The Evolution Partners

Evolution Partners

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers. The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

  1. 5일 전

    E110 | Critical Thinking in the Age of AI with Beth Winn

    The biggest risk of AI isn’t that it will replace us. It’s that we’ll stop exercising the critical thinking, judgment and curiosity that make us human. Speaker and facilitator Bethan Winn helps leaders and teams strengthen critical thinking, communication and decision making through her work at Human Skills Co. She works across business, government and education, helping people think more clearly, question assumptions and make better decisions.  Bethan explains why convenience always comes with trade-offs, how leaders unintentionally train people not to think for themselves, and why judgment is now a core leadership skill. She also shares practical frameworks for making better decisions, developing stronger thinking habits, and using AI to challenge our thinking rather than replace it.  Takeaways  Critical thinking weakens when we outsource too much thinking to artificial intelligence. Leadership improves when questions replace answers and people develop independent judgment together. Convenience always carries trade-offs, especially when thinking becomes someone else’s responsibility entirely. Strong leaders coach decision-making instead of solving every problem for their teams. Better decisions require curiosity, humility, patience, and willingness to challenge personal assumptions regularly. Artificial intelligence works best when questioning our thinking instead of replacing it. Reading deeply and reflecting carefully strengthens mental muscles increasingly weakened by convenience daily. The future belongs to people combining human judgment with technology’s extraordinary capabilities wisely. Follow Bethan Winn https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/  Bethan’s book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI by Bethan Winn https://amzn.to/43q8lDn  Books recommended Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari https://amzn.to/4fS33In  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E110 | Critical Thinking in the Age of AI with Beth Winn
  2. 7월 5일

    E109 | World Class Service with Monique Richardson

    Customer service expert Monique Richardson argues that exceptional service starts long before a customer interaction. It begins with leadership, culture and how people inside the organisation are treated. Monique is an author, speaker and consultant, for more than two decades, she has helped organisations across Australia create customer experiences that build loyalty, trust and lasting relationships.  She explains why service is everyone’s responsibility, how leaders can create a culture that empowers employees, and why ease of experience is often the most overlooked driver of customer satisfaction. Monique also explores trust, service recovery, psychological safety, difficult customer behaviour and the powerful connection between employee experience and business performance.  Takeaways  Great customer service starts with leaders who genuinely care about people.  Employee experience directly shapes the quality of every customer interaction.  Customers remember how simple, easy and human experiences feel.  Trust begins when frontline teams are present, engaged and empowered.  Training creates confidence, consistency and better service across every generation.  Service failures become opportunities when businesses learn from them properly.  Empathy matters, but abusive customer behaviour must have clear boundaries.  Customer service is an attitude, not a separate business department.  Follow Monique Richardson https://www.moniquerichardson.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/monique-richardson-customerservicetraining/  Monique’s books World Class Service https://amzn.com/0645792721 They Serve Like We Lead https://amzn.com/0645792705 Managing Difficult Customer Behaviour https://amzn.com/B08HL8MJQS Books recommended Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl https://amzn.to/3PUJLqS  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)   Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E109 | World Class Service with Monique Richardson
  3. 6월 28일

    E108 | Why Simple Wins with Lisa Bodell

    The biggest barrier to growth is often not a lack of talent, effort or ideas. It is the complexity that quietly accumulates inside organisations, consuming time, energy and attention. Lisa Bodell believes that when leaders focus on removing unnecessary work, rather than adding more, they create the space for better thinking, stronger performance and more meaningful results.  Lisa is a futurist, keynote speaker, and founder of FutureThink. Her work has helped organisations including Google, Pfizer, Citigroup and the U.S. Navy simplify how they operate.  Lisa explains why subtraction is a powerful leadership skill, how unnecessary rules and processes damage culture, and why simplicity creates a competitive advantage. She also explores the opportunities and risks of AI, the importance of protecting thinking time, and what leaders must do to build organisations where high performers thrive.  Takeaways   Simplicity creates focus, helping leaders prioritise what matters most daily.  Complexity grows when organisations continually add without ever subtracting.  The best leaders think like sculptors, removing unnecessary work deliberately.  Subtraction should be viewed as focus, not loss or failure.  AI creates value when it frees humans for better thinking.  Fear prevents people challenging outdated rules, processes and assumptions regularly.  High-performing cultures require accountability, clarity and meaningful work expectations.  Leaders should protect thinking time instead of executing calendars endlessly.  Follow Lisa Bodell https://lisabodell.com/ https://www.futurethink.com/  Lisa’s books Why Simple Wins: Escape the Complexity Trap and Get to Work That Matters https://amzn.to/4doNYuM Kill the Company: End the Status Quo, Start an Innovation Revolution https://amzn.to/498E9Ql  Books recommended The Social Animal: A Story of How Success Happens by David Brooks https://amzn.to/4vuVoEm Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E108 | Why Simple Wins with Lisa Bodell
  4. 6월 21일

    E107 | To Be Honest with Dominic Thurbon

    Honesty is not a value to put on the wall. It is a behaviour, a skill and a choice leaders must practise every day. Dom Thurbon is an entrepreneur, researcher, writer and speaker who has spent nearly 20 years helping leaders and organisations change behaviour through disruption. He has built and sold two global businesses, worked as a partner at EY, co-founded Alchemy Labs and written several publications.  Dom explains why truth is so difficult inside organisations, how silence becomes a form of dishonesty, and why leaders must go first. He reveals how cultures gradually drift away from honest conversations, often without anyone intending it. The result is frustration, disengagement and problems that grow larger because nobody feels safe enough to speak up.  Dom says that honesty is not simply a value to aspire to but a skill that must be learned and practised. He challenges leaders to stop seeing themselves as passengers in culture and instead recognise their role in creating it, one conversation, one decision and one behaviour at a time.  Takeaways  Truth is not a value; it is a skill leaders practice.  Silence often causes more damage than outright dishonesty ever does.  People frequently choose acceptance and belonging over difficult honest conversations.  Every interaction teaches others what behaviour is acceptable and rewarded.  Small problems become major failures when truth is repeatedly ignored.  Leaders create honest cultures by demonstrating vulnerability and going first.  No news rarely means good news; it often signals fear.  Honest organisations are built through behaviours, not values statements alone.  Follow Dominic Thurbon https://domthurbon.com/  Dominic’s book To Be Honest: How making truth happen builds better businesses, lives and societies https://amzn.com/1923186434  Books recommended The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Pat Lencioni https://amzn.to/43Sruho Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky https://amzn.to/440O87a  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E107 | To Be Honest with Dominic Thurbon
  5. 6월 14일

    E106 | The Connect Effect with Kylie Paatsch

    Senior leaders do not get ownership from their leaders simply by setting expectations. According to leadership coach and author Kylie Paatsch, ownership grows when people feel known, trusted, supported and clear about what matters.  Kylie is a leadership coach and speaker who has spent more than 30 years leading at every level and more than 20 years coaching and facilitating senior leaders from mid-level through to C-suite.  Kylie explains why leading leaders requires a shift from doing to enabling, why transactional meetings flatten energy, and how unclear expectations are often mistaken for people problems. She shares her Know, Show, Grow model for building trust, loyalty, responsibility and initiative in leadership teams.  Takeaways  Leading leaders requires influence, not simply managing people and tasks.  Transactional meetings destroy connection, energy, ownership and meaningful team engagement.  Clear expectations prevent confusion disguised as resistance, disengagement or poor performance.  People want leaders who make them feel heard and understood.  Ownership grows when leaders enable thinking instead of fixing everything.  Trust strengthens when leaders consistently match their actions with words.  Leaders often know performance metrics better than they know people.  High challenge backed by high support unlocks stronger leadership performance.  Follow Kylie Paatsch https://kyliepaatsch.com.au/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliepaatsch/  https://www.instagram.com/kyliepaatschleadership/  Kylie’s book The Connect Effect: How to Build Loyalty, Ownership and Engagement with Your Leaders https://amzn.com/1998528847  Books recommended Dare to Lead by Brene Brown https://amzn.com/1785042149  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E106 | The Connect Effect with Kylie Paatsch
  6. 6월 7일

    E105 | The Excellence Trap with Brian Brault

    Entrepreneurs often build the business they want, then try to fit their life around it. The better path is to define the life you want first, then build a business that supports it. That’s according to Brian Brault, a seasoned entrepreneur, leadership educator and former global chair of Entrepreneurs’ Organisation.  Brian built and scaled multiple companies, including Advanced Facilities Services, and now works through Legacy of Significance to help founders, leadership teams and families align leadership, purpose and relationships.  Brian explores the danger of staying in the zone of excellence instead of the zone of genius, why relational authority matters as businesses scale, and why legacy is ultimately shaped by how we live, lead and serve others.  Takeaways   Entrepreneurs create better businesses when they design their lives first, not last.  The zone of excellence can quietly drain energy, purpose and long-term fulfilment.  Great leaders build more leaders instead of creating dependent followers around them.  Relational authority matters more than positional authority as organisations grow and scale.  Businesses scale faster when founders stop believing they must do everything.  Healthy conflict strengthens teams when people feel safe, heard and respected.  Entrepreneurs often regret sacrificing relationships in pursuit of power, status or money.  Leadership is ultimately about serving others, building trust and creating meaning.  Follow Brian Brault https://legacyofsignificance.com/  Books recommended Discover Your True North by Bill George https://amzn.to/42PpgyV  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)   Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E105 | The Excellence Trap with Brian Brault
  7. 5월 31일

    E104 | Communicating Under Pressure with Leah Mether

    Great leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating clarity, communicating with empathy and helping people perform at their best under pressure. Leadership expert Leah Mether argues that the “soft skills” of communication, accountability and psychological safety are now the hardest and most valuable skills in business, especially in a world increasingly shaped by AI and constant change.  Leah works with leaders and teams across Australia to strengthen communication, leadership and workplace culture, particularly in high-pressure and male-dominated industries.  She explains why unclear expectations create conflict, why “difficult people” are often misunderstood, and why discomfort should not be confused with psychological unsafety. Leah also explores leading through uncertainty, balancing empathy with accountability, and why human skills will become the defining advantage in the future of work.  Takeaways  Clear expectations prevent confusion, stress and wasted time across teams.  Psychological safety still allows tough conversations and honest feedback at work.  Great leaders balance empathy, accountability and clear communication under pressure.  Technical skill alone rarely creates strong, effective and trusted leaders.  Most workplace conflict starts from assumptions instead of upfront clarification.  Strong leaders challenge ideas without attacking people or damaging trust.  Human skills matter more as AI reshapes workplaces and leadership roles.  Leadership starts with understanding how others experience your behaviour.  Follow Leah Mether https://www.leahmether.com.au/ https://www.leahmether.com.au/category/video/  Leah’s books Soft Is the New Hard: How to Communicate Effectively Under Pressure https://amzn.to/42xPOoa Steer Through the Storm: How to communicate and lead courageously through change https://amzn.to/4wlQtGO  Books recommended Red Brick Thinking by Donna McGeorge https://amzn.com/1394360843  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)   Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E104 | Communicating Under Pressure with Leah Mether
  8. 5월 24일

    E103 | Better. Escaping Average with Andrew Horsfield

    Feeling stuck is not always a warning sign. Often, the discomfort, uncertainty and challenge people try to avoid are the very conditions that produce growth.  Performance consultant, speaker and author Andrew Horsfield discusses why so many capable people mistake struggle for failure. Drawing on his work with leaders in business, elite sport and education, Andrew explains the difference between productive struggle and burnout, why busyness can become a form of avoidance, and how reflection creates awareness and better decision-making.  He shares practical strategies for building a more intentional life, including how to align daily actions with long-term priorities, transition between roles with purpose, and recognise whether your effort is genuinely moving you forward.  Takeaways  Growth often feels uncomfortable before it becomes meaningful, rewarding and transformative.  Burnout begins when effort loses meaning, direction, recovery and emotional balance.  Busyness often distracts people from uncomfortable truths requiring honest reflection and change.  Progress matters more than perfection when building meaningful work, leadership and relationships.  High performers struggle most when trying satisfying everyone instead of leading courageously.  Reflection helps people recognise harmful patterns before burnout quietly takes control completely.  Living intentionally requires aligning daily decisions with deeply important long-term personal values.  The most fulfilling lives are built through challenge, purpose, growth and connection.  Follow Andrew Horsfield https://andrewhorsfield.com/  Andrew’s book Better: Escape Average, Beat Burnout, Own Your Life https://www.booktopia.com.au/better-andrew-horsfield/book/9781764492508.html  Books recommended The War of Art by Steven Pressfield  https://amzn.to/4daErqX  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)   Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    E103 | Better. Escaping Average with Andrew Horsfield

소개

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers. The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

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