Gears, Action, Growth:
Shifting Business Culture one Conversation at a Time
Dr. Josephine Palermo's superpower is to create business cultures that transform organizations team by team. With a Ph.D. in Organisational Psychology, and from working with big corporates and government, to small and large businesses.
Josephine is a wellspring of knowledge and experience. On top of that, she owns three enterprises and is a sought-after speaker.
Gears, Action, Growth is a podcast for anyone who is interested in leveraging the power of people in their business. We discuss topics on building great teams and business cultures.
For more information about why we love doing this podcast see our interview on Listen Notes
Playlist
Archive
Episode 48: Our Culture of Busyness
With co-host Dr Iain Butterworth, we discuss why we are SOOO busy and what we can do about it. So if you feel like you never have enough time, you should really listen to this!
For access to the article that inspired this podcast go to See article Beware a Culture of Busyness (hbr.org)
Episode 47: The Good Life with philosopher Ole Hoffken
Iain and Josephine interview postdoctoral researcher and philosopher Ole Hoffken on The Good Life during his recent visit to Deakin University. We delve into his work which explores how the good life ‘feels’ and the objective conditions required in organisations and the broader society to attain it. We explore the concept of resonance and what it tells us about creating a life of meaning and happiness.
Contact Ole at: [email protected]
The book by Hartmut Rosa on the ‘resonance theory’ of the good life:
A shorter article by Rosa sketching the general idea:
A great introduction to the evolutionary-anthropological approach can be found in the book ‘The Social Leap’ by Bill von Hippel (University of Queensland):
During his research stay, Ole gave a talk on his work at Deakin University.
Episode 46: Creating true connection with our customers online with Eric Melchor
In this episode Josephine speaks to Eric Melchor about designing a life in Romania has worked for Eric and his young family and the benefits that Optimonk brings to personalising your customers’ experiences. They discuss the opportunities that micro-engagements bring to us and our customers creating a sense of connection, trust and happiness.
Let us know your thoughts on how personalisation impacts you. Contact Josephine at https://gearedforgrowth.biz/contact/
Contact Erik at [email protected]
Sign up for the Personalisation Bootcamp at www.optimonk/bootcamp
Episode 45: Legislation spot lights psychological healthy workplaces, with Sandra Lam
With my guest Sandra Lam, Organisational Psychologist, we discuss the changes in the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Legislation in Australia and what it means for employers.
Contact Sandra Lam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/5andralam/
Let us know your thoughts on psychological health.
Episode 44: The 3rd Act with Katherine McPherson
In this episode Dr Iain Butterworth speaks to architect Katherine McPherson, American born and now in Melbourne Australia about what’s next for her after a long career in workplace / community architecture and strategy and organisational dynamics
She’s looking at her 3rd Act, and exploring what she wants to do as a mature worker and why it matters. This is the first in a series of conversations about how we leverage the skills and expertise of those wiser older workers (WOWs) for the benefit of both the indiv, the org, the community and society at large.
Contact Katherine at: [email protected] Check out Guilford Lane here:
Episode 43: Facing our Climate Reality with Warwick Peel
With guest Warrick Peel we explore the organizational imperative to respond to Climate Change and how organisational thinking and action is intersecting with community level thinking, and how innovation and start-ups are critical to solving some of the wicked problems we face around climate change.
Some of the standouts are Atlassian and Canva, making a big impact on climate change action. We discuss how governments and corporations can do more to support and enable actions that take us closer to next zero.
Warrick explains carbon pricing and trends in the carbon market and states that most large corporations will have 100s of millions in carbon liability – e.g. AGL posted they have a 600million annual liability – addressing this liability requires purchasing carbon credits or directly investing in renewables to get to net zero. .
Warrick warns that solutions aren’t being implemented quick enough and at the scale we need them to be. “Mother Earth will continue beyond 2100 but I don’t think humans will”, he bemoans.
His call to action is about thinking differently – the message is about saving ourselves…, and saving our relationship with the planet.
Episode 42: Holiday Special – Some of the things on our minds
Iain and Josephine talk about some of the things that are on their mind as the year draws to a close. Topics range from the brave new world, AI, digital consciousness, the fall of ethics, and the rise of the young, brash entrepreneur.
Iain draws on Alvin Toffler’s ‘Future Shock’ and Damian Rodrick’s ‘The Spike’ and discuss the need for elder wisdom in the context of the superstar entrepreneur.
Topics venture into the role of psychedelics in treating mental health disorders. And applications of kindness and compassion in modern society.
We discuss gender politics and pronouns, other injustices like ageism, and Josephine’s upcoming book on women and power, and Iain’s book on Sense of Place coming up next year.
We talk about burnout and exhaustion, and issues of mental health that are prevalent at this time of year.
We give thanks for people who have inspired and supported us this year also share our new year’s resolutions. For Josephine it’s “set your mind to receive” and for Iain it’s “be present be more present and grateful.”
Contact Dr. Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
Episode 41: Severance
In this episode, Iain and I discuss our reactions to the new show on Apple TV called Severance and how it raises questions for us about how we manage our personal and work lives.
We go from cringing about those office rituals of forced conviviality, and discussing how we can build a workplace environment that encourages bringing our whole self to work, to questioning when is a bit of severance actually a good thing? And there’s lots more in between.
Join us for this at times hilarious conversation and don’t worry, there are no spoilers.
For more information about Severance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11280740/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: https://gearedforgrowth.biz/contact/
Contact Dr. Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
Contact Dr. Josephine Palermo https://gearedforgrowth.biz/contact/
Episode 40: Whisper, Tap, Slap with Cindy Scott
Josephine is joined by Cindy Scott who is a Leadership Coach ⭐️ Author ⭐️ Speaker ⭐️ Podcast Host ⭐️ and retailer of Cancer and Wellbeing Gifts ⭐️ as well as being a Tea Connoisseur
Cindy survived Cancer twice. This is her story about how she transformed her life after the devastating re-emergence of breast cancer nearly 5 years after her first diagnosis.
You can contact Cindy and see her fabulous resources at https://evolvingwomen.co/
If you’d like to join our Women’s Circle, please contact Josephine at [email protected] or https://gearedforgrowth.biz/contact/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 39: Communication is a promise you make with Russell Pearson
In this episode Josephine is joined by Russell Pearson who is living the dream lifestyle of the 4hr week and runs a successful coaching advisory business.
With a background in design and marketing, we cover topics around ideal client and talent attraction, and what shifts business owners need to make today.
Contact Russell here: https://consultingbusinesspodcast.com/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 38: Telling and Telepathy with Paul Matthews
Josephine is joined by Paul Matthews, who has a new top ten bestseller book SWITCH: from telling to trusting
Paul believes trust is the essence of leadership and loves to inspire others to powerful leadership through communication. We discuss this and other topics in this episode.
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 37: The Dark Triad and Corporate Psycopathy with Mack Zhou
Organisational Psychology trained, Mack Zhou, helps us understand what the Dark Triad is, and how would we know we are in the presence of it. Importantly he also offers some tips on what to do when confronted with someone who could have this distinct personality profile.
Contact Mack at www.linkedin.com/in/mack-z/
Further reading on the Dark Triad: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656602005056
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 36: Imposter Syndrome amongst Australia’s best and brightest
After a bit of a hiatus, we are back for regular episodes. Drs Josephine Palermo and Iain Butterworth explore the consequences of imposter syndrome.
Iain tells a story about where he sees the impact of Imposter Syndrome in a team of leading thinkers in our Country that he was recently a part of. He asks why this happens and what are the impacts for individuals and organisations.
Contact Dr. Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 35: Can Organisations be Non-Binary? (Part 2)
In Part 2 we continue our conversation about non-binary culture and explore how it is demonstrated in organisational culture and in our leadership. We also discuss how we can take non-binary and inclusive practices beyond gender.
Josephine mentions Paul Mac in this episode, learn more about this incredible artist here https://paulmac.com.au/tour/
Contact Dr. Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 34: Can Organisations be Non-Binary? (Part 1)
Josephine and Iain discuss what it means for the future of work when society is shifting to non-binary modes of gender identity for individuals and can this make an impact on the systems we live and work in.
Contact Dr. Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 33: The Stories We Tell with Randall Pearce
Randall Peace, Director of Think Insight Advice joins Josephine and Iain for a discussion about narrative coaching, and how the stories we tell about ourselves can play an important role in determining our success.
As Shakespeare said, ‘Beware the stories you tell yourself, for surely you will live them.’
Contact Randall at [email protected]
Contact Dr.Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 32: Iain Butterworth on the Weekend our Relationship Broke
We are back for Season 2 with a new co-host that you may have heard in conversations with me in Season 1…drum roll. Please welcome the enigmatic Dr. Iain Butterworth.
Our wonderful Season 1 co-host, the vivacious Christy Mori is busy pursuing other projects so won’t be back for another Season of Gears Action Growth this year.
Today Iain remembers how we met and what he hopes to see in this Season’s podcast.
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 31: Entrepreneurship and Growth with Casey Hill
Casey was raised by a long line of entrepreneurs in his family, he talks about his journey through entrepreneurship and the power of connection as a central theme in his success.
Dr. Josephine and Casey talk about the some of the defining moments of his career and how he learnt about the impact of truly connecting to customers.
Casey is the Head of Growth – Bonjoro, a personal video email platform, helping businesses to improve connection with their customers in a world of automation. You can contact him at www.bonjoro.com
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 30: Tony Sutherland on Delivery at Speed
Dr Josephine chats with Tony Sutherland who is an Executive Product Owner and Agile Coach on the way he has achieved extraordinary improvements in product delivery times in a culture that was not set up for speed. They discuss his leadership philosophy, agile practice and human centred design, all of which created the right environment to change ways of working at scale.
Tony referenced this book in this episode: Eric Ries: The Lean Startup http://theleanstartup.com/book
Tony’s Linked in Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/transformationlead/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 29: Rachael Kmiec on Delivering on True Employee Engagement
Rachael is a Community Lead at Servian, a tech consultancy throughout Aust, NZ, Singapore and India. Dr Josephine and Rachael discuss how to truly engage your employees.
For more information about Servian go to:
https://www.servian.com/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected] or contact me at https://gearedforgrowth.biz/contact/
Episode 28: Laura Mazin on Truly Delivering on Customer Experience
Dr Josephine talks to Laura Mazin, CEO of AchieveAble, and a Customer Experience Guru, about how to deliver an impactful customer experience in your business.
Laura Mazin has over 30 years’ experience accelerating business growth through transformed customer experiences.
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 27: Dr. Iain Butterworth on Identity and Place
Josephine and Dr Iain Butterworth, who are good friends and colleagues, discuss our human connection to spaces and what companies and governments need to know to rethink how we create different spaces for a post Covid world.
Dr. Iain Butterworth, who is trained in Community Psychology, is passionate about healthy cities and communities. Iain has extensive experience across government, higher education, and the community sectors. What are the opportunities for re-conceptualising our connection to place in 2022 .
Some useful references mentioned in the episode:
Iain’s Blog
Cardinia Shire Council Liveability Plan – has significant relevance to the ‘suburban economy’ – https://www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/downloads/download/536/cardinia_shire_s_liveability_plan_2017-29_-_cardinia_shire_counci
Read Iain’s blog page for his series of blogs on Sense of Place https://iainbutterworth.com/blog/
Contact Dr.Iain Butterworth at https://iainbutterworth.com/
As always, please send us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 26: A conversation with Shu Tan: Surviving Shitty Hard Times
Shu’s life changed dramatically about 12 months ago. Coming through all of that to the other side, Josephine speaks to Shu about her journey, the life lessons in resilience and courage, and what’s in store now.
For more information:
Breast Cancer Network Australia
Pink Hope
Think Pink Foundation
Cancer Council
Episode 25: Resetting our Relationships
According to some studies, 10 per cent of the people we meet in our lives don’t actually like us so how do we get along with everyone in the workplace?
We often get stuck in relationship patterns with people, including our colleagues and bosses at work, and feel like that is never going to change.
Episode 24: Staying Focused in a Sea of Distraction
This last week has been one of those weeks where my focus was definitely distracted….by news broadcasts on the pandemic, climate change, and Afghanistan; to mention a few. Interruptions, more news about lockdown extensions, home schooling… So, we discuss ways to create focus during this time of so many distractions.
Episode 23: Dr. Iain Butterworth on Dealing with Doubt and Uncertainty
Josephine and Dr. Iain Butterworth, who are good friends and colleagues, discuss how to deal with doubt and uncertainty of your people in your business.
They discuss why it’s important to check in with your team about their doubts and uncertainties, and importantly how to address these before they lead to poor productivity, absenteeism and bad business culture and outcomes.
Episode 22: Designing for true collaboration: Coworking, Flexibility and Agility
With many of us are still working from home, CEOs are beginning to wonder how will they get their staff back to the office. In this episode we discuss some alternatives to defaulting to ways of working before the pandemic.
Episode 21: Some personal thoughts on Purpose, and what happens if you don’t have one
In this episode, we revisit Purpose, what it means to both of them, and what their purpose actually is currently. We explore this in our work and home lives.
Episode 21: Interview with Natalie Dimbleby, COO, Roots of Fight
Christy Mori chats with Natalie Dimbleby, the COO of media and lifestyle brand ‘Roots of Fight’ about entrepreneurship and running a successful business.
Roots of Fight celebrates the improbable achievements of today’s most legendary athletes, innovators, and cultural icons.
Episode 20: Organisational Psychologist Graeme Bye on Why is Personal Branding important to your purpose
In recent years Graeme Bye, an Organisational Psychologist, and seasoned HR Director ,has been helping his clients with their personal brand. Graeme and Josephine discuss how personal branding became a focus of his work and why, and Graeme talks about the links between ageing and lack of purpose.
Episode 18: Organisational Psychologist Beulah Joseph on Toxic Relationships at Work
Dr. Josephine interviews Beulah Joseph, a Registered Psychologist, researcher, author and Employee Assistance Program Guru about the nature of toxic relationships at work.
We discuss how to identify a toxic relationship or workplace environment, and importantly, what to do if you find yourself in one.
Episode 17: Unique Feminine Strengths for Business
We discuss psychological gender roles, femininity, and the unique feminine strengths we can bring to the business.
Empathy Map https://gamestorming.com/update-to-the-empathy-map/
Episode 16: Creating My Career as a Woman
In this special long episode, Dr. Josephine Palermo shares her journey and provides personal stories of pursuing her career as a woman. Hope you get value from it!
Episode 15: Romantic Relationship at Work
In the theme of Valentine’s Day, we chat about romantic relationships in the workplace. We’ll be discussing if it’s a good idea, what levels of professionalism to keep when we are in relationships at work, and the different effects for men and women, and what to do about handling a relationship breakdown at work.
Episode 14: Relationships and Business
February is relationship month for us so we are starting off the month with a chat about relationships and business, particularly in terms of finding the right business partner and how to build a good partnership. We draw on some famous co-founders for inspiration as well as Lucille Ball!
Episode 13: Downfall of Optimism
Continuing the conversation on Optimism, we now flip the topic to talking about the negative aspects of being overly optimistic in business. As always, please give us your questions and stories: [email protected]
Episode 12: Optimism in 2021
To kickstart our podcast for 2021, we dive into a full conversation about Optimism and how an optimistic outlook grounded in a sense of reality can help businesses and individuals create a sunnier, healthier and more fulfilled future.
Episode 11: Dealing with Burnout
As it’s holiday season, Christy Mori chats with Dr. Josephine Palermo about Burnout and Fatigue and how it can alter lives. We also look at how to recognize the signs and making prevention our best friend.
Episode 10: Customer Delight with guest Matthew Barnet
It’s our 10th episode and we have a wonderful guest to share with us why delighting customers should be part of our business cultures.
We chat with Matthew Barnett, CEO and Co-founder of Bonjoro.
Episode 9: Building Your Best Team
Having a strong team is part of success. This episode discusses about how we can build the best teams and why maintaining your best team is so important.
Episode 8: Compassionate Approach in the Workplace
With some places now coming out of lockdown and others going back in for their second wave, this episode discusses about the importance of a compassionate environment in the workplace and some tips on how leaders can create a culture of compassion in their workplace.
Episode 7: Businesses Finding Recovery After Lockdown
Dr. Josephine Palermo chats with Elis Hoxha of Westwood Knight Accounting about practical ways in which businesses can work their way to recovery after experiencing restrictions and lockdown in some cases.
Episode 6: Remote Work & Coworking
This episode talks about the world of remote working and Dr. Palermo shares her personal story about opening a Coworking Space, Higher Spaces, in Melbourne.
Episode 5: Good Business Culture
We continue the conversation from “bad” culture into “good” culture and how a “good” culture is vital for businesses.
We focus on how much employee engagement will not just be better for the individuals working but the business itself. Dr. Palermo gives tips for leaders for creating and sustaining a “good culture” in business.
Episode 4: Bad Business Culture
This episode explores about what makes a culture “bad” and how people can avoid joining a “bad” business culture and tips for business owners and leaders who want to change their culture to work for them and the people they serve.
Episode 3: Resilience at Work
We dive into topics regarding resilience in life and work. We chat about how resilience can work for us into a positive and constructive way if we recognise the value in the hard times. In business, building a resilient organisation is the difference between surviving or thriving.
Episode 2: Passion at Work
We continue the chat of passion and its place in the workplace including how leaders can cultivate a passionate culture and how jobseekers and employees can ask the right questions in choosing a company that values passion.
Episode 1: Debunking Myths on Following Your Passion
Christy Mori & Dr. Josephine Palermo talk about why following your passion is not all you think it might be.
We chat about the myths of “feeling passionate” and the reality of actually doing the work. There will also be a discussion at the end about the truths of trying to monetize our passions.