The Board Success Podcast

How can you use strategic thinking and influence skills to stand out and make a bigger impact in the boardroom? And is there a difference between being influential or manipulative?In this episode, we’ll talk to award-winning specialist in communication and human behaviour, leadership expert, and executive coach Anneli Blundell. She shares insights on conveying strategic perspective, building consensus, and harnessing the power of your influence. Anneli also takes us through tips on how to influence with integrity and flex your influencing approach to make a better impact and bring others along while avoiding some common mistakes board members often make.Listen in for Anneli Blundell’s invaluable advice on using strategy and influence to boost your impact, drive progress, and maximise your contribution in the boardroom. If you want to increase your influence and impact on the board then you want to miss this one!WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:The role of and value of strategic, influence, and decision-making for board members (03:42)Decoding the resistance to your influence (05:16)  The difference between influence and manipulation (09:08) How to adapt your influencing approach based on situational needs (12:55) The value of avoiding aggressive tactics that could derail your influencing attempts (18:00)Why paying attention to language patterns, to understand the needs and motivations of others can have maximum impact (19:32) Other language patterns, jargon, quirks, and nuances to consider for more influence (24:41) Quotes“The key to your advanced influence is decoding the resistance to your influence.” - Anneli Blundell“You need to be able to flex your approach … because what works for one person in one situation may not work the very next day with the same person.” - Anneli Blundell‘If you try and convince someone who has a belief opposite to yours, and you try and convince them with even more facts that you know are true, they will double down on their opinion, even if it's against the facts.” - Anneli Blundell“We underestimate the impact of ourselves as the messenger. How I communicate; my tonality, my conviction, the strength of my communication style, the things I focus on when I speak” - Anneli Blundell

Non for profit boards, particularly in the voluntary sector, serve as excellent stepping stones for aspiring directors. However, these roles come with their own unique set of challenges. However there are misconceptions and responsibilities that prospective directors must comprehend when contemplating nonprofit positions.In this episode we are joined by David Maywald, a seasoned Non Executive Director and researcher. His journey from a financial services career to a full-time professional director provides valuable insights into the qualifications, competencies, and readiness required for board roles.David discusses some of the essential factors that contribute to an executive's readiness when considering a transition to a board role and the challenges and potential pitfalls individuals face when making the transition to board roles.No-for-profit board roles are not just stepping stones; they can also evolve into long-term commitments driven by personal values. Listen in to discover the hidden opportunities within the nonprofit board landscape. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:David's current portfolio and professional background (00:20)The impact of his research project on the board landscape (01:40)Factors that contribute to an executive's readiness for a board role (05:05)The challenges and potential pitfalls when transitioning to board roles (07:30)Psychological biases that can influence the transition into board roles (11:20)The complexities and responsibilities of serving on not-for-profit boards (15:30)Tips for securing a role in not-for-profit sectors (25:23)David's findings from his research on board opportunities and compensation in Australia (30:53)Quotes"There are well-meaning people who are passionate about the causes but don't necessarily understand the gravity of their duties and obligations and the potential positive or negative impact they could have on the organisation." -David Maywald"Beyond the financial implications of the cost of doing business or having to deal with audits and regulators, there are important social ethical issues that have a lot of gravity." -David Maywald“If your full time role, or your business depends on you being a manager but then in a 5pm board meeting, you're suddenly flipped into the governance space, that can be really hard, including for Chairs” -David Maywald

In this episode we have a special replay from our sister podcast, “Non Executive Director Insider Insights”, where you get to meet Non Executive Directors (NEDs) and go inside their boardrooms. Today we hear from Sanchia Aranda AM.Sanchia’s Professional journey began in nursing and developed into over 40 years of expertise in cancer control. At the time of this recording, Sanchia was a Board Chair for Scope Australia and Deputy Board Chair for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance.Sanchia firmly believes an organisation's purpose or mission as being the key driver of success. While financial gains are important, strong corporate social responsibility sets an organisation apart from its competitors. In this episode of Insider Insights, we explore:The value in bringing the voice of beneficiaries into decision-making processesHow to better support diversity and capability in the boardroomMistakes executives make when volunteering for not-for-profit boards Listen to the episode to hear Sanchia's insights on how boards can prioritise the beneficiary's voice in the decision-making processes.Quotes"You need to build an extreme level of trust between the board and the executives. To do this, you need to remove the culture of blame and encourage a culture of inquiry and understanding." -Sanchia Aranda AM“I think beneficiaries and frontline staff are critical to the process of strategic planning" -Sanchia Aranda AM“The governance of for-purpose organisations has been substantially hampered by trying to apply business and corporate logic to the way that decisions are made.” -Sanchia Aranda AM“As a disability provider, how do we set the ambition for lived experience presence around the board table?” -Sanchia Aranda AM

Asking the right questions is a core competency for any effective non-executive director. But it's also a critical component when interviewing for a board position. So when you prepare for an interview how can you be sure you're demonstrating your questioning abilities and stand out from the competition?In this episode, we are joined by Richard Elstone and we explore some of the techniques to formulate great questions that impress in board interviewers. Richard discusses how you can improve your question technique and how to avoid interrogational or operational questions? We’ll discuss practical strategies to showcase your curiosity and critical thinking for the boardroom.We also discuss the best way to deal with the dreaded "Tell us about yourself."  and how you can craft the perfect pitch and deliver a compelling story that reflects your journey and expertise, ensuring you stand out amidst the competition.Listen for all the tips to impress the interviewers, and secure your seat at the boardroom table with Richard Elstone's expert insights, don't miss this episode. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Why having a "director's mindset" is crucial for those seeking non-executive director positions (04:12)The significance of introductory questions in board interviews (05:32)How does the initial pitch influence the interview's outcome (07:19)The value of addressing failures and challenges during the initial pitch (09:55)Why candidates should have the opportunity to ask questions in a board interview (13:10)The due diligence process in board in board interviews and how to approach it effectively (21:05)The red flags to be aware of during the board interview process (25:25)Quotes "Always think there's an elephant in the room, it's a great opportunity to deal with it upfront." -Richard Elstone "Asking questions in a board interview goes to the very heart of what it is that you've been hired to do." -Richard Elstone"There's only so much information that you can gather in a board interview. At the end of the day, the chair wants to hear your ability to ask questions and see whether you potentially are a good fit." -Richard Elstone

Boardroom negotiations can be pivotal moments that can shape the future of companies, influence market dynamics, and impact stakeholders. Whether it's mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, or crucial decision-making, effective negotiations are the key to unlocking mutually beneficial agreements.In this episode, we discuss negotiations and the power of process with Wayne Harrison. Wayne founded Pathfinders Downunder, a company that provides proven and practical problem-solving know-how to communicate, influence, negotiate and manage conflict. He is also the author of “From Hope to Strategy - The Anatomy of Negotiation.”Negotiating in the boardroom is an art that requires finesse, strategy, and a deep understanding of the dynamics at play. It is often where the fate of companies can be determined, and the stakes are high. While many may attribute negotiation success to charismatic leaders or sheer luck, the truth lies in carefully orchestrating a well-designed process that guides the discussions, channels the energy, and ensures fair and effective outcomes.Join us as we unravel the intricacies of boardroom negotiations and discover how the power of process can transform how we negotiate.  WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:The business of reducing anxiety and delivering predictability (02:29)When is the right time to enter a negotiation? (06:27)Minimising the risks when making negotiations (11:22)Strategies for managing re-negotiations (18:06)Wayne’s top tips when making re-negotiations (25:52)What are the hidden costs of making negotiations (29:22)QuotesThere is a Science and Methodology to  negotiating; being able to remove group think and being able to walk in the shoes of the other party is often the breakthrough needed to co-create value. -Wayne HarrisonThe most dangerous negotiation is the one you don't know you’re in. -Wayne HarrisonWhen we're going to negotiate, let's recog outcomes. -Wayne HarrisonA skilled negotiator is not so likely to be visibly arguing and bantering over positions, you're much more likely to see a skilled negotiator negotiating the process, because we understand that it's process choices that determine the negotiation. -Wayne Harrison

In today's episode, we are joined by Kim Seeling Smith, a Future of Work expert and she imparts her skills and wisdom about how to build and retain a future-fit workforce. Kim provides invaluable strategies for board members and senior leaders to build and retain a future-fit workforce. She highlights the three major business disruptions organisations will struggle with and provides practical solutions that transform these challenges into opportunities for growth.In an ever-shifting business landscape, the role of the board within an organisation's long-term strategy is continually evolving. Preparing for the future of an organisation isn't just about forecasting trends, it's about building and retaining a workforce that's ready to adapt, thrive and grow as the business does. WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Kim's Transition from Accounting to Recruitment (01:51)The 100% Human at Work Movement  - what is it and how can boards benefit from it (06:20)The Three Major Business Disruptions (09:48)Tips to adapting to remote work and maintain productivity and employee-wellbeing (17:28)The impact of treating recruitment as a business development process (24:00)QUOTES"We need to recognise that technology is going to change the shape of our roles, and we need to be thinking about strategic workforce planning." -Kim Seeling Smith"A lot of managers make compromises in their hiring decisions because of the skill shortage, but the business is going to pay for it later. They're not going to have the right people to be able to solve or see the opportunities in the big challenges." -Kim Seeling Smith

One of the keys to a successful business is the ability of the board and executives to make decisions. Decision-making is a critical component for any business but when it’s done using an unstructured process there are a number of ways that it can have a profoundly negative effect on the organisation. Projects get delayed, budgets blow out and ultimately poor strategic choices could be made. In this episode of the Board Success Podcast, Martyn Lomax shares his expertise on the power of structured decision-making processes within organisations. He believes a structured decision-making process goes beyond defining roles, and responsibilities and identifying the common challenges an organisation faces. Martyn discusses the importance of having a decision register - a tool to record, analyse and understand the rationale behind decisions made.Martyn Lomax is a highly technical startup CEO, investor and early-stage startup mentor. With 15+ of experience in networking and security tech in large US firms, he then built, grew and successfully exited a B2B software startup in 2020. Since then he has been investing in and mentoring startups in a range of industries. He has an eye for product design, infosec, software architecture scaling and building teams. In 2022 Martyn co-founded Janua with a focus on the world of Decision Intelligence and helping leaders empower teams to make better decisions. Martyn also touches on the broader impact of a good decision-making process. The board can achieve enhanced oversight, promote informed decision-making, manage risks and so much more. Also, it ignites positive transformation and efficiency in organisations.Listen in to the episode to learn how Board Members and aspiring leaders can navigate the world of decision-making with precision and insight.WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Martyn's journey towards the decision-making space (00:23)What decision-making problems Martyn's system aims to solve (02:25)Common issues to organisational decision-making and how to address them (05:49)The benefits of implementing a structured decision-making process (13:15)Confronting biases that impact the decision-making process and the best way to manage them (18:20)The advantages of using a system for decision-making processes (22:31)QUOTESIt's important to have the right people involved to bring specific elements to a decision." -Martyn Lomax  "A decision that we make now with the best data is our best chance of making a good decision." -Martyn Lomax  “The Decision Register is a key component of decision science and if you haven’t documented your decision, how are you meant to do a review of any substance or accuracy in the future?” -Martyn Lomax  “Define what needs to be decided, do the analysis, come up with a recommendation and record it. It means you're informed, you avoid the bottleneck and you're more efficient as a business going forward.” -Martyn Lomax 

The speed of change in technology has altered the business landscape dramatically and how we operate in that swiftly changing environment will determine our future success. The way boards have operated in the past is no longer fit for purpose, now and in the future.Boards are under increasing pressure operating in volatile and uncertain environments requiring boards to stay on top of far more information than ever before. The additional focus on topics such as digital, AI and ESG are increasing the demands for compliance and competing for time taking up previously with strategy and stewardship.In this episode Dr Dean Blomson shares the need to adapt swiftly to these emerging concerns otherwise there will be potential consequences of ignoring them. Dean is a highly experienced strategy and transformation advisor and a seasoned professional with a diverse board portfolio career. In modern-day business, it is crucial that we challenge traditional board models. Listen in and discover how using innovative approaches, adaptability, and purpose-driven governance can help navigate challenging board governance and lead to effective board leadership.WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Why Board members need to reconsider how they operate (03:33)Four actions to become more effective as Board (08:55)How digital transformation is changing the board room (14:45)Understanding the new fit and proper for board member qualification (26:12)Tips for the board to approach ESG policies better (32:55)QUOTES"We're living in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world and that means the board has to pedal harder to stay on top of things." -Dr Dean Blomson"As a member of the board, you have to ask yourself, is the rate of change on the outside, greater than our rate of change as a board?" -Dr Dean Blomson"We want to do the very best we can with the time available to us. But it's a complete hallucination for us to believe that even as eight or 10 well intentioned, skilled, constructive directors, that we can stay on top of things." -Dr Dean Blomson

In this episode we have a special replay from our sister Insider Insights podcast, where you get to meet Non Executive Directors (NEDs) and go inside their boardrooms. Today we hear from ASX Director, Wendy Stops.At the time of this recording, Wendy was a Non Executive Director of the Commonwealth Bank, Coles Group Ltd and Fitted for Work, and Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for the Centre for Business Analytics at the Melbourne Business School. Since then, she has also become Chair of Blackmores and Deputy Chancellor at the University of Melbourne. She completed her tenure at CBA in Oct 2020.Wendy shares her insights on how to make securing your seat on a board possible, with tips on networking and establishing yourself as a leader. In this episode of Insider Insights, we explore:The difference between strategic and operational researchHow to complete due diligence in the boardroomUnderstanding the board’s financialsThe importance of networkingQUOTES“I always said if I'm not learning, then it's time to move on” - Wendy Stops“If you're helping people understand who you are and if you get to the point where they offer you a role, it's because they are convinced that you're the right person for them.” -Wendy Stops“Be very mindful of where you want to pitch yourself when you're starting off with your board career. Really think about what industry, what level, particularly if you want to go for a listed company” -Wendy Stops“Work on your network. Get out to those recruiters. Knock on their doors. Let them know who you are, what you're looking for.” -Wendy Stops

In this episode of the Board Success Podcast, we delve into the art of discovering your X Factor and the power of storytelling. Our guest, Yamini Naidu, a Bollywood dancing, economist-turned-business storyteller, specialises in working with leaders and professionals to craft narratives that foster meaningful connections.Yamini's background in economics led her to ponder the puzzling phenomenon of data failing to captivate audiences, despite its inherent logic. Through her quest for answers, she uncovered a profound truth: the true essence of leadership resides in the mastery of storytelling. By sharing relatable experiences, infusing them with vitality, and showcasing one's unique qualities, individuals can distinguish themselves from the competition.For those aspiring to board positions, Yamini advises steering clear of the mundane, generic, and uninspiring statements that saturate most resumes. Instead, she encourages focusing on specific experiences that serve as evidence of possessing that coveted X Factor. By confidently articulating your X Factor, you illuminate your purpose, value, and potential contribution as a prospective board member.Listen in to discover how you can identify your X Factor and harness the invaluable tool of storytelling to elevate yourself above the competition and make your mark in the world of board leadership.WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:Yamini’s journey towards discovering her love for storytelling (02:10)Leadership transformations with the new way of storytelling (04:10)How to use storytelling to set yourself apart (07:39)The modern view of X Factor and how can people leverage it (09:59)Why do we get easily hooked with stories (17:38)How to use storytelling in getting your point across (20:05)The five sins of storytelling (23:25)How to prevent oversharing (26:35)The importance of being kind to yourself (30:44)QUOTES"The modern view of X Factor is that everyone has potential and it doesn't have to be big." -Yamini Naidu "The right X Factor statement is a total powerhouse, it transforms your professional life and identity." -Yamini Naidu"We share the stories that help us make meaning of our lives. But actually, the stories we tell ourselves form our identity." -Yamini Naidu