Show Notes
What really separates high performers from everyone else? After coaching world champions, Olympic athletes, CEOs, political leaders and elite sporting teams, James Laughlin has discovered that sustained success isn't built on talent alone. It's built on habits, self-awareness and the ability to perform consistently without sacrificing the things that matter most. In this episode of the Fireside Leadership Podcast, Chris Turkington sits down with James to unpack the habits that underpin elite performance. They discuss overcoming self-doubt, why high performers say "no" more often, the dangers of hustle culture, building resilience without burnout, and what the world's best leaders struggle with behind closed doors. Whether you're leading a team, building a business or striving to perform at your best, this conversation is full of practical insights you can apply immediately. Why self-doubt affects even the world's highest performers A practical exercise to overcome imposter syndrome Why the best leaders become more selective with their time How to stay ambitious without burning yourself out The difference between hustle and sustainable high performance What elite leaders privately struggle with behind closed doors Why your environment has a huge influence on your success How small daily habits compound into extraordinary results James Laughlin is a high-performance leadership coach, bestselling author and multiple-time world champion drummer. He has coached Olympic athletes, Fortune 500 executives, political leaders and elite sporting organisations, helping them develop the habits, mindset and leadership skills required to perform consistently at the highest level. He is also the author of The Habits of High Performers. Website: https://jameslaughlin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-laughlin/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslaughlin/ The Fireside Leadership Podcast brings you conversations with exceptional leaders from business, sport, the military and public service, uncovering the experiences, decisions and lessons that shape outstanding leadership. Hosted by Chris Turkington. Produced by Aegis Leadership. www.aegisleadership.co.nz
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If pushing harder has always helped you succeed, slowing down can feel like letting your standards slip. Health and performance coach Aaron Callaghan joins Chris Turkington to explore what happens when drive and discipline start costing you more than they deliver. Aaron discusses why recovery needs a place in your diary, how to adjust exercise around your wider stress load, and why a strength such as coachability can sometimes limit your judgement. The conversation also turns to home: achieving professionally while becoming disconnected from your family, and the small boundaries that help you give them your full attention. Aaron finishes with a practical evening reflection for recognising progress and choosing one achievable improvement for tomorrow. Find Aaron: https://www.aaroncallaghan.com/ Explore leadership development with Aegis Leadership: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/ Thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for powering the show: https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/ Follow Fireside Leadership Podcast for more conversations about leadership, performance and life beyond work.
You’ve done the preparation. The pressure rises, and you start thinking harder and pushing harder. Then your performance gets worse. Racing driver and 2024 New Zealand Grand Prix winner Liam Sceats recognises that pattern in himself. He can prepare until he makes the task too complex, or force the pace behind the wheel and lose time. In this episode of Fireside Leadership, Liam joins Chris Turkington to explain how he recognises when effort is working against him and returns his attention to the basics. They discuss: • When preparation becomes overthinking • Using breathing and task-focused self-talk under pressure • Resetting after a mistake before it causes another • Preserving tyres for the teammate taking over the car • Processing a career setback without deciding you’re not good enough For anyone who responds to pressure by doing more, Liam’s experience offers a useful way to examine whether that extra effort is improving the result. CONNECT WITH LIAM Website: https://liamsceats.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liamsceats/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liamsceatsmotorsport/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-sceats-86276021a/ AEGIS LEADERSHIP Find out more about our leadership development work: https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/ Thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for powering the show. https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/ Follow Fireside Leadership for more conversations with leaders, athletes and people with experience worth learning from.
A joke in a meeting can lighten the mood. It can also say something people are hesitant to raise directly. Dr Allanah Johnston joins Chris to talk about her research into workplace humour and what it can reveal about trust, tension and team culture. They discuss the line between banter and a pointed remark, why leaders should not try to force humour, and how clips from The Office helped one organisation discuss workplace behaviour. The conversation also turns to change. Allanah explains why leaders should listen to people who push back: they may see consequences the change team has missed. Allanah is the founder of Future Calibrate, a consultancy focused on organisational change. Connect with Dr Allanah Johnston Future Calibrate: https://www.futurecalibrate.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-allanah-johnston-9973a812/ Connect with Aegis Leadership https://www.aegisleadership.co.nz/ Thanks to Dark Horse Coffee for powering the show https://darkhorsecoffee.co.nz/
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