ScaleX™ Insider Podcast

[ScaleX Bite-Size] Why the Best Leaders Don't Need to Dominate with Dr Benjamin Granger

Eighty percent of employees are disengaged. Benjamin Granger, organisational psychologist and author, tells Brendan McGurgan on the ScaleX Insider podcast that dominance and prestige are the only two strategies humans use to achieve social status, and only one of them builds a business worth scaling. Dominance works in the short term. Every social animal uses it, from crickets to chimps to boardrooms. But the alpha never stays the alpha. Prestige is different. It is a uniquely human strategy built on knowledge, skill and talent applied for the betterment of the group, and it is the only leadership strategy that compounds over time. Full episode link in the description. Connect with Benjamin Granger: 🌐 Website: benjamingranger.com 💼 LinkedIn: Benjamin Granger 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com ✉️ Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Benjamin Granger, Author A Leader Worth Following

[ScaleX Bite-Size] Hiring for EQ: What Great Leaders Look For with Dr Benjamin Granger

Dr Benjamin Granger explains why he would hire for EQ over IQ when choosing leaders — but why gut instinct alone is never enough. The best hiring decisions combine validated assessments, structured interviews, human-to-human conversations and a clear definition of what success looks like. And once you've done the due diligence? That's when Dr Benjamin believes you should listen to your gut. 00:00 – Why Ben would hire for EQ over IQ 01:05 – Don't replace human interviews with AI 01:50 – Look at how candidates achieved results 02:30 – When to trust your gut 03:35 – Why gut instinct alone is dangerous 04:35 – Define what great looks like before you hire Connect with Dr Benjamin Granger Website: benjamingranger.com Book A Leader Worth Following: How to Master Yourself, Influence Others, and Create Exceptional Experiences ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com

Leadership Skills Every Great Leader Needs with Dr Benjamin Granger

On ScaleX Insider, Dr Benjamin Granger explores the leadership skills that make someone worth following — from self-mastery and emotional intelligence to communication, body language and the ability to influence others. Benjamin is Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics Experience Management Institute and two-time best-selling author of A Leader Worth Following. His work explores the psychology behind leadership, employee experience and human behaviour. Benjamin explains the difference between dominance and prestige leadership. Dominance uses authority and pressure to get results and can work in the short term. Prestige is earned through knowledge, skill and contribution to the group — creating leadership people willingly follow. They also explore why being exceptional at your job does not automatically make you a great manager, why Ben would prioritise EQ over IQ when hiring leaders, and why organisations need better ways to reward brilliant individual contributors. Ben argues that communication, listening, vulnerability and self-awareness are not really "soft skills" at all. They are human skills — and as AI makes technical knowledge increasingly accessible, they could become even more important. He also shares practical ways leaders can improve how they show up, from intentional self-reflection and communicating more clearly to using body language more effectively and actively seeking perspectives they disagree with. The bigger message is simple: if you want to lead and scale others effectively, start by mastering yourself. In this episode: 00:00 – What scaling with purpose really means 04:00 – The three fundamental human motivators 09:00 – Dominance vs prestige leadership 16:00 – Why soft skills are really the hard skills 21:00 – Why great performers don't always make great managers 29:00 – Hiring for EQ, IQ and trusting your gut 36:00 – Self-mastery and conversations with your future self 43:00 – Why leaders need to rethink communication 49:00 – Shared mental models and team performance 53:00 – The hidden power of body language 1:00:00 – Practical body language tips for leaders 1:06:00 – Why you should seek out people who disagree with you 1:12:00 – Reciprocity, employee experience and customer experience 1:16:00 – How environment shapes behaviour 1:19:00 – Ben's three timeless leadership takeaways If you are scaling a business and want to become a leader people genuinely trust and want to follow, this episode offers a practical look at the psychology and behaviours that make that possible. About Dr Benjamin Granger Dr Benjamin Granger is Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics Experience Management Institute and two-time best-selling author of A Leader Worth Following. He has more than 15 years of experience building Experience Management programmes globally and leads employee experience thought leadership and research across Qualtrics and the XM Institute. His research has been featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Fast Company, Fortune, The Financial Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications. Connect with Benjamin Granger Website: benjamingranger.com Book A Leader Worth Following: How to Master Yourself, Influence Others, and Create Exceptional Experiences ScaleX Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate – for businesses under £3M revenue ScaleX Accelerator – for businesses over £3M revenue Website: simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com

[ScaleX Bite-Size] Want Better Meetings? Ask Better Questions with Steven G. Rogelberg

Most leaders assume that having an agenda automatically leads to effective meetings. Steven G. Rogelberg's research shows that it doesn't. In this clip from the ScaleX Insider podcast, Brendan and Steven explore why traditional meeting agendas can become a "hollow crutch" and reveal a simple shift that can completely change the quality of a meeting: stop listing topics to discuss and start framing your agenda as questions to answer. Steven explains how this approach creates greater strategic focus, makes it clearer who actually needs to be in the room and gives every meeting a measurable outcome. And if you can't think of a question the meeting needs to answer? You might not need the meeting at all. 00:00 Why having an agenda isn't enough 00:45 Why traditional agendas become a "hollow crutch" 01:25 Turn agenda topics into questions 02:10 How questions create strategic focus 02:55 How questions determine who needs to be in the room 03:30 If you can't find the question, you may not need the meeting 04:00 Closing Book: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg Website: stevenrogelberg.com Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator Website: https://simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you are an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: Like this video Comment: Does your meeting agenda list topics or questions? Share with a leader who spends too much time in meetings Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Steven G. Rogelberg

[ScaleX Bite-Size] Effective Meetings: Why Most Managers Get Them Wrong with Steven G. Rogelberg

Most leaders think they know how to run effective meetings. But according to Steven G. Rogelberg, only around 25% of managers are actually trained to do it. In this clip from the ScaleX Insider podcast, Brendan and Steven explore why meeting effectiveness remains a major leadership blind spot, despite the enormous investment organisations make in meetings through time, salaries and lost opportunity. Steven explains why scaling businesses need to measure what is and isn't working, listen to their people and treat collaboration as a critical business process. Because effective meetings aren't just about saving time. Done well, they can unlock better ideas, strengthen talent retention and help create a more innovative organisation. 00:00 Why leaders overestimate their meeting effectiveness 00:45 Why most managers aren't trained to run meetings 01:30 The organisational blind spots around meetings 02:15 The hidden investment businesses make in meetings 03:00 Why someone needs to own collaboration 04:00 Building the people infrastructure to scale 05:00 How effective meetings support innovation and retention 05:48 Closing Book: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg Website: stevenrogelberg.com Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator Website: https://simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you are an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: Like this video Comment: Who owns meeting effectiveness in your organisation? Share with a leader who spends too much time in meetings Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Steven G. Rogelberg

Effective Meetings: The Science of Making Every Meeting Count with Steven G. Rogelberg

Most leaders accept bad meetings as the cost of doing business. Steven G. Rogelberg says they don't have to. In this episode of the ScaleX Insider podcast, Brendan sits down with the internationally recognised organisational psychologist, meeting scientist and bestselling author of The Surprising Science of Meetings to explore the science behind effective meetings and why the way we meet can either accelerate a scaling business or quietly drain its time, talent and performance. They break down why agendas should be framed as questions, how to decide who really needs to be in the room, and why becoming a better steward of people's time can give your business a competitive advantage. . 00:00 Steven G. Rogelberg on scaling with purpose 02:00 Why an organisational psychologist chose to study meetings 04:00 The hidden cost of bad meetings 06:30 Why meeting culture matters from your second employee 09:00 How meetings can become a competitive advantage 12:00 Why leaders overestimate how good their meetings are 15:00 Becoming a steward of other people's time 18:00 The organisational blind spots around meetings 21:00 What makes a great meeting 23:00 Why having an agenda is not enough 24:30 Turn your meeting agenda into questions 27:00 How to decide who actually needs to attend 29:00 Parkinson's Law: stop defaulting to one-hour meetings 31:00 Inclusion by input, not inclusion by invite 33:00 Why meeting leaders need to talk less 35:00 How the leader's mood shapes the meeting 37:00 How to end meetings with clarity and accountability 39:00 Brendan's ScaleX meeting cadence put to the test 42:00 Why you should regularly audit your meetings 45:00 Virtual, walking and standing meetings 47:00 Zoom fatigue, silent brainstorming and better virtual meetings 49:00 Why hybrid meetings often fail 51:00 The science of effective one-to-one meetings 53:00 Three timeless takeaways 54:00 What's next for Steven: AI, hybrid meetings and asynchronous collaboration 55:00 Closing Guests referenced: Steven G. Rogelberg, Taki Moore Resources mentioned: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg, Steven G. Rogelberg's work on one-on-one meetings Book: The Surprising Science of Meetings by Steven G. Rogelberg Website: stevenrogelberg.com Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate (under £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/scalex-elevate ScaleX Accelerator (over £3M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/solutions/accelerator Website: https://simplescaling.com Email: hello@simplescaling.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_scaling If you are an SME or B2B leader serious about scaling your business: Like this video Comment: What is the biggest waste of time in your meetings? Share with a founder whose calendar is full of back-to-back meetings Subscribe for more scaling insights Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling Guest: Steven G. Rogelberg

[ScaleX Bite-Size] - Leadership Wellness with Adam Kingl

Leadership performance isn't just about strategy, decision-making or execution. What happens when the biggest thing holding leaders back is simply a lack of energy? In this clip, Brendan McGurgan and Adam Kingl explore the growing connection between leadership wellness, energy and sustainable business growth. Adam explains why exhaustion has become such a common challenge for executives, as longer working weeks, constant connectivity and a culture of overwork push leaders towards an unsustainable "macho" work ethic. They discuss why scaling a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and why leaders need to think differently about how they protect and replenish their energy over the long term. Adam also challenges the idea that putting your health and wellbeing first is selfish. Instead, he argues that looking after yourself enables you to bring better energy to your family, your team and your organisation. The conversation also explores why knowledge alone isn't enough to change behaviour. Adam shares how focusing on the positive outcomes of healthier choices can be more powerful than simply highlighting the consequences of poor ones—and why nutrition can play an important role in supporting leadership performance. If you're an SME leader, founder or business owner, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership wellness, sustainable performance and the true cost of overwork. In this clip: Why exhaustion is becoming a major barrier to leadership performance How longer working weeks are affecting leaders The hidden cost of the "macho" work ethic Why scaling a business is a marathon, not a sprint Why leadership wellness starts with looking after yourself How health and wellbeing affect the energy you bring to your team Why knowledge alone isn't enough to change habits Why focusing on the upside can encourage lasting change How nutrition can support sustainable leadership performance Timestamps 00:00 Why exhaustion is becoming a leadership challenge 00:55 The rise of the 60+ hour work week 02:00 The hidden cost of the "macho" work ethic 03:05 Why scaling is a marathon, not a sprint 04:00 Why leaders should prioritise health and wellbeing 05:00 Why knowledge alone isn't enough 06:00 The power of selling the upside 07:00 Nutrition as a leadership performance tool Connect with Simple Scaling 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com 📧 Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling Enjoyed this clip? If you found value in this conversation, like, subscribe, leave a review, share it with another leader, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

[ScaleX Bite-Size] - How Food Can Support Better Concentration with Adam Kingl

What if the food you eat could play a role in how well you focus? In this clip, Brendan McGurgan and Adam Kingl explore the connection between nutrition and concentration, looking at how certain nutrients can support the brain and help leaders maintain focus under pressure. Adam highlights eggs as one example, explaining the role of choline and lutein and why these nutrients are relevant to concentration, stress and fatigue. They discuss how stress and fatigue can affect our ability to concentrate, and why antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients may be worth considering as part of a broader approach to supporting brain performance. Adam also points to other sources of lutein, including dark leafy greens and corn. But the bigger message isn't simply to eat more eggs. Adam explains why sustainable improvements come from small, consistent changes over time, rather than looking for a single food or "magic formula" that instantly transforms performance. If you're an SME leader, founder or business owner looking for practical ways to support focus, concentration and sustainable performance, this conversation offers a simple reminder: small changes to your everyday habits can add up over time. In this clip: How nutrition can support concentration and focus Why choline is important for focus What eggs can contribute to a performance-focused diet The role of lutein and antioxidant-rich foods How stress and fatigue can affect concentration Other sources of lutein, including leafy greens and corn Why nutrition isn't a "magic formula" How small dietary changes can become sustainable habits Why consistency over time matters more than quick fixes Timestamps 00:00 Why concentration starts with what we eat 00:45 Choline and the connection to focus 01:30 The role of lutein and antioxidants 02:15 How stress and fatigue can affect concentration 03:00 Other foods containing lutein 03:30 Why eggs aren't a magic formula 04:00 The power of small, consistent changes 04:45 Why results take time Connect with Simple Scaling 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com 📧 Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling Enjoyed this clip? If you found value in this conversation, like, subscribe, leave a review, share it with another leader, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

Executive Nutrition Secrets Every Scaling Leader Needs To Know | Adam Kingl

[ScaleX Bite-Size] - Founder Mindset: Stop Being the Star of Your Business with Dre Baldwin

Founder mindset can play a major role in determining whether a business can truly scale. In this clip, Brendan McGurgan and Dre Baldwin explore why founders can struggle to let go of being the "star of the show"—even when their team is capable of taking ownership and moving the business forward without them. Dre explains why being needed can become almost addictive. When every problem comes back to the founder, it creates a powerful feeling of importance. But as a business grows, that same dependence can become a barrier to scale. They discuss why founders need to put their ego aside, replace themselves in the business and turn their knowledge into processes that others can follow. Dre also shares his own experience of shifting his identity from professional athlete to entrepreneur, and why founders need to develop a new identity as their business grows. If you're an SME leader, founder or business owner, this conversation will challenge your founder mindset and how you think about control, identity, leadership and scaling a business. In this clip: Why founders become attached to being needed How founder mindset can become a barrier to scaling Why you can't scale a person The difference between being the star and creating star performers Why founders need to put their ego aside How turning knowledge into processes creates scalability The identity shift required as a business grows Why successful founders must become comfortable with being less needed Timestamps 00:00 Why founders struggle to let go of being the star 00:50 Why being needed can become addictive 01:35 You can't scale a person 02:20 Become the star maker, not the star 03:05 When your team no longer needs you 04:00 Putting ego aside to scale 04:45 The founder mindset and identity shift 05:30 Learning to accept that the business can work without you 05:52 Final thoughts Connect with Simple Scaling 📘 Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business 🚀 ScaleX Elevate (under £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate ⚡ ScaleX Accelerator (over £2M revenue): https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme 🌐 Website: https://simplescaling.com 📧 Email: hello@simplescaling.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling