302: The Behavioral Scientist: Is Everything You Know About Leadership Wrong? Jon Levy
Is everything we know about leadership… wrong?In this eye-opening episode, Jon Levy, behavioral scientist and bestselling author of Team Intelligence, joins Oliver to challenge some of our most deeply held assumptions about what makes a great leader – and what truly drives high-performing teams.Forget charisma and vision. According to Jon, the real reason we follow someone isn’t their MBA or their skills checklist – it's the feeling that they offer a better future. But that’s just the beginning.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why the MBA was designed for a world that no longer exists – and what it missed entirely.How Harvard’s early leadership research was based on fake credentials.Why “super skills” (not soft skills) are the secret to influence.What makes some teams 1.6x more productive – and why “glue players” are the hidden MVPs.The science of bursty communication and why it beats Slack pings and endless meetings.How too much talent can tank a team—and why team intelligence > individual genius.Why diversity, emotional intelligence, and alignment are non-negotiable for team success.How to spot (and survive) dark personalities in your workplace.The one mindset shift every leader needs to unlock true collective genius. Jon’s insights are grounded in cutting-edge research but delivered with refreshing clarity, wit, and real-world practicality. Bonus takeaway: Learn why your best team member might not be the loudest star—but the quiet connector who helps everyone else shine.Get the “50 Presentation Hacks” Guide https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/ Timestamps0:00 - Intro & is leadership all wrong?1:19 - Why the MBA is outdated3:09 - Harvard’s fake credentials6:08 - Super skills vs. soft skills13:22 - Too much talent problem16:10 - Diversity & emotional intelligence17:45 - Glue players boost teams18:32 - Bursty communication32:30 - Dark personalities at work39:55 - Unlocking collective genius
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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.
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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