In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Doug Field, former CEO of the East of England Co-op, about leadership and business growth.

Doug shares his accidental journey to becoming CEO, the importance of self-awareness, and strategies for developing leadership skills.

With an emphasis on long-term thinking and embracing diverse perspectives, we talk about building supportive teams and fostering a strong company culture as the foundations to creating a successful and sustainable, and growing business.

Doug offers practical advice for small business founders, including the value of feedback, effective delegation, and focusing on core business fundamentals like cash flow.

Wrapping up this series, we are reminded of the continuous, adaptive nature of leadership and the importance of growing both yourself and your team.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction and Doug’s Background (00:02:10) Doug introduces himself, shares his leadership mission, and outlines his career path to becoming CEO.

Accidental CEO and Early Career Lessons (00:04:31) Doug discusses his accidental rise to CEO, early career moves, and lessons learned from interviews and transitions.

Leadership Development for Small Business Owners (00:06:17) Rob and Doug explore the evolution from founder to leader, and practical first steps for developing leadership skills.

Sharpening the Saw & Long-Term Thinking (00:07:14) Doug emphasises the importance of stepping back, thinking long-term, and investing time in strategic reflection.

Market Changes and Planning for the Future (00:08:48) Discussion on adapting to market changes, planning for the future, and focusing on what stays the same.

Adapting to Change and Core Business Principles (00:10:30) Doug explains the value of focusing on unchanging customer needs and adapting business models accordingly.

Transitioning into Leadership & Mindset Shifts (00:12:09) Challenges of becoming an accidental CEO, the importance of saying yes, and broadening leadership perspective.

Seeking Support and Embracing Diversity of Thought (00:14:04) Doug shares how he sought support, learned from others, and the impact of cognitive diversity on leadership.

Managing Overwhelm and Delegation Strategies (00:17:22) Advice for overwhelmed CEOs: self-awareness, strategic delegation, and building a supportive team.

Knowing Yourself and the Power of Feedback (00:20:32) Doug discusses the importance of feedback, identifying blind spots, and building psychological safety for growth.

Building and Leveraging a Professional Network (00:23:22) The value of cultivating a trusted network, finding mentors, and being strategic about professional relationships.

Transferable Skills from Outside Business (00:27:15) Doug reflects on leadership lessons from coaching youth sports and the transferability of skills.

Creating a Thriving Business Environment (00:29:13) Key conditions for a thriving business: culture, clarity of purpose, and the leader’s influence on environment.

Vision, Values, and Culture by Design (00:32:08) Guidance on intentionally shaping company culture, making the right hires, and balancing perfectionism.

Confidence, Self-Belief, and the Iceberg Analogy (00:34:39) Doug addresses imposter syndrome, the...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Colin Tapscott, author of two books Everyday Alchemy: Transforming Your Trash into Treasure and Everyday People, Everyday Leaders.

Colin is an EMCC-accredited Senior Practitioner Coach, leadership trainer, speaker, and one of the coaches at BGCN.

Colin and Rob discuss the importance of self-awareness, reflection, and values-driven leadership for business owners. Colin shares practical frameworks for turning challenges into growth opportunities, building resilience, and fostering supportive business communities.

Colin teaches us the power of pausing and reflecting as key habits for personal and professional development, drawing from his own experiences and insights from his book.

The conversation offers actionable advice for leaders seeking to navigate setbacks, manage stress, and lead with authenticity and emotional intelligence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & Colin’s Background (00:02:05)

Colin introduces himself, his coaching work, and his background as a head teacher and founder of Everyday Leader.

The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership (00:02:58)

Colin talks about the importance of self-awareness, honest reflection, and emotional intelligence for business resilience.

Recognising and Managing Pressure (00:03:50)

Colin and Rob explore the pressures founders face, the impact of stress, and the need to notice emotional and physical cues.

Building Deliberate Reflection into Busy Schedules (00:05:11)

Colin shares practical advice on scheduling intentional reflection moments and being proactive about self-check-ins.

Practical Reflection Techniques (00:06:17)

Suggestions for simple reflection practices, such as body/emotion check-ins and reviewing daily experiences.

Intentional and Spontaneous Self-Reflection (00:07:38)

How to use reminders and triggers for reflection, and the value of spontaneous self-awareness during the day.

Developing a Resilient Mindset: Everyday Alchemy (00:08:27)

Introduction to Colin’s “Everyday Alchemy” model for transforming setbacks into opportunities through the pause, reflect, and respond model.

The Three-Step Alchemy Process (00:09:29)

Detailed explanation of pausing, reflecting (using the four W’s), and responding thoughtfully in challenging moments.

The Four W’s for Reflection (00:10:27)

Breakdown of the four W’s: What is needed, Who do I want to be, Which values guide me, and Where’s the treasure.

Applying Values in Decision-Making (00:11:14)

How to identify and use core values to guide actions, especially in uncertain or high-pressure situations.

Quick Reflection and Verification Before Responding (00:12:56)

Colin’s tips for rapid self-checks and using holding phrases to buy time before responding under pressure.

Understanding and Identifying Personal Values (00:15:17)

Colin offers guidance on discovering personal values and their importance in shaping business and personal decisions.

Values in Business and Team Culture (00:16:30)

How values influence business culture, team alignment, and responses to clients or challenging situations.

Empathy, Understanding, and Helping Others Transform...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Alan Nicholls, from the UK Government’s Money and Pensions Service and BGCN.

You'll hear a discussion on how to develop essential financial habits for business owners, with an emphasis on the importance of budgeting, separating personal and business finances, and building financial resilience.

Alan highlights practical tools (see below) for budgeting and tax support, and shares advice on managing cash flow, saving regularly, and preparing for tax obligations.

Our conversation encourages normalising discussions about money, seeking support, and using available resources to gain confidence and control over both personal and business finances.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction and Guest Background (00:02:00) Alan introduces himself, his roles at the Money and Pensions Service and BCN, and his experience supporting SMEs.

The Importance of Thinking About Money from Day One (00:03:59) Discussion on why financial awareness is crucial from the start of a business, and the overlap with personal finances.

Developing Good Financial Habits (00:06:49) Advice on building regular habits for reviewing income and expenditure, and the importance of monthly check-ins.

Tools for Managing Finances (00:08:02) Introduction to the Money Helper website and its budgeting tools, especially for those who dislike spreadsheets.

Facing Financial Messiness and Avoidance (00:10:27) Normalising the messiness of finances, the dangers of avoidance, and the risks of turning to harmful solutions.

Understanding and Controlling Your Finances (00:13:00) Emphasis on feeling in control, exploring financial education, and using available support resources.

Separating Personal and Business Finances (00:14:36) Why separating accounts brings clarity, especially as businesses grow and tax requirements increase.

Practicalities of Separate Accounts for Sole Traders (00:17:05) Clarifying myths about bank accounts, and practical steps for sole traders to separate business finances.

Problems with Mixing Personal and Business Finances (00:19:25) Examples of complications and tax issues that arise from not keeping finances separate.

Cash Flow and Its Importance for Growth (00:21:53) Explanation of cash flow, its role in business growth, and the need for planning and resilience.

Budgeting and Building Financial Resilience (00:25:14) Mindset and strategies for budgeting, creating a savings pot, and planning for unexpected events.

Planning for Success and Future Growth (00:29:28) How to use surplus funds, set savings goals, and reinvest in business or personal financial resilience.

Self-Assessment and Tax Basics (00:32:31) When to start thinking about tax returns, thresholds, and the benefits of good record-keeping.

Avoiding Surprises and Building Financial Habits (00:34:35) Tips for staying on top of receipts, expenses, and making financial management a daily habit.

Guidance on Savings and Tax Percentages (00:38:27) Focus on developing a savings habit over fixed percentages, and the importance of understanding your own finances.

Accountability and Seeking Support (00:40:43) Encouragement to seek accountability, use available coaching, and not to go it alone.

Final Thoughts and Key...