

Welcome to our new Client Lessons series. These are short sharp episodes where Paula Maidens draws on her client coaching calls each week to share a key lesson, learning or tip in a way that is quick and easy for you to digest. Client Lesson Summary  In this episode, we discuss the critical considerations when hiring someone to deliver the same services you provide, meaning when you are hiring som...

In this episode, Paula Maidens explores the necessity of team meetings and how to make them effective. She discusses the signs of unnecessary meetings, such as boredom and long durations, and highlights the importance of impactful and purposeful meetings.  Paula talks about how meetings can foster the key elements required to have a ‘high performing team’ and provides tips for making meetings impa...

Welcome to our brand new Client Lessons series. These are short sharp episodes where Paula Maidens draws on her client coaching calls each week to share a key lesson, learning or tip in a way that is quick and easy for you to digest. Client Lesson Summary In this episode, Paula dives into the essential steps for business owners to take a well-deserved holiday without the stress of constantly check...

Today’s guest with Paula Maidens is Dr. Hayley Kelly, a clinical psychologist and business coach, shares her journey of overcoming stress and burnout and offers insights on managing stress as an entrepreneur. Hayley explains the concept of allostatic load, which is the toll that stress takes on us, and emphasises the importance of understanding our individual stress responses and finding sustainab...

Welcome to our brand new Client Lessons series. These are short sharp episodes where Paula Maidens draws on her client coaching calls each week to share a key lesson, learning or tip in a way that is quick and easy for you to digest. Client Lesson Summary  In this client lesson, Paula talks about delegating leadership and how it is important as your business grows, and requires clear communication...

In this episode, Paula Maidens explores the impact of effective team management on brand experience through real-life observations of two very different renovation teams on her street.  This episode could also be called “Lessons in Team Management from the Tradies on My Street!” You’ll hear Paula’s key insights on how she can see from the outside the systemisation, standardisation and team efficie...