Business Leader Breakthroughs

Unlock the power of coaching with simple, effective techniques you can implement in just 15 minutes. Ryan and Mike break down what coaching really is (and what it isn’t), while addressing common barriers like time constraints, lack of confidence, and the misconception that you need all the answers. They share practical ways to shift from telling to asking and guide your team to uncover their own solutions. Learn how short, focused coaching sessions can be easy to schedule, stick to, and deliver big results over time.Discover how to use quick coaching moments to spark growth and build trust, even in day-to-day interactions. By asking transformative questions like “How would you do it?” and offering real-time feedback, you can empower your team to take ownership and boost their performance. Coaching doesn’t need to be formal or time-consuming – start small, stay consistent, and watch your team thrive.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Discover the power of two distinct delegation approaches: task delegation, focusing on efficient task completion, and capability delegation, aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of your team members.Learn to overcome the common "too busy" excuse and embrace delegation as a crucial leadership tool. Ryan and Mike will guide you through a practical framework for successful delegation, including identifying tasks and capabilities to delegate, implementing the "Watch me, then I'll watch you" approach for task delegation, and providing ongoing support and guidance for capability development. Tune in to unlock your team's potential and elevate your leadership to new heights.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Welcome to Business Leader Breakthroughs, where hosts Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby discuss how to excel in challenging but crucial workplace situations: difficult conversations. From managing underperformance to addressing behavioral challenges, this episode dives into strategies, emotional intelligence, and tools for turning tough talks into opportunities for growth.Tune in to learn how to approach conversations with care, respect, and purpose, ensuring positive outcomes for both individuals and the business. Plus, hear insights from real-life leadership scenarios and the Active Manager Program.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the art of clear communication and why it’s critical for effective leadership. Discover how to deliver your message with clarity, listen actively, and create space for meaningful contributions from your team.With practical strategies, real-world examples, and proven frameworks, this episode equips you with the tools to improve communication, strengthen relationships, and build high-performing teams. Perfect for leaders ready to break through communication barriers and drive better results.Check out this guide to powerful communication and team success. Subscribe now for more actionable business breakthroughs!|Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyPodcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby share actionable leadership strategies to help you focus on what matters most. Learn how to prioritize your top three goals, harness the power of dedicated development time, and embrace daily discomfort to fuel growth and resilience.With real-world insights, proven frameworks, and inspiring stories, this episode gives you the tools to lead with purpose, plan for the future, and create meaningful progress. Perfect for leaders ready to carve out space for high-impact work.Don’t miss this guide to intentional leadership and future-focused success. Subscribe now for more practical business breakthroughs!Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyPodcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ever wondered why others don’t think or work like you? In this episode, we dive into the impact of diverse working styles on team productivity. From Drivers to Pioneers, we explore how understanding each style—whether detail-oriented or big-picture—can enhance collaboration and improve outcomes. Join us as we unpack how these differences make teams stronger and offer tips for communicating across styles. Perfect for leaders, managers, and anyone curious about what makes a successful team dynamic.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle a critical issue: how to transform meetings from time-wasters into powerful tools that drive culture and boost team energy. They share strategies to ensure meetings create purpose, accountability, and energy, rather than draining team morale.Join Ryan and Mike as they discuss:Why meetings are essential but often go wrongHow meetings can either boost or kill culturePractical steps to energize your team meetings and increase focusManaging meeting challenges like topic drift, late arrivals, and the "Dominator" effectWhether you’re a CEO, manager, or team leader, learn how to make your meetings work for you, not against you. Tune in to discover ways to create meetings that inspire, align, and drive results.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyPodcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode of Business Leader Breakthroughs, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby tackle the “busyness trap.” We all know the feeling: a week packed with tasks, yet by Friday, we’re not sure what we’ve achieved. Sound familiar? Mike and Ryan dive deep into the Active vs. Reactive mindset, helping leaders refocus on genuine contributions instead of endless to-dos.They discuss:The Pitfalls of "Busy": Why busyness can feel like progress, but often isn’t.Active Mode: A tool for leaders to hit pause, evaluate priorities, and stay present.The Eisenhower Matrix: A simple framework for deciding what’s truly urgent and important.Development Days: Setting aside time for strategic, uninterrupted work that drives real progress.Whether you’re managing a team or a company, this episode helps you break free from the noise and move towards impactful, focused work.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this episode, Ryan Castle and Dr. Mike Ashby explore the concept of mindfulness in the workplace. They discuss how many people operate on autopilot, going through the motions without being fully present. Mike explains that mindfulness isn't just about meditation – it's about being engaged in the moment, especially at work. They share practical ways to build mindfulness into daily tasks and how breaking away from habitual, reactive behavior can unlock true greatness.Key Topics:Understanding mindfulness beyond meditationHow autopilot thinking hinders successPractical tips to bring mindfulness into your workdayHow to identify and overcome reactive habitsThe value of focusing on important, not urgent, tasksTakeaways: Learn how to implement mindfulness at work, improve decision-making, and boost productivity by being fully present and engaged.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Today, we have Micah Lorenc, the owner and head executive coach of Taylor Consulting. With a wealth of experience spanning the spectrum from startups to Fortune 500, Micah is a Gallup-certified StrengthsFinder Coach, guiding individuals and teams towards unlocking their full potential.Micah brings a dynamic perspective to leadership. He's here to share three profound insights that understanding why self-awareness is often underrated, the transformative impact of leaders who know how to coach, and the critical distinction between average leaders focusing on work and great leaders shaping the environment.So, strap in for another insightful journey as we explore the realms of leadership and personal development with Micah Lorenc. Without further ado, let's dive into this enriching conversation!Links:Connect with Micah LorencTailored ConsultingWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Our guest is Chris Morsley, an accomplished entrepreneur and business consultant based in Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Chris is the founder and CEO of CMC Global, a leading consulting firm that provides innovative solutions in strategic planning, marketing, and business development. Throughout his career, Chris has helped numerous clients to achieve their goals and reach new heights of success. Today Chris is sharing his insights and knowledge on charismatic leadership. We discuss that charisma is a trait that can be learned, that storytelling is a number one weapon in successful communication and how Chris fell in love with bungy jumping while filming an Anchor Butter ad in Christchurch. So without further ado, let's dive into our conversation!Links:Connect with Chris via LinkedInCMC GlobalInstagramWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

AA is one of the most trusted and recognised brands in New Zealand, and with over 1300 employees spread across Aotearoa, the leadership responsibility is a big one. Nadine shares that in the first few weeks in her role with the AA, she deliberately spent time on the road with her staff, even learning how to tap starter motor.Nadine shares her top three leadership insights; a great combination of her hard-earned lessons, observations as a leader, and how these helped her to learn how to be her authentic self, and that failure is inevitable in leadership. But it's how you recover from those failures that are important. Links:Connect with Nadine via LinkedInWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Ryan is joined by Mark McConnell, the Global Lead of Learning and Development at Argenta, the world's only CRO/CDMO for animal health. Mark shares his 6 C's of leadership that he sees as the foundational pillars of any great leader. He helps us explore those pillars and shares insights on how they've been observed and applied during his 20-year career.  Mark is also a speaker and an author.  Mark opens up about some difficult times in his life that inspired his book, The Prime of My Days.Links:Official website of author: https://www.primedays.org/Buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-My-Days-Mark-McConnell/dp/1725259540Connect with Mark through his LinkedIn Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Talent is becoming more demanded. Employees have a wealth of opportunities today and the market is very much in their favour. So join Ryan and Mike to see how to keep people at work and how to develop your managers to increase productivity with the people you have. We'll also discuss how to succeed in the labour market through competitive advantage.To attract, keep and get the best from good people, companies have to improve the quality of their operational managers, so building your employer's brand is very important.Links:Research: McKinsey Quarterly ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yoursGallup: It’s the Manager, Moving From Boss to Coach, by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter 2019Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Difficult conversations are part of life. We might want to avoid them, but it is about three things: what happened, feelings and how to keep your balance. Sometimes all you need to do is acknowledge other feelings.Each party will have their version of reality. There’s no such thing as ‘facts’ in a difficult conversation, there is only our interpretation, which is coloured by things like the Truth Assumption, the Intention Invention and the Blame Frame. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan are looking at a real-life examples and the best way to resolve them.Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

Alicia Purtell is a Chief People Officer at Lion with 20 years of experience in People and Culture, strategy, change and organisation development. Alicia has a passion for Coaching and Positive Psychology, bringing this passion to life as a Senior Associate with the Positivity Institute working with not for profits and the education sector.In this episode, Alicia shares her top three leadership insights into being a leader, including what she wished she knew earlier in his career about thinking flexibly and her take on being an authentic leader, including how to stay true to yourself even when your values are being tested. Alicia and Ryan also discuss the loneliness that comes with being at the top and the importance of building a support network We also learn about swimming with sharks. Why Viktor Frankl would be someone to channel, and why creativity is Alicia's superpower.Links Connect with Alicia through her LinkedIn hereYou can find us hereWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

There can be many sources of stress in the workplace, this for the most part is unavoidable. These sources lead to a sense of overload – too much, too hard and/or too soon. What you can control is how you deal with those situations. In this podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the power of gaining control over the situation and your decisions. If you want to reduce your sense of overwhelm, it's time to get comfortable: Getting helpLetting goDelegating Prioritising Listen to the podcast to get in-depth detail on how you can implement any (or all!) of these options at your workplace.Links:Blog: Sources of Stress at Work and How to Combat Them by Mike Ashby, October 2022Where else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

David Mair is the CEO of iconic South Island brand Skellerup and Deloitte Top 200 ‘CEO of the Year 2021’. As a part of the team at Panasonic in Japan, he developed a deep understanding of Kaizen / Kaikaku and Product Development that has helped him develop rapid ways of improving businesses regardless of size.We all know of the famous Red Band gumboots. But how does one take rubber products and turn them into a symbol? David shares how 10 years in Japan and a lifelong commitment to judo have introduced him to a revolutionary way of doing business and helped shape his leadership style to what it is today. He also talks about three essential learnings in his career. The first one is learning by doing, then focusing on structure, then people, then process. And finally the ability to deal when things go wrong, as David says: “It's not people that fail. It's the process”He told Ryan about the kaikaku and kaizen concepts in Japanese production philosophy, which focuses on continuous self-improvement. Kaikaku means a radical change, during a limited time. Kaizen, on the other hand, is a system of incremental system changes.Links Check out Who Stole My Customer?: Winning Strategies for Creating and Sustaining Customer LoyaltyConnect with David through his LinkedIn hereYou can find us hereWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/

The Great Resignation is the idea that after the Covid pandemic, people re-evaluated their lives and left their jobs en masse. It sounds like a cultural movement where people don’t want to work anymore, but really, that's just an excuse used by employers.In this week’s podcast, Mike and Ryan discuss the myth and the copout that helps us avoid evaluating our performance as leaders and managers. The conversation also turns to the latest McKinsey research that confirms the old saying that people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. They share exactly what employees value in their careers and how you can provide this as an employer - and no, it isn't all about money!  Links:Blog The Myth of the Great Resignation, by Mike Ashby, June 2022Research: McKinsey Quarterly ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yoursWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/Blogs: https://thebreakthrough.co/blog/

In this podcast, Ryan interviews Jen Scoular, Chief Executive of New Zealand Avocado, where she shares her three leadership insights: Everyone is different, competency is important and leadership is not the same thing as being at the top.Jen's journey from trade diplomat heading the New Zealand Consulate in Hamburg, Germany to going up against some of the biggest markets in the world to lead (and win!) the campaign for NZ to host the next World Avocado Congress in New Zealand in 2023 has gifted her a unique perspective on being a woman in leadership on the world stage.Ryan and Jen also discuss women in leadership. While the latest Australian statistics are showing that the progress is slow, Jen strongly believes that we have to look at the good things as well. There are some amazing woman leaders doing great things. It’s all about progress and perfection.Links Check out World Avocado Congress 2023 Check out New Zealand Avocado website hereConnect with Jen through her LinkedIn hereYou can find us hereWebsite: https://thebreakthrough.coLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-companyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreakthroughco/Podcast: https://thebreakthrough.co/podcast/