This week’s episode of Battling with Business takes a unique twist, as host Gareth Tennant is interviewed by Dr Lisa Lloyd on her podcast, Beyond the Water Cooler. In a wide-ranging conversation, Gareth shares insights from his military background and explores how these lessons can be applied in the world of business and leadership.

Together, they delve into the critical difference between strategy and tactics, highlighting why understanding both is essential for effective decision-making. Gareth explains the concept of Mission Command, a military philosophy that fosters empowerment, autonomy, and psychological safety—key ingredients for building resilient, high-performing teams.

The discussion also emphasises the value of mastering the basics, allowing individuals and teams to focus their mental bandwidth on handling the unexpected. Gareth shares practical ideas on how to train people to become comfortable with uncertainty, rather than simply reacting to it.

The episode concludes with a compelling story about a coffee shop chain struggling with brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. Through a wargaming exercise, Gareth helped them identify a need for frontline judgement training—empowering staff with guidelines rather than rigid rules. The shift not only improved employee morale but also enhanced the customer experience.

Whether you’re leading in a boardroom or on the battlefield, this episode offers practical leadership lessons on autonomy, adaptability, and decision-making under pressure.

🎧 Listen now to discover how military thinking can transform your business approach.

If you would like to hear more from Lisa Lloyd then check out 'Beyond the watercooler' at the link below.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/beyond-the-water-cooler/id1608058237

In the second part of our Influencers series on Joseph Stalin, hosts Chris and Gareth dive deep into Stalin's rise to power, his manipulation of leadership dynamics, and his long-lasting impact on global politics. Drawing comparisons to modern influencers like Donald Trump and recent events such as tariff wars, they explore how powerful figures can shift the world order.

This episode examines Stalin’s consolidation of power, including the elimination of rivals like Trotsky and Kirov, the Holodomor famine caused by forced collectivization, and the culture of fear that stifled opposition—paralleling toxic leadership in today’s workplaces. The discussion also covers Stalin’s complex relationship with Hitler, the Soviet response to WWII, and the geopolitical fallout of the Potsdam Conference and the Cold War.

Gareth and Chris conclude by reflecting on Stalin’s brutal legacy, including the purges of scientists and doctors, and the ongoing romanticization of his regime despite its horrors. They unpack the psychological and organizational lessons leaders today can learn from Stalin’s example—both in what to emulate and what to avoid.

Listen now for insights into leadership, influence, and how historical patterns continue to shape today’s political and corporate environments.

In this gripping episode of Battling with Business, Chris and Gareth dive deep into the life, leadership, and lasting influence of Joseph Stalin. Framed through the lens of influence, the discussion explores how Stalin’s grip on power extended beyond political control to institutionalised fear, ideological purges, and a legacy that echoes into modern Russia and beyond.

The episode unpacks Stalin’s early life—from his impoverished childhood, physical impairments, and formative education to his calculated persona as a strong, charismatic leader. Chris and Gareth analyse how Stalin's intelligence and interpersonal skills played a key role in his rise through the ranks of the Communist Party, including his first encounters with Lenin and Trotsky.

Listeners will hear a critical breakdown of Stalin’s leadership style: a mix of ideological commitment, brutal pragmatism, and manipulative power plays. The conversation highlights his expansion of the gulag system, his paradoxical stance on protecting the poor, and his personal relationships that reflect both strength and cruelty.

A thought-provoking segment compares Stalin with Adolf Hitler, questioning why Hitler is often viewed as the ultimate symbol of evil in the West, despite Stalin’s higher death toll. The hosts explore public perception, wartime narratives, and the nuanced history of Soviet influence in regions like Ukraine.

This episode sets the stage for a follow-up conversation on Stalin's role during World War II and the enduring relevance of toxic leadership in modern organisations.

In this second instalment of our compelling two-part conversation, Gareth takes the lead as we welcome back Colonel Oliver Lee OBE—former Royal Marines officer and proven civilian leader—for an unflinching and deeply personal exploration of transition, adaptability, and the enduring nature of authentic leadership.

Picking up from where we left off, Oliver shares the emotional and professional turbulence that followed his resignation from the Royal Marines—a decision driven by moral conviction. Far from a smooth exit, he describes the profound disorientation, grief, and practical uncertainties of stepping away from a two-decade military career. With honesty and insight, Oliver details how he rebuilt his belief system, repackaged his skills, and ultimately redefined his purpose in the civilian world.

The conversation delves into the hard truths of career reinvention: from navigating executive search firms and confronting misconceptions about military experience, to discovering that leadership, at its core, transcends uniforms, industries, and job titles. Oliver challenges the notion that military leadership is inherently different, arguing persuasively that values like care, courage, and integrity apply just as powerfully in business and social enterprise.

Together, Gareth, Chris, and Oliver explore what civilian organisations can learn from the military—and vice versa—touching on themes of diversity, adaptability, and the critical importance of surrounding oneself with complementary perspectives. Oliver’s reflections on inclusion, emotional resilience, and leading in unfamiliar contexts make for a rich and inspiring listen.

🎙️ Whether you're a senior leader, a transitioning professional, or just starting your journey, this episode offers powerful lessons in courage, humility, and growth—on both sides of the uniform.

🔔 Subscribe to Battling with Business for more conversations that get to the heart of leadership, strategy, and the human dynamics that shape them. And if you missed our first episode with Oliver, go back and catch up—these stories are too important to miss.

In this powerful episode of Battling with Business, Chris is joined by Colonel Oliver Lee OBE, a former Royal Marines officer and internationally respected leader, for a compelling discussion on leadership, integrity, and moral courage.

From leading Royal Marines on operations to shaping organisational culture at the highest levels, Oliver shares his unique leadership journey, starting with a playground protest at age ten and culminating in senior command roles in Afghanistan and Whitehall. He speaks candidly about the principles that guided him throughout his career, the importance of putting people first, and the moral strength needed to lead authentically—even when it comes at personal cost.

Together, Chris and Oliver explore the difference between individual and institutional moral courage, using case studies like Sgt Al Blackman to demonstrate the complexity and stakes involved. The conversation delves into Oliver’s controversial experience during the Sgt Al Blackman incident in Afghanistan, and his eventual resignation in protest—a move driven by his belief that the issue went far deeper than one individual.

They also discuss the tensions between personal values and organisational culture, especially in high-pressure environments, and the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian leadership. Oliver’s reflections on vulnerability, responsibility, and the importance of authentic leadership provide a rich source of inspiration and insight for anyone leading in complex systems.

🎙️ This is a must-listen episode for leaders in all fields—military, business, or public service—who are grappling with questions of integrity, culture, and the courage to do what’s right.

🔔 Subscribe to Battling with Business for more conversations that get to the heart of leadership, strategy, and the human dynamics that shape them. Be sure to catch our upcoming follow-up with Oliver, where Gareth leads the next phase of this important discussion.

In this thought-provoking episode of Battling with Business, Chris and Gareth tackle a topic that’s often the butt of jokes and frustration: bureaucracy. But rather than dismissing it, they make a compelling case for why bureaucracies are essential to the smooth functioning of complex systems—from air travel safety to food distribution and nuclear waste management.

They explore how well-designed bureaucracies can drive efficiency, enable innovation, and ensure that large-scale operations don’t descend into chaos. While acknowledging that bureaucracy can be slow, inefficient, or overly rigid, they argue that the real issue lies not in the idea of bureaucracy itself, but in how it’s managed—and by whom.

Chris and Gareth challenge the populist narrative that sees bureaucracy as needless red tape, suggesting that reform should be led by experts with a deep understanding of systems, rather than those looking for easy wins or headlines. They discuss the importance of short feedback loops, safe-to-fail environments, and the kind of intellectual curiosity that encourages thoughtful change over reckless disruption.

The conversation also touches on the geopolitical risks of cutting foreign aid and dismantling key bureaucratic functions without understanding their consequences—highlighting, for example, the vital role bureaucracy plays in international stability and diplomacy.

This episode is a robust defence of structure, process, and institutional memory, and a reminder that behind every system that works, there are usually dedicated people quietly making it happen.

🔔 Subscribe to Battling with Business for more insightful discussions on leadership, strategy, and the systems that shape our world. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to share it and let us know what topics you’d like us to cover next!

olarising nature of Trump’s policies and whether time—and the benefit of hindsight—is essential in fairly judging his effectiveness as a leader.

A major theme in this episode is Trump as a brand. Long before the White House, ‘Trump’ was a household name, and Chris and Gareth dissect how he leveraged that brand for influence and profit while in office. They delve into the moral implications of making money from the presidency, exploring the conflicts of interest this creates, and ask whether the norm-breaking behaviour that fuels outrage is actually the glue that binds his base—many of whom feel frustrated and disenfranchised by the political establishment.

Chris poses the question of how much Trump’s fame—particularly as the star of The Apprentice—shaped his rise to power. This sparks a discussion on actual success versus perceived success, with Gareth arguing that it’s the perception of success that seems to drive Trump above all else.

The episode rounds off with a look at the idea of the 'cult of personality', and how Trump’s magnetic influence has led many supporters to abandon previously held beliefs. Finally, they consider whether his chaotic communication style—flooding the zone with noise or throwing out political ‘dead cats’—is part of a deliberate strategy to distract from more sinister motives, or simply a by-product of managed chaos.

🎙️ This episode brings thought-provoking insights into power, perception, and personality in modern leadership.

🔔 Subscribe to Battling with Business for bold conversations on leadership, influence, and the figures reshaping our world. Don’t miss this conclusion to a fascinating two-part exploration.

Podcast Episode Summary: The Leadership and Influence of Donald J. Trump – Part 1

In this first episode of a two-part series, Chris and Gareth take an in-depth look at the leadership, influence, and controversial legacy of Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States. From his rise as a businessman to his time in the White House, they examine the key traits that made him such a powerful and divisive figure—his charisma, communication style, and unconventional approach to leadership.

How did Trump use branding, media influence, and populism to command loyalty and disrupt traditional politics? Was he a brilliant strategist, a master of persuasion, or simply a product of a changing political landscape? And what can leaders in business and beyond learn from his successes—and his failures?

This is just the first of two episodes exploring Trump’s impact. Be sure to tune in next time as we examine his long-term legacy and the lessons his leadership offers for the future.

🔔 Subscribe now to Battling with Business for thought-provoking discussions on leadership, strategy, and the figures who shape the world around us!