No Bullsh!t Leadership

Moment 171. Busywork Will Kill Your Performance

03 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if you stopped rewarding people for being busy, and instead focused only on the value they produced?Your team would be night-and-day different.Bu...

8 Years, 400 Episodes, and the Lessons We Learned the Hard Way

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does it actually take to build a top-ranked leadership podcast from scratch, and keep it going for 400 weeks in a row?8 years ago, Em convinced m...

Moment 170. 4 Ways to Prevent a Crisis Before It Starts

26 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Companies that are really good in a crisis are often poorly managed: their people get addicted to the adrenaline rush that comes with constantly being...

5 Rules for Multiplying Value Through Alliances

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What if the single biggest lever for creating value in your business wasn't actually in your business at all? What if it was an alliance forged with a...

Moment 169. Why Family Culture Destroys Performance

19 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve advised many CEO / Founders over the last 5 years. My first job is often to convince them that the family culture they treasure so fondly is th...

Champions Do Extra: 6 Leadership Habits That Separate Top Performers

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most leaders do enough to get by. A select few do extra. And that gap is almost the entire difference between a career that stagnates and one that acc...

Moment 168. The Accountability Gap That Kills Performance

12 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to improve your team’s performance, single-point accountability is the biggest, most impactful lever you can pull.The culture is difficu...

The Leadership Trade-Offs That Make or Break Teams

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most decisions you make as a leader look reasonable on the whiteboard. But in the real world, you're rarely deciding between black and white opti...

Moment 167. Don’t Let These 3 Mistakes Derail Your Career

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the benefit of hindsight, I’ve been able to isolate the 3 biggest mistakes that I made in my career as a corporate executive: they really slowe...

How Many Direct Reports Is Too Many?

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why your direct reports are underperforming and how to turn it around. What happens when you give one manager 50 direct reports and call it innovation...

Moment 166. Success 101: Put Yourself Out There

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some people love to be in the thick of the action, making a difference. But the much larger majority are more comfortable watching from the sidelines....

What Do You Do When the Results Don't Come?

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Not getting the results you expected? Don’t blame luck, because in leadership, results are rarely random, and the causes are rarely a mystery.You ma...

Moment 165. How To Avoid Expensive Tech Project Failures

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Virtually every organisation is racing to adopt AI. And, although AI offers the promise of groundbreaking productivity, the projects required to deliv...

The Biggest Lie in Business: Strategy Happens at the Top

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Strategy starts at the top, but competitive advantage is built in the middle. Has your boss ever told you that you need to be more strategic? If ...

Moment 164. Don't Be Conned By These Leadership Myths!

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of contemporary leadership wisdom on the internet could just as easily be found in a fortune cookie 🥠The reason the sayings become so popular...

Stop Blaming HR and Start Using It

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Leaders love blaming HR for bureaucracy, red tape, and generally slowing things down. But these same leaders have no idea how to use HR properly....

Moment 163. How to Find Every Person's Sweet Spot

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some people simply refuse to rise to the standard you’re setting for the team.Before you decide they need to go, though, it’s important to try dif...

When Your Boss Has No Backbone: The 4 Behaviours That Kill Performance

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Working for a weak leader is both exhausting and suffocating. You put in the effort;
you care about the outcome; you try to lift the standard…...

Moment 162. Small Steps Build Big Confidence

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You can’t deal with a gap or a weak spot in your performance by ignoring it. Doubling down on your arrogance, as many leaders do, doesn’t help any...

Do Hands-On Leaders Get Better Results?

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Think hands-on leadership is a strength? You might just be the problem on your team. What's the one leadership behaviour that makes your team's heart ...

Moment 161. Onboarding New Hires the RIGHT Way

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Onboarding isn't admin. It's where standards, trust, and performance begin. When someone new joins the team, it’s easy to take it for granted that t...

What Do Senior Leadership Teams Actually Do?

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Every executive wears two hats. Most only know how to wear one! Are you currently part of your organisation’s senior leadership team (SLT)? Or are y...

Moment 160. What Can We Learn From the Best of the Best?

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you have ambitions to achieve excellence in anything, it’s important to tap into the wisdom of people who’ve been there before you…to stand o...

Stop Being the Bottleneck: Reset Your Leadership System

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

BONUS 🔥 You can't get promoted out of a team that can't function without you. This is the final bonus episode of our Leadership Reset Workshop, and...

One Head to Pat, One Ass to Kick: Resetting Your Accountability

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

BONUS EPISODE 🔥 Here's the truth: you can reset your standards, communicate them clearly, and feel great walking out of that conversation. But the ...

7 Ways to Reset Your Leadership Standard

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When your team gets comfortable and performance slides, that's leadership drift. Here's your reset.In this episode, Em and I give you 7 Ways to Reset ...

Moment 159. Want to Outperform? Then Keep It Simple!

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You’re constantly being asked to do more with less. But that only increases your likelihood of burnout!Instead, your goal should be to reduce your l...

The Invisible Gaps That Stall Leadership Growth

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most leaders don't struggle because they're bad at leadership. They struggle because leadership is the only critical job on Earth that people are expe...

Moment 158. How Do You Get Good at the Numbers?

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Smart leaders fail when they can’t read the numbers, so don’t let data illiteracy hold you back!Is your inability to understand and analyse the nu...

5 Leadership Essentials For Resilient Teams: Build A Team That Can Handle Anything

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tired of being the glue holding everything together? Learn how to build a team that can handle the pressure, even when you're not there!You might be r...

Moment 157. Don't Be Intimidated By Legacy Employees

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Are you struggling to lead older workers? Learn how strong leaders bring out the best in legacy employees. It’s not uncommon to have more experience...

Truth Doesn't Travel Up: Trust but verify

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Management by Walking Around has often been touted as a critical activity to motivate your people and give them greater clarity. But we don’t o...

Moment 156. How to Improve Results Without Working Harder

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The fastest way to lift performance isn’t more effort. It’s ruthless focus on value. Cost and value are different. Knowing how to separate the two...

Paying the Price of Leadership: 4 Hard Truths Every Leader Must Accept

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to talk about the benefits of leadership, but very few people talk about the cost of leadership. There’s a price to pay, and unless you’...

Moment 155. 5 Steps to Reverse a Performance Slump

11 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If your confidence has slipped lately, this 5-step reset could save your performance. Occasionally, for some unknown reason, you may experience a slum...

10 Ways To Make Your Success Inevitable

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Success isn’t accidental; it follows principles that most people prefer to ignore.In this episode, I show you how to focus on the things that really...

Moment 154. Layoffs Done Right (Without Losing Your Best People)

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How to execute layoffs decisively without damaging trust, morale, or talent. Termination for cause? Termination for convenience? Role redundancy?As a ...

The 5 Leadership Episodes from 2025 That Actually Moved the Needle

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most leadership content is consumed. Very little of it is used.In this end-of-year episode, we count down the 5 episodes from 2025 that genuinely...

Moment 153. What REALLY Makes You More Resilient?

28 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Resilient leadership isn’t about toughing it out, it’s about staying calm under pressure. Every leader likes to think they’re highly resilient. ...

The Career Strategy Most Leaders Don’t Have (2026 Edition)

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Your career already has a direction…the question is, did you choose it?In 2026, relying on hard work, loyalty, or good intentions isn’t enoug...

Moment 152. Are Leaders Better Than Managers?

21 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leadership vs management: why great leaders must also manage to make better decisions. While the debates about leadership and management continue to r...

Your 2025 Leadership Review + How to Set Up a No Bullsh!t 2026

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You worked hard in 2025. The real question is whether any of it actually mattered.Most leaders roll straight into a new year without ever stopping to ...

Moment 151. Is Leadership Grinding You Down?

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If leadership feels heavier than it should, this might explain why. To be a successful leader in the longer term, and at the most senior levels, you f...

Don't Leave Your Leadership Identity to Chance in 2026: 1 Hour to Build Your Brand

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You already have a leadership brand…the question is, does it serve you?Every leader shows up with a reputation. It might be clear and consistent…o...

Moment 150. The 10-Second Rule for Stepping Up in Big Moments

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Discover the 10-Second Rule that turns pressure into decisive action for real leaders. In situations that feel overwhelming, many people freeze, consu...

5 Interview Questions That Expose the Bullsh!tters

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Avoid costly hiring mistakes! Use these 5 interview questions to expose bullsh!t and find real talent. We spend a lot of time thinking about how to at...

Moment 149. Leading Confidently When You’re Buried in Uncertainty

30 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When nothing feels black and white, these principles keep your leadership unshakable! A lot of the principles I espouse in No Bullsh!t Leadership are ...

Stop Treating These 3 Underperformers Like Protected Species

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to spot (and stop) the koalas sabotaging your culture: nepotists, jerks, and ass-kissers. In Australia, koalas are a protected species. When one o...

Moment 148. How To Get Your Higher Ups To Trust You

23 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leaders who earn trust fast get freedom to execute! Whether you’re trying to build trust with the people in your team or the leaders above you, ther...

AI Won’t Replace You, But Leaders Who Master it Will! with James Killick

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI is coming for your job…or is it?Right now, boards and CEOs are being sold the dream that AI will replace thousands of people, slash costs, and ma...

Moment 147. Is Your Team Bullying You?

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is your team pushing back? Uncover upward bullying and take control as stronger leader.We hear a lot these days about work-related anxiety, which can ...

SOLVED! 9 Leadership Problems You’ll Face This Year

11 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every leader faces recurring challenges, the kinds of problems that don’t go away, they just evolve as you grow!In this rapid-fire Q&A, Marty an...

Moment 146. You Can't Manage Up Unless You Know Who You're Managing

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re struggling to work out how to manage your boss, it’s probably because you’ve never truly assessed the situation. You have to know...

Should Your People Have a Say in Big Change?

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Get buy-in fast, and learn how to consult without slowing change or losing momentum. I’ve spoken quite a bit over the years about organisational cha...

Moment 145. When Leaders Should (and Shouldn’t) Say Sorry

02 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all get things wrong, sometimes… but if we apologised every time we made a mistake, we’d be forever grovelling to someone. If you never ap...

The Biggest Killer of Empowerment (and 3 Ways to Fix It)

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are your people truly empowered, or just waiting for permission? Find out here. “Empowerment” is a word that seems to be used in an increasingly o...

Moment 144. The Real Cost of Overprotecting Your People

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Protecting your people feels kind…until it destroys their resilience and results.As the older generation vacates the workforce, companies are making...

Learn From the Lifers, Don’t Repeat Their Mistakes

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are your long-tenured employees blocking performance? Here’s how real leaders respond. Every organisation has them…long-standing employees (“lif...

Moment 143. It’s Not Cruel to Expect Excellence

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if expecting more isn’t harsh, but the most caring thing a leader can do? If you want to produce outstanding results, there is no easy path… ...

Has AI Already Made Consultants Redundant?

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If AI can do a $440k job better than Deloitte, what does that mean for consultants?Of all the industries that are on the chalkboard for major disrupti...

Moment 142. Are Behaviours REALLY that important?

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve heard leaders at all levels say something like, “Marty, I have a staff member who’s a high performer, but their behaviour is just awful!”...

How I Learned to Consistently Produce Phenomenal Results

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even the best leaders fail without strong management. Here are 6 lessons for phenomenal results.This episode started with a Simon Sinek post on Linked...

Moment 141. The Truth About “Honest” Feedback

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn why your boss might not be telling you the truth, and how to spot real feedback. Feedback is a gift… but, can you believe what you’re told?I...

How to Handle the Trade-Offs That Test Your Integrity

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Talk is cheap. Discover the 3-step process to align leadership values with actions. You can stick your values in a glossy brochure or an annual report...

Moment 140. Resilience = Optimism + Brutal Realism

28 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Build resilience by pairing optimism with hard truths. Master the Stockdale Paradox today!The strongest, most resilient leaders are optimistic, by nat...

Your First 90 Days: Prove You Belong at the Next Level [90 MINUTE BONUS EPISODE)

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Win trust fast, prove credibility, and lead with impact in your first 90 days of any new role. If you’ve just been promoted…or if you anticipate a...

Moment 139. Why Leaders Must Tackle Underperformance Head On

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock peak performance with the 3 keys every leader must use: Challenge, Coach, Confront.The Challenge, Coach, Confront framework is the foundational...

How To See What’s REALLY Happening Below You

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stop flying blind! Here’s how leaders uncover the real truth happening below them. Every day CEOs, boards of directors, and even middle managers are...

Moment 138. The Fastest Way to Kill Performance (MICROMANAGEMENT!)

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Micromanagement kills performance. Here’s how to lead without paralysing your team.You’ve all probably worked for a micromanager at some point in ...

The Real Reason Your Team Underperforms: It's Easier To Rein In a Stallion Than To Flog a Donkey

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to build high-performing teams by setting and enforcing clear standards. The colourful expression "It's Easier To Rein In a Stallion Than To...

Moment 137. How To Unlock Limitless Energy

07 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tired of burnout? Discover 3 leadership shifts that will energise your work and life. We still get a seemingly endless stream of questions from leader...

Your 7-Step Playbook to Replace Busywork With Real Results

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of trying to lift your team’s productivity, only to find that the results remain stubbornly average?The thing that’s holding your pe...

Moment 136. Is Imposter Syndrome Just an Excuse?

31 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is ‘Imposter Syndrome’ real, or just an excuse leaders use to avoid accountability? Imposter Syndrome is a term that’s really taken hold over th...

Why Your Team Keeps Falling Short: The accountability gap

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The #1 performance lever leaders ignore: single-point accountability. I was recently asked a compelling question by one of the leaders in our Leadersh...

Moment 135. Your People Aren’t Paid to Be Comfortable

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Entitlement is killing performance - here’s how to reset the standard. For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed strongly that leaders shouldn’...

12 Capabilities That Predict Leadership Success: The rising star checklist

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not every high performer wants to lead...here’s how to spot true leadership potential! It always comes as a surprise when someone we had earmarked f...

Moment 134. The Indispensable Value Of a Risk Mindset

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unlock better decisions and protect value by mastering a risk mindset in every situation. We manage risk in order to  protect value. So, you have...

10 Steps to a Positive ROI in your AI and Tech Investments

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Avoid AI & IT project disasters with 10 proven tips from 40 years of hard-earned lessons.40 years ago to the day, I started my professional career...

Moment 133. Perfectionism Will Kill Your Culture

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing’s  ever perfect, but many leaders say they are striving for perfection – and they say it like that’s a good thing… they don’t u...

Winning the Customer Through Marketing: Trust, AI, and Brand

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Think marketing’s not your job? Think again. Why brand is now your leadership edge.In a world flooded with AI-generated noise, brand and authenticit...

Moment 132. Avoid This And You’ll Never Build a High-Performing Team

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Too many leaders sidestep the tough conversations that actually create performance. In this Moment, Marty unpacks why avoiding feedback isn’...

361. The Hidden Cost of Creeping Frustration: When the small stuff snowballs

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tired, cynical, or stuck? Learn 4 tools to beat creeping frustration at work.Have you ever been in a situation where you just get worn down? Where all...

Moment 131. What's YOUR Team's Value Delivery Rating?

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought of quantifying how well your team is performing?You probably should, because so much of it is down to you, and how you lead.The ...

360. Why the Astronomer CEO’s Viral Mistake Matters for Every Leader

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Astronomer CEO on Coldplay Kisscam: A leadership lesson in trust, power & judgment.Social media platforms have been full of schadenfreude (read: p...

Moment 130. You Can't Make Everyone Successful

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’re not responsible for everyone’s success. Here’s what you are responsible for.As leaders, we often feel as though it’s our obligation to ...

359. Paying For Performance: 5 Common Scenarios Every Leader Faces

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How to handle pay reviews, bonuses, talent retention, and asking for a raise.Last week, we released a bumper episode on remuneration — Ep.358: How t...

Moment 129. Keeping Your Ambition in Check

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ambition isn’t bad - here’s how to harness it without burning out.There are plenty of people who will tell you that ambition is inherently bad. Bu...

358. How to Pay People Properly: Your No Bullsh!t Guide to Remuneration

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The biggest cost item on most P&Ls is labour. You’ll probably spend more money this year paying people than you will on any other operating expe...

Moment 128. Should You Be a Servant to Your People?

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is servant leadership helping - or hurting - your team’s performance? Here’s the truth.The concept of servant leadership isn’t new. It departs f...

357. The Business Research Scam No One Talks About: What should you believe?

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you really trust business research? 3 tips to sort facts from flashy findings.We have a deep fascination with the research that’s pumped out of ...

Moment #127: Your People See Everything

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Moment #127 It’s easy to fall into the trap of “do as I say, not as I do”, which is why it's important to be aware of any mixed messages you mig...

356. Ethical Leadership Dilemmas: Maintaining integrity under pressure

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the tensions you’ll feel as a leader is the constant trade-off between high-minded aspirations and practical outcomes.When you’re faced wit...

Moment #126: Which of These 12 Truths Are You Avoiding?

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Moment #126 There are a few difficult truths that may be crucial in your quest for leadership success.There’s no doubt in my mind that these princip...

355. The New Rules for Building a High-Performing Team

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we started the No Bullsh!t Leadership podcast in 2018, one of our first episodes focused on how to build a High Performing Team. Part mythbuster,...

Moment #125: Intelligence Is 30% of Leadership (These 8 Traits Are the Other 70%)

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Moment #125 When it comes to business, your raw intelligence doesn’t necessarily guarantee superior performance.There’s a massive difference betwe...

354. How to Lead in a Toxic Culture: Your Survival Guide to Thriving in Dysfunctional Workplaces

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most leadership advice assumes you’ve got support and alignment, but what if your b...

Moment #124: Positioning for the Big Promotion

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Episode #124 // Career progression is a contact sport.If you want to be at the top of your game (and if you want to be in the tent when the promotion ...

353. Promotion ≠ Prepared: Why Leaders Hit a Wall

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over the last several years, Em has had countless conversations with the leaders in our global community. One of the trends she’s recognised lately ...

Moment #123: How Do You Lift Operating Performance?

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Moment #123 // When it comes to any company’s operations, leaders tend to focus purely on the technical and process elements of performance.But the ...

352. How to Reinvent Your Leadership Brand in 90 Days

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We hear a lot these days about personal branding, and there’s an expert for every occasion promising to guide us through the leadership branding maz...