Leadership Revealed

In this special episode, John talks to Journalist and Estate Agent Content Creator, Jerry Lyons. Jerry runs the ‘Estate Agent Content Club’, a company which makes the lives of independent estate agents much easier! With a career spanning from a market stall trader to an award-winning journalist, Jerry has a lot of experience and talks about how his company has managed to raise thousands of pounds for charity. John and Tom talk all things content, including blog writing and how Jerry’s background in journalism works for the content club. Jerry also has a new podcast which he talks about during the episode. Tune in to this episode for an interesting (and funny) chat on creating content.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Look after people. If you have a business, you obviously need to make sure the staff are trained to do the job. Also consider their wellbeing as part of their role. Be prepared to accept that people won’t reach their potential and your business won’t reach its potential if you don’t invest in the people.  

In this special episode, John talks to Valuations Manager and property expert, Tom McGee. Tom runs an estate and lettings agency in Tameside, Manchester and has been in business since May 2007 – just before the credit crunch! Tom provides some insight on what it was like to set up a business during this time and his experience on setting a specific type of work culture. John and Tom talk about recruitment policies, biggest learning curves in business as well as what it’s like to work with family. What will the future look like for Agents and client’s needs as we move out of the Coronavirus pandemic? Tune in to this episode for the answer to this as well as a fantastic conversation on property, business, systems and processes.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Stand out from your competitors. Ask yourself what you can provide a client that no one else can. Don’t let your standards slip when training new staff. Make sure you have processes in place so that when new people join the team, they understand that to do early on

In this special episode, John talks to Lecturer, Author and former FBI Hostage Negotiator, Derek Gaunt. Derek has a wealth of experience in negotiation and has adapted his career into training people around the world, instructing businesses on how to apply hostage negotiation practices and principles to their own industries. Derek’s book ‘Ego, Authority, Failure’ covers how to use emotional intelligence like a hostage negotiator to succeed as a leader. Derek provides advice on making negotiations an easier experience and how using the ‘CAVIAAR’ acronym, will help you to succeed in these tricky situations. Do you want to learn actionable techniques to build trust-based influence? Tune in to this episode for a fantastic conversation on using emotional intelligence to improve your negotiation skills. Buy the book ‘Ego, Authority, Failure’ – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ego-Authority-Failure-Intelligence-Negotiator/dp/164137182X Follow Derek Gaunt on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/derekmgaunt/   KEY

In this episode, John addresses the question ‘Are you working hard?’ This is a question many of us ask ourselves. It is also a question we sometimes don’t want to answer. Making plans for the future is a great thing to do but it is important to know that a lot of effort may need to be put in order to achieve those goals. John provides his own 3 tips which are crucial to becoming more productive and making the most out of your day. Are you reaching your goals? Do you work hard enough? Listen to this episode for John’s advice on becoming more productive.   KEY TAKEAWAYS It’s all about finding a good work/life balance that works for you. Don’t overwork but find your best way of working.   BEST MOMENTS “Make sure whatever you decide to do, put it in your diary”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North East of England. He also has a consultancy business, in which he teaches other agents h

In this episode, John talks about how to create a winning culture in a working environment. There are many theories and books out there on this topic and John has created and implemented a winning culture mentality into his own business. John provides some insight on how he has done this and what you can also think about doing. A great piece of advice John provides is to make sure your company values are created and followed to the letter. Choosing 5 values is a good number to remember and uphold. What are your company values? Are you part of a winning work culture? Listen to this episode for John’s advice on creating that winning environment.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Supporting everyone in your team is vital. This is an important part of creating a winning culture. Don’t hold people down. Reward and recognise fairly. Think about creating business perks, such as an extra paid birthday day off. This can mean a lot to people.   BEST MOMENTS “When you ask for people’s opinion, it makes them feel wanted. It make

In this episode, John shares some of his own stories on how he has previously handled feedback, both positive and negative. Most of us, if not all, have received negative feedback in some way. There are effective ways to give feedback but also constructive ways to receive it and what we choose to do with it. It’s no good to receive feedback and advice and not act on what areas you can improve. Do you handle feedback well? Do you take negative feedback personally? Listen to this episode for John’s advice on handling feedback and what you should do with it.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Look at feedback logically and analytically. Don’t take negative feedback personally. Listen to your staff’s requests. It is vital to act on the feedback you receive from them and it will ultimately instil confidence and loyalty to your business.   BEST MOMENTS “Feedback truly is a gift if you look at it in a certain way. It is the only way that you are going to improve.”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castleden

In this special episode, John talks with current professional rugby player and Founder and CEO of People’s Captain, Greg Bateman. A former member of the Harlequins academy system, Greg went on to play for the likes of Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs before signing a deal with the Dragons in September 2020. During an already busy time for Greg, he then launched People’s Captain, a craft beer company with the idea of improving social connections and starting conversations. People’s Captain is on a mission to raise £1m for positive mental health initiatives and in this episode, Greg shares his own personal mental health struggles. Greg discusses his experiences with public speaking and how the skillset required for rugby applies to other areas of life and business, such as growth mindset, discipline, teamwork and much more. Tune in to this episode for a great conversation and to find out which rugby players Greg enjoyed working with. Follow Greg on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gregbateman/ Follo

An interview with Joel Levy In this special episode, John talks with British Author and Journalist, Joel Levy. Joel has written over a dozen books including ‘Why We Do the Things We Do’ and his latest book ‘Meltdown’ investigates and recreates the dramatic events behind the most notorious nuclear accidents in history. Joel is also an expert in the fields of science and psychology. Joel is fantastic at making complex issues accessible to everyone and in this episode, Joel talks about key areas of psychology in business, such as inbuilt cognitive bias and emotional intelligence. What motivates us? How do we be more productive? Tune in to this episode for a great conversation around these questions and what areas of psychology you can tap in to, to learn more about yourself. Buy the book ‘Why We Do the Things We Do: Psychology in a Nutshell’ - https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-we-do-the-things-we-do/joel-levy/9781782437857 Buy the book ‘Meltdown: Stories of nuclear disaster and the human cost of going

How to stay focused In this episode, John shares his 6 tips on how to stay focused and stay ahead of the competition. John often talks about having the right mindset in business and how maintaining the focus needed for this is vital. Being focused and determined is something that John prides himself on and although it can be easy to become distracted, in this episode John uses the SMART acronym to show how you can stay on track. Do you get distracted too easily? What do you do to stay focused? Listen to this episode for John’s tips on staying on track to reach your goal.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Focus, determination and consistency leads to better results. Time off is important. You need to take a break to re-charge.   BEST MOMENTS “Without planning, we don’t know where we are going to get to. We’re not going to be efficient” “The fitter you are, the more focused you are”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting

An interview with Samanah Duran In this special episode, John talks with British entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of BEYOUROWN, Samanah Duran. Samanah founded the BEYOUROWN brand with women in mind, a digital media and news company advertising for women in business. She is a Forbes 30 under 30 honouree and is best known for her work within female entrepreneurship. In this interview, Samanah shares her thoughts and experiences on personal branding and what she believes it takes to be a good leader. Tune in to this episode for a great back and forth on branding and building your own business. Follow Samanah on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/samanahduran Follow Samanah on Twitter - https://twitter.com/Samanahduran BEYOUROWN website - https://beyourown.org/ KEY TAKEAWAYS Building your brand takes time and it is important to choose the right avenues for you when it comes to branding and building your business. Having confidence in your brand improves your value.   BEST MOMENTS “It’s just abou

How to negotiate In this episode, John talks about the art of negotiating and how to act under pressure. John provides his top 10 tips on negotiating from a position of strength and how you can implement these techniques into your strategy. Do you have a structure for negotiating? What tips do you have for negotiation? Listen to this episode for useful advice on how to work on your negotiation skills.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Try and find common ground with the person you are negotiating with. This helps to build a good working relationship.   BEST MOMENTS “Listen twice as much as you talk” “The more times you are in a negotiation, the better you will become at negotiating” “If you want something, just ask for it”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North East of England. He also has a consultancy business, in which he teaches other agents how to grow and scale a sustainable business. John

When is the right time to recruit? In this episode, John talks about why it is important to consider recruiting early when building your business. In the early stages of growing his own business, John initially did all of the work himself and soon found that this inhibited growth. John provides a personal short story on the potential lost opportunity cost of working hard in your business and not trying to systemise yourself out of it. Do you really want to grow your business? Are you willing to invest in others? Listen to this episode for John’s tips on getting to where you should be.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Invest in people early One of the first positions you should be thinking of hiring for is a Bookkeeper You have to support who you recruit   BEST MOMENTS “Recruit as early as possible, based on the operations of the business” “When you let go, you can focus your energy and time” “You can’t grow your business, or you can’t have opportunities, or you won’t be able to maximise out on those opportunities,

Be a CEO, not a boss In this episode, John talks about the differences between a CEO and a boss and why you should be aiming to be the CEO. If you are truly focussed on taking your business to the next level, it is important to understand the differences and what this can mean for your company. CEOs are inspirational and motivational figures. To be a CEO, you need to be strategic and have the right mindset. You also need to have a great understanding of your business, even the things you are not directly involved with. What does a CEO do? Do you understand your staff? Listen to this episode for John’s tips on getting to where you should be.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Becoming a CEO requires grit, determination and hard work CEOs are great communicators and know how to empower people   BEST MOMENTS “I start with the end in mind” “In all my sporting career, my best performances, my best wins, were when I was under pressure” “A good CEO will always give their staff the reward, but a good CEO will always take th

Why you should always make time to read In this episode, John talks about why, for him, reading has played a vital part in building his business and what benefits this has given him and can give you. Reading can be a very enjoyable and relaxing experience and it also allows you to expand your mind and creativity. Can you make time to read? Do you prefer reading a physical copy of a book or listening to the audio version? Listen to this episode for seven reasons to read more.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Take the time to sit down for even 15 minutes to read some of a book. It can help to reduce stress Reading improves your general knowledge   BEST MOMENTS “One of the reasons my business is where it is, is because of reading” “One of the worst things you can do is skim through a book”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North East of England. He also has a consultancy business, in which he teaches o

Are you easily offended? In this episode, John Paul talks about why people get offended and how not to fall into the traps of becoming offended. With five simple tips on how to avoid this, John provides great insight on this subject and how thinking positively can lead to leaving this negative feeling in the past. Why can’t people deal with things with positivity? Why do we have to have those negative days? Does being offended effect you? Listen to this episode for advice on how to overcome certain triggers.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Don’t hold yourself back If you are not in control of your emotional triggers, it will throw you off your game We can only give what we can give   BEST MOMENTS "The worst kind of offence is when people act offended on behalf of other people” "Life is a marathon, not a sprint”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North East of England. He also has a consultancy busi

Should YOU train your staff? In this episode, John Paul discusses whether you, as the business owner should train your staff yourself, or whether you should employ others to coach and develop them for you. Have you got the time, can you afford to, who should you delegate to? All these questions and more, John goes into great detail. Listen to this podcast to discover the price you would pay if your staff are not properly trained.   KEY TAKEAWAYS If you are not giving your staff goals, you are not motivating them The only thing you're in complete control of, is the effort you put into something You must to be consistent in your training   BEST MOMENTS "No-one becomes the best overnight, you have to put the theory into practise" "If you're in the position where you are the trainer, give it everything you've got"   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North East of England. He also has a co

The difference between a good, and a bad manager In this episode, John Paul talks through his 10 differences between a good and bad manager, discussing the effects that a bad manager can have on your business and team morale.  By knowing the difference between the two types of manager, you can improve the way in which your business is managed; increase staff retention, improve staff accountability, and make your life easier as a business owner.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Make sure that your manager shares the same values as you do A good manager will be able to have those difficult conversations when needed A good manager will be proactive rather then reactive   BEST MOMENT "Don't feel threatened if your staff are closer to your manager than to you, so long as the hierarchy of the business is followed to the benefit of the business - that's all that counts"   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate and Letting Agencies in the North

How not to have a meeting, for a meetings sake In this episode, John Paul gives his guide to the types of meetings which he finds most valuable anyhow he runs his business to great effect. John gives the lowdown on morning huddles, weekly meetings and SMT (senior Management Team) monthly meets as well as discovering tips for nipping any time-wasters in the bud!   KEY TAKEAWAYS Meetings ensure that you and your staff will refocus, with the increased routine and good habits. It's the little things that effect how you run you business, as well as your personal life. Meeting must be efficient and effective with actionable results. If your staff don't understand how your business makes money, you can't expect them to make money for you.   BEST MOMENTS "If you say what you're going to do, you're twice as likely to do it" "Don't be afraid to share figures and finances with your team"   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John has several Estate a

If you want to go fast, go alone.  But if you want to go further, go together. In this episode, John Paul looks at the benefits of having a Business Partner. John speaks of overcoming the main reasons people may have for not wanting a partner, by looking at the positive aspects.  Hear about Johns experience with previous Business Partners (the good bad and ugly) and way the his business runs today with his new partners.   KEY TAKEAWAYS What is your vision?  What do you want for your business, yourself and your family? With a business partner, you share both the risk and the reward Trust builds up over a period of time Understand what went well, and what didn't, so next time an opportunity presents itself, you don't miss out   BEST MOMENTS "If you want a truly systemised business, you'll have to let people in at some point" "You don't have to have a business partner, but you do need trusted people"   VALUABLE RESOURCES Leadership Revealed Podcast Castledene Sales & Lettings   ABOUT THE HOST John

When is enough, enough? In this episode John Paul talks about when it is time to let go of your non-performing staff.   In all of my years of coaching and mentoring, I have never known of an occasion where a member of staff has been let go of too soon, but many occasions where a non performer has been kept hold of for too long. This episode will discuss the 4 main reasons for keeping hold of a bad staff member, and how to overcome them, listen in and find out more.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Why do companies hang on to staff for too long? The worst thing that you can do is keep hold of a non performing member of staff in the business You or other staff members will have to pick up the non performers duties whilst they are still in the business, which will be extremely demotivating for everyone else You are always in the driving seat You should always hire slow, fire fast   BEST MOMENTS "Don't accept mediocracy'" "How does it look to your colleagues when you keep hold of a non performing member of staff?" "Have