Culture Bites

243 - Culture Doesn't have to be complex

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Culture often feels noisy and complex, but it doesn’t have to be. Dominic Gourley and Ash Smith unpack a simple way to think about culture using fou...

242 - Rules, Approval & Avoidance The Payoffs—and Better Alternatives (With Ash Smith)

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why we seek approval and follow rules - even when they don’t serve us. Dominic and Ash explore Approval, Conventional, Dependent and Avoidance style...

241 - AI and Culture (Is yours ready?)

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI is here — but how ready is your culture? Dominic Gourley special guest 'Charlie Turing' explore how AI will reshape culture, why constructive org...

240 - Explaining the Circumplex

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dominic shares his tips no how to go about explaining the Circumplex to an individual or a group. He shares the pattern he uses and the key points he ...

239 - LSI Digital - Announcement

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

LSI Digital is coming soon: An interactive online interface that makes the power of the LSI more engaging, accessible, and actionable than ever before...

238 - Satisfaction vs Security - explaining what it is and why it matters

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We break down the core Circumplex orientation - Satisfaction (growth) vs Security (protection). Learn how state of mind drives behavior, why confidenc...

237 - Why Am I Like This - With Dr Jen Martin

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we think and behave the way we do? We speak with Dr Jen Martin - scientist, author, and communicator - about the fascinating science behind our...

236 - Leaders Must Go First

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Culture doesn’t shift unless leaders do. In this episode, Dominic and Corinne dive into why leaders must go first in culture change - what that look...

Join us at the conference in Sydney and Melbourne

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a sneak peek into the 2025 Culture & Leadership Conferences in Sydney and Melbourne! In this episode, we preview the inspiring client stor...

235 - Neurodiversity at Work: What Leaders & Coaches Need to Know

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it really mean to be neurodiverse - and how should leaders and coaches respond? In this episode, Dominic is joined by clinical and organisat...

234 - How to receive feedback (even when it's clunky)

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all say we want feedback – but how good are we at receiving it? In this episode, Dominic is joined by fellow consultant Ash Smith to unpack why ...

233 - Leadership Courage: How to Change the Culture When You Are the Culture

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Changing culture sounds great - until it asks you to change. In this powerful conversation, Dominic Gourley and Ash Smith explore what it really takes...

232 - It's Lonely at the Top with Justine Farrington

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We unpack the hidden pressures CEOs and Executives face - and why strong leadership doesn’t have to mean going it alone. We share the small rituals ...

231 - CEO's 5 Principles of Successful Culture Change with Richard Harding

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Culture Bites, host Dominic Gourley from Human Synergistics Australia is joined by Richard Harding, a seasoned executive and non-ex...

230 - Giving Kids Back Their Independence with Lenore Skenazy

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we raise confident, resilient kids in a culture that’s become obsessed with supervision? In this episode, Dominic Gourley is joined by Lenore...

229 - The sun comes up in the morning, live until you die, and the favourite doesn't always win - with Fiona Hogarth

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to put perspective on challenging situations which may seem overwhelming in the moment. Fiona Hogarth shares her tips.

228 - Sarah Derry, Homeward Bound CEO

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah is the CEO of Homeward Bound - and fresh back from Antarctica. Homeward Bound believe that supporting women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engin...

227 - The Way We Work (New Report)

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Workplace Trends: Key Insights from the Nation’s Wellbeing Report 2025. Join us as we explore the trends impacting employee wellbeing, job satisfact...

226 - Adaptive Leadership with Max Martina

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover how Adaptive Leadership transforms organizations with Max Martina, focusing on key practices to empower teams, navigate complexity, and build...

225 - Why should anyone be led by you

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We explore the question, "Why should anyone be led by you?", discussing authenticity, adaptability, and community-building from the book by Rob Goffee...

224 - Mandated Back to Office

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of organisations are mandating a return to the office. What are the pros and cons and what does it mean for culture? Ash Smith shares his views

032 - Blue Year's Resolutions [Re-release]

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We'll be back in the new year. For now, enjoy this re-release of Blue Tear's Resolutions from our first year of Culture Bites. We wish everyone a happ...

031 - Staying Constructive This Christmas [Re-release]

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas! We'll be back in the new year with new episodes. We'd love to have more guests sharing their stories in the new year - so if you know...

223 - Inheriting an underperforming team

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fiona Hogarth shares her tips on what to do when inheriting a new team: Observe, understand the context, bring some enthusiasm, create clarity about w...

222 - A Tool For Team decision Making

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How many of the biggest decisions are made in teams? Almost all of them... but do we have an approach and practice effective decision making? Corrine ...

221 - Cam Aitken - DOING Constructive, But I Didn't See It

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Others saw me as a Constructive leader, but when I looked in the mirror, I saw a completely different Person." - Cam Aitken shares his LSI story

220 - Gamification (And How To Use It)

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Neil McGregor shares how he uses Gamification as an effective way of teaching - and how you can too

219 - CLEAR Leadership - Practical Tips

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Corinne shares 5 practical tips for leaders to be more effective: Clarity. Listen. Engage & Empathize. Address issues early. Recognise effort as well ...

218 - Hyper Personalisation Of The Workplace

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do we design the workplace of the future? What will AI mean for workplaces? How will we use data to make smarter decisions. Darren Levi shares his...

217 - Leader Bite: Darren Sutton - Associate Director, HealthShare NSW

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Darren shares his LSI story across 8 measures, 21 years, and multiple organisations. Darren is the Associate Director, Customer Services, Partnerships...

216 - Using the New LSI+ In A Debrief

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Corinne Canter shares how she has been using the new LSI+ narratives as part of her debriefing and coaching practice.

215 - Leader Bite: David Walker - Former Naval Aviator, Consultant

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leadership lessons learnt from the cockpit: Perfecting but not perfect, empowering people, having honest assessments, listening. David is a former Nav...

214 - How To Be Your Best Self

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Setting yourself up for success (and recognising when you're not) Join us at this year's Culture and Leadership conference in Sydney and Melbourne: h...

213 - How Job Seekers Can Get An Insight To Culture

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

People say how important culture is in the company they work for. But how do you know when you're a job seeker? We share some tips! Join us at our An...

212 - Common Pitfalls Of Teams (and How To Overcome)

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

DB shares the traps he sees teams get themselves into - and how to get out. Join us at our Annual Culture and Leadership Conference:https://www.huma...

211 - Rob Murray - Boards Need To Measure Culture

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Murray - former CEO of Lion Nathan, Chairman of the Board at Metcash and ARN. Speaking at our 2017 Culture and Leadership Conference. Register fo...

210 - Bring Back Team Development

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We make the case for why every organistion should be developing their teams to be more effective at making decisions and solving problems

209 - Tips To Shift Dependent, Oppositional, Self-Actualising

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes small tweaks can make a big different. Ash shares some practical tips to shift Dependent, Oppositional and Self-Actualising

208 - Having The 'You're Not Performing' Conversation

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Corinne shares her 5 stages of the 'You're Not Performing Conversation'.

207 - LSI Group Debrief

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Facilitating a Group Debrief of the LSI - the how to watch outs

206 - 'Managing Up' Dirty Word Or Necessary Skill

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The term 'Managing Up' can have negative connotations for some... but how would you do it from a Constructive lens? We answer a listener's question

205 - Creating And Sustaining Change

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Often Culture programs start with a ton of energy... but how do you sustain it over time? 1 - Know where you are and where you're going 2 - Know what...

204 - Put Culture On Your Radar

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you haven't yet... then this year (and here's why)

203 - Introducing: LSI +

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

LSI + adds a personalised narrative of your LSI results. Paired with a debrief from an Accredited Practitioner, the LSI + enriches the developmental j...

202 - Handing Over Coaching To Their Leader

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Don't let the LSI development walk out the door with the coach. How to hand over ongoing development discussions with the manager

201 - D&I From A Culture Lens

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Can 'D' overshadow the 'I' in D&I? What does it mean to be truly inclusive? What does it mean for culture? Question from a listener: I find it’s ea...

200 - Ash Smith's Journey And Leadership Lessons Learnt

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ash shares how he grew up, different jobs he had, and the lessons he learnt along the way

199 - Time To Re-Test Your LSI

08 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The LSI is that it isn't set in stone. We want to get insights and take action. Has your LSI shifted? It might be time to find out.

032 - Blue Year's Resolutions [Rebroadcast]

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This is a rebroadcast of an old episode on setting goals for the new year. We'll be back with more great episodes ...

198 - Ash's Book Recommendations

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ash Smith shares two of his most recommended books to clients and how they relate to the Circumplex and what we do. The Multipliers by Liz Wiseman, an...

197 - Culture Actions: Communication

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Communication up, down, and for learning. We discuss what you can do to send a constructive message. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? ...

196 - Culture Actions: Job Design

23 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the motivational potential of jobs in your team? If they lack autonomy, feedback, variety... they'll be detracting from Achievement Do you ha...

193 - Culture Actions: Reinforcement Systems

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How to shape culture using rewards, punishment, and appraisal systems Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email: podcast@human-synergisti...

195 - Culture Actions: Goal Systems

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Done right, goals can reinforce Achievement and Self Actualising expectations. Done poorly - they drive Passive and Aggressive styles. Do you have a ...

194 - Culture Actions: HR Systems

26 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Shaping culture with Selection and placement, training and development, respect for members Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email: po...

192 - Culture Actions: Structures

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk about how Structures affect Culture and what actions you could take. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer? Email: podcast@human-syn...

191 - Culture Actions: Mission

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tips of what to think about and things you can do to improve the Articulation of Mission Causal Factor Do you have a question you'd like us to answer...

190 - 7 Tips To Navigate The 'Groan Zone' In Team Discussions

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All teams inevitably hit an impasse during decision making discussions. These are 7 awesome tips to break the impasse and move forwards. Join us at t...

189 - 5 Mistakes New Managers Make

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We review this article from Harvard Business Review on 5 Mistakes New Managers Make: https://hbr.org/2023/05/5-mistakes-new-managers-make?tpcc=orgsoci...

Come To The 2023 Culture And Leadership Conference

16 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sanitarium, Rabobank, Macquarie University, REA Group, Hanes Brands. This September in Sydney and Melbourne. It's a free event. Register here: https:/...

188 - Giving (and Receiving) Challenging Feedback

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone says they want honest and direct feedback until they get it. Here are some tips on how to give (and receive) it successfully

187 - The difference between Achievement, Perfectionistic, Competitive

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

These styles have lots of similarities but they are different in crucial ways. We explore those differences. Culture and Leadership Conference this S...

186 - Never Underestimate The Frontline Leader

12 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People's direct leaders have a huge impact on their experience of the Culture. We share tips on how to set your team up for success. Join us at the C...

185 - Psychosocial Hazards And The OCI OEI

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We map Safe Work Australia's "Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work" Code of Practice to the OCI/OEI Culture measure Find the written code here: http...

184 - Culture Change - Systems Or Behaviours

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maria asks: We talk about action planning but is it in fact about identifying behaviours and making them stick?

183 - What Makes Leadership Development Programs Succeed

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We discuss the 7 tips from this HBR article https://hbr.org/2023/02/what-makes-leadership-development-programs-succeed

182 - Setting And Achieving Goals

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you even work out what you want to do? Then how can you actually make it a reality?

181 - Signs Of A Passive Culture And What To Do

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What to watch out for and some key areas to focus your efforts to change it

180 - Team Development Is Missing

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Now days there is a huge focus on Culture and Leadership... but has teamwork been forgotten?

179 - The Impact Of Leaders Is Bigger Than They Think

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's not just how you behave as a leader - it's what you're creating around you!

178 - 'Get Confident'... But How?

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Just be more confident" ... easy to say, but how can you actually go about doing it? We share some tips on what you can do

177 - New Year Goal Setting

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do we make them stick and increase our chances for being successful?

176 - Dealing With Cynicism about Culture

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's a bunch of fluffy non-sense isn't it? We've tried that before and it didn't work. We filled out a survey and never heard back.

031 - Staying Constructive This Christmas [Re-release]

19 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A re-release from the archives - how to stay Constructive this Christmas. Have a merry Christmas everyone and all the best for 2023!

175 - Is Affiliative Underrated?

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Of the 4 Constructive styles, Affiliative is often rated lowest for the 'ideal' profile... but might we be under valuing its power?

174 - Group Work Following The LSI

07 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping the LSI front of mind with ongoing group development work

173 - Creating A Culture Coalition

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You can't do culture on your own - here is how to build a coalition around you.

172 - LSI Aggregate Report

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When working with a team or a cohort on their LSIs, the Aggregate report gives you a great overview of the group to start the conversation

171 - Diversity And The Circumplex

16 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"But if we want Diversity... shouldn't we want all the Circumplex styles?"

170 - Psychological Safety

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where does it fit in with the Circumplex and how can we nurture it?

169 - Building The Business Case For Culture

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We share ideas on how to get Executives on board for working on Culture by showing the connection to outcomes that matter to them

Come To The Conference (and New Episodes Soon!)

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us at this year's Annual Culture & Leadership Conference: https://www.human-synergistics.com.au/conference2022 More episodes soon!

168 - Tips From A Decade Of LSI Debriefs with Ian Crothers

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ian has accredited hundreds and debriefed thousands. As he winds down his workload he shares the top tips he has learnt along the way.

167 - Raising Achievement Kids

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

People say the LSI is brilliant... if only they had it when they were younger. Here, we talk about how to build Achievement thinking in kids

166 - Roots Of The Achievement Style

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Clay Lafferty designed the HS Circumplex, he was particularly interested in the Achievement Style. We look at the influences behind it

165 - Does Your Team Practice Problem Solving?

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most teams actually don't know how to problem solve. Fewer actually practice. But these skills and processes are essential to effectiveness.

164 - Culture's Impact On Safety

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Organisations try to solve safety by brining in rules and regulations, and demanding adherence... but they don't lead to better outcomes

163 - Team Vs Group

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What's the difference between being a group and being a team? Is being a 'team' always better? How can you shift it?

162 - How To Change An Aggressive Culture

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Key actions to move a Culture from Aggressive (Point out the flaws, dominate, beat others, appear perfect) to Constructive The “How Culture Works”...

161 - How To Change A Passive Culture

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Key actions to move a Culture from Passive (be good, follow rules, do what you're told) to Constructive (use your initiative, give it a go). The “H...

160 - Office Politics

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is office politics always dark or is it just reality? How to respond constructively to a 'political' situation

159 - Conflict And Circumplex Styles

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Conflict in the workplace can be a taboo topic - but it's a normal part of being human. How can we go about it in a Constructive way?

158 - Designing Jobs To Be Inherently Motivating

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An often overlooked cultural lever - a philosophy of how to design jobs that are inherently motivating vs 'how much stuff can we fit in this job befor...

157 - Is The Generation Gap Real

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are there real differences and do they need to be managed differently? Or is it less to do with generations and more about stage of life?

156 - What CEOs Regret On Culture Change

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

They wish they had managed out the people undermining the program sooner. Everyone can learn, grow, and develop. But if someone has had every chance...

155 - KP'Why' Not Just KPI

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What gets measured get done. But without understanding WHY we're doing it - it might not be getting done the way you want.

154 - Navigating A Hybrid World Post Lockdown

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Organisations need to be deliberate about how they transition out of lockdown and set themselves up for success. We share insights from work we've don...

153 - How Blue And Green Can Be Similar.... But Different

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kind vs Nice, Consultative vs Indecisive, Humble vs Self Doubting. The Constructive and Passive styles are right next to each other but are crucial di...

152 - How Blue And Red Can Be Similar... But Different

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Excellence vs Perfection, Excel vs Compete, Focused vs Driven. Confidence vs Bravado. The Constructive and Aggressive Styles are next door to each oth...

151 - How To Have Honest Conversations In The Team

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If your team revisits the same conversation again and again, or people couch what they say with 'maybe' and 'could be', it's a sign that you're not h...