In this episode we are talking with Frederik Imbo, trainer, speaker, actor and football referee on the subject of how best to communicate in a position of authority, managing conflict and how to not take things personally.

Frederik has been involved in the world of communication for 24 years and has also been a football referee for 5 years, with over 280 football matches under his belt.

Subjects we will be covering in this podcast are around Frederik's insights as a football referee and following on from his Ted talk on how to not take things personally (Duration 32 mins) :-

1. What took you into football refereeing?

2. As a football official, how important is it that you maintain fun in a match?

3. How can we use acting skills in positions of authority, when we might not be sure of our decisions, or doubt our ability?

4. What usually starts a conflict in a game?

5. When there is conflict in life and or as a referee, when you have experienced abuse, how can we tell ourselves it is not about us and to not take it personally?

6. How can we be empathetic to ourselves in times of stress and conflict?

I am joined by Jon Chadwick who is Founder and MD of Durham Distillery and Durham Gin. Jon is going to share his story when he set up the business over 10 years ago. Durham Distillery distil and manufacture small batches of craft spirits, set in the historic city of Durham.

I discuss with Jon why he took the plunge and set up Durham Gin. The mindset challenges for making the career change, the transition across, managing yourself, creating a sustainable business and moving into a new sector.

In detail, topics we will cover - 31 mins length:-

1. Why did you completely change career direction and secondly decide to set up a Distillery business? 1 min 31 secs

2. What mindset challenges did you have to overcome at the start? 5 mins 18 secs

3. The Transition across. If someone is considering a new business venture, what advice would you give on any planning before you take the plunge? 11 mins 16 secs

4. When we may have come from a secure environment of a large organisation or paid role for many years, what do we need to be aware about managing yourself in business? 15 mins 06 secs

5. Other than above, any other challenges in those early years? 20 mins 40 secs

6. Once you have established a great product or service. What can you do to ensure the business is protected and sustainable for the future medium to long term? 23 min 10 secs

7. As a newcomer into an industry in those early years, how can we communicate or work with the industry to strengthen your business? 26 min 05 secs

8. One other challenge and or teaching over the last 10 years of business? 27 mins 30 secs

Family businesses are an integral part of our economy and in this podcast I talk to; Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, who shares his story around succession and the challenges he faced in growing the family business to being the best in the world in improving the performance of electro mechanical assets around the world.

Michael took on the CEO role in 2006 and the companies Head office, the Ronnie Mitten works, is based in Shields road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. They serve industries such as power generation, rail, oil and gas, mining, water and wind power, manufacturing and bus and coach.

Topics we cover:-

1. Intro
2. How did you start out in the business? 1 min 56 sec
3. How did you become CEO? 5 min 30 sec
4. Looking back, wearing another hat, what advice would you have given the Directors in those early days around succession for the next generation? 9 min 20 sec
5. When you took the CEO role on, how did you know the way forward? 14 mins 50 secs
6. What were those challenges in the early days in 2006? 20 min 20 sec
7. How did you embed the values into the business? 22 min 40 sec
8. What are the challenges today and for you as CEO? 27 min 08 sec
9. What advice would you give a CEO about how to let go? 30 min 45 sec
10. It is a lonely job at times as a CEO. How do you continue to enjoy the responsibility? 35 mins 02 sec
11. What advice would you give a young person starting out in business around integrity? 27 mins 28 sec.