Connecting Is Not Enough - The Networking Radio Show

Kevin Gaskell, popular podcaster, serial entrepreneur and intrepid adventurer returns to The Connected Leadership Podcast to discuss his new book 'Catching Giants' with Andy Lopata. Can a small business successfully compete with big business giants? To illustrate how this can be done, Kevin and Andy discuss Kevin's record breaking Atlantic rowing race. A truly fascinating story of dedication, discipline, hard work and a culture of trust, responsibility and strong relationships. The five man team believed they could achieve their goal despite their initial lack of the qualifications needed and no rowing skills. Kevin relates this  experience to solving problems in business and moving forward as one team, working together, giving their best, not complaining and achieving inspiring goals. 'Enjoy the journey'.  

A former broadcaster on Virgin Radio Dubai, HBO Asia and CNBC, Simone Heng seeks to inspire others to connect in a meaningful way. Simone’s first book, 'Secret Pandemic: The Search for Connection in a Lonely World', explains how her upbringing impacted on her ability to connect and what she learned on the journey to reconnection. Andy focuses on the importance of connecting at a professional level, Simone examines the need for connection at a personal, human level and social media is an important tool by the use of engaging content. That engagement lays the foundation for the professional connections explored in this podcast. Simone's story is a very personal one and highlights the cultural differences of the East and West. Andy and Simone also discuss the changes that have taken place with virtual and hybrid working and how a phone call to 'hear your smile' and using the time in the office for connection with colleagues is so important.

Andy Lopata talks to his guests Sam Rathling of Pipeline 44 and Phil Jones MD of Brother UK about how leaders can embrace social media and why it is so important. Both Sam and Phil agree that 10-15 minutes per day impacts your talent acquisition, impacts your personal brand and reputation and should be a priority and not ignored. Digital reputation is a tool and not a distraction. They discuss the power and reach of using LinkedIn for business and how your LinkedIn profile should represent you. Phil emphasises that content should not be just about your company. He shares knowledge that he believes will help others and most importantly he writes his own posts. Sam recommends ways to make your engagement more effective. They both stress the importance of empathy, the human element.

This week's podcast sees the return of Dr Ruth Gotian to discuss her new book, 'The Success Factor' with Andy Lopata. Original, with new perspectives on established themes and with new ideas on what goes into becoming a high achiever. The book contain a series of interviews with the most successful high flyers. Interviewees include a Nobel Prize winner, Olympians and an Astronaut.  All relied on professional relationships and teams and many of those relationships were retained and became friendships. Andy and Ruth discuss the importance of mentors and mentoring and the effective use of LInkedIn and other social media to engage and increase your network. They conclude by looking at the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, the latter becoming 'the fire in your belly'.

Alisa Cohn was voted the top start up coach in the world. She is the author of 'From Start-Up to Grown-Up'  and is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and Forbes Magazine. Alisa discusses with Andy Lopata their use of the terminology of 'Champions' and their importance to your world. They look at the differences in relationship building between leaders of start up, scale up and established businesses and how virtual meetups can be managed, avoiding 'Zoom fatigue'. Also, how to use LinkedIn effectively. In her book, Alisa discusses the psychological journey leaders need to go on and how your self-image and self-talk affect how you build relationships. The book's appendix offers scripts for delicate conversations. Alisa shares some examples and why this approach works.

Corine Jansen is listening WITH and not TO the persons' story. She received the Hall of Fame award in 2021 from the International Listening Association and is a speaker, trainer and assessor in Listening. An interesting conversation with Andy Lopata about listening effectively covers a variety of topics including listening in early years, the influence of social media on listening behaviour and paying attention and focusing on the person you are listening to. They also examine the role of our senses in engaging with people and the importance of respect, vulnerability and communication. Leaders should be aware that listening is not about hierarchy, it is about connection.

Andy Lopata's guest on the Connected Leadership podcast this week is Pat Nevin, pro footballer with Clyde, Chelsea, Everton, Tranmere, Kilmarnock Motherwell and Scotland, with a total of almost 850 first team appearances. He was also Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association for 5 years. Pat and Andy discuss a range of topics including racial issues and homophobia in football. They talk about the different attitudes of media, the fans and the owners/managers. Not the usual footballer, they also discuss how Pat's different interests impacted his ability to build close bonds with his teammates and a connection with the fans. He spoke up against the hooligan and racist culture among a number of Chelsea fans, despite playing in front of them every week. Respect is very important and although he felt an outsider most of the time, that meant he could see the bigger picture.      

Andy Lopata's guest Rebecca Robins, is the Global Chief Learning and Culture Officer at Interbrand. Her role is developing and inspiring leaders and giving them the skills to reach top levels. The Horizon Board at Interbrand consists of aspiring young talent who shadow the main board on an eighteen month tenure. This gives a younger, newer perspective and members of the Horizon Board get connections, mentoring support and the experience to become senior leaders. Emphasis is on the professional relationship skills needed. It is a platform for young starters and rising stars. Andy and Rebecca discuss the role of leaders towards shadow boards and the importance of collaboration within the global network of teams, leaders and clients. It aso has to be cross-generational.

Michael Roderick is the CEO of Small Pond Enterprises and hosts the podcast 'Access to Anyone’. His unique methodology teaching the dynamics behind relationship building and messaging comes from his own experience as a High school English teacher and a Broadway Producer. Andy Lopata discusses with Michael the dynamics of referral and the idea of reciprocity. To make a meaningful referral; relationships, communication and adaptation are key. What people say about you when you are not in the room is most important if you want to be referred. Your message must be clear and easy to remember. Michael shares tips for the most effective ways to get a message across.

Graeme Codrington is a South African author, futurist and strategy consultant. The experience of the past two years is leading to a re-appraisal of the workplace. Leaders need to re-think and unlearn traditional ways and plan for the future. Andy Lopata and Graeme Codrington have an interesting conversation on the move to a hybrid workplace and flexible working. How can leaders adapt and get the best from their teams? Graeme emphasises using time in the office more creatively and more effectively and that requires adaptability, the development of relationships and emotional intelligence. He also sees a shift away from counting hours worked to outcomes and best use of time. They conclude by looking at the importance of a connected relationship with your team and an understanding of the constraints that will have to be considered when making changes.

Andy Lopata discusses Entrepreneurial Leadership with Lesley Everett, author of 'Walking Tall' the book that established personal branding as a concept. Lesley answers the questions of how and why we should project the best of who we are, being visible, well connected and innovative. They talk about corporate, team and individual personality. Lesley also emphasises the importance of values and the use of personal stories that help to highlight your brand. People are interested in the person rather than just the job title.  Andy asks Lesley what she means by "Thinking beyond the brand"

Most listeners would be nervous about being completely themselves on social media. Many are very wary of sharing anything from their personal life, particularly on a professional site like LinkedIn. Andy Lopata's guests on this week's Connected Leadership Podcast have both been very open online. Kelly Molson, the co-founder and Managing Director of Rubber Cheese, a user focused web design and development agency, shared the traumas of IVF and losing her babies, believing that it is a subject not talked about enough. Paulina Sygulska, an entrepreneur, an angel investor, a TEDx speaker and a founder of GrantTree, talks about the unorthodox action she took to reignite her passion and creativity by becoming a Burlesque dancer. They discuss the reactions of professional contacts and the pros and cons of transparency.  

In a highly entertaining and informative podcast, Andy Lopata talks to Nobel Laureate, Bob Lefkowitz. Author of 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm'. In his varied and successful career, Bob extensively uses stories, anecdotes and humour to get his message across effectively . He illustrates all his answers to Andy's questions in the same way including describing the amazing experience of receiving his Nobel Prize for Chemistry. They discuss mentoring, using data effectively, the importance of humour and competiton. Mentoring has played a significant part for him and it is a balance between being critical and being encouraging. Bob believes that failure is a huge part in ultimate success. Competition is important in science driving the scientific process.

Lookng at the professional relationships that impacted his career,  Dan explains that arriving in the UK from Australia knowing nobody, he owes everything to the connections he made initially through Thomas and Penny Powers and their Ecademy community. Later it was Adams Street Members Club where he met his wife among others. For Dan professional and personal relationships merged in a community of mutual support. For Mindy, it started with breakfast meetings but she wanted something more organic, like Ecademy, where there was authenticity, vulnerability and mutual support. Negative experiences mainly involved a mismatch of values and outcomes.

Andy Lopata talks to Daniel Priestley, publisher and author of four best-selling books including 'Key Person of Influence' and Mindy Gibbins-Klein, publisher and author of '24 Carat BOLD'. How important is thought leadership when you have a business to run? It is having the courage to share exciting new ideas and be recognised by peers and the market. Dan sees this as being a KPI, a key person of influence. Social media has broken the geographical barriers limiting the spread of ideas. It is important to get your ideas out there but on things you are confident about, can add value and make a difference. Dan sees writing as an important method of organising your thinking, organising your ideas in a thoughtful way. There can be a data overload and discipline is needed to unfollow, unsubscribe and unlisten.

Dr Lynda Shaw tells Andy Lopata about the two inspirational teachers who impacted her career. The first, the Biology teacher in school who through using stories of the body set her on the path of a love of science. The professor who mentored her during her PHD studies. They cared enough to give Lynda their time, focus and passion which helped to map out her career. She believes that where relationships fail it is usually caused by misunderstanding intentions, poor communications and assumptions made. Lynda shares three books which have inspired her.

Andy Lopata's guest this week is Dr Lynda Shaw, a cognitive neuroscientist. Andy was particularly interested in how neuroscience helps us to understand our relationships with other people and manage them more effectively. Lynda emphasised that we can never know how someone else feels and that empathy is very important in building relationships. Leaders need to understand the impact of their decisions on other people and theirs on us. Our brains are about networks that influence our decisions. Those networks are affected by our feelings and what is going on around us. Andy and Lynda also discuss why we have chemistry with some and not others and how at work, leaders have to control their behaviour to be fair. Unconscious bias is normal but not acceptable. Neuroscience helps to understand people; understand what motivates people and how to build relationships.

Andy Lopata and Beam Maue follow up their earlier conversation about the formation of the innovation mission AFWERX, by looking at the professional relationships both positive and negative, that impacted the experiment. The US Airforce General who gave him the opportunity to lead the mission and a leader and role model who had vision and belief in him. They gave him the support to overcome obstacles and resistance from a military bureaucracy. Beam and his team did initially encounter negativity from people who did not fully understand what he was trying to achieve, but by connecting with people the situation did improve. Beam shares the books that have influenced him during his career.

Dr Beam Maue is the co-founder of AFWERX, an innovation mission within the US Airforce. He and his team have created an innovative and forward thinking community within a military hierarchy. AFWERX now collaborates with hundreds of innovation tech groups and small businesses. Andy and Beam discuss the ideas of democracy versus dictatorships that are the basis of the mission, overcoming problems of bureaucracy and red tape, and the importance of teams and relationships. The mission was exteremely successful based on centralised leadership and decentralised action.

Following his discussion about conflict with two former police officers, Laura Ash and Kul Muhay, Andy Lopata asks more personal questions about the professional relationships that impacted their careers. Kul, a natural introvert found he has a tendency to develop deep relationships based on a values first perspective. He has a small connected world. For Laura relationships are the core of business and level three listening is paramount in developing those connections. She believes that people who are judgemental cannot form good relationships.  Kul found that any kind of relationship will fail when there is a lack of trust, communication or understanding. A list of their favourite books and resources are in the show notes.