Do you wear "busy" as a badge of honor while still feeling behind? You're not alone. In this powerful conversation with productivity expert Jones Loflin, author of Focused as a Bee, we explore how busyness may be the very thing blocking your goals. Drawing from the focused nature of honeybees, Jones shows that true productivity comes not from doing more, but from doing what truly matters.

Through his TAD framework (Transfer, Automate, Drop), Jones shares practical ways to reclaim your time. He explains how identifying the "micro purpose" behind tasks, breaking projects into small “one jobs,” and even embracing rest—like bees taking 40 naps a day—can boost your effectiveness and reduce burnout.

Jones also uncovers the three main distractions hurting your focus: internal thoughts, external noise, and unclear expectations. His simple strategies help you minimize interference and maximize impact. The key takeaway: performance improves when we remove what's getting in the way. So—what will you eliminate today?

🌐 Connect with Jones:
• Website: https://jonesloflin.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonesloflin/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonesloflin/

📚 You can purchase Jones' books on Amazon:
• Focused As A Bee: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0976688263/
• Juggling Elephants: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591841712/
• Always Growing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0976688239/

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Kumar Parakala delivers a timely wake-up call for leaders stuck in outdated models amid the rise of AI and digital disruption. Drawing from his experience building billion-dollar digital businesses and advising prime ministers, he argues that rigid hierarchies and authoritative styles are no longer effective. Instead, leadership today demands empathy, agility, and a clear sense of purpose.

Kumar boldly states, “AI will take your job,” but urges leaders to see this as evolution, not extinction. His seven principles for disruptive leadership—like embracing purpose, challenging norms, and practicing radical accountability—offer a roadmap for staying relevant in a fast-changing world.

Most importantly, Kumar emphasizes that human skills like empathy and connection will be more valuable than ever. As machines handle complex tasks, true leadership will be measured not by titles, but by impact. His message is clear: lead the change or be left behind.

🌐 Connect with Kumar:
• Website: https://kumarparakala.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumarparakala/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kumarparakala/

📚 You can purchase Kumar's book on Amazon:
• Lead to Disrupt: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637352611/
• Luminary Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637352018/

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✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

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Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach before speaking to a group? That flutter of fear that makes you question whether you should just stay quiet? What if that sensation isn't weakness but potential trying to break through?

Following my powerful conversation with Israel Duran—who transformed from a boy who would get in trouble to avoid public speaking into a globally sought-after speaker—I'm sharing my own framework for turning speaking anxiety into impact. At the heart of this transformation is what I call the Competence-Confidence Cycle. Unlike what many believe, you don't need to feel confident before taking action. When you take even imperfect steps, you build competence, which naturally grows confidence, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.

Great speaking isn't about charisma but clarity. I outline how focusing on just 1-3 memorable points creates more impact than overwhelming your audience with information. Learn why the strategic use of silence—the power of the pause—might be the most transformative speaking tool you're not using. Discover how storytelling and metaphor can move your message from intellectual understanding to emotional connection, making your ideas stick long after your words fade.

The next time fear rises before you speak, recognize it not as an obstacle but as a signal that you're about to do something meaningful. This awareness itself is transformative. Remember that effective speaking isn't about perfection but presence. Speak with purpose, with clarity, and with a desire to serve rather than impress. Each time you step forward despite your fear, you strengthen this muscle until one day, speaking becomes not just something you can do, but something you love to do.

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✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

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📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

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...

What if the very thing you fear most holds the key to your greatest impact? For Israel Duran, that fear was public speaking—a challenge so intimidating that, as a young boy with a stutter, he would deliberately get into trouble just to avoid addressing his class. But what once silenced him has now become the foundation of his purpose. Israel has turned his childhood struggle into a powerful mission, helping leaders harness the art of speaking to grow their businesses and amplify their influence.

In this deeply personal conversation, Israel reveals that effective communication isn’t about polished delivery—it’s about authentic connection and clarity. He shares how vision shapes voice, and that vision often comes from the voids we see in the world. His journey from silence to significance challenges us to reframe our past struggles as sources of strength and inspiration, rather than setbacks.

Israel also unpacks his proprietary “Service of Speaking Framework,” developed over nearly a decade of working with leaders across industries. From finding your authentic message—the “Stone level”—to navigating the stages of breakthrough, he offers practical tools for anyone looking to grow their influence through speaking. Whether you're a business leader, a seasoned speaker, or someone seeking the courage to be seen and heard, this episode offers transformative insights into how speaking can become a powerful act of service.

🌐 Connect with Israel:
• Website: https://israelduran.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/israelduran/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/israelduranassociates

📚 You can purchase Israel's books on Am

Send us a text

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

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...

Are you building your workplace culture intentionally, or allowing it to form by default? This question lies at the heart of effective leadership, yet few leaders truly understand how their everyday decisions silently shape what it feels like to work in their organizations.

Culture isn't the aspirational language hanging on your office walls. It's the unspoken rules that govern how decisions get made, how people treat each other, and how your team functions when no one's watching. As we explore in this episode, we get the behavior we role model, celebrate, and perhaps most critically—the behavior we tolerate. When leaders say they value transparency but withhold information, or claim to support work-life balance while sending midnight emails, they create environments of mistrust where actions and words don't align.

Margaret Graziano, bestselling author of "Ignite Culture," brings powerful insights from decades of experience in organizational leadership. Her observation that "people join companies for the mission but stay or leave based on the culture" captures why intentional culture-building matters more than ever in today's competitive landscape. We dig deep into her concept of conscious leadership—creating environments where people feel seen, safe, valued, and empowered—and why this approach transforms both individual performance and organizational outcomes.

One particularly transformative distinction we explore is building "accountability without blame." In toxic workplaces, accountability feels like punishment. In thriving cultures, it's an act of respect—a way of saying, "I believe in you, and I know you're capable of this standard." This shift from fear to empowerment fundamentally changes how people show up, speak up, and step up.

If your leadership energy became the blueprint for your culture, would you be proud of the result? Would people feel they truly matter? The culture you create is a direct reflection of the clarity, consistency, and courage you bring each day. It requires continuous attention—not a set-and-forget approach, but an ongoing commitment to embodying the values you wish to see throughout your organization. Listen now to discover how to lead culture by design rat

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Support the show

✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

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...

What if the workplace friction you face daily isn’t just “how things are” but something you can change? In this eye-opening conversation, Margaret Graziano—bestselling author of Ignite Culture—shares how most dysfunction at work is created, not inevitable. Drawing from decades of experience and research in neuroscience and organizational development, Margie empowers us to stop pointing fingers and start looking within.

Science shows that 75% of employees experience high stress, much of it due to interpersonal conflict. When triggered, our brain’s executive function shuts down, leading to poor decisions. Margie introduces a powerful formula—Performance = Potential - Interference—revealing that removing emotional and relational blockers is just as important as building skills or talent.

This episode delivers practical tools like the SCULPT method to shift from reaction to response and strategies for team alignment. Whether you're a leader or team member, Margie’s insights offer a roadmap to building healthy, high-performing cultures—starting with one powerful question: What role am I playing in the problems I see?

🌐 Connect with Margaret:
• Website: https://www.keenalignment.com/ & https://www.margaretgraziano.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretgraziano/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magigrazi/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@magigrazi/

📚 You can purchase 's book on Amazon:
• Ignite Culture: https://www.amazon.com/dp/164704619X/

Send us a text

Support the show

✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

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...

What if the secret to exceptional customer experience isn't found in customer-facing strategies at all, but in how you treat your own team? This powerful question frames our exploration with Lynn Daniel, CEO of The Daniel Group, who has achieved something remarkable in an industry known for turnover: a team that not only stays but thrives.

"If you're not listening to your people, they'll find the exit, just like customers do." Lynn's wisdom cuts straight to the heart of effective leadership. While companies obsess over customer feedback, they often neglect using those same listening skills with their employees. Lynn's managers are trained listeners who approach team members with genuine curiosity and support. When someone faces personal challenges, even something as serious as cancer, they aren't sidelined—they're supported. This creates the foundation of loyalty that translates directly to customer experience.

Lynn's approach to hiring illuminates another crucial insight: "You can't just hire for skills; you have to hire for culture fit." He seeks collaborators who align with the mission and bring positive energy to the team. For Lynn, culture isn't an abstract concept or a poster on a wall; it's the lived experience of how people treat each other daily. This extends to his leadership style, captured in his philosophy: "If I have to manage your time, you shouldn't be working here." This trust-based approach fosters ownership, empowerment, and ultimately, results. When employees feel properly enabled and trusted, they take initiative without being asked.

What small change could you make today to build a workplace where people choose to stay because they feel seen, supported, and inspired? When you lead with purpose and empathy, people don't just remember—they stay. Subscribe to The Leadership Project for more insights on creating cultures where both employees and customers experience true loyalty and connection.

Send us a text

Support the show

✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

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...

The secret to building customer loyalty might be hiding in plain sight—within your own team. In this fascinating conversation with Lynn Daniel, founder and CEO of The Daniel Group, we uncover the powerful connection between remarkable customer experiences and dedicated employees who stay for decades.

Lynn's story begins with a resourceful decision in the early 2000s to create a remote work environment long before it became mainstream. What started as a financial necessity evolved into a strategic advantage, revealing that when people are trusted rather than monitored, they respond with loyalty and exceptional performance. Through authentic stories and practical wisdom, Lynn shares how genuine empathy, cultural alignment, and respectful leadership have created an environment where people genuinely want to stay.

The conversation explores several game-changing approaches to leadership, including "episodic coaching" that replaces ineffective annual reviews with immediate, context-rich feedback. Lynn's refreshing philosophy—"I'm far more interested in having you beg forgiveness than ask permission"—demonstrates how empowerment and trust become the bedrock of organizational resilience. His three-part mission of having fun, making money, and creating positive impact for clients provides a simple but powerful framework for meaningful work.

Whether you're struggling with high turnover or simply want to create a more engaged workplace, Lynn's insights reveal that the fundamental human desires to feel seen, heard, and valued lie at the heart of both employee loyalty and customer satisfaction. The leadership principles shared go beyond theory—they've been tested through economic ups and downs, proving that values-driven leadership isn't just compassionate, it's competitively advantageous.

🌐 Connect with Lynn:
• Website: https://www.thedanielgroup.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedanielgroup/
• Email: LynnDaniel@thedanielgroup.com

Send us a text

Support the show

✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.

🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers

📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV

If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.

If you're thinking about starting a podcast or upgrading your hosting, Buzzsprout is a great option! This link will give both of us a $20 credit when you upgrade:

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...