301: Stop Wasting Money on Bad Communication – Celeste Headlee
Bad communication costs businesses $37 billion a year, and chances are, it's costing you too. Celeste Headlee is one of the most watched TED speakers ever and a global authority on conversations. And today, she's going to show you how to save money by communicating better. Plus: she exposes the bad advice you’ve been given by so-called experts.Timestamps00:00 The Cost of Poor Communication01:19 The Inefficiency of Emails04:03 Mastering the Art of Conversation28:21 Switch vs. Support Responses in Conversations29:34 The Impact of Technology on Communication33:29 The Future of Communication and AI
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300: The Power of Saying “I’m Not That” – The Positioning Strategist . Laura Ries
Have you ever struggled to explain what you do, or find it hard to cut through? And no, it’s not about refining your elevator pitch or polishing your LinkedIn bio. It’s about making one crucial decision: what are you not?Because in a noisy world, people don’t remember nuance. They remember contrast.Global brand and positioning strategist Laura Ries argues that the clearest way to stand out as a leader or a company is to pick the right fight. Not out of anger. Out of clarity.She’s spent decades advising global brands. In her new book Pick the Right Fight, she shows why finding your strategic enemy might be the smartest move you ever make.She breaks it down:-Why people don’t buy “better” – they buy “different”-How to become instantly memorable by positioning against something-Why trying to “stay open” often keeps you invisible- And how even something as small as a color, a word, or a tagline can anchor your entire presence.This isn’t theory. It’s about being findable in a world that forgets you in seconds.You’ll leave this episode asking a powerful question:What am I not – and what fight am I really here for?Timestamps00:18 The Power of Strategic Enemies02:12 Visual Branding & Positioning08:53 Brand Focus & Differentiation (Subaru, Tesla, Liquid Death)14:44 Personal Branding & Authenticity24:44 Reflecting on a Legacy25:16 The Evolution of Advertising and Positioning28:45 Modern Branding Challenges and Strategies48:13 Brand Extensions, Pivots & Case Studies
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299: The Science of Influence Every Leader Must Master – Steve Martin
To influence someone, we have to change their minds – or so we have been told. But what if that’s exactly why your message keeps falling flat?In this episode, you'll learn why changing minds is overrated – and how to be influential in today’s world.Our guest is Steve Martin, one of the world’s top minds in behavioral science and longtime business partner of Robert Cialdini, the godfather of persuasion. Steve has spent 20+ years translating psychology into action and is the author of “Messengers” and his new book “Influence at Work”. Here’s what we break down:How you can influence behaviors without changing believesWhat makes people trust you – especially in an era of deepfakes, AI, and "super-distrusters"How to become a messenger worth listening to, not just another voice in the feedIf you want to be more effective in how you show up in the world, this conversation will change the way you think about influence.Find out more about Steve Martin: https://influenceatwork.co.uk/Subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/profile/posts
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298: Why Your Team Is Underperforming - And How to Fix It. Colin M. Fisher
This episode reveals why most teams underperform and how to fix it fast.I sit down with Dr. Colin M. Fisher – Harvard-trained management professor, former jazz musician, and author of the brand new book The Collective Edge – to dismantle the myths most leaders believe about collaboration, trust, and leadership.Forget forced fun, trust falls, and bloated org charts. Fisher explains why most teams are too big, too unclear, and too focused on individual performance – and what it actually takes to build a high-functioning team that delivers.🔥 In this episode:Why adding more people makes your team slower, not smarterThe difference between real trust and the fluff HR sells youHow to reset broken teams without firing anyoneWhat jazz improvisation can teach you about timing, leadership, and collaborationWhy the lone genius narrative is toxic — and how to build systems that reward actual performanceIf you're building teams, leading change, or scaling fast — this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you a blueprint for team performance that actually works.Fisher’s work isn’t theory – it’s been battle-tested in high-stakes environments.👉 Learn more and grab the book at colinmfisher.com💬 Like what you hear? Follow, share, and leave us a review.
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297: From McDonald’s to McKinsey Killer – Atif Rafiq on Reinventing How We Decide and Communicate
Meet the man who scaled Kindle and turned McDonald’s, Volvo, and MGM into truly digital businesses. Atif Rafiq has helped reshape some of the world’s biggest brands by challenging how organizations make decisions and execute bold ideas. As the first Chief Digital Officer in the Fortune 500 and author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Decision Sprint, Atif believes the true competitive edge lies not in execution alone, but in mastering the messy, often misunderstood process of decision-making.Atif breaks down how to foster a culture where problem-solving thrives, people feel heard, and collaboration leads to clarity. He knows what he talks about: Atif led the transformation of McDonald’s customer experience through self-service kiosks and shares how old school carmaker Volvo reimagined its digital strategy.Now as founder of Ritual – an AI-native workspace designed for strategy, product, and cross-functional collaboration – Atif is building what some have called a “McKinsey Killer.” He offers a compelling take on how AI can democratize high-quality problem-solving and why consultants will need to evolve to stay relevant.He also shares his most important piece of communication advice for leaders: seek clarity before you provide it. In a world moving faster than ever, Atif’s approach to thoughtful decision-making, human-centered innovation, and transparent leadership offers a powerful roadmap for change.00:00 Welcome00:19 Establishing a Culture of Problem Solving01:31 Leadership and Cultural Shifts at McDonald's04:12 Digital Transformation at McDonald's07:48 Innovations at Volvo09:18 Decision Sprint: The Book16:58 Methodology for Effective Decision Making18:25 AI and the Future of Decision Making20:03 Introducing Ritual: AI Native Workspace20:58 Key Questions for Exploration and Discovery21:14 Ritual: AI-Powered Collaboration21:38 Overcoming Information Sharing Challenges22:10 Human-AI Collaboration in Ritual22:32 Structuring Problem Spaces with AI23:24 Measuring Confidence in Recommendations23:37 Ritual vs. Traditional Consultants24:44 Future of Consulting in the AI Era28:38 Upskilling and the Next-Gen Knowledge Worker32:47 Challenges and Opportunities for Founders34:41 Building Long-Term Relationships36:05 Advice for Younger Self and Community Building38:39 Final Thoughts and Communication Advice
Speak Like a CEO is the podcast for ambitious leaders who want to become top 1% communicators - and scale themselves and their businesses by mastering the ultimate leadership skill: communication.
Hosted by Oliver Aust - one of the world’s leading voices on leadership communication, bestselling author of Unignorable and Message Machine, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 leaders, unicorn founders, and government leaders - this show pulls back the curtain on how the world’s most effective communicators think, speak, and lead.
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