The Culture Nerds - A Leadership Podcast

Text us your thoughts or questions 15 Growth Tips for Founder-Run Businesses ****************************************************** Visit our website The Real Learning Experience Thanks to our producer, Josh at JCALdigital.org

Text us your thoughts or questions Change doesn’t fail because of the plan — it fails because of how people are led through it. In this episode, Simon explores why leading change isn’t just about managing logistics — it’s about leading emotions, expectations, and resistance with purpose and clarity. You’ll learn: Why “evolution or revolution” isn’t just a clever phrase — it’s a choice every organi...

Text us your thoughts or questions Unresolved conflict isn’t just uncomfortable - it’s corrosive. It impacts trust, performance, and team culture more than most leaders realise. In this episode, Simon explores why managers can’t afford to act as mere conduits for problems, waiting until issues spiral out of control or outsourcing them as a “quick fix.” Instead, he walks through a practical, step-b...

Text us your thoughts or questions Good decisions when replacing managers are critical because their actions flow through to the performance and morale of their team. Having Emerging Leaders ready to step into management roles is essential for every organisation, big or small. Ready-made successors A robust Emerging Leaders process fosters ready-made leaders within the organisation. They already k...

Text us your thoughts or questions What do great organisations do to grow their next generation of leaders — instead of watching potential die on the vine? In this episode, Simon unpacks the three biggest barriers new leaders face and how developing talent from within solves them all. Plus, hear why some internal candidates get overlooked and how to change that. It’s a sharp, practical listen for...

Text us your thoughts or questions Still throwing new leaders in the deep end and hoping they’ll swim? In this episode, Simon unpacks the dangerous cliché of “sink or swim” leadership — and why it’s damaging your culture, your results, and your people. Learn how to replace lazy leadership defaults with intentional development strategies that actually work. You’ll walk away with a new lens on leade...

Text us your thoughts or questions Summary Does your team actually look forward to performance appraisals? Or do they brace themselves for an awkward, box-ticking exercise that feels like a waste of time? If you’re in the second camp—you’re not alone. For many leaders and teams, performance reviews are uncomfortable, ineffective, and do little to drive real improvement. But they should be one of t...

Text us your thoughts or questions Summary Does your organisation have values that should make a difference - but don't? That people think are bullshit or tokenistic or lip service? Do they look great on the poster but mean nothing in the way people behave, work, and treat each other? If that's your organisation, your missing a HUGE opportunity to create a workplace culture where both mo...

Text us your thoughts or questions Summary Have you ever thrown your hands in the air, frustrated, and said, 'the monkeys are running the zoo!' If you haven't, I bet one of your co-leaders has. What does that mean, though? And why does it happen? In this episode we talk about how leaders should respond when they feel the monkeys are running the zoo and discuss another type of '...

Text us your thoughts or questions The Rules of the Pool - This episode focuses on the role of accountability in shaping workplace culture and emphasises the impact of individual contributions. We discuss how open communication, courageous conversations, and shared responsibility lead to a healthier work environment. Key points from the pod: Our new approach to the content we create for you – mont...

Text us your thoughts or questions This week’s podcast features an interview with Tim Davenport , the Director of Fundraising & Sponsorship at OzFish Unlimited. Tim spent a significant part of his career as a senior executive in the media. After a period of stability, the organisation changed constantly and rapidly. That involved a succession of mergers, acquisitions and takeovers - each comin...

Text us your thoughts or questions The Role Values Play in your Organisation.  How often do you revisit and refine your company's core values? In this milestone episode, we promise you'll discover the transformative power of regularly reassessing your organisational values to bridge the gap between current and desired cultural states. Learn why reevaluating your values every 18 months to...

Text us your thoughts or questions In today's episode, we spoke with the incredibly insightful (and entertaining) John Hardy, CEO of RSL Tasmania. John is the ultimate story teller, and takes us on his own leadership journey which started in the UK Military and has led him to now being CEO of RSL Tasmania, and living in his own slice of paradise near Hobart. His ability to always remember whe...

Text us your thoughts or questions Discover how to foster an exceptional workplace culture and drive organizational success with insights from Catherine Keenahan, Executive Manager for People and Culture at Junction Australia. Catherine reveals the secrets behind her organization’s mission to help people thrive, emphasizing the importance of a purpose-driven, values-oriented approach. Listen as sh...

Text us your thoughts or questions https://reallearning.com.au/ No one does it as well as you do, right? Have you ever had that feeling that if you want a job done properly, you'll have to do it yourself? Have you ever asked the question why aren't my people as committed as me? Both questions are indicators that Employee Engagement may not be as high as you would like it to be. But are y...

Text us your thoughts or questions Why does your organisation exist? In fact, why does any organisation exist?  It really comes down to meeting needs. At a superficial level, it is obvious that we need to meet the needs of the people we serve. But, in reality, for organisations to succeed long term and to be sustainable, they need to meet needs on three different levels.  When organisations ignore...

Text us your thoughts or questions In this episode we have an Authentic Conversation, a raw and honest conversation about men's violence against women.  To say it's a massive problem in Australia is an understatement. Violence and aggression can take many forms that span from small micro-aggressions all the way through to rape and murder. It effects ALL women, with the most vulnerable an...

Text us your thoughts or questions A few years ago, one of my sons and I completed a four-day bush walk,  lugging an enormous backpack along the extraordinary Tasman Coastal Trail in Tasmania’s southeast. Along with magnificent memories, aching knees and sore shoulders, I returned with a new insight into leadership style and performance. Each day of the walk we encountered numerous snakes on the t...

Text us your thoughts or questions In todays episode we delve into the often overlooked aspect of career progression: leadership obligations and the unconscious journey many individuals embark on when they accept promotions solely for career advancement without fully considering the responsibilities that come with leadership roles. Drawing from experiences with various senior leaders, we explore h...

Text us your thoughts or questions Do you have a poor performer in your team? No someone who is doing well but could do better, which describes most people in most workplaces. We're talking about someone whose performance or behaviour is below a threshold of acceptability. As uncomfortable as it may be, it is your responsibility as a leader (and not just a manager) to address this. The way to...

Text us your thoughts or questions I finished my presentation and the CEO beamed at me. ‘ That’s brilliant ,’ he said. ‘ It’s great to have confirmation that we are doing all the right things. ’ He smiled around at the rest of the assembled executive team, stopping only just short of reaching up to pat himself on the back. Meanwhile, one executive rolled their eyes at another, while three more sta...

Text us your thoughts or questions If we want high performance from team members, we have to set them up for success. There are two critical things that you, as the leader, can provide make that high performance significantly more likely. They are both free and abundantly available to leaders.  Both of these ingredients - the bookends of high performance - are misread by most leaders. They believe...

Text us your thoughts or questions Every leader has done it - 'thrown someone in at the deep end.' But is it the right thing to do? Does it help people grow, sort those who can cope from those who can't, or make them stronger? Or are those just comforting cliches we use to make us feel better about lazy leadership? Would it be better to work out how well someone can swim and throw t...

Text us your thoughts or questions The line between flexible work arrangements and some emerging employee trends is becoming blurred. On one had, too many employers refuse to offer flexibility because of outdated systems and beliefs - leading to employees being dissatisfied and pushing the boundaries. On the other hand, insidious trends like quit quitting and being over employed are being used by...

Text us your thoughts or questions This epsiode is an audio blog A theme has emerged in several workplaces we are currently working with to help them shape their culture. Each of these workplaces have solid workplace cultures but are striving to create excellent ones. In each of them, we have been asked the same pair of questions. The question from the leaders. How much impact do the decisions we...