Strategy, Leadership and Impact

Leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, and influence individuals or groups toward achieving common goals or objectives. It involves creating a vision, setting direction, and motivating people to work collaboratively while fostering an environment that encourages growth, innovation, and resilience.At its core, leadership is about influence, not authority. A great leader earns the trust and commitment of their team, rather than relying solely on positional power. Effective leadership requires a mix of skills, traits, and behaviors, such as: 1. Vision: Setting a clear, compelling direction for the future. 2. Communication: Sharing ideas and expectations in a way that resonates with others. 3. Empathy: Understanding and valuing the perspectives and needs of others. 4. Adaptability: Navigating uncertainty and adjusting strategies as circumstances change. 5. Integrity: Leading by example through honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior. 6. Decision-Making: Making informed and timely choices, often in challenging situations. 7. Inspiration: Energizing and motivating individuals to strive for excellence.Leadership takes many forms, from transformational leadership that drives cultural or organizational change, to servant leadership that prioritizes the growth and well-being of team members. Ultimately, it is about creating positive impact, aligning people's efforts, and enabling them to achieve more together than they could individually.

Avoiding burnout requires a proactive approach to managing stress and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In this episode, our host, Blake Repine, shares 10 strategies that can help you avoid burnout. Everyone is different, and finding strategies that work best for you is essential. If you continue to struggle with burnout despite implementing these strategies, consider seeking support from a mental health professional who can provide personalised guidance. Remember, it's okay not to get it right the first time. Be patient with yourself and keep trying different strategies until you find what works best for you.

In this episode, we talk about identifying the signs of burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwhelming work demands. It can affect various aspects of your life, including your job, relationships, and overall well-being. Recognising the signs of burnout is essential for taking steps to address it.

Psychosocial hazards are hazards that arise from or about the design or management of work, the working environment, and workplace interactions or behaviours and may cause psychological and physical harm. ​ These hazards can lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disorders, musculoskeletal injuries, chronic diseases, and physical injuries following fatigue-related workplace incidents. ​ The body's reaction to these hazards is stress, which can have physiological and psychological effects. ​ While stress is not an injury, frequent, prolonged, or severe stress can cause harm. ​It is essential to manage psychosocial hazards to protect workers' health and safety, reduce costs and disruptions associated with injuries, and improve overall organisational performance and productivity. ​

Understanding financial metrics is essential and can empower CEOs, senior executives, and board members. It's the key to unlocking an organisation's success. In this episode, we will demystify some crucial financial metrics that every business leader should be well-versed in. This will give you the control and confidence to steer your company towards prosperity. By understanding and tracking these key financial metrics, you can make informed decisions to help your business grow and thrive.

Leading by example is an effective way to inspire and motivate others to follow your lead. When you lead by example, you set a positive and influential precedent for those around you. Here are some steps to help you lead by example:  1. Define your values: Clarify your values and the principles that guide your actions. Identify the qualities and behaviours you want to exemplify as a leader. 2. Be authentic: Authenticity is crucial when leading by example. Stay true to yourself and your values. People are more likely to trust and respect a genuine and consistent leader.  3. Demonstrate integrity: Act honestly, fairly, and ethically in all your interactions. Uphold high standards of integrity and be transparent in your decision-making processes.  4. Exhibit professionalism: Maintain a professional demeanour and approach to work. Be punctual, reliable, and organised. Take your responsibilities seriously and demonstrate dedication to your role.  5. Show empathy and respect: Treat others with compassion and respect. Listen actively to their perspectives, value their contributions, and show genuine care for their well-being. Create a supportive and inclusive environment.  6. Take initiative: Proactively take on tasks and responsibilities without waiting to be asked. Show initiative, be self-motivated, and demonstrate a strong work ethic. Your willingness to take the lead can inspire others to do the same.  7. Communicate effectively: Practice clear and open communication. Share information, goals, and expectations openly with your team. Be a good listener, offer constructive feedback, and encourage open dialogue.  8. Embrace accountability: Hold yourself accountable for your actions and decisions. Admit and learn from mistakes and take ownership of the outcomes. When others see you taking responsibility, they will be likelier to do the same.  9. Continuously learn and grow: Cultivate a growth mindset and commit to lifelong learning. Stay updated on industry trends, seek opportunities for self-improvement, and encourage others to develop their skills and knowledge.  10. Inspire and motivate: Stay positive, enthusiastic, and motivated to inspire others. Celebrate achievements, recognise your team's efforts, and provide encouragement when challenges arise.  Remember, leading by example is an ongoing process. Consistently demonstrate the qualities and behaviours you wish to see in others; your actions will positively impact those around you over time.

Corporate responsibility, also known as corporate social responsibility (CSR) or corporate citizenship, refers to a company's commitment to addressing and managing its impact on society and the environment. Integrating social, environmental, and ethical considerations into a company's business practices and decision-making processes. Corporate responsibility extends beyond the pursuit of profit and encompasses a broader set of responsibilities towards stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, suppliers, and shareholders. It recognises that businesses have a role in contributing to sustainable development, fostering positive social outcomes, and minimising negative environmental impacts. Critical areas of corporate responsibility often include:  1. Environmental Sustainability: Companies are expected to adopt practices that minimise their environmental footprint, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving resources, promoting renewable energy, and implementing waste management and recycling initiatives.  2. Ethical Business Practices: Conducting business with integrity, transparency, and fairness. Companies must adhere to ethical standards, combat corruption and bribery, and ensure responsible governance. 3. Social Impact and Community Engagement: Companies are encouraged to engage with and positively contribute to the communities in which they operate. This can include supporting local initiatives, investing in education and healthcare, promoting diversity and inclusion, and respecting human rights throughout their supply chains.  4. Employee Well-being and Development: Ensuring employees' well-being, safety, and fair treatment is an essential aspect of corporate responsibility. This involves providing a safe working environment, fair wages, equal opportunities, and supporting employee development and work-life balance.  5. Stakeholder Engagement and Dialogue: Companies must engage in open and transparent dialogue with their stakeholders, including customers, investors, employees, and communities. This helps build trust, allows for feedback, and enables companies to understand and respond to societal expectations and concerns. 6. Responsible Supply Chain Management: Companies ensure that their supply chains operate ethically and sustainably. This includes monitoring suppliers for compliance with labour and environmental standards and addressing any issues.  Corporate responsibility is not only driven by ethical considerations but also by the recognition that responsible business practices can lead to long-term financial success. It can enhance a company's reputation, attract and retain talented employees, strengthen customer loyalty, and mitigate risks associated with environmental and social issues. Many companies now publish sustainability reports or CSR reports to communicate their commitments, goals, and progress in these areas, allowing stakeholders to assess their performance and hold them accountable. Additionally, various frameworks and standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Global Compact, and the new IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) Sustainability Disclosure Standards S1 are the general requirements for the disclosure of sustainability-related financial information and S2 climate-related disclosures which came into effect 1 January 2024.

The power of collaboration lies in its ability to leverage diverse perspectives, skills, and resources to achieve common goals more effectively and efficiently than individuals working alone. In this episode, we explore these key aspects: 1. Synergy 2. Shared Resources 3. Enhanced Learning 4. Increased Efficiency 5. Risk Sharing 6. Improved Decision Making 7. Building Relationships 8. Fostering Innovation Through collaboration, individuals and organizations can achieve greater impact, innovation, and success than they could on their own.

Ethical leadership plays a pivotal role in fostering organisational success and societal well-being. In this episode we explore the concept of ethical leadership, its significance, and the key characteristics and behaviours associated with ethical leaders. We also delve into the importance of trust, integrity, and social responsibility in ethical leadership and highlight the potential benefits and challenges faced by ethical leaders in various contexts. Additionally, we share some real-world examples and practical strategies for developing and promoting ethical leadership in organisations. Ultimately, the goal is to highlight the transformative power of ethical leadership in creating sustainable and morally upright environments.

In this episode, we discuss leadership, and leading, during times of crisis. Leadership in times of crisis is a critical and challenging task that requires a unique set of skills and qualities. Crises can come in various forms, such as natural disasters, economic downturns, pandemics, or social and political unrest. During these difficult times, effective leadership becomes even more crucial to navigate uncertainties, provide guidance, and inspire confidence among individuals and communities. Here are some key principles and qualities that are important for leadership in times of crisis that we discuss further in the episode: 1. Calmness and Composure 2. Clear Communications 3. Decisiveness 4. Empathy and Support 5. Adaptability and Flexibility 6. Collaboration and Teamwork 7. Ethical and Values-based Leadership 8. Resilience and Optimism 9. Learning and Adaptation 10. Long-term Vision As mentioned in the show, see episode 25 - What is Resilience to learn more about this topic.

Starting a new job, whether in your current career field or a new one, can be rewarding and daunting. Understanding the benefits and challenges can help you to smooth the transition.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between organisations and leaders that focus only on compliance and those that focus on gaining commitment from their team. There is a big difference between the two and one is definitely better than the other.

In this episode, we discuss 25 things that can help you to create a growth mindset. A growth mindset is one where you believe that your talents, skills and abilities can be developed through things such as experience and learning. Do you have a growth mindset?

In this episode, we discuss why trying to get everything perfect can keep you from achieving. Some of us place a requirement on ourselves, both in our professional and private lives, that things have to be perfect and that you have to be perfect before you can do certain things. Being perfect is subjective and more than likely things will never be perfect. However, things don't have to be perfect to be right and you don't have to be perfect to be successful.

In this episode, we explore the topic of managing up. We talk about what managing up means and some strategies you can use to successfully manage up. Whether you have an incompetent supervisor or want to help your boss be as successful as they can be, there is a way to manage up.

In this episode, we explore unconscious bias (also known as cognitive bias), the various types, how to recognise them, and address them in yourself and the workplace. Link to the article Bias Blind Spot: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/pdf/10.1287/mnsc.2014.2096 Link to the Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT): https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

One of the things that can move us forward to our goals is accountability. Allowing others to hold us accountable along the way may be uncomfortable but it is definitely worth it.

In this episode, we discuss 3 key ingredients that you need in order to have a successful business. Of course, there are many things that need to happen along the way to creating your business but if you have these three things, your business will rocket to success. The 3 Key ingredients that will propel any business forward are: 1. Addressing a need or solving a problem. 2. Passion. 3. The right mix of skills and personalities. Feel free to connect with me: https://www.blakerepine.com.au/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Katie Tebbatt and Ben Groth to talk about their new company 360 View. Katie and Ben, along with Janelle Davey, established 360 View to help people achieve their highest level of potential. The 360 View concept addresses the wholistic person and multiple aspects of their lives. In this episode, Katie and Ben share with us why they founded 360 View, what they hope to achieve and how they're overcoming challenges along the way. If you'd like to connect with 360 View they can be found: https://www.360view.co/ https://www.instagram.com/360view.co/ https://www.facebook.com/360view.co If you would like to connect with me: https://www.blakerepine.com.au/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

In this episode, we discuss the phenomenon of imposter syndrome. We talk about what imposter syndrome is and how common it is. We also offer four steps to address imposter syndrome. The four steps are: 1. Recognise that you are not alone, it is not uncommon 2. Remove self-doubt, have confidence in yourself and your abilities 3. Keep learning and improving your skills and knowledge 4. Realise that something doesn’t have to be perfect to be right Connect with me - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

Over the years, I've heard and believed many myths about leadership. For this episode, I've shared 4 myths of leadership that I've probably heard the most. While I've only shared 4, I do recognise that there are many more. Here are the 4 I've shared: 1. You are a leader because of your job or title. 2. Once you're in a senior/leadership position, everyone will do exactly what you say. 3. Once you're in a senior/leadership position, you can do whatever you want and the rules won't apply to you anymore. 4. You'll have more time to relax; your work will get easier. I'd love to hear about some of the myths you're familiar with. Feel free to share them with through one of the platforms below. Connect with me - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

Building a tribe means creating a following of people who respect you, believe in you, support you, and want you to succeed. Anyone can have a tribe of like-minded people; these tribes can be good and bad. There are 7 and a half billion people in the world, there are bound to be people who think like you or have similar values to you. Like attracts like. Once you’ve identified who you are, what your values are, then you can develop your personal brand, key messages and start to build your tribe. It may not be easy but they’re out there, you just have to find them. 4 Steps to building your tribe – 1. Understand who you are 2. Be genuine, open and true 3. Be consistent 4. Value and be loyal to your follower; build trust Connect with me - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

Starting and growing a business can be stressful.  However, there are some things that you can do to alleviate your stress.  In this video, I share four tips on what you can do to reduce your stress when you're starting or growing your business.   Tip 1 - Get Expert Advice/Help Tip 2 - Learn to let go and allow others to make decisions Tip 3 - Find a sounding board Tip 4 - Find time for yourself Connect with me -  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repin... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strategylead...

The definition of success is 'the accomplishment of an aim or purpose'. Everyone's aim or purpose in life will be different and that is why everyone will define success differently. However, it is up to you to define what success is for you. If you want to feel fulfilled, then work toward your definition of success and not what others tell you it should be. Have something you want me to discuss on a podcast? Contact me at blakerepine@gmail.com Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Connect with me on FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/strategyleadershipimpact Connect on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blake_repine_official/

We've been hearing a lot about resiliency in the media lately and recently I had someone ask me what exactly does it mean to be resilient and how do we know when we've developed resiliency. In this episode, I define what resilience is and how we develop it. Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blake_repine_official/ Follow on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/strategyleadershipimpact

In this episode, I had the chance to interview Jane Williams. Jane’s background is in nursing in rural and remote communities. She is a registered nurse with several years' experience in delivering care to people in rural and remote communities across Western Queensland. Jane has also been on the board of the Central West Hospital and Health Service since 2012 and is currently the Chair of that board. Additionally, Jane is on the board of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Health Workforce Queensland, the Rural Flying Doctor Service Foundation, and the Queensland Music Festival. As you can see, Jane is a very experienced board member and Chair. Jane is also extremely passionate about improving the lives of the people and the communities in rural and remote Queensland. Have a topic that you would like for me to discuss or feedback? Contact me via email at blakerepine@gmail.com Connect with me on: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blake_repine_official/ FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/strategyleadershipimpact Check out my websites: www.blakerepine.com.au www.soldiertoexecutive.com

I've talked a lot about moral courage over the last few episodes and several people have asked me what exactly is moral courage. In this episode, I define what moral courage is and give a couple of examples. Also, the podcast is now available as a video on YouTube (link below). Follow Strategy, Leadership and Impact on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/blake_repine_official/ Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/E46cFUO6W2w Follow Blake on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ Purchase a copy of Soldier to Executive: Applying Army Leadership Principles to the Corporate World www.soldiertoexecutive.com Comments, questions and feedback: blakerepine@gmail.com

In this episode, we share why you need to understand what your personal value proposition is and why you need to have one. Companies use their value proposition to define what sets them apart from their competition. You should have a personal value proposition that shows your employer or potential employer what sets you apart from others and how you add value to the organisation. We also share 3 tips for developing your personal value proposition. These tips are: 1. Quantify or qualify what you have achieved. 2. Show how you have achieved, or will achieve, where the organisation has failed (the problem you will solve) 3. Show how you are unique Have a topic that you would like Blake to discuss? Send any requests or feedback to blakerepine@gmail.com Join Blake's network by connecting with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/

In this episode, Blake talks about developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are relevant and achievable. Getting your KPIs right can propel your organisation to success. 6 Principles to developing meaningful KPIs that will move the organisation forward: 1. They must be relevant to the organisation’s strategy 2. They must be relevant to the role 3. They must be within the individual’s control 4. They must be limited in number 5. They must be measured regularly 6. They must be achievable Connect with Blake on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakerepine/ For comments or topics that you would like to hear from Blake about you can contact him at blakerepine@gmail.com

In this episode, Blake talks about using Strategy Maps to understand how an organisation fulfills its mission, identify opportunities, and achieve success. The idea of strategy maps was introduced by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton in their article "Having Trouble with Your Strategy? Then Map it" that was published 1 September 2000 by the Harvard Business Review. Blake shares examples of how he uses strategy maps and gives practical advice on how you can apply the strategy map concept to any organisation. Link to the Harvard Business Review article mentioned in this episode: https://hbr.org/2000/09/having-trouble-with-your-strategy-then-map-it

There is a big difference between leading your team and managing your team. The more experienced your team is, the less you will have to manage them, and the more you will need to lead them. It's important that we know the difference. Once you have put together a great team, get out of their way and let them perform.

In this episode, Blake shares with you how to get started on your way to success. Many people talk about how they dream of achieving things in their lives but they never do. One of the main reasons why they don't achieve their dreams is because they never get started working toward them. If you ever want to achieve anything, the first thing you have to do is get started, even if the pathway is not clear. Once you get started, you'll learn along the way and eventually, you will find your way.

In this episode, we talk about how senior roles come with a high level of authority and how we should use that authority responsibly. We have to realise that often there is no difference between asking and telling. Additionally, we should never use our authority to put someone who works for us in a position where they may have to compromise their integrity.

In this episode, Blake shares with you how he starts his day off in order to be at his best. Blake discusses how it is important to find time to focus on yourself so that we can be there for others.

In this episode, we discuss how not everyone you work with will like you and you are probably not going to like everyone you work with. However, this does not mean that you cannot get along and work well together. It is still possible to have a strong professional relationship that is productive. As a leader, there are times when you are going to have to make decisions that are not popular and people will be angry with you but you have to have the courage to make the decision.

In this episode we explore how you can become a great leader by focusing on your people.  The people you lead determine whether or not you succeed or fail.  By focusing on developing your team you will be successful.  Richard Branson is quoted as saying, "Clients do not come first.  Employees come first.  If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients."  The same is true for leaders.  Leaders don't come first, their people do.  Great leaders put their people first and work hard to develop them to their fullest potential.  If you want to be a great leader, then start by focusing on your people.  Create opportunities for them to grow and add value.

This past week I had the opportunity to attend and speak at the Northern Territory State Conference for the Australian HR Institute (AHRI). During the conference, I was able to interview the CEO of AHRI, Lyn Goodear. Throughout the interview, Lyn gives us great insight into the professionalization of the HR profession, the value that well-developed HR can bring to organisations, and the importance of HR in organisational culture.

I've heard a lot of people say 'that's not my job.' There are various reasons why someone might say this but at the end of the day it is self-limiting and leads to you being marginalized. If you want to be successful and grow in your career, then you need to do the complete opposite. Instead of saying 'that's not my job', look for additional tasks that will challenge you.

We all have relationships, both personal and professional. The types of people we keep in our circle can have a major impact on our lives and careers. If these relationships are toxic it will hold us back. However, if they are positive and supportive they can be beneficial in our journey to success.

There are a number of leadership principles that apply to the company director, executive, or anyone in a leadership role.  In this episode we discuss these principles as well as my recent experience attending the Company Directors Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).  

Communications sucks, in most organisations. This week we talk about communications. The main focus is communicating within organisations but we also discuss communicating to stakeholders and others outside the organisation.

In this episode we briefly discuss what is a leader. There is not a universal definition of what makes a leader or what exactly leadership is but there are common themes or qualities.

Over the past few weeks many people have commented that they either want to move up in their career or move into a new career altogether however, there is always something holding them back. In this episode, we talk about overcoming obstacles that may be holding you back and put things into perspective about reinventing yourself to achieve what you want.

In this episode, we discuss taking care of ourselves and some principles about how to look at our personal lives. We can all get busy and focus on things that don't make us happy or lead to positive outcomes. However, this does not have to be the case!

In this episode we discuss some of the outcomes from the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (the Hayne Commission). Particularly, we discuss culture and how boards need to focus on monitoring culture. Additionally, we discuss how leadership should be looked at has a hard skill and not a soft skill particularly for senior executives. There are methods to measure one's leadership ability and there are metrics that measure the culture of an organisation. There is a need for boards to include more members who specialise in leadership and organisational culture.

The topic for this episode comes from a listeners request. This week we discuss having confidence in yourself, taking advantage of opportunities and living a life without regrets.

In this episode we discuss what is culture and how to identify a bad, or toxic, culture. We also talk about how it is an executive's responsibility to ensure that the culture of an organisation is positive.

In this episode, we discuss the ability to work across multiple industries. There are a number of skills that someone can successfully apply to any organisation regardless of the industry they operate.

In this episode, we talk about what strategic thinking is.  There isn't a generally accepted definition of what strategic thinking is or what specifically constitutes strategic thinking and, at times, it can be a bit ambiguous.