The Evolution Partners

The future is not something technology decides for us. According to applied futurist Brian David Johnson, leaders must keep humans at the centre, retain their agency, and actively shape what comes next.  Brian David Johnson is an applied futurist who helps governments, militaries, corporations and startups build actionable visions of the future. He was the first futurist at Intel Corporation, influencing decisions impacting billions of devices. He is Director of the Threatcasting Lab at Arizona State University, a senior fellow at Phaedrus, and a prolific author of nonfiction and science fiction. His work focuses on human-centred innovation, emerging technologies and preparing organisations for future risks and opportunities.  Brian discusses artificial intelligence, human labour, resilience, science fiction prototyping and why optimism is a deliberate act. He explains why leaders should ask what they are optimising for, what they should never automate, and how better stories help build better futures.  Takeaways  Technology doesn’t decide the future; humans must actively shape it.  Leaders fail when they focus on tools instead of people.  Artificial intelligence is software; humans remain responsible for outcomes.  Efficiency alone creates fragile organisations vulnerable to disruption and attack.  The future of work requires redefining value of human contribution.  Optimism is a choice that enables action rather than fear.  Strong cultures reward questioning, failure, and early problem discovery.  Storytelling helps leaders explore futures more effectively than spreadsheets.  Follow Brian David Johnson https://www.phaedrusllc.com/  https://threatcasting.asu.edu/  BDJ’s books What You Need to Know About AI https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CNLZ3Q1C/ The Future You https://amzn.com/0062965077 Science Fiction Prototyping https://amzn.com/3031006682 Wizards and Robots https://amzn.com/B06XWR7KZJ 21st Century Robot https://amzn.com/B00PTBV4AK  Books recommended Future Shock by Alvin Toffler https://amzn.to/4vL2oxH Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)   Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this special 100th episode, I’m joined by Andres Zylberberg and Richard Peake. We unpack the 25 questions every entrepreneur must answer. It is a framework designed to help business owners assess where growth is happening, where it is stalling, and what may be holding the business back.  In part one of this two-part series, we focus on two of the five disciplines in the Compounding Growth Scorecard: vision and strategy. From purpose, values and long-term goals through to customer problems, competitive advantage and measurable progress, the distinction becomes clear between having good intentions and building a business with real alignment. Good businesses do not grow by accident. They grow when leaders make deliberate choices, communicate them well and stay focused on what matters most.  Takeaways   Clarity in vision keeps everyone aligned and pulling in same direction.  Long term goals only matter if they turn into real priorities.  Purpose and values mean nothing unless they actually guide behaviour.  Strategy is about choosing what to do and what not.  Understanding your customer beats talking about what you sell every time.  Growth comes from doing the work, not just planning it.  One clear metric can bring a whole team together fast.  Real growth balances revenue, margins and the right kind of customers.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your results in negotiation are shaped long before you enter the room – the internal dialogue you carry determines whether you ask, hold firm, or settle early. That’s according to negotiation specialist Glin Bailey, whose background in commercial finance and two decades in multinational organisations brings a distinctive lens to negotiation.  Glin shares her belief that every negotiation happens twice: externally with others, and internally  within ourselves. She outlines how identity, emotional intelligence and self-awareness influence outcomes, and introduces her VALUE method for navigating power imbalances, reframing price-driven discussions, and consistently securing stronger, more considered agreements.  Takeaways  Your inner negotiation shapes every external negotiation long before words appear. Identity determines whether you ask boldly or settle far too early. Negotiation mastery begins with self-awareness, regulation and disciplined preparation. Price is rarely the whole story; value creates stronger leverage. Power often shifts through perception, not just size or status. The hardest question is usually the one most worth asking. Email can confirm agreements, but often weakens real negotiation outcomes. Better agreements with others begin with better agreements with yourself. Follow Glin Bayley https://simplyglin.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glinbayley/ Glin’s book The Negotiation Playbook: Strategies That Work and Results That Last https://amzn.to/4sO7wyF  Books recommended The Science of Scaling by Ben Hardy https://amzn.to/47beAxb  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want the best out of your team, you can’t bludgeon them with data and expect it to stick. Numbers inform, but stories are what people remember, repeat and act on. Gabrielle Dolan is a leading expert on business storytelling, having worked with organisations including Australia Post, National Australia Bank and Accenture. She is the author of six books on leadership communication.  She explores why the brain is wired for story, and how storytelling builds trust, clarity and influence. Gabrielle also highlights common mistakes, the risks of inauthentic storytelling, and how to use simple, real stories to bring strategy to life.  Takeaways  Stories drive action because people remember emotion before logic. Leaders overuse data because it feels safer than storytelling. If people do not understand, communication responsibility sits with you. Authentic stories build trust, credibility and emotional connection with teams. Short, clear stories outperform long, rambling explanations every time. AI can assist storytelling but cannot replace real human experience. Culture is shaped by stories that spread through organisational grapevines. Great leaders use multiple stories to bring strategy to life. Follow Gabrielle Dolan https://gabrielledolan.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/  Gabrielle’s books Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling https://amzn.to/4kUTkBc Magnetic Stories: Connect With Customers & Engage Employees With Brand Story Telling https://amzn.to/4s0njKQ Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling, Made Smarter with AI https://amzn.to/4bqrbxT Books recommended Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect https://amzn.to/470cD6x  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review  Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peptides are rapidly emerging as one of the most discussed frontiers in modern medicine and longevity science. Yet alongside the promise sits significant confusion, misinformation and regulatory complexity. Understanding where peptides genuinely fit within evidence-based healthcare is becoming increasingly important for clinicians, entrepreneurs and high-performing professionals seeking better health outcomes.   That’s where Paloma Hatami comes in. She is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur with degrees in arts, commerce and law, she also holds advanced qualifications in nutrigenomics and medical genetics, including studies through Stanford University. She has founded and exited multiple ventures, including Oscar & Wilde, and now leads several health-focused companies including Actionable Genomics, MyGene, Therapeptics and Therapath Medical.  She discusses peptide therapy, the difference between clinical medicine and biohacking trends, the importance of pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing, and where peptides may legitimately support health span, recovery and modern longevity strategies.  Takeaways  Peptides may shape medicine’s future, but misinformation is spreading just as fast.  Evidence, regulation and medical supervision matter far more than online hype.  Not all peptides are equal, and quality control is critical.  Biohacking trends often spotlight therapies before science fully catches up.  Peptides can support recovery, but they are not magic fixes.  Lifestyle, nutrition and sleep still form the foundation of health.  Illegal imports and grey-market products carry serious risks and unknowns.  The real opportunity lies in careful, ethical, evidence-based clinical application.  Follow Polama Hatami https://therapath.com.au/ https://mygene.com.au/  Books recommended We'll Prescribe You a Cat: The feel good Japanese bestselling book https://amzn.to/4b6Rwlw  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles  on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Stanley is a former education CEO and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel who has spent decades building leaders in high-stakes environments. Now a Director at the CEO Institute WA and Team Smart, he designs strengths-based leadership and change programs across business, government and elite sport, including BHP, Chevron, the West Coast Eagles and the WA Institute of Sport. Steve shares 39 hard-won lessons he’s distilled into a private handbook for his family — principles on extreme ownership, discipline over excuses, ego control, trust, assumptions versus facts, and having the tough conversations you’d rather avoid. It’s a practical, values-driven episode about the behaviours that shape leadership, and the legacy they leave behind.  Takeaways   Own your decisions; your life reflects accumulated choices.  Discipline today prevents regret and difficulty tomorrow.  Excuses feel comfortable now but compound future consequences.  Ego silences wisdom and weakens effective leadership.  Trust grows through credibility, reliability, intimacy, reduced self-interest.  Assumptions destroy clarity; facts create better decisions.  Have difficult conversations early; delay magnifies damage.  Family matters most; time invested becomes enduring legacy.  Follow Steve Stanley https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleysteve/  Books recommended Shift Code Leadership by Preetie Boler https://amzn.to/3MZrN5b Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author Mike Michalowicz returns to explore what sits beneath financial systems: psychology, habits, and the personal behaviours that drive money stress. Mike explains why successful entrepreneurs often struggle with money despite strong businesses, highlighting the tension between business and personal finances.  He discusses lifestyle inflation, the myth that growth fixes everything, and why true financial control comes from clarity, intentional habits, and conscious decision-making – allowing business owners to lead calmly, sustainably, and with confidence.  Takeaways  Money stress comes from habits and psychology not income or intelligence alone.  More revenue amplifies existing behaviours, rather than fixing broken financial systems habits.  True financial control comes from clarity, intentionality and conscious daily money decisions.  Lifestyle creep quietly erodes profitability even as businesses appear successful externally outside.  Separating personal and business finances is essential for sustainable leadership and focus.  Growth without discipline creates fragility stress and constant reactionary decision making cycles.  Profit first reveals underlying problems forcing better pricing cost control and priorities.  Financial security allows owners to lead calmly serve clients and think long.  Follow Mike Michalowicz https://mikemotorbike.com/ https://mikemichalowicz.com/  Mike’s books The Money Habit: The Worry-Free Way to Financial Independence https://amzn.to/3NrTB2c Profit First https://amzn.to/46hE4JB Clockwork https://amzn.to/46g8ImC All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams  https://amzn.to/3TSTnRE The Pumpkin Plan https://amzn.to/4kN1ZE7 Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored!   https://amzn.to/3IXfYtN Surge: Time the Marketplace, Ride the Wave of Consumer Demand, and Become Your Industry's Big Kahuna https://amzn.to/4kSgneC Fix This Next https://amzn.to/417zJ8e The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur https://amzn.to/3TTnsAr The Recession Response https://amzn.to/40xAGqm  Books recommended on this episode LAST TIME EP66 Reset: How to change what’s not working by Dan Heath https://amzn.to/4lFr8Ss  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Glazer is a bestselling author, podcast host, and founder of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency known for its remote-first approach, values-based culture, and commitment to developing talent. Known for blending strategy with practical leadership, Robert brings a grounded, real-world perspective to conversations about work and life.  He explores why so many people operate without clarity, how values are discovered rather than invented, and what happens when work, relationships, and community are no longer aligned. At its core, this is a conversation about self-awareness, intentional leadership, and living with greater consistency and purpose.  Takeaways  Core values are discovered through reflection, not created through aspiration or external pressure.  Misalignment between values and daily decisions quietly erodes satisfaction over time.  Clarity about values makes difficult decisions simpler, faster, and more consistent.  Negative emotional reactions often reveal values more clearly than positive ideals.  Work, relationships, and community must align with values to sustain fulfilment.  Crisis often forces value awareness, but intentional reflection prevents unnecessary pain.  Authentic leadership begins with understanding personal values, strengths, and limitations.  Values-driven choices keep people centred, reducing regret and internal conflict.  Follow Robert Glazer https://robertglazer.com/ https://www.accelerationpartners.com/  Robert Glazer’s books: The Compass Within: A Little Story about the Values That Guide Us by Robert Glazer https://amzn.to/4pzAoJn Rethinking Two Weeks' Notice: Changing the Way Employees Leave Companies for the Better by Robert Glazer https://amzn.to/4i636xE Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others by Robert Glazer https://amzn.to/3R3IjQf Books recommended: The 4-Hour Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris https://amzn.to/48dV4RC  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany’s Mittelstand is the quiet engine of its economy, and Australian mid-market leaders can learn a lot from it. In this last of the summer series Andres Zylberberg, Richard Peake and I examine how these often family-owned firms dominate narrow global niches by focusing on being the best in the world at one thing.  They think in decades, not quarters, and build deep capability through apprenticeships and long-term people development. They also grow patiently, prioritising financial discipline over fast expansion and debt-driven scale. Many well-known German brands (like Miele, Stihl and Kärcher) fit this model without being huge corporations. The core lesson for Australia: win through focus, craft, and stewardship – not size.  Takeaways  Australia can learn from Germany’s Mittelstand by staying focused instead of chasing everything.  Thinking long term consistently beats chasing short-term wins and quick growth.  Going deep in one niche can still create global relevance and real impact.  Patient ambition and discipline matter more than flashy growth or constant expansion.  Investing in people and craft builds capability competitors can’t easily copy.  Strong financial discipline creates resilience without relying on rapid scale.  A stewardship mindset helps leaders build businesses designed to last.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business owners often feel frustrated when their P&L shows strong profits but there’s little cash in the bank. This disconnect isn’t incompetence or unfairness – it’s a misunderstanding of how cash really flows through a growing business. In this fifth summer series episode, Andres Zylberberg, Richard Peake and I discuss how profit and cash are not the same.  Growth itself consumes cash through working capital tied up in inventory, labour, receivables, and timing differences. Relying only on the P&L creates a false sense of security, a “mirage” of sustainability. The real insight comes from understanding cashflow statements, balance sheets, and the cash conversion cycle. With clear management reporting and a customer-funded business model, owners can see where cash is absorbed, regain control, and make smarter decisions that turn paper profits into real, usable cash.  Takeaways  Profit on paper does not guarantee cash sitting safely in your bank.  Revenue growth often consumes cash faster than most business owners realise.  Relying only on the P&L creates a dangerous illusion of financial success.  Cashflow statements reveal where profitable businesses actually lose usable cash.  Working capital quietly bridges the gap between profit figures and cash.  Fast growth without cash discipline can turn businesses into cash vacuums.  Shortening the cash conversion cycle releases trapped cash for growth.  Clear management reporting gives leaders control, confidence, and better decisions.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many business owners slowly drift from loving their business to feeling trapped by it. The spark fades, Mondays are dreaded, and frustration replaces purpose. This happens when growth is chased for its own sake, signals of drift are ignored, and the owner tries to shoulder everything alone.  Richard Peake, Andres Zylberberg and I return for this third part of this summer series to discuss how to get your passion back on track. The path back begins with honest reflection: Why did you start? What would make you love it again? Re-design your role, delegate what drains you, involve your team in planning, and adopt a steady rhythm of goals and accountability. With patient, disciplined action, the business can once again give energy rather than take it.  Takeaways   Business owners can slowly drift from loving their work to feeling stuck.  Chasing growth for growth’s sake often backfires and slowly wears people down.  Warning signs build up when owners push problems aside and keep going.  Trying to handle everything alone eventually leaves owners exhausted and pretty frustrated.  Reconnecting with why the business started can quickly spark motivation again inside.  Redesigning your role helps you focus on work that actually energises you.  Simple planning rhythms bring clarity, steady progress, and less stress every week.  Letting your team contribute reveals hidden issues and builds real shared ownership.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/   Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quarterly performance reviews are often dreaded by employees and managers alike, largely because they’re treated as bureaucratic, last-minute tasks rather than meaningful coaching conversations. However, done properly, performance conversations can be one of the most powerful tools to consistently grow your people and your business.  This is the first episode of a summer series, where I am joined by Andres Zylberberg and Richard Peake. We explore how performance reviews should be intentional, generous and part of a broader people system – from hiring to onboarding to regular check-ins – that frees individuals to focus on doing their best work.  Takeaways  Quarterly reviews work best as supportive coaching conversations, not bureaucratic tasks.  Clear role scorecards provide expectations, reducing surprises and aligning staff effectively.  Scheduling reviews early encourages preparation, fostering trust and constructive performance discussions.  Independent red-amber-green ratings create structure, enabling objective conversations about progress ongoing.  Regular quarterly rhythms surface issues sooner, supporting continuous improvement across teams.  Structured discussions help clarify misunderstandings, distinguishing capability problems from misaligned expectations.  Generous, intentional feedback strengthens relationships and accelerates long-term momentum within organisations.  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth  Enjoying the show? Leave a review Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strong marriages don’t succeed by luck -- they succeed by design. Leading family lawyer and Leach Legal founder Catherine Leach shares the patterns she’s seen over 35 years that determine whether a relationship thrives or falls apart. Recognised nationally for her strategic approach to family law, she has guided thousands of couples through complex transitions and brings a rare blend of empathy, clarity and realism to the topic.  Beyond her legal practice, Catherine has held senior governance roles with the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation in Asia-Pacific, co-founded the Family Law Association of Victoria, and mentors entrepreneurs navigating both business and family pressures. She reveals the real reasons marriages fail, why some endure, and what entrepreneurs must understand to protect both their relationships and their wealth.  Takeaways  Strong marriages thrive on steady communication, mutual respect and choosing the right battles.  Small unresolved grievances compound over years and quietly erode even stable relationships.  Entrepreneurs often struggle because obsessive work patterns push family connection aside.  Financial imbalance fuels mistrust when one partner avoids or fears understanding the numbers.  Strategic divorces start with transparency, calm process and resisting emotional escalation traps.  Long-term relationship success requires deliberate planning, shared vision and consistent everyday effort.  Follow Catherine Leach https://leachlegal.com.au/ Books on this episode The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe https://amzn.asia/d/4NJFZ8C  Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners  Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/  Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/  Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)  Follow me: on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth Enjoying the show? Leave a review. Support the show: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionpartnersperthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.