Leadership in 180 Seconds

Ever notice how starting change is easy… but sustaining it quietly breaks most leaders? Kotter’s research is blunt: this is where change efforts die. We love the early momentum—the excitement, the quick wins, the buzz. But once the novelty fades? Discipline decides the outcome. I learned this the hard way. In my early 20s I would save aggressively… then undo half my progress because a shiny new TV caught my eye. The problem wasn’t my goal—it was my ability to stay the course. Organisations fall into the same trap. A few wins land, confidence rises… then focus drifts...

Ever been part of a team that starts strong, then slowly loses steam? A few setbacks, a little negativity, and suddenly, the vision feels heavy. John Kotter’s sixth principle of change reminds us: celebrate the small wins. Change is hard. Progress isn’t always obvious. But when we stop and remind our teams of how far we’ve come, we reignite belief and motivation. Research by Amabile and Kramer calls this “the progress principle” — the most powerful driver of performance is seeing progress in meaningful work. So, here’s the challenge: What small win could you celebrate today? It might be a fin...

Let me paint the picture for you. You come up with a brilliant idea. It comes directly out of a complaint from a client, you know how to fix it but it is going to require more than you can do by yourself. You go to your boss and share it. She says ‘no’. Demoralising right? Now, let me put the shoe on the other foot.  You are in the middle of a project, your team member barges into your office with a great idea, and you just don’t have the time.  You say ‘no’. Do either of those scenar...

In John Kotter’s research, he found that most leaders under communicate their vision by a factor of 10. To paint a picture, that’s like if I was to tell you, I went for a 10 hour hike the other day. I got an hour in, sat down, poured water on my head and congratulated myself for a job well done and walked back to the car! Does that make you think about your communication?

Last week on my podcast, I talked about Kotter’s 3rd Principal of change in which we must form a strategic vision.  Once it is f...

Where are you going?! If you and your people don’t understand where you are going and why, you won’t get there! It makes perfect sense right? But, how often have we tried to achieve something without communicating exactly what we are trying to achieve?

John Kotter, change management guru, writes, ‘A useful rule of thumb: if you can’t communicate the vision to someone in five minutes or less and get a reaction that signifies both understanding and interest, you are not yet done with this phase of the transformation process.’  The updated time frame for 2024 is...

Very early in my career I was a part of an organisation in which the key decision maker wanted to implement what I thought was a brilliant concept. However, I watched the organisation unravel because the key leader had not brought along some important stakeholders. Two influential people in the organisation didn’t like the idea and in the end created such discontent that the vision decimated us. People left in droves.

The second of Kotter’s 8 steps of change management is creating a powerful “guiding coalition”; it is about finding those in your organisation who are the natu...

I’ll be honest—creating urgency hasn’t always come naturally to me.

I like calm. I like peace. I don’t enjoy adding pressure.

But I’ve learned the hard way that comfort kills change. If people don’t feel the weight of the problem, they won’t move.

Blackberry once owned 20 % of the mobile market. Five years later, they’d lost 75 % of it—all because they stayed comfortable.

So, where in your leadership have things become too comfortable? What pain point have you been tolerating instead of tackling?

Sometimes leade...

Leadership isn’t just about strategy or vision. These are important aspects of leadership. However without today’s topic your strategy and vision are likely to fall over.

It’s about character. The unadvertised side of leadership is facing your own doubts, blind spots, and flaws.

When you trust yourself and show up authentically, your influence grows. When insecurity creeps in, it shrinks.

Ask yourself: What personal doubts are limiting my influence? Which character flaw do I need to face head-on? Who can help me see what I can’t?

The stronges...

The Unadvertised Side of Leadership: Feeling Like a Fake

Ever felt like a complete fake in leadership?

I have.

When I first started sharing leadership content, I thought, “Who am I to do this?” It felt unnatural, even wrong. But here’s the truth: confidence doesn’t usually come first. It comes after action.

Each time we step into something new—running a meeting, pitching, having a tough conversation—it feels uncomfortable. But the more we do it, the more natural it becomes. You’re not f...

Everyone else saw a giant.

David saw an opportunity.

When Goliath stood before Israel’s army, the seasoned warriors froze. They measured the risk and stayed put. David stepped forward. Not because the giant was smaller than everyone thought, but because he told himself a different story.

Leaders face giants every day—an intimidating competitor, a tough boardroom conversation, the fear of stepping into the unknown. Most people hesitate. Some retreat.

But influence doesn’t come from waiting until the odds are perfect. It comes from m...

When was the last time you had real space to think?

I downloaded a “harmless” little numbers game on my phone. Within weeks, it was everywhere—waiting in line, on my day off, even stealing moments I’d normally use to reflect. It was eating my thinking time.

As leaders, space isn’t a luxury—it’s fuel. Without it, our decisions become reactive, creativity dries up, and resilience thins.

Here’s the truth: busyness is a choice. Protect small pockets of space and you’ll find clarity, energy, and focus again.

Try this: 15 qu...

Perseverance isn’t glamorous—but it’s the trait that keeps leaders standing when others quit. From small-scale failures to high-stakes setbacks, discover how to separate emotion from action, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward. Build the resilience that turns leadership challenges into lasting influence.

Reflection Question
When was the last time you wanted to quit—and what helped you push through instead?

Leadership isn’t always inspiring speeches and big wins—it can hurt. But that pain isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign you’re working with real people, in real relationships. Learn why embracing the discomfort can make you a stronger, more respected leader—and build teams that achieve more together.

Reflection Question:
When was the last time leadership felt uncomfortable, and what did it teach you about yourself?

The unadvertised side of leadership is knowing how much to hold on—and how much to let go. Discover why the sweet spot between control and accountability is where trust, ownership, and results thrive, and how the wrong balance can quietly derail even the most talented teams.

Reflection question:
Where in your leadership do you need to loosen control or raise accountability to create greater ownership and trust?

The unadvertised side of leadership? Your mindset shapes your influence more than you think. Discover how a simple shift—from I can’t to How could I?—can turn roadblocks into breakthroughs. Learn from Bertha’s bold journey and see how growth thinking can transform your leadership and legacy.

Reflection Question
When faced with a challenge, what’s the first story you tell yourself—and how would that story change if you applied a growth mindset instead?

Leadership brings greater risk of burnout—yet few talk about it. Discover three powerful habits that help leaders avoid emotional exhaustion, maintain balance, and lead with clarity. Because protecting your wellbeing isn’t selfish—it’s essential if you want to sustain your influence and impact.

One of the most unadvertised parts of leadership? Facing your blind spots. In this episode, we explore how real growth comes not from praise, but from the honest feedback we often avoid. Great leaders don’t just speak—they listen, reflect, and grow from what they didn’t see coming.

#LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #Empowerment #WorkingGeniusMasterFacilitator

www.shanekuchel.com
📧 shane@shanekuchel.com
📱 @‌shanekuchel

Adversity isn’t a detour—it’s the path to greater influence.

In this episode, we explore how embracing hardship can shape your leadership, deepen your wisdom, and strengthen your impact. Inspired by Aimee Mullins’ story, discover why adversity, when embraced, becomes a catalyst for growth, gratitude, and courageous leadership.

#LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #Empowerment #WorkingGeniusMasterFacilitator

www.shanekuchel.com
📧 shane@shanekuchel.com
📱 @‌shanekuchel

Leadership isn’t always about being quick to speak. Am I speaking to impress? Or am I slowing down to connect?

Being direct is often praised in leadership—but is it always best? In this episode, we bust the myth that bluntness equals effectiveness. Discover why clarity with kindness is what truly drives trust and impact. Learn how to lead conversations that are both honest and human.

More messages, more meetings, more updates... it feels like communication, but it often creates confusion. This episode challenges the idea that more communication leads to better results and shows why clarity, not quantity, is what teams actually need. Stop flooding inboxes—start speaking with focus.

Email feels safe—measured, efficient, professional. But when emotion is involved, written words can do more harm than good. In this episode, we explore why clarity on the screen doesn’t guarantee clarity in the mind—and why great leaders pick up the phone when it matters most. Comfort or connection? You choose.

“Gen Z just won’t talk.” “Boomers need a meeting for everything.” Sound familiar? In this episode, we bust the myth that different generations can't communicate. The truth? Everyone can communicate—they’ve just been shaped differently. Learn how empathy, context, and simple coaching can bridge the gap and strengthen your team.

Think saying it once is enough? Think again. In this episode, I unpack one of the biggest myths in leadership communication: that one message is all it takes. From school drop-offs with my kids to leading teams through change, I’ve seen the power of repetition firsthand. Communication isn’t about what you said—it’s about what they heard, remembered, believed, and acted on. Tune in and learn why intentional redundancy might just be your most underrated leadership tool.

Think great teams avoid conflict? Think again. In this episode, we bust the myth that conflict is a leadership failure—and reveal how, when handled well, it becomes a powerful tool for clarity, trust, and innovation. Don’t fear conflict. Learn to lead through it—and watch your team grow stronger.

As leaders, we often think our role is to speak, direct, and decide—but what if our greatest influence starts with listening? In this episode, we explore why the higher you rise, the more you need to close the power gap. Because when leaders stop listening, teams stop speaking.

“Don’t we already have too much communication?” It’s a fair question—and one I used to believe myself. But what if the problem isn’t the amount of communication, but the quality of it? In this episode, we unpack why great leaders don’t reduce communication—they refine it to build clarity, trust, and results.

Think communication is just a nice-to-have skill for leaders? Think again. In this episode, we bust the myth that communication is simply part of the job—and reveal why it is the job. Discover how intentional communication can reduce conflict, build trust, and unlock your team’s full potential.

True leadership isn’t about clinging to your team—it’s about empowering them to grow and evolve, even if it means they might leave. In this episode, explore the surprising strength that comes from letting go, how relinquishing control can actually elevate your influence, and why the best leaders help others soar, even when it means watching them fly off on their own.

Want to become a leader people love to follow? It starts with making them feel seen, heard, and valued. In this episode, discover the underestimated leadership skill that makes a lasting impression, builds loyalty, and creates teams that thrive. When people feel truly valued, they bring their best. And the best leaders? They never underestimate the power of a well-timed word or gesture.

We spend nearly half our time listening—yet most of us aren’t very good at it. In this episode, we explore how active listening can unlock influence, build trust, and deepen connection. Most leaders think they’re good listeners. Most are wrong. But the good news? Listening is a skill you can build.

Influential leaders don’t just meet expectations—they quietly exceed them. In this episode, discover the subtle power of under-promising and over-delivering, and why this simple discipline earns trust, builds influence, and turns ordinary moments into lasting impressions. If you want to increase your leadership impact, it might be time to stop trying to impress and start aiming to surprise.

The best leaders don’t rise to influence because they’re always inspired—they lead because they’re disciplined. In this episode, discover why consistency is more powerful than charisma, and how building disciplined daily habits shapes the kind of leader people trust and want to follow. If you want long-term impact, you can’t rely on short-term motivation. You need discipline.

Selective vulnerability is a powerful—and often underestimated—leadership skill. When leaders share their imperfections thoughtfully, they build trust, deepen connections, and inspire genuine loyalty. In this episode, discover how strategic vulnerability can strengthen your influence, create authentic relationships, and why being real is more impactful than appearing perfect. Learn to lead with authenticity, and watch your team's engagement soar.

Dealing with difficult people is one of leadership’s greatest challenges—but it’s also one of the greatest opportunities for influence.

I remember a situation years ago. I had been brought in to transform a team. The first thing I did was to meet with every person individually and hear their story. One of the team, evidently a leader and very talented man got straight to the point. ‘What are you going to change?’ I said, ‘nothing is certain. I want to hear people’s stories first. Then I will know if I’m on the right track. How...

Today’s secret that I am sharing with you is actually the result of what I perceived to be one of my weaknesses. I don’t always seem to be able to think as quickly as others and therefore I have regularly had to give myself a few seconds to process before replying. I often felt this disabled my influence, however over the years I have come to realise that people’s perceptions of me because of my willingness to pause increases my influence.

Most people assume that fast decision-making is a sign of great leader...

Have you ever spoken to a leader who communicates something like: Why should I complement my staff for a good job? I’m paying them aren’t I? Isn’t doing a good job what people should just do?

Well, yes, they are correct. However, I want to consider two companies that I have been interacting with lately. One has a turnover of almost 20% each year. The other has only had people leave because they are geographically moving due to their family situations. In one, employee engagement is low. In the other, productivity, creativity and self-m...

Most leaders feel pressure to always have the right answer. Society often equates strong leadership with unwavering confidence and knowledge. But the truth is, admitting “I don’t know” is one of the most powerful things a leader can do.

When a leader openly acknowledges uncertainty, it signals confidence rather than weakness. It demonstrates a commitment to learning and fosters an environment where others feel safe to share their thoughts and ideas. A culture that embraces curiosity and exploration often results in more creative problem-solving and innovation.

According to the research from K...

Have you ever been in a meeting where one question completely shifts the conversation? It’s like a lightbulb moment—suddenly, the room is engaged, ideas flow, and people start thinking differently.

Great leaders know that influence isn’t about always having the best answers—it’s about asking the best questions.

The right question does more than just seek information. It sparks curiosity, encourages ownership, and makes people feel valued. Socrates built an entire teaching method around this idea, and modern leadership research backs it up. A study by MIT found that...

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately sensed who the leader was—before they even spoke? Humans have this unspoken ability to sub-consciously create our own pecking order. Yes, just like chickens, people in a room will unconsciously decide who has the greatest power and where we belong within that pecking order. And we will then act accordingly in order to stay safe, to stay within our zone.

However, when we are conscious of this, we can change this dynamic.

Research by Dr. Amy Cuddy on power poses and bo...

If you’ve ever walked into a meeting and felt the need to fill every silence with words, you might be missing a huge opportunity. Silence, when used strategically, is an incredibly powerful leadership tool.

In my early leadership journey, I assumed influence came from having the right answers and speaking confidently. If I’m honest, that belief still lingers. We watch sitcoms where people deliver the perfect comeback at the right time, and we think we must do the same to be influential.

But over time, I learned a hard lesson—people don’t...

I have read many staff self-reflections in my time, and most of them include something like, “I’d like more responsibility. I want to learn more. I want to contribute in new and bigger ways. I’d love to move up in the organization.”

This is fantastic. It’s inspiring when people want to grow, learn, and lead. Leadership often comes with financial rewards, greater autonomy, and increased status. These are the things that entice us toward leadership.

However, what we rarely discuss is the price of leadership.

This is...

Do you as the key leader of your team feel like you are the only one driving creativity and innovation? Have you ever sort your team’s creative input and received crickets?

Creativity and Innovation don’t happen in environments where people are afraid to fail. If your team avoids risks, it’s likely not because they don’t have ideas—it may well be because they don’t feel safe enough to share them.

Let me pause and tell you something I have learnt about myself. According to the Working Genius; I ha...

Conflict and accountability—two words terrible leaders dread and great leaders embrace. Here’s the key question: When you hear these words do you know you have a good process in place, or are you reaching to do it well?

Terrible leaders avoid conflict like the plague. When issues arise, they either sweep issues under the rug, hoping they’ll resolve themselves or they erupt, causing fear. Spoiler alert—the issues don’t go away by hiding them and erupting is eroding positive culture. Over time, they create an environment where no one takes ownership because ev...

The first significant leadership role I had made an indelible mark on me.  I was looking after a rag tag bunch of muso's at my local church.  I was 13 years old!  And I am not sure that I really did a great job either! But somehow, I grew the team and helped us all to function well together well together. It was incredibly fulfilling as a young man to have such opportunity and responsibility.  My heartfelt thanks goes out to Richard Ansoul who was the visionary leader who believed in me and encouraged me to lead at such a youn...

Today’s episode dives into a crucial but often overlooked leadership trait, especially for leaders in Australia: cultural awareness. Terrible leadership ignores this entirely, managing teams as if cultural differences don’t exist. But great leaders understand that fostering environments where diverse voices are heard, valued, and respected is vital. So, let me ask you: Do you think through your team members' responses and actions in light of their cultural background?

Each person on your team brings unique cultural influences that shape their behaviour, communication, and problem-solving. I recently caught up with a business owner from...

Work is about what we output right? So naturally it is very easy for us as leaders to focus predominantly on the ‘what’ of work—delegating tasks, monitoring deadlines, and measuring outputs—while ignoring the ‘who’. These teams become cogs in a machine, expected to perform without guidance or growth. And this approach does deliver short-term results, but it’s a recipe for burnout, disengagement, and high turnover in the long run.

Think about it: if all you do is delegate, you’re telling your team, “Your only value here is what you produce” and that’s demoralising...

This morning’s episode comes directly out of the ‘Shane didn’t get it right playbook’. In this particular incident, I had been working with one of my teams to test out a new product which was going to mean our events went to the next level. I didn’t think that anyone in my other teams would be concerned and so we went ahead and trialled it without communicating this to my broader team.

Well, I was wrong. When the broader team started finding out about it, there were concerns. Now because I invite feedback...

Change is a constant in leadership, yet how we respond to it shapes the culture, trust, and effectiveness of our teams.

As there often is, our personalities will determine how we react to change. Let’s consider these questions:

When you can see that a change in direction or project may be beneficial, do you hold off in favour of staying with the safe option? Is your mantra to ‘just stay with the tried and true’? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions you might have the Working Geniuses of Enablement or Tenacit...

How confident are you in your ability to make good decisions—especially under pressure or when faced with uncertainty?

Every decision-maker falls somewhere along a spectrum. On one end, we have the ‘impulsive’—those who jump into decisions without much thought, relying heavily on intuition or gut feelings. On the other end, there’s the ‘paralysed’—those who overanalyse and second-guess, often struggling to decide at all. Neither extreme leads to consistently great outcomes, and most of us can lean one way or the other depending on the situation.

The goal is balance. A gr...

Today, we’re diving into a habit that crushes morale, smothers creativity, and drives good people out the door: micro-managing.

Before we continue, micro-management is a dirty word in leadership and yet the reality is it often comes from wanting to ensure things are done perfectly or by those who feel deep responsibility to ensure the outcomes are excellent.

Let me tell you a story. I spent some time with a team and the leader some time ago. The team were feeling incredibly disengaged. And there were rumblings within the team th...

Have you worked in a team where everything was overly policy driven? Did it feel like projects had to go through multiple hands, or that no one was willing to make a final decision for fear of what might happen if it failed? These are strong indicators of lack of trust.  See, trust is the cornerstone of every high-performing team. It is essential for stronger profits and better culture.

I remember working on a Board where we wanted to sell a small parcel of land. It should have been a very quick and easy process. H...

How well do you manage your emotions, especially in the thick of stress, and how effectively do you respond to the emotions of others?

Think about it—if one of your staff were asked to rate you in emotional intelligence, how do you think they’d score you? Here’s a scale to consider:

Do you hide your emotions at work, keeping everything under wraps?

Do you show your emotions in healthy ways, balancing transparency with professionalism?

Or does your team know every emotion you feel, every time y...

When was the last time you spoke about your Vision with your team? Not in a presentation or some high-level meeting but in a way that connected to the task at hand?

Over the next few weeks we’re breaking down common pitfalls that hold leaders back and how to rise above them. Today, we’re talking about the importance of vision—or, more accurately, what happens when leaders forget about it.

Here’s the big question: Do you have a clear and compelling vision that inspires your team? Having a vision i...

If you have the Genius of Tenacity, you might see a slogan like "I just get stuff done" as a personal mantra. People with this genius thrive on completing tasks and don’t stop until the job is done. They bring an intense commitment to execution, a drive that propels projects forward and ensures results.

The Working Genius model is designed to help people understand what brings them energy and satisfaction in their work. Each of the six Working Geniuses represents unique strengths that enhance productivity and team cohesion. In this series, we’re exploring each...

Are you someone who finds energy in supporting others and filling in gaps, even if unnoticed? You might have the Genius of Enablement.

The Working Genius model provides self-awareness about what energises you at work and can enhance your productivity. Each Working Genius type represents unique strengths, and during this series, we have been exploring these traits to help you better understand what your Working Genius may be.

I believe a prime example of the Genius of Enablement is Oprah Winfrey, who has an extraordinary ability to empathise with her audience...

Do you get excited about motivating your team? Do you love to get up in front of the crowd? To rally the troops? You might have the Working Genius of Galvanising.

I am spending a number of episodes running through the Working Genius model: It is a self-awareness model which helps you understand what brings you joy and energy in your work. Being a model that directly correlates to the work process, it helps us and our teams become more productive at work.

The Genius of Galvanising is about rallying and...

Steve Jobs likely had the Genius of Discernment. When visiting Xerox, he spotted unused technologies like the mouse and graphical interface and immediately felt they were the future of computing. He returned to Apple and incorporated them into the early Macintosh. Jobs often said he didn’t come up with many ideas, but he had a gut feeling about what would work—this is the essence of Discernment.

I am spending a number of episodes running through the Working Genius model: It is a self-awareness model which helps you understand what brings you joy and ener...

Do you love coming up with ideas? Or do you find yourself frustrated because someone you know keeps coming up with ideas and you wish they’d stop?!

I am spending a number of episodes running through the Working Genius model: It is a self-awareness model which helps you understand what brings you joy and energy in your work. Being a model that directly correlates to the work process, it helps us and our teams become more productive at work. 

Now, if your friends and colleagues call you an ideas man. Or...

I have always loved self-awareness tools. Actually, I believe the better we know ourselves the better we can lead others. What sets the Working Genius Tool apart is it’s simplicity. It is so simple that it can be implemented into teams in the matter of a few hours. And I have literally seen the difference in productivity and positive culture within a matter of minutes. It is an incredible tool. Over the next few weeks I am going to unpack each of the working geniuses. See if you can figure out your genius.

The fi...

Your words create worlds.  Carey Nieuwhof, renowned podcaster says, ‘Leaders, your words create worlds’.

Nieuwhof has written an excellent article relating to the words spoken by Donald Trump and the ensuing assault on Captial Hill by his followers, and I whole-heartedly agree with this thought.  Trump might believe that his words did nothing, however I wholeheartedly agree that the incident on Capital Hill could have been avoided if Trump had spoken differently that day.  Leaders, your words create worlds.

As leaders it is important to recognise how powerful our words are, whether we like it...

Fear of rejection is something that many of us struggle with, especially in leadership roles where decisions are scrutinised and risks are high. But understanding how to manage and overcome this fear can make all the difference in how we lead and grow. Jia Jiang’s "100 Days of Rejection" and Dale Carnegie’s wisdom offer powerful insights into conquering the fear of rejection.

Jia Jiang, an entrepreneur, decided to tackle his fear of rejection head-on through a unique experiment he called "100 Days of Rejection." For 100 days, Jiang deliberately put himself in situations where he expected to b...

When I was little kid I grew up in the country and we had a big woodshed. I regularly played down there with friends.  However there were red-back spiders galore in that shed. Now, I’d been taught that Red Back Spiders were dangerous and to be careful. However, the more that my friends and I squashed them, the more that we realised that we were much bigger and uglier than they were and that those tiny little arachnids were nothing to be afraid of!

Years later, I woke up with a huntsman on my pil...

In my podcast last week, I spoke of a time when I stuffed up as a leader and it led to difficulty, anxiety, lack of productivity and focus for my team. Make sure to check out last week’s episode if you would like to find out about the first two lessons I learnt. 

Since then I have had opportunity to implement the lessons I learnt, so here are two more lessons I have learnt because of that experience. As I have implemented these my teams have continued working towards our collective vision with greater vig...

This week I am looking at the topic of dealing with fear within your teams. However, ironically, the answers I am about to give have nothing to do with changing your team, or the people, or the actions in your team. 

Let me tell you a personal story.

Early in my career I found myself leading a number of teams. I found myself under a lot of scrutiny. I was told that I was doing my job wrong from people who frankly had no idea. But, of course as a young l...

CEO, author and key-note speaker, Shola Richards tells a story about a really difficult time in his life. In fact his despair led him to attempting to take his own life. After this happened, Shola was sitting with his Dad who gave this advice. 

Shola, be the buffalo and not the cow. 

Shola, be the buffalo and not the cow. 

He explained that when a storm approaches, the cow instinctively runs away, but as the storm overtakes it, the cow continues to run in the same direction, prolonging its tim...

Have you found yourself with a team member who is not performing because of fear and anxiety? Have you had a team member who you struggled to lead because they were dealing with anxiety?

Before I go further, let me clarify. I’m not here to teach you professional techniques for dealing with extreme anxiety. It’s important as leaders to understand our boundaries and refer on when necessary.

If you are trying to support someone who is facing anxiety, coming at the issue head on often won’t work. Let me exp...

Leadership often comes with a fair share of anxiety, whether it’s stepping into a high-stakes meeting, delivering a critical presentation, or making tough decisions under pressure. For many executives and senior leaders, these moments of anxiety can undermine confidence and performance. However, groundbreaking research by Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist and Harvard Business School professor, offers a practical and accessible solution: power poses.

Amy Cuddy's research, which she shared in her TED Talk "Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are," has resonated with millions around the world. With over 25 million views, her talk is one of...

Alright, here’s a statistic straight from my own research. And if you think it's off, feel free to send me a letter of objection! 100% of leaders will experience some level of anxiety at some point in their careers.

Over the years, I've met hundreds, if not thousands, of leaders, and whenever the topic of leadership anxiety arises, not a single person has told me they've never experienced it.

Here is my disclaimer: I work with leaders who want to empower their people - so I have not spent a lot of...

The next couple of podcast episodes are on a topic that I hear about from leaders regularly but only when we really know each other. Fear. 

Fear is not something that leaders like to talk about and yet, the deeper that I come to know leaders the more I realise this is a regular emotion for leaders.

I have had to deal with my own fears and anxieties as a leader and see that any leadership role comes with pressure which leads to fear or anxiety. The questions that go through a...

If I came to you and said I could help you earn significantly more than you are earning now by improving one thing, would you be interested? People with high emotional intelligence, or EQ, earn up to $29,000 more per year than those with lower EQ! That’s worth considering, right?

I want to share a personal example: Some time ago, one of my team wrote a 7 page letter to the board where I was working with a whole bunch of things I was doing wrong and effectively asked them to fire me. You can imagine, it...

The first couple seasons of Ted Lasso were fantastic! In season 1 there are even some great lessons about leadership. And the writers seemed to find a way to keep it real and comedic at the same time. 

However this morning I want to use the part of the story throughout season 2 where Ted finds himself curled up in a ball in the middle of a game with what appears to be an anxiety or fear issue. He starts going to see the team counsellor. It is a difficult process for him.  He has spent time wi...

I find myself looking in the mirror and telling myself that my bum is too big all the time!

Actually that is probably not one of the thoughts I have towards myself. But, self-talk is a challenge for all of us at times. I may not talk to myself in front of the mirror, but there have been many times when I have told myself that I am not good enough. We convince ourselves that we don’t deserve to lead. Have you listened to that voice of fear or those thoughts that you don’t me...

The Coronavirus Pandemic might seem like a thing of the past, but its impact lingers. Many people I talk to took it in stride, but a lot of others struggled with their mental health. Personally, I found the isolation tough and had some really difficult days. I started doubting my vision: "Is my dream too big?" "Can I really do what I love and still provide for my family?"

During those times, my wife was my rock. She encouraged me and spoke words of life and courage. It made me realize that we all doubt...

I’ve burnt out!

No, not right now. Early in my career, I often felt burned out every six weeks. It was a relentless cycle of hard work, little sleep, and neglecting self-care, leading to physical sickness, stress, and a sense of being overworked. Eventually, I realised that the problem wasn't my job; it was my lack of self-care.

John Maxwell and psychologist Dr. Les Parrott discuss self-care in their book "25 Ways To Win With People." They highlight the importance of being in a healthy place to effectively lead others. On th...

Over the past couple of weeks, we've been diving into the concept of leveraging your genius within leadership contexts. I strongly believe that exceptional leadership isn't tied to a specific genius but rather to the ability to harness one's unique strengths effectively. In our previous episodes, we delved into Wonder, Invention, and Discernment. If you haven't caught up on those discussions yet, I highly recommend doing so to get a fuller picture. Today, let's explore three more geniuses: Galvanising, Enablement, and Tenacity.

Galvanising individuals are like the heartbeat of a team, infusing energy and passion...

In last week's podcast, I emphasised the importance of leading from your geniuses. If you haven't already, I recommend checking it out before diving into this episode. Today, I'll continue exploring the question of which genius is most suited to senior leadership, drawing from Patrick Lencioni's Working Genius philosophy. My view is that no single genius is inherently more suitable for senior leadership than others. What truly matters is leading from your unique design. So, let's delve into three of the geniuses—Wonder, Invention, and Discernment—and how they apply to leadership. We'll cover the remaining geniuses next week. If y...

I was recently talking to a team leader who was struggling in their role. They noticed a colleague who was excellent at gathering people and energising them. People always seemed to be enthusiastic and motivated when interacting with this person. However, this leader didn’t feel that people responded to them in the same way and so the natural inclination was to try to replicate the traits of this other.

I explained that it sounded like their colleague had the Working Genius of galvanising. It is part of their DNA to bring people together and mo...

Dr. Tasha Eurich, an organisational psychologist and best-selling author, has pioneered groundbreaking research shedding light on the intricacies of self-awareness. One of her key insights challenges conventional wisdom: instead of fixating on the elusive "why," Dr. Eurich advocates for the potential of asking "what?"

Traditionally, the quest for self-awareness involves delving into the depths of our psyche to uncover the root causes behind our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. We tirelessly ask ourselves, "Why do I feel this way? Why did I react like that?" However, Dr. Eurich's research suggests that this approach may not always...

Would you believe that research shows only ten to fifteen percent of leaders are as self-aware as they believe they are? Ten to fifteen percent! 

Tasha Eurich and her team studied nearly five thousand people to find out what self-awareness is and the results were fascinating.

They found that there are two types of self-awareness. Internal and external.

Internal self-awareness is the understanding of self. This is incredibly valuable. As a persons awareness of their values, feelings and behaviours increase so does their ‘job and relationship satisfaction, per...

When we talk about leadership, we typically think about aspects of leadership external to self - the person we are leading or the task we are doing.  But the leaders I have enjoyed following the most, are leaders who really know who they are. They understand their strengths and use them. They understand their weaknesses, they don’t try to hide them, but instead seek out people who are strong in those areas.  They use their self-awareness to change how they lead according to what a situation requires, and they use this self-awareness to better relate with their teams in a...

Beatrice Chestnut is the author of the excellent book, the ‘9 types of leadership’. In a nut shell the book considers how our personalities as discussed within the Enneagram model affect our leadership. Chestnut helps us understand ourselves and those we work with better. As our self-awareness increases we are able to lead with greater insight, wisdom and understanding.

I started a new roll some time ago and once I’d signed the contract I reached out to my future staff to start building relationships before I started so we could hit the ground running. One of the...

Embracing continuous improvement focuses on embedding new approaches into the organisation's culture to ensure sustained success. Change is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. It's about fostering a culture that embraces adaptability and innovation. By instituting a change culture, leaders cultivate an environment where your team can thrive and grow towards long term sustainability and profitability no matter what changes around you.

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shane@shanekuchel.com

The Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus, says, ‘Change is the only constant’. ‘Change is the only constant’. We may not like it, but change is happening when we are sleeping! It doesn’t matter what we are doing about change, the world is changing around us! So for you and me as leaders within our organisations, business, churches, and families, we need to ask ourselves if we are prepared to change. The work is not easy and Kotter’s 7th principal for change, ‘sustaining acceleration’, is where many change efforts are derailed.

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In this episode I paint the picture: Could you live for days on end in a maze, not knowing if you are making any progress? John Kotter’s 6th principal, celebrating the small victories helps you and your team to rise above the day to day and to notice how far you have come and how far you have to go. It helps you to stay focussed on the change vision ahead.

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@shanekuchel

shane@shanekuchel.com

It was Easter this last weekend and there is no doubt that I am influenced by the leadership of Jesus Christ. So I decided that this episode would be about empowerment. In my opinion, there is no one who better empowered than Jesus. He is the ultimate example of empowerment. If you are seeking empowerment, check out the words of Jesus. He took the down and outers and created a movement that is the most influential throughout the world today. May you be strengthened and empowered today!

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Let me paint the picture for you. You come up with a brilliant idea. It comes directly out of a complaint from a client, you know how to fix it but it is going to require more than you can do by yourself. You go to your boss and share it. She says ‘no’. Demoralising right? Now, let me put the shoe on the other foot.  You are in the middle of a project, your team member barges into your office with a great idea, and you just don’t have the time.  You say ‘no’. Do either of those scenar...

In John Kotter’s research, he found that most leaders under communicate their vision by a factor of 10. To paint a picture, that’s like if I was to tell you, I went for a 10 hour hike the other day. I got an hour in, sat down, poured water on my head and congratulated myself for a job well done and walked back to the car! Does that make you think about your communication?

Last week on my podcast, I talked about Kotter’s 3rd Principal of change in which we must form a strategic vision.  Once it is f...

Where are you going?! If you and your people don’t understand where you are going and why, you won’t get there! It makes perfect sense right? But, how often have we tried to achieve something without communicating exactly what we are trying to achieve?

John Kotter, change management guru, writes, ‘A useful rule of thumb: if you can’t communicate the vision to someone in five minutes or less and get a reaction that signifies both understanding and interest, you are not yet done with this phase of the transformation process.’  The updated time frame...

Very early in my career I was a part of an organisation in which the key decision maker wanted to implement what I thought was a brilliant concept. However, I watched the organisation unravel because the key leader had not brought along some important stakeholders. Two influential people in the organisation didn’t like the idea and in the end created such discontent that the vision decimated us. People left in droves.

The second of Kotter’s 8 steps of change management is creating a powerful “guiding coalition”; it is about finding those in your organisation who are...

This next few episodes are based on the 8 steps of change management’ by Dr. John Kotter. Being a model from the 90’s, there are plenty of updated models for day to day change management; so I rarely use Kotter’s 8 steps sequentially for change - but I find these principles so helpful in any change.

Kotter’s first principle is ‘create a sense of urgency’. Honestly, I have had to work hard to do this. I am your low friction guy - I don’t want to create stress in the workplace. However, I have learnt that pe...

Let me tell you a story! I was starting a brand new job in an industry that I didn’t really understand. Ever felt like a fish out of water? I understood that my staff were severely disengaged and I was coming onto team to help them engage. Have you felt like you had no idea how to achieve the task ahead? I remember walking into the offices with my staff and seeing the glaring looks.  What are you doing here?

It wasn’t a positive start. I figured that if I was going to get a...

I remember walking through the halls of a new workplace and seeing a bunch of the values plastered over the walls.  It excited me to be working in a place where the values resonated with me. However it didn’t take me long to find out that one of the values, in particular, was not adhered to at all.  Have you ever found yourself in that situation? How did it leave you? Did you last long there?

When we find our actions or the actions of our workplace at odds with our proclaimed values, a very uneasy schi...

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There is so much confusion about Vision and Mission Statements! I have been confused more than once myself!  Why have two statements that seem to be the same thing?  Well, they may be similar but they are both incredibly important. If used well, they will help you to define two different parts of your journey.

A Vision describes where you are going.  It is that distant mountain peak that you are aiming for.  The Mission Statement is your ‘how’ in the day to day.  How will we achieve the Vision? <...

Something that really energises me is hiking! One of my favourite local spots, Bally Mountain, is a pretty significant climb - but the reward for reaching the summit is an almost 360 degree view of the Gold Coast. It’s breathtaking!

When I’m hiking I am reminded of vision because, a good vision is the end point for your journey. A good vision tells us where we are going; it inspires you, your team and your organisation; it tells your clients of the great things that are going to be achieved and importantly, helps your team determine a st...

The first significant leadership role I had made an indelible mark on me.  I was looking after a rag tag bunch of muso's at my local church.  I was 13 years old!  And I am not sure that I really did a great job either! But somehow, I grew the team and helped us all to function well together well together. It was incredibly fulfilling as a young man to have such opportunity and responsibility.  My heartfelt thanks goes out to Richard Ansoul who was the visionary leader who believed in me and encouraged me to lead at such a youn...