Jon Dario shares the “gravity-like law” of team performance- actions + external influences = results- plus how to close execution gaps without micromanaging.

If you could turn culture into an equation, could you finally manage results with consistency?

In Part 2, Jon Dario introduces his gravity-like law of team performance and the simple equation that underpins execution: actions + external influences = results. From there, he breaks down how managers close the “intended vs actual” gap, how to increase follow-up without becoming a micromanager, and why the right environment (respect + safety + team standards) is non-negotiable for AIM to work.​

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• The “gravity-like law” equation: actions + external influences = results.​
• A practical example of external influences (customers) and why it’s not a valid excuse.​
• Closing the execution gap: intended vs actual actions/results, and how to manage it well.​
• The Regina story: why follow-up frequency shapes behaviour and standards.​
• “White belt mentality”: how leaders earn real authority by staying teachable.​
• The Tudometer: a simple tool to talk about attitude without making it personal.​
• The 3 F’s of execution: focus, follow-up, feedback.​

EPISODE 2 CHAPTERS

0:03 – Episode 2 intro + quick recap prompt​

00:27 – Gravity-like law: actions + external influences = results​

2:15 – The “external influences” trap + retail example​

3:12 – Monitoring the gap without micromanaging​

5:58 – Fix it vs teach it vs redesign the system​

7:00 – How often should you follow up?​

9:57 – Regina story: frequency of follow-up creates execution​

11:00 – White belt mentality (learn every day)​

13:31 – The “right environment” for AIM​

15:24 – Resolving team conflict: define results + remove intention assumptions​

17:16 – Common language + routines​

19:05 – Tudometer tool for attitude + psychological safety​

23:24 – Rubber band habit: praise every team member daily​

25:07 – The 3 F’s: focus, follow-up, feedback​

27:30 – Where to buy the book + contact Jon​

29:12 – Outro​

ABOUT JON DARIO

Jon Dario has retail leadership experience spanning thirty years plus across multiple types of retail environments-including department stores, specialty stores, and financial services. He earned his marketing degree from Penn State University. Dario, who previously wrote The Retail Management Formula: A Navigational Guide to Consistently Effective Retail Management, lives in Warren, New Jersey, with his wife and two teenage boys. He is soon to publish AIM.

• Book: AIM : How Managers Get Radically Reliable Results - available via Amazon/Audible/Kindle (via amazon.com).​

CONNECT WITH JON DARIO

• Jon Dario: johndario.com (book + services + contact).​

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST — LINDY TAYLOR

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline

Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com

ABOUT THE 5TH DISCIPLINE PODCAST

The 5th Discipline Podcast explores everything to do with people, culture, and systems in the climate change and sustainability space. Hosted by Lindy Taylor, each episode brings together global leaders, HR professionals, and change-makers to share the insights and strategies that build thriving, future-fit organisations.

• Subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show.​

KEYWORDS

actions plus external influences equals results, leadership execution, management follow-up cadence, micromanagement vs management, team performance equation, focus follow-up feedback, Tudometer.

Jon Dario explains why radically reliable results come from culture + execution: leadership balance, disengagement signals, weekly progress meetings, and recognition that actually sticks.

What if your team’s results aren’t random - just the outcome of a culture you can intentionally build?

In Episode 1 of this conversation, Lindy Taylor speaks with Jon Dario (Founder/Director, Retail Management Formula; CEO; author of AIM: Action Item Management / How Managers Get Radically Reliable Results) about the leadership behaviours that create repeatable performance - without burnout or micromanagement.​

You’ll hear Jon’s core idea: sustainable results don’t come from flashy “home runs,” they come from consistent execution - and that execution is shaped by how managers build trust, set expectations, and run the cadence of communication.​

*** If Part 1 helped, listen to Part 2 for Jon’s “gravity-like law” equation, the Regina story on follow-up frequency, the Tudometer tool, and the 3 F’s (focus, follow-up, feedback).

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• What “radically reliable results” look like on a normal Tuesday (and why incremental improvement wins).​
• Jon’s Leadership Balance Model: creating confidence and challenge at the same time.​
• How to spot disengagement (complacency vs stress/fear) and what to say in a real conversation.​
• Weekly progress meetings: why the employee should own the agenda, and how this builds openness.​
• Recognition that works: why specific feedback matters, plus the handwritten thank-you note story.​

EPISODE 1 CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro: Jon Dario + AIM (Action Item Management)​

00:34 – Welcome Jon + his career journey (Macy’s, GAP, banking, CEO)​

02:57 – What AIM is really about: execution and repeatable success​

05:10 – Why Jon wrote the book + publishing details (March 24)​

06:09 – “Radically reliable” results vs occasional home runs​

08:13 – Leadership Balance Model (confidence + challenge)​

10:10 – Signs of disengagement and how leaders respond​

13:49 – Weekly progress meetings that build trust (employee-owned agenda)​

16:19 – Recognition: specific positive feedback + thank-you note story​

18:37 – Pause + transition to Part 2​

ABOUT JON DARIO

Jon Dario has retail leadership experience spanning thirty years plus across multiple types of retail environments-including department stores, specialty stores, and financial services. He earned his marketing degree from Penn State University. Dario, who previously wrote The Retail Management Formula: A Navigational Guide to Consistently Effective Retail Management, lives in Warren, New Jersey, with his wife and two teenage boys. He is soon to publish AIM.

• Book: AIM : How Managers Get Radically Reliable Results - available via Amazon/Audible/Kindle (via amazon.com).​

CONNECT WITH JON DARIO

• Jon Dario: johndario.com (book + services + contact).​

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST — LINDY TAYLOR

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline

Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com

ABOUT THE 5TH DISCIPLINE PODCAST

The 5th Discipline Podcast explores everything to do with people, culture, and systems in the climate change and sustainability space. Hosted by Lindy Taylor, each episode brings together global leaders, HR professionals, and change-makers to share the insights and strategies that build thriving, future-fit organisations.

• Subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show.​

KEYWORDS

action item management, AIM, radically reliable results, leadership balance model, employee engagement, weekly check-ins, management system, recognition, feedback, team performance, execution culture.​

What does it really take to lead across 77 nationalities, 7 countries, and 160 years of organisational history — and still keep your humanity intact?

In this episode of the 5th Discipline Podcast, Lindy Taylor sits down with Bernard Asnong: international speaker, moderator, Global HR Business Partner at TÜV SÜD, and author of Be Awesome, Be Global. Bernard's journey from barefoot beginnings in Zimbabwe and Zambia to corporate leadership in Madrid is not just a career story — it's a masterclass in cultural intelligence, adaptive leadership, and what it truly means to listen.

With over 30,000 employees across 77 nationalities at TÜV SÜD, Bernard has tested every leadership theory in the real world. What he shares in this conversation is hard-won, practical, and immediately applicable — whether you manage a team of 5 or 5,000.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• The two formative experiences from Bernard's early life that shaped how he sees people and culture at work
• Why fun and humanity unlock diversity better than any formal policy or training programme
• How living across 7 countries redefined his understanding of great leadership (hint: it has nothing to do with being right)
• The crucial difference between being kind and being nice — and why confusing them is failing your team
• How to adapt your leadership style across cultures: practical advice on The Culture Map by Erin Meyer and DISC profiling
• Why one-off diversity and culture workshops rarely work, and what continuous cultural engagement actually looks like
• The warning signs of psychological safety breakdown that leaders must not ignore
• How to keep culture alive in remote and hybrid global teams after COVID changed everything
• Cross-border team building strategies that work without flying everyone to the same city
• Bernard's personal mental wellness rituals: gym discipline, vinyl records, mentorship, and a nightly self-gratitude practice
• The one Swahili word — sikiliza — that Bernard says is the most important daily habit for any leader who wants to grow their cultural intelligence
• How active listening can shift unconscious bias and transform relationships over time

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introduction and welcome

00:51 — Be Awesome, Be Global: Bernard's book and journey from Zimbabwe to Madrid

03:02 — Barefoot to global: the pig farm and Dilly's Thriller moment

07:42 — Living in 7 countries: what great leadership really means

09:03 — Kind vs nice: why tough feedback is the most generous thing a leader can give

10:15 — The Culture Map, DISC, and adapting style across cultures

13:15 — Why one-off training fails: what continuous cultural engagement looks like

14:37 — Psychological safety and mental wellness: warning signs leaders must not miss

17:18 — Global citizens vs HQ vs regions: navigating matrix organisations

19:22 — Remote work and hybrid teams: keeping culture alive post-COVID

21:15 — Cross-border team building that actually works

23:17 — Bernard's personal wellness rituals for global HR leaders

27:18 — Sikiliza: the one daily habit that grows cultural intelligence

28:50 — Active listening, unconscious bias, and transforming relationships

ABOUT BERNARD ASNONG

Bernard Asnong is an international speaker, moderator, trainer, and Global HR Business Partner at TÜV SÜD — a 160-year-old global testing, inspection, and certification company with over 30,000 employees across 77 nationalities. Having lived and worked in seven countries across three continents, Bernard brings a uniquely lived perspective to cross-cultural leadership and people strategy. He is also the author of Be Awesome, Be Global, an honest and unpolished account of his journey from Zimbabwe to the global stage.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Be Awesome, Be Global by Bernard Asnong — available on Amazon
• The Culture Map by Erin Meyer — essential reading for leaders of globally distributed teams
• DISC Profiling — for understanding team dynamics, personalities, and leadership styles

CONNECT WITH BERNARD ASNONG

LinkedIn: Search "Bernard Asnong" on LinkedIn

Book: Search "Be Awesome Be Global Bernard Asnong" on Amazon

CONNECT WITH TÜVSÜD

Website: https://www.tuvsud.com

LinkedIn: Search TÜV SÜD on LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST — LINDY TAYLOR

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline

Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com

ABOUT THE 5TH DISCIPLINE PODCAST

The 5th Discipline Podcast explores everything to do with people, culture, and systems in the climate change and sustainability space. Hosted by Lindy Taylor, each episode brings together global leaders, HR professionals, and change-makers to share the insights and strategies that build thriving, future-fit organisations.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show.

KEYWORDS

global leadership, cultural intelligence, cross-cultural management, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, psychological safety, mental wellness at work, remote team culture, hybrid teams, Be Awesome Be Global, Bernard Asnong, TÜV SÜD, The Culture Map, Erin Meyer, DISC assessment, active listening, unconscious bias, HR business partner, Africa business, climate sustainability leadership, international HR, matrix organisation, 5th Discipline podcast, Lindy Taylor

In this episode, Lindy Taylor sits down with Candice Seggie, Chief People Officer at Solar Africa, to unpack how truly effective culture elevates organisations—well beyond slogans to something authentically lived. Explore the real-world impact of employee engagement, thoughtful leadership, and innovative people strategies on business success and retention.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

[00:00] – Preparing employees for meaningful engagement and managing organisational change

[04:12] – Why regular surveys and transparent feedback loops drive genuine participation

[09:40] – Rethinking workplace flexibility to support diverse teams

[14:22] – How candour and communication build psychological safety and trust

[18:55] – Customising perks and mental health support to boost wellbeing and loyalty

[23:10] – Leadership development and consistent coaching for high-performing teams

[27:45] – The HR metrics that matter for recruitment, performance, and retention

[32:00] – Why great culture retains talent even in highly competitive sectors

💡 Key Topics:

employee engagement - workplace flexibility - mental health and wellbeing - leadership coaching - performance management - HR metrics - staff retention - company culture - exit interviews - talent attraction - Solar Africa - African business - organisational growth - operational excellence

Connect with Candice Seggie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceseggie/

Website: https://solarafrica.com

Connect with the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline/

Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com

Follow 5th Discipline on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5th-discipline

👍 If you value actionable leadership lessons and culture-first business growth, follow this podcast for more insights

🔔 Subscribe for episodes with executive leaders and culture champions

💬 Share your takeaways or tips on employee engagement in the comments

Full Description:

“Culture at Scale – Measuring Engagement & Growing Stronger” brings you powerful insights from Lindy Taylor and Candice Seggie on what it really takes to build, measure, and sustain a winning company culture. Get tactical advice on using surveys, feedback, and HR data to future-proof your organisation, create impactful wellness programmes, and build high-trust leadership teams. Discover how Solar Africa’s focus on wellbeing, flexibility, and engagement has helped them attract and retain top talent, reduce turnover, and maximise performance—even in fast-scaling environments.

Perfect for business leaders, HR professionals, and teams seeking evidence-based strategies to foster a healthy, high-retention workplace and drive business growth.

Tune in, and get ready to uplift your people—and your results!

#EmployeeEngagement #PeopleStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #SolarAfrica #Retention #HRAnalytics

🔑 Search Keywords:

employee engagement - workplace flexibility - mental wellness - leadership coaching - recruitment metrics - talent retention - performance management - company culture - exit interviews - employee perks - African business - renewable energy - operational efficiency - high-performing teams - psychological safety

In this episode, Lindy Taylor CEO & Founder of 5th Discipline, sits down with Candice Seggie, Chief People Officer at Solar Africa, to explore how truly effective company culture elevates organisations. Learn why culture is more than just a slogan—it's at the heart of your people, your purpose, and the stories that drive success.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

[00:00] – Candice’s journey through recruitment, marketing, and the growth of Solar Africa

[04:12] – The vital role of your people in scaling and sustaining core company values

[09:40] – Managing organisational mergers with change management, clear communication, and trust-building

[14:22] – How to define and live authentic company values for sustainable long-term growth

[18:55] – Recruiting for cultural fit: effective interview methods and promoting diversity

[23:10] – Day-to-day actions that nurture a thriving company culture and employee engagement

[27:45] – Performance management strategies, KPIs, and behaviour-focused reviews

[32:00] – Leadership transparency and its positive impact on overall business performance

💡 Key Topics:

culture at scale - organisational design - employee engagement - authentic leadership - business values - change management - recruitment strategies - solar energy sector - company mergers - performance management - workplace wellbeing - employer branding - scaling in Africa - operational excellence - digital transformation

📌 Connect with Candice Seggie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceseggie/

Website: https://solarafrica.com

Connect with the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline/

Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com

Follow 5th Discipline on LinkedIn.

👍 Like this episode if you found value in it

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes on building strong cultures and business growth

💬 Share your key takeaways or questions in the comments

Full Description:

“Culture at Scale – Building a Business Worth Believing In” features Lindy Taylor and Candice Seggie discussing proven strategies for scaling a thriving business without compromising culture and values. Explore how Solar Africa transitioned from a start-up to a pan-African energy leader by focusing on employee engagement, performance excellence, and meaningful impact.

Get actionable insights on change management, living core values, and recruitment centred on cultural fit. Learn how to build high-performing teams and foster a workplace that attracts and retains top talent. This episode delivers valuable lessons for executives, managers, and HR leaders aiming to strengthen organisation culture, boost team engagement, and drive sustainable growth.

Ready to develop your culture and scale your business? Access custom workshops, audits, and consulting across renewable energy, climate, and sustainability sectors.

#CompanyCulture #EmployeeEngagement #Leadership #SolarAfrica #ScaleUp

🔑 Search Keywords:

company culture - scaling business - organisational design - employee engagement - leadership - purpose-driven business - recruitment strategies - mergers and acquisitions - behavioural KPIs - talent management - operational excellence - African business - sustainable growth - culture champions - business worth believing in

In this follow-up episode, Specioser Mutheu dives into the creative and tactical side of startup marketing — how to build strong visuals, stretch a tight budget, and turn your people into your marketing superpower.

From capturing event photos and building a stock-image library to leveraging interns and brand partnerships, Specioser breaks down how Octavia Carbon grew its reach organically — and why the best brands are built from the inside out.

🎧 You’ll learn about:

– Visuals that work (and why simplicity wins)

– Building reusable brand assets before campaigns

– Leveraging interns, students & partnerships for content

– Making marketing interactive and human

– Attracting top talent through credibility

💬 “When your people speak for your brand, you don’t just grow followers — you grow believers.”

📌 Connect with Specioser Mutheu

LinkedIn: Specioser Mutheu

📲 Follow The 5th Discipline

LinkedIn: 5th Discipline

Connect with the Host: Lindy Taylor

Website: the5thdiscipline.com

#PeoplePoweredMarketing #BrandStrategy #ClimateStartups #VisualStorytelling #The5thDiscipline

🔑 Keywords:

startup visuals • brand asset development • employee advocacy • organic marketing • talent attraction • leveraging interns • startup PR • Octavia Carbon • LinkedIn content strategy • climate innovation marketing

Full Episode Description:

In this episode of The 5th Discipline Podcast, host Lindy Taylor chats with Specioser Mutheu, Communications Manager at Octavia Carbon, Africa’s first direct air capture (DAC) company.

Together, they unpack how startups can build credibility before they have budgets — and why authentic storytelling, team advocacy, and consistency matter more than campaigns.

You’ll hear how Octavia grew from a small Nairobi-based team into a recognised climate-tech brand through people-first marketing and smart partnerships that made their circle wider.

🎧 You’ll learn about:

– Turning credibility into your startup’s strongest currency

– Using your team as brand storytellers and amplifiers

– Building organic traction through partnerships & accelerators

– How consistency (not budget) builds brand trust

💬 “When your people believe in the mission, your story tells itself.”

📌 Connect with Specioser Mutheu

LinkedIn: Specioser Mutheu

📲 Follow The 5th Discipline

LinkedIn: 5th Discipline

Connect with the Host: Lindy Taylor

Website: the5thdiscipline.com

#Leadership #StartupMarketing #ClimateTech #BrandBuilding #The5thDiscipline

🔑 Keywords:

People-first marketing • startup branding • credibility building • organic marketing • LinkedIn strategy • Octavia Carbon • Africa startups • storytelling for founders • climate tech PR • leveraging employees in marketing

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kim Raath, co-founder of Ledgerment and PrimeShore, we dive deeper into the strategies that help founders and teams thrive. Kim shares why storytelling beats facts for connection, how to simplify complex problems for scalability, and why cash-flow mastery and feedback loops are essential for sustainable growth. She also gives candid insights on preparing for investors, protecting your personal time as a founder, crafting a meaningful employee value proposition and leading with authenticity in the age of AI.

Whether you’re building your first startup or scaling your organisation, you’ll get practical tips you can apply right away.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in Part 2

• Using storytelling to inspire trust and action.
• Breaking complex problems into scalable solutions.
• Mastering cash flow and capital readiness.
• Building with customer input and effective feedback loops.
• Crafting employee value propositions that go beyond perks.
• Mentoring and leading authentically, even as AI reshapes work.

📝 Sound Bites

• “Storytelling connects people, facts don’t.”
• “Cash is king — know your numbers.”
• “Protect your time; authenticity is leadership.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Storytelling Over Facts: The Key to Connection

03:15 – Simplifying Complex Problems for Scalability

07:30 – Understanding Your Numbers: Cash Flow Essentials

12:10 – Feedback Loops: Building with Customer Input

17:45 – Capital Readiness: Preparing for Investor Engagement

23:05 – Protecting Personal Time: The Cost of Entrepreneurship

28:40 – Crafting an Effective Employee Value Proposition

34:20 – The Human Element: Mentoring Beyond AI

39:00 – Authenticity in Leadership: The Final Word

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Catch more episodes on leadership, people, brand and systems

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kim Raath, entrepreneur and co-founder of Ledgerment and PrimeShore. Kim shares her journey from bootstrapping to leading AI-driven teams, the power of storytelling in business, and how to build trust and culture inside a startup. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling your company, you’ll get actionable tips on leadership, team building, employee value propositions and cash-flow management.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• Why storytelling resonates more than facts in business.
• How AI and team dynamics are reshaping startups.
• Building trust and vulnerability into leadership.
• Creating employee value propositions based on lived experiences.
• Cash flow, bootstrapping and protecting your own well-being as a founder.

📝 Sound Bites

• “Fail fast, but fail forward.”
• “Cash is king.”
• “Be authentic. Be you.”

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Kim Raath and Her Journey

03:01 – Transitioning into Climate and Carbon Credits

05:40 – Building Ledgerment and PrimeShore

08:44 – Emerging Trends in Startups: AI and Team Dynamics

11:27 – Leadership Superpowers and Building Trust

14:36 – Navigating Uncertainty and Vulnerability in Leadership

17:21 – Effective Team Building in Remote Settings

20:12 – Creating a Culture of Feedback and Growth Mindset

29:40 – The Importance of Accessibility in Leadership

Remember to subscribe for more interesting conversations with leaders!

In this episode of The 5th Discipline Podcast, host Lindy Taylor chats with Samista Jugwanth, Technical Director at Zutari. Together they explore how engineers can lead with foresight, innovation, and empathy — and why self-awareness and diversity of thought are essential to building the future of infrastructure.

🎙️ You’ll hear about:

– Moving from technical expertise to people leadership

– Using strategic foresight to plan for unpredictable futures

– Creating innovation in highly regulated project environments

– Building trust and openness with teams

– Goal-setting beyond SMART: how “theme-setting” drives growth

📩 Connect with Samista Jugwanth:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samista-jugwanth/

Email: samista.j@gmail.com

📲 Follow The 5th Discipline for more insights on People, Brand & Systems:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5th-discipline

Visit our Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com/

Connect with the Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline/

If you enjoy this conversation, please rate and review the podcast – it helps more listeners discover these stories.

In part 2 of this conversation, with Lindy Taylor and Wiehahn De Jager - they continue the discussion around the critical role of soft skills in hiring, the importance of company culture, and the impact of AI on recruitment processes. Wiehahn shares insights from his experience at CrossBoundary, emphasising the need for clarity in communication and the significance of understanding candidates' motivations. They explore trends in the climate change sector and how organisations can adapt to attract and retain top talent.

Takeaways

• Soft skills are essential for career advancement.
• A positive relationship with feedback is crucial.
• Being comfortable with ambiguity is a valuable skill.
• Understanding when to influence versus when to execute is key.
• Company culture should be clearly defined and communicated.
• AI can enhance recruitment but requires careful implementation.
• Recruitment metrics should focus on outcomes, not just inputs.
• Assessing past behaviours is more informative than hypothetical questions.
• Understanding candidates' motivations is vital for retention.
• Diversity in hiring leads to better organisational outcomes.

Titles

• Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills in Hiring
• Building a Culture of Success at CrossBoundary

Sound Bites

• "We have a very clear culture."
• "Ask them what they've done."
• "You can't step in the same river twice."

Chapters

32:27: De-risking the Hiring Process

34:00: Assessing Soft Skills in Recruitment

37:00: Evaluating Cultural Fit

38:16: Authenticity in Interviewing

43:02: Understanding Candidate Motivations

47:47: The Importance of Reference Checks

49:49: Red and Green Flags in Interviews

55:51: Retention Strategies for Top Talent

01:01:18: Trends in Climate-Focused Talent Acquisition

In this conversation, Lindy Taylor and Wiehahn De Jager discuss the critical role of soft skills in hiring, the importance of company culture, and the impact of AI on recruitment processes. Wiehahn shares insights from his experience at CrossBoundary, emphasising the need for clarity in communication and the significance of understanding candidates' motivations. They explore trends in the climate change sector and how organisations can adapt to attract and retain top talent.

Takeaways

• Soft skills are essential for career advancement.
• A positive relationship with feedback is crucial.
• Being comfortable with ambiguity is a valuable skill.
• Understanding when to influence versus when to execute is key.
• Company culture should be clearly defined and communicated.
• AI can enhance recruitment but requires careful implementation.
• Recruitment metrics should focus on outcomes, not just inputs.
• Assessing past behaviours is more informative than hypothetical questions.
• Understanding candidates' motivations is vital for retention.
• Diversity in hiring leads to better organisational outcomes.

Titles

• Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills in Hiring
• Building a Culture of Success at CrossBoundary

Sound Bites

• "We have a very clear culture."
• "Ask them what they've done."
• "You can't step in the same river twice."

Chapters

00:00: The Importance of Soft Skills in Hiring

04:33: Understanding CrossBoundary and Its Impact

10:44: The Journey into Talent Acquisition

16:39: Navigating AI in Recruitment

28:33: Measuring Recruitment Success with KPIs

Welcome to the 5th Discipline Podcast – the space where we explore everything about people, brand, and systems to help climate change players in Africa scale with impact. 🌍⚡

In this episode, we sit down with Anja Visagie, Chief Growth & Marketing Officer at SPS – a leading renewables assessment management company operating across the SADC region and part of the Gridworks portfolio.

Anja shares her insights on leadership, growth, and building resilient teams in the fast-evolving renewable energy sector. From developing new leadership skills to fostering trust, inclusion, and collaboration in diverse teams, she unpacks the real-world challenges of scaling a climate-tech business in Africa.

🔑 Key Themes We Discuss:

• Leadership skills and tools every manager needs to grow 📈
• Building trust and collaboration in uncertain times 🤝
• Creating inclusive team environments where innovation thrives 💡
• Keeping yourself and your team motivated in high-pressure roles 🔥
• Aligning company values with diversity in talent acquisition 🌱
• Encouraging innovation in renewable energy companies ⚡
• Leadership lessons Anja had to learn and unlearn quickly 🧠

If you’re interested in leadership, organisational culture, scaling startups, and climate innovation in Africa, this conversation is packed with practical lessons and inspiration.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to the 5th Discipline Podcast and follow us on LinkedIn (@5thDiscipline) to stay updated on our latest episodes.