SPEAK LIKE A CEO

Oliver Aust, founder of Speak Like a CEO Academy

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.

  1. VOR 2 TAGEN

    The Leadership Trap: Escaping Control and Chaos

    Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ Micromanager or “easy” boss. Most leaders I meet feel stuck in the middle – they are trying not to be controlling, but also don’t want to be that nice boss people don’t respect.   As a result, team communication feels messy and exhausting. Ashley Herd, author of The Manager Method and a former HR boss at McKinsey and Yum Brands, says the solution is cozy joggers leadership – where leaders set clear expectations, provide support, but let people get on with their work.  Her three-step framework, Cozy Joggers Leadership approach and practical tips will help you make small changes that have a big impact on how you delegate, communicate with your team, and lead. Topics discussed: How oversized sweatpants leaders are made (00:38) Finding the middle ground: cozy joggers leadership (02:13) The complexity of modern leadership (05:00) The Pause-Consider-Act management method (09:28) The leadership shift that builds true confidence (15:31) What most people miss when delegating (18:06) How to balance empathy with expectations (22:40) Imposter phenomenon and how leaders work through it (25:48) How small actions can make a big impact (31:33) Why context needs to come before content (33:22) Connect with Ashley Herd: https://www.managermethod.com/ Grab her book, The Manager Method, and the free companion guide: https://www.managermethod.com/book Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com (https://podcastboutique.com)

    35 Min.
  2. 6. FEB.

    310: How to Speak So People Want to Follow You

    When you’re a leader, your words don’t stop with the room. Compliment someone in a meeting? Their partner hears about it that night. Express concern about a deadline? It travels through the team as “we’re in trouble.” Get visibly angry? People are still talking about it weeks later. Adam Galinsky calls this the Leader Amplification Effect, and it helps explain why some leaders inspire while others infuriate — often without realizing it. In this episode, he shares how leaders can build the skill of inspiration through small habits and clear, simple communication. You'll learn actionable strategies that empower your team, help your message land, and make people want to follow your lead. Topics discussed: Are leaders born or made? (00:48) Inspire vs. infuriate: the leadership continuum (03:09) How leadership impact spreads beyond work (06:15) Nonverbal signals: the banana story (09:25) The simple act that builds inspiration (12:09) 3 roles of inspiring leaders (15:07) How visual language makes leaders more persuasive (19:30) Why repetition matters and the cost of undercommunicating (22:51) Why leaders must show authentic passion (26:50) What it means to truly empower people (33:18) How to take accountability without shame (37:21) One action you can take to become more inspirational (39:24) Take Adam’s Am I Inspiring? Quiz: https://adamgalinsky.com/assessment/ Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com (https://podcastboutique.com)

    41 Min.
  3. 29. JAN.

    309: The Leadership Advantage AI Can’t Replace

    AI isn't going to run your company – but not for the reason you think. Business thrives on innovation and adaptability, which requires more than logic. That's where storytelling comes in. Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science and author of Primal Intelligence, joins host Oliver Aust to explain why storytelling is a form of intelligence that helps us plan, act and innovate in ways AI never could. He breaks down how narrative thinking guides our decisions, how intuition really works, and how to strengthen them both. You’ll also learn the “three stories” every business is running (whether you realize it or not), and what happens when they’re out of alignment. Topics discussed: Storytelling as a form of intelligence (00:51) Why AI struggles in dynamic, changing environments (03:14) Narrative thinking vs. logical thinking (05:47) The mission behind his research and book, Primal Intelligence (07:38) How intuition really works and how to develop it (11:12) 3 stories every business runs on: strategic, operational, external (14:33) When “marketing problems” are actually alignment problems (17:26) Leaders vs. managers and why “safe” communication fails (21:18) The AI spam loop and why humans are tuning out (27:31) External vs. internal storytelling structure (30:42) The trap of “defining the problem” (35:56) Where to start if you want to become a better storyteller (38:23) Download your copy of the 21 Storytelling Frameworks (⁠https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver⁠) guide: ⁠https://eo-ipso-comms.kit.com/21-storytelling-frameworks-with-oliver Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com (https://podcastboutique.com)

    42 Min.
  4. 15. JAN.

    307: The Trust Expert: Why Clear Communication Isn’t Enough with Stephen M. R. Covey

    Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ Communication problems don’t always start with words. From misinterpretation to slow execution, you can say all the right things and still be misunderstood. Trust expert Stephen M. R. Covey has seen great organizations experience this for one reason: lack of trust. In this episode, he shares why trust is the foundation of communication and a true driver of performance. You'll hear powerful leadership lessons from Ford, Campbell's, and Hugo Boss, so you can build a culture of trust that moves faster. Topics discussed: What most leaders get wrong about trust (00:34) The difference between low and high-trust cultures (04:09) How leaders can build the skill of trust (07:11) High-trust behaviors vs. counterfeit behaviors (09:19) The first step to changing trust dynamics as a leader (11:48) Alan Mulally and Ford case study (14:31) Distrust in the age of AI: what leaders can do (17:36) Why leaders should declare intent: the Campbell’s story (21:00) Why trust must be both earned and given (24:52) The #1 reason employees don’t trust their leaders (26:32) Learn more about Stephen M. R. Covey and his book, The Speed of Trust: https://speedoftrust.com/ Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-m-r-covey-6400191a5/ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

    32 Min.
  5. 8. JAN.

    306: The New Rules of Women at Work: How to Be Powerfully Likeable with Kate Mason

    Want to work with Oliver and become a top 1% communicator? Join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and sign up for the FREE webinar! https://www.speaklikeaceo.academy/ Most women are taught to be nice and agreeable, but that comes at a cost in the workplace. In this episode, Kate Mason, author of Powerfully Likeable: A Woman's Guide to Effective Communication, challenges the idea that women have to choose between being likeable and powerful at work.  You'll learn how to define your authentic communication style, bring warmth without losing authority, and find calm confidence even in high-stakes rooms. Topics discussed: Why “likable vs. powerful” is a false choice (00:33) How to define your own communication style (03:02) Ways we diminish our authenticity (06:24) Saying “no” and setting boundaries without guilt (08:18) The failure privilege and who is "allowed" to fail (10:52) What to do when you’re afraid to speak up (13:07) Managing perfectionism and over-preparation (15:58) The mindset shift that helps women "steal space" in powerful rooms (19:21) The biggest challenge women face in the workplace (22:43) The first step: audit your communication strengths (24:56) Authentic communication and why it matters in the workplace (26:42) Self-regulation to find your calm, confident self (30:46) Connect with Kate Mason: https://www.katemason.co/ https://www.instagram.com/drkatemason/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemasonphd/ Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: ⁠https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/⁠ This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

    32 Min.
  6. 11.12.2025

    305:How to Speak With Clarity and Confidence (Even When You’re Nervous) - Matt Abrahams

    If you’ve ever felt your heart race before a presentation, struggled to find the right words in a high-stakes conversation, or worried you’re not being heard at work, this episode is for you. My guest is Matt Abrahams, a world expert in communication, Stanford lecturer, and host of the Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast.  In this episode, he shares a powerful, practical approach to overcoming the most common challenges in public speaking and everyday communication. We explore how to manage anxiety, stop over-relying on slides, and shift from performance mode to connection mode. Matt explains why memorizing a script often makes us more nervous and offers a better alternative: structure over script.  He breaks down how to recover gracefully when your mind goes blank, eliminate filler words like “umm” and “you know,” and use storytelling to make your message more memorable and persuasive.  We also dive into how to be seen and heard at work without sounding self-promotional, and how to build spontaneous speaking skills that make meetings and conversations feel less stressful and more natural. Enjoy this masterclass in how to speak up – without freaking out. 0:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage 0:36 Presentation Mistakes & Audience-Centric Communication 2:34 The Power of Storytelling 6:53 Managing Nerves & Building Confidence 17:23 Standing Out at Work & Building Credibility 21:40 AI in Communication: Opportunities & Pitfalls 29:02 Evolving as a Communicator & Final Advice 31:21 Outro & Resources Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

    32 Min.
  7. 20.11.2025

    304: How to Build an Elite Team that Delivers. Dr. Vanessa Druskat

    If your team is smart, talented, and experienced – but still isn’t performing as they should – this episode is your wake-up call. Because the problem isn’t your people… it’s the norms driving how they interact. Today, you’re going to learn how to build team emotional intelligence on demand — the kind that unlocks trust, psychological safety, and fast alignment. If you want to lead a top 1% team, this is the playbook. In this must-listen episode, Oliver is joined by Dr. Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist, long-time collaborator of Daniel Goleman, and co-author of The Emotionally Intelligent Team – one of the most important leadership books of the year. We unpack why focusing on individuals is no longer enough, how to embed emotional intelligence into your team’s daily habits, the 3 essential norms that separate average teams from extraordinary ones, and how to measure and improve your team’s EQ, starting now. Vanessa offers a science-backed, deeply practical framework to create high-performing, human-centered teams – even in high-pressure, fast-changing environments. ⏰ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:33 - Meet Dr. Vanessa Druskat & The Power of Team Emotional Intelligence 04:25 - Why Individual EQ Isn’t Enough for Teams 07:20 - The Relationship Between IQ and EQ 10:09 - What Should Leaders Look for When Hiring? 13:09 - The Three Essential Team Norms 15:46 - Norm 1: Building Belonging & Trust 19:22 - Norm 2: Creating Shared Purpose & Direction 22:11 - Norm 3: Reaching Outside the Team 25:20 - Is Team EQ Catching On? 28:18 - How to Measure and Improve Team EQ 31:00 - The Impact of Leadership and Culture Change 34:00 - The Future: AI, Teams, and Emotional Intelligence 37:00 - Vanessa’s Best Communication Advice 39:00 - Wrap Up & Where to Learn More Enjoy the episode! Leave us your comments and ideas. We want to know what you think. You can find the "Team EI Quick Survey" mentioned in the episode here: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/resources Get your 50 Presentation Hacks from Oliver: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

    40 Min.
5
von 5
23 Bewertungen

Info

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.

Das gefällt dir vielleicht auch