Anecdotally Speaking

179 – There is no average

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you design for the average, you might find you’re designing for no one. Listen to hear how challenging an assumption held for 30 years transforme...

178 – Don’t lose sight of the collective impact of your decisions

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t get lax; keep up your level of focus. Listen to hear how a series of isolated decisions led to the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261. The po...

177 – Create a space where ideas are shared – Ron Howard

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Create a space where ideas are shared but know that having an idea doesn’t make it a good one. Listen to hear what Ron Howard took away from the set...

176 – Connect your change to something known and familiar – Run-DMC and Aerosmith

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Similar enough to be listened to, different enough to be heard. Listen to hear how a collaboration between Run-DMC and Aerosmith changed the culture a...

175 – Don’t miss the big picture

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We risk losing sight of the bigger picture when we focus on one detail. Listen to hear how a recent participant in one of Mark’s … The post 175 –...

174 – We have enough – Kurt Vonnegut and Joseph Heller

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t strive for excess; be content with ‘enough’. Listen to hear the Joseph Heller quote that inspired his friend Kurt Vonnegut’s tribute poe...

173 – Knowledge can come from any source with Maria Marenco

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Knowledge can come from any source; be cautious about what ideas you dismiss. Listen to hear how a 10-year-old girl and her mother helped Apollo 11 l...

172 – Feedback doesn’t work

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Giving feedback doesn’t work; strengths, not weaknesses, offer growth opportunities. Listen to hear how Lionel Messi became one of the world’s bes...

171 – Everybody matters

12 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Caring about the growth of your people is more likely to lead you to success than treating them like resources. Listen to hear how Bob Chapman transfo...

170 – One person can change the world

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Change comes from unexpected sources. Listen to hear how Malcolm McLean changed the world transportation landscape. The post 170 – One person can c...

Replay 136 – Experiences change minds

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Suggestions and arguments don’t change minds, but experiences do. Listen to hear how a husband finally persuaded his wife to buy herself a new, impr...

169 – Model beneficial behaviours

21 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Model the behaviours that will benefit your entire team. Listen to hear how Captain James Cook saved his crew from scurvy. The post 169 – Model bene...

168 – It’s not about you

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t get caught up in the moment. It’s not about you. Listen to hear how some stern words eased Jason Alexander’s anxiety and pushed him back o...

167 – Believe in your people

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Believe in your people, and they’ll believe in themselves. Listen to hear how the support of a coach and school principal changed Michael Lewis’ l...

166 – Don’t let money be your purpose

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The purpose of an organisation can hugely impact the way it behaves. Listen to hear how a monetary focus made Boeing responsible for the deaths of hun...

165 – Well-managed diverse teams are more productive

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Poorly managed diverse teams are less productive than homogenous teams, but when managed well, diverse teams are the most productive. Listen for a tas...

Replay 126 – Company values give confidence

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Company values enable your people to act quickly and with confidence. Listen to hear a story of values in action from Mars. The post Replay 126 – Co...

164 – You don’t need to be an expert

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You don't need to be an expert to develop expertise. Listen to hear how Lisa Blair beat the odds and went from sailing novice to record breaker. The p...

163 – Understand the culture you’re operating in

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With experience, listening and empathy, you’ll come to understand cultural nuances. Listen to hear James Mills, Global Vice President of Sales at Ma...

162 – Use contrast to make an impact

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Experience minus expectation equals satisfaction. Listen to hear how performer Andy Kaufman used contrast to make a real impact on his audience. The ...

161 – Plans often go astray

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the saying goes, the best-laid plans of mice and men can still go wrong. Listen to hear what a group of economists proposed to eradicate an issue i...

160 – Challenge your assumptions

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Great insights come from breaking free of your assumptions. Listen to hear how a high school dropout went on to win the Fields Medal. The post 160 –...

159 – Try and try and try again

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you truly care about your idea and persist with it, you won’t need every available resource or qualification to innovate. Listen to hear the stor...

158 – Don’t argue, influence

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You can be efficient with things, not people. Listen to hear how Richard Branson led Mike Oldfield to a career-defining moment. The post 158 – Don’...

157 – Take it one step at a time

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t try to achieve everything from the get-go, but take it one step at a time. Listen to hear how a German military general inspired the Founder o...

156 – Adopt transparent systems

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do things the right way, not the easy way. Listen to hear how adopting a more transparent system saved thousands of lives in five United States states...

155 – Don’t ignore the Dottie in your life

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to leadership, little things make a big difference. Listen to hear what inspired Walt Bettinger’s, CEO at Charles Schwab, leadership s...

154 – Less is more

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t put everything into your stories. You’ll overwhelm or distract your listener. Listen to hear how cutting a scene from the original King Kong...

153 – Focus on your goal

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you must ignore what’s happening around you and focus on your goal. Listen to hear how this strategy helped Julia Louis-Dreyfus survive br...

152 – Present a united front

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Present a united front to avoid bad outcomes. Listen to hear how Ryan Reynolds and his brothers avoided their father’s fury. The post 152 – Presen...

151 – Balance performance and engagement

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Successful leadership requires a balance of performance and engagement. Listen to hear how a Country Head improved his numbers without his number one ...

Anecdotally Speaking’s mid-year break

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Anecdotally Speaking is taking a short mid-year break so that we can produce some exciting new content! We’ll be back on the 5th of July. The post ...

150 – In praise of small stories

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A slight change in mindset can improve your entire day. Listen to hear some examples of small stories that have a big impact. The post 150 – In prai...

Replay 112 – FedEx helicopter story absolutely positively flies

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you give your employees guiding principles rather than rules, they will do amazing things. We replay Doug Keeley’s favourite business story of al...

149 – Natural selection of the fittest story

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to change someone’s mind, you need to find a range of stories, not just one. Listen to hear how Charles Darwin formulated and gained sup...

148 – When sense takes flight

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Your decisions can have unintended consequences, so give them careful consideration. Listen to hear how one man’s decision caused the deaths of mill...

147 – The chemistry of hot and cold states

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Context and emotional state determine success, so when stakes are high, consider simulating the scenario as best you can. Listen to hear how a premier...

146 – The Assistant Director’s cut

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Trust those around you; as a leader, you don’t always need to make the final decision. Listen to hear how an actor handles starring in and directing...

145 – Dark mansions made of cubes and squares

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you start something, stick with it until you finish it. Listen to hear how an English mathematician solved the world’s longest-standing maths p...

144 – Science warms up to story

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To build trust, you need to share emotional information. Listen to hear how three studies found a link between oxytocin and behaviour change. The post...

Replay 107 – You just might do it if you don’t know you can’t

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mindset has an incredible impact on performance. Listen to hear how George Dantzig solved two famously unsolvable mathematics problems. The post Repl...

143 – Not exactly a man cave

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t know when your unique combination of skills will be needed. Listen to hear the story behind the miraculous rescue of thirteen boys from a ...

Replay 075 – Conflict is essential to collaboration

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The barriers that women face hold all of us back. Listen to hear how Dr Alice Stewart overcame all sorts of obstacles to find a correlation between x-...

142 – Million-dollar bathroom basin

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Customer service is everything. Listen to hear how one salesperson lost their business a $1.5 million contract. The post 142 – Million-dollar bathro...

141 – Rocket science propelling librarians

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you build a workplace culture that allows mistakes to be discussed, you ensure they won’t be repeated. Listen to hear how a jet propulsion labo...

140 – When you desperately need your plan B

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Have a plan B and keep it top of mind. Listen to hear how a desperate cry for help saved a man’s life just last month. The post 140 – When you de...

139 – Contract bondage no good by George

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t have to follow the path people expect you to take. Listen to hear why an Australian actor refused to sign a contract worth more than one m...

138 – Scurvy sailors served sauerkraut

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pushing ideas and actions on people will only lead to resistance. Listen to hear how Captain James Cook used a pull strategy to save his crew from scu...

137 – Journeys of heroes and Beatles

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A team philosophy will help soothe your colleagues’ concerns in stressful situations. Listen to hear why the Beatles reminded each other that “som...

136 – It’s like riding a new bike

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Suggestion and argument alone don’t change minds, but experiences do. Listen to hear how one husband finally persuaded his wife to buy herself a new...

135 – Noticing the cut versus feeling the pain

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Empathy will help you help other people. Listen to hear how a woman stopped a child’s crying by showing that she could really understand how they we...

134 – Look for the good and trust in the work

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t know what other people are going through. Listen to hear why Hugh van Cuylenburg will never stop pushing his organisation’s (The Resilie...

Replay 034 – When baggage really flies

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having a clear purpose will help the people in your organisation make better decisions. Listen to hear how Southwest Airlines increased its revenue by...

133 – Potter spells initiative

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t wait for someone to come along and solve your problems—step up and make things happen. Listen to hear how a clever Storytelling for Leaders...

132 – Wolves, cane toads and tubby ships

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What impact does your leadership have on your organisation? Listen to hear what lessons the reintroduction of a species into an ecosystem can offer bu...

Replay 023 – Industrial design with child’s play

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To put your customer first, you need to be able to see things from their perspective. Listen to hear how a 7-year-old girl prompted Doug Dietz to rede...

131 – Did you have a nice Grand Slam, darling?

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Follow your passion without thinking about the outcome, and success will follow. Listen to hear how a mother’s happy accident aided Evonne Goolagong...

130 – Superwoman with x-ray vision

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’” Listen to hear how one woman persi...

129 – The unexpected supporter

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not enough to just say something—you need to act too. Listen to hear how Nelson Mandela showed the world that he wholeheartedly believed in r...

128 – Collaboration and diversity is how you make progress

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Collaboration and diversity bring progress. Listen to hear how one woman defied gender norms to receive recognition for a scientific breakthrough. Th...

127 – The mould that broke the staph

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Not all mistakes lead to failures. Listen to hear how one scientist’s carelessness resulted in a life-saving discovery. The post 127 – The mould t...

126 – Shattering decision on pet food quality

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Company values enable your people to act quickly and have confidence that they’ve made the right decision. Listen to hear a story of values in actio...

125 – Lending a hose to neighbours on fire

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Great leaders communicate in ways that change minds and inspire action. Listen to hear how Franklin Roosevelt used an analogy to shift the events of W...

124 – When the stakes are sky high

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No matter how unlikely an event seems, it pays to prepare. Listen to hear the inspiring but tragic story of Rick Rescorla, whose meticulous planning s...

123 – Tragic consequences of standing by

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing to remain a bystander can have disastrous effects. Listen to hear how 37 people assumed another person would take responsibility and, as a re...

122 – Grumpy maestros and all that jazz

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imperfect conditions don’t equate to imperfect performance. Listen to hear how a solo jazz pianist made the most of what he had and recorded the bes...

121 – Charitable causes for problematic pilgrims

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you need to solve a problem or initiate a behaviour change, think beyond the obvious solution—you’ll likely find a more effective one. Listen...

120 – How to love a maths problem

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Problems are inevitable but solvable. Listen to hear how an English mathematician solved a 358-year-old maths problem. The post 120 – How to love a ...

119 – Don’t do your block buster

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Going with your gut is likely to lead you down the wrong path. Listen to hear how ignoring the data led to Blockbuster’s demise. The post 119 – Do...

118 – The grass is greener for the second mouse

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is there a place for parables in business storytelling? Listen to hear Shawn Callahan share two apocryphal stories that you could use in your workplac...

117 – How a story illuminates an insight

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Klein once said, “Insight is when you unexpectedly come to a better story.” Listen to hear Shawn and Mike Adams exchange and explain the valu...

116 – The client hero story in your sales example

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to rethink the case study. Listen to hear how a success story can transform your sales process. The post 116 – The client hero story in...

115 – Less support gives more liberation

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When circumstances change, the vision that brought you success in the past must also change. Listen to hear how a bra manufacturer overcame the challe...

114 – Tails with the Raj of mice and men

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Often an idea will need a reality check—can it be executed? Listen to hear how a senior leader at Microsoft discovered the impact of storytelling. T...

113 – Low vaulting horse raises the bar

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Attitude has a significant impact on performance. Listen to hear how a Russian gymnast went from storming out of one Olympic event to winning gold in ...

112 – FedEx helicopter story absolutely positively flies

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you give your employees guiding principles rather than rules, they will do amazing things. Listen to hear special guest Doug Keeley’s favourite b...

111 – Apple devours Blackberry pie slice

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t get too fixed in your thinking, be ready to shift or adapt. Listen to hear how one CEO, set in his ways, caused his company’s market share t...

110 – Foreign ideas triggering the cultural immune system

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having an impact often depends on asking good questions. Listen to hear how the global phenomenon that is Earth Hour was born out of a question. The ...

Replay 007 – Saving the Citicorp skyscraper

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It can be tempting to turn away from seemingly insurmountable problems, but collaboration will help you find a solution. Listen to hear how a structur...

109 – New corn idea falls on deaf ears

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Change is challenging, and you can’t expect everyone to pick it up immediately. Listen to hear the story behind the insight that produced the innova...

108 – Jobs fit for a condor

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Jobs was a fantastic storyteller. Listen to hear how, instead of endlessly listing features and benefits, he used an analogy to explain the impo...

107 – You just might do it if you don’t know you can’t

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mindset has an incredible impact on performance. Listen to hear how success often depends on our expectations. The post 107 – You just might do it ...

106 – Canoes across the Rockies

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are many lessons to be learnt from Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the west coast of the USA. Listen to hear how to use the story as an analog...

105 – A rose by any other clinical name

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Often we dismiss signals that we should interpret. Listen to hear how one woman’s sense of smell established a new field of medicine. Podcasts are …...

104 – Quarterback payback

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our ability to predict is limited and assessing potential is no exception. Listen to hear how one famous football player was initially seriously under...

103 – Cut glass shatters jeweller

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What you say can have a huge impact on how people perceive you and your organisation. Listen to hear how one CEO got it wrong and cost his company mil...

102 – Hidden Figures the prequel

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking for a key that will unlock new skills or information? Listen to hear how persistence led Shawn to a groundbreaking discovery. The post...

101 – Transmitting without a receiver

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you receiving the messages that could help you avert disaster? Listen to hear Mark share a story that illustrates the importance of listening. The...

100 – A tonne of revered stories

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate 100 episodes, Shawn and Mark discuss what stories from the podcast they use most often and how they use them. The post 100 – A tonne of...

099 – CEO becomes late chairman

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you encourage productive behaviours? Listen to hear Shawn and Mark give five examples of reward and recognition in the workplace. The post 099...

098 – Gender biased snow job really hurts

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are invisible biases impacting your decisions? Listen to hear how one man’s joke changed a town’s snow clearing system, preventing injuries and sa...

097 – Beware your inner thespian

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is a good presenter always a good business storyteller? Listen to hear Anecdote Partners, Sarah Jane McKechnie and David Pullan provide thought-provok...

096 – Boarders stories and smoking guns

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Finding out the details will help you reveal insights. Listen to hear how Airbnb used storyboarding to find insights that influenced their strategy. ...

095 – Wolf stories in sheep’s clothing

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

People tend to do what they have always done, and sometimes without reason. Listen to hear how a grandmother’s necessity became her children’s nor...

094 – Building bridges to thaw the frozen

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How can you change the direction of a conversation that is going off track? Listen to hear from storytelling expert and Anecdote Partner, Param Venkat...

093 – Green team schemes screen fiends

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Emotion leads to action. Listen to hear a story about how an internal group’s sustainability initiative resulted in behaviour change. The post 093 ...

092 – Seg no way

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What problem is your product solving? Listen to hear how Dean Kamen’s Segway was an overnight success and not much more than that. The post 092 –...

091 – Fire chief’s great instincts before bingo bango

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It is hard to put a dollar amount on experience, but it can be the difference between life and death. Listen to hear how a veteran made a quick decisi...

090 – Corporate Storytelling—Job applications and interviews

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do you establish rapport and connection in a job interview? Listen to hear how the use of story can give you a special edge in the job application...

089 – Corporate Storytelling—Sales communication with Mike Adams and Paul Ichilcik

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The best sellers are the ones who tell stories. Listen to hear Anecdote Principals, Mike Adams and Paul Ichilcik, share their insights on sales commun...