The Courageous Leaders Podcast
The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.
So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.
Who is Joanna Howes?
Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.
Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders.
Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.
Website: https://thechangecreators.com/
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The Courageous Leaders Podcast
How to Build a High-Performing Team (Even If You’re Failing)
What happens when you’ve spent years inside a failing business, then asked to take over as CEO and turn it around?
For Chris Hirst, it wasn’t just a step up. It was a defining challenge that forced him to rethink everything he knew about leadership.
In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and former Global CEO of Havas Creative, Chris Hirst. Known for transforming struggling companies from within, Chris shares what it really takes to lead under pressure and why clarity, courage, and conviction matter more than ever.
We Cover:
01:22 – Becoming CEO of a broken business, and why it felt like career suicide
04:00 – The Harvard moment that changed Chris’s mindset and life
05:50 – How to fix a failing company: honesty, clarity, and ruthless prioritisation
08:00 – Why commitment beats capability when it comes to business growth
10:23 – What makes a great CEO and how to build a high-performing culture
13:18 – Attitude vs. aptitude: the core of Chris’s new book Indispensable
16:49 – Workplace autopilot: why most people don’t show up with intention
20:24 – Leading 100 CEOs: spotting the difference between good and great
26:00 – Decision-making as a leadership superpower
30:50 – Chris’s personal demon and the advice he’d give his younger self
Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.
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Website: https://thechangecreators.com
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