Battling with Business

Episode 31 - Influencers #2 - Leonard Cheshire

There are few people who achieve greatness and leave a lasting impression on the world after they die.  To do it twice in two completely unrelated fields is truly remarkable.  Leonard Cheshire, a decorated pilot, commander, philanthropist, and charity worker.  In the second of our Influencers series, we try to unpack the extraordinary life of Leonard Cheshire and try to understand what made him so successful in such a diverse range of undertakings.

Episode 30 - Why teams don’t work - Hubris and humility with Douglas Waterfall

In the second of our chats with Douglas, we discuss the difference between the visionary leaders that change the world and the mavericks that break things and people.  We discuss the Ocean Gate disaster and examples from our own career where arrogance and exceptionalism have led to poor outcomes.

Episode 29 - Why teams work - cross functional communications with Douglas Waterfall

In this episode, we chat with Douglas Waterfall about the concept of technical debt and why software engineers may have a different perspective from project managers. We explore why some teams can build shared consciousness and cohesion whilst others don't and what this can mean for strategy.

Episode 28 - Resilience, stress and adaptive organisations

We discuss the symbiosis between individual and collective resilience. Gareth and Chris both open up about their own personal struggles and use these to explore resilience and the ability to withstand and endure stress without becoming damaged.  This is a leadership challenge that applies to the military, business and every day aspects of life.  

Episode 27 - Influencers #1 - Steve Jobs

In the first of our Influencers series, we explore the man, the legend, that was Steve Jobs.  Co-Founder of Apple, Chairman of Pixar, Inventor, investor and business magnate.  There's no doubt that he was successful. But what lessons are there that we can learn?

Episode 26 - The influencers, hero’s and the Sandhurst Capbadge

Episode 25 - Are the robots coming? Artificial Intelligence with Rich Seale and creatively challenged

In the second of our two-part series with designer Rich Seale from Creatively Challenged, we tackle the complex issue of Artificial Intelligence.  Are we at the foothills of the dystopian nightmare? Is this the end of work as we know it?  Can AI truly be creative? If so, where does that leave the rest of us?

Episode 24 - Being creatively challenged with Rich Seale

Gareth and Chris recorded this, the first of a two-part series with Rich Seale, a renowned designer, and fellow podcaster, around the role design plays in strategy, leadership and management.  The three of them recorded these episodes at the Future Strategy Club in Peckham, London and it is a collaboration between the podcasts; Battling with Business and Creatively Challenged.

Episode 23 - The power and value of diversity with Theo Bigby

In this week's episode, Chris and Gareth are joined by Theo Bigby, a fellow member of the Future Strategy Club, to discuss Diversity.  Whilst a seemingly simple subject, like all these things, diversity is complex.  Listen as they try to peel back the layers and understand why this is such a divisive and sensitive subject.

Episode 22 - What’s the point in meetings? - How to make a meeting not suck!

What is the point in meetings?  Are they a vital productive exchange of ideas? Or are they simply a distraction that takes you away from doing your actual job, full of drudgery and hot air?  Chris and Gareth talk about good and bad meetings and reflect on their own experiences of being in and running meetings. Chirs ends by introducing an excellent process for running better and more productive meetings that don't suck!