Battling with Business

In this week's instalment of "Battling with Business," hosts Chris and Gareth delve deep into the intricate world of strategy, continuing their two-part series with an insightful exploration of why strategies often veer off course. Through candid discussion, they dissect six common pitfalls that plague strategic planning, shedding light on the underlying causes and offering invaluable insights for listeners navigating the complex t...

In this week's installment of 'Battling with Business,' Chris and Gareth embark on a journey through the labyrinth of strategic planning in the first of two episodes all about Strategy right. They kick off by dissecting the fundamental disparity between strategy and tactics, laying the groundwork for understanding the strategic landscape.

Diving deeper, they highlight a pivotal aspect often overlooked: the intrinsic relationship be...

In the latest episode of "Battling with Business," hosts Chris and Gareth delve into the captivating world of Taylor Swift, dissecting her immense influence and the multifaceted power she commands across various spheres.

Taylor Swift, a global icon, serves as a case study for understanding contemporary leadership, followership, management, and culture. The hosts navigate through the layers of Swift's influence, from her economic im...

In episode 64 of "Battling with Business," hosts Chris and Gareth dive into the exhilarating world of fast jets with special guest Paul Tremelling, a former Royal Navy Harrier and F18A Super Hornet Pilot and author of the acclaimed book 'How to be a Fighter Pilot.' The conversation delves deep into the intricate balance between leadership, risk management, and mission success within the high-stakes realm of fast jet operations. In ...

Whilst Chris was away on a business trip, Gareth sits down with Tom Mallens, a seasoned Sales Training Director at Sandler, a global Sales and management training company, to delve into the intricacies of sales, training, and organisational success. The conversation begins with an exploration of the fundamental role that sales play within any organisation, emphasising its critical function in revenue generation and business growth.

In this latest episode, Chris and Gareth build on their recent exploration of the book 5 Dysfunctions of a team and delve into the world of management books more generally. They navigate the dual nature of these books, highlighting their invaluable insights while cautioning against the trap of blind adherence. Chris and Gareth astutely observe how some individuals treat these books as infallible gospel, expecting instant transforma...

In this insightful podcast episode, Chris and Gareth embark on a journey through the seminal work "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz. Gareth, having delved deep into the book, guides Chris and listeners through its profound insights and enduring relevance.

The episode commences with Gareth shedding light on the origins of the book and delving into Clausewitz's life, providing valuable context for understanding the author's perspective...

In this week's episode, Chris discusses a book that he has just re-read (for the fifth time!) in preparation for his team off-site meeting.  The book is   The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. This is one of those management books that should be on all aspiring leaders' and managers' bookshelves.  Chris explains the concept of this parable-style book in which a dysfunctional executive team is taken on a journey to re...

In the second part of our discussion with Waitman Wade Beorn, a veteran of the first squadron of the 10th United States Cavalry Regiment, we learn more about his time as an M1 Abrahams commander and we reflect further on the skills required to successfully lead small teams. 

We explore with Waitman how he and the other members of the team adjusted to each other's personalities as well as addressing the critically important lesson o...

In this week’s episode we welcome back Waitman Wade Beorn, this time not wearing a historian’s hat, but instead a very natty stetson reflecting his time as a US Army Cavalry officer, commanding an M1 Abraham main battle tank. We explore with him the complexities of commanding a small team whilst also having to manage a much broader and fast-paced battle space outside of his small metal box with tracks.

We also investigate the chall...

In the latest of our Influencers episodes, Chris and Gareth discuss one of the most influential people of our time, Elon Musk.  A hugely successful serial entrepreneur who has shifted the whole world’s view on many of the most prescient issues.  From normalising the adoption of electric cars, to greatly reducing the cost of space travel by orders of magnitude, he is such an infamous public figure, that ...

In this thought-provoking episode of the innovative business podcast, Battling with Business, former Royal Marines Officer, Gareth Tennant, and Product Manager, Chris Kitchener, stimulate a rich discussion about the critical aspect of measuring success. The episode starts by exploring the triad of effect, performance, and activity, highlighting their integral role in testing business or military assumptions.

The conversation takes ...

The British Army requires the highest standards of leadership. It is a core function of the institution and a fundamental component of fighting power. Their leadership philosophy is values-based, motivated not by self-interest but in the service of others.

To find out more Gareth and Chris head to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to explore the question, how do you learn to lead? Joined by the head of the Centre for Army Leader...

After an intriguing question posed by Chris's son, Gareth and Chris decide to explore the concept of dilemmas.  Throughout the episode, they seek to answer questions such as; What is a dilemma and can they be positive?  What's the difference between a dilemma and an integrity test? Should you work at weekends? And when is it acceptable to break the rules?

Finally, they explore trolly problems and we find out if Gareth would cut up ...

In the first Influencers episode of the year, Chris and Gareth discuss Charles De Gaul and his amazing journey from private soldier and war hero to becoming the head of the 5th French Republic.  On the way, they discuss the impact of his time in captivity as a German prisoner of war and the role his resolute devotion to France had on his success.  How did a relatively obscure Army Officer become the Aliies' choice to be the leader ...

In this New Years special Chris and Gareth review the first year of the podcast discussing their favourite episodes, notable guests and the most interesting insights.  We reviewed Ian Peggs episode on the role of Chaplains, Joe Browns contributions on Leadership and mentoring, Mark McGraths insights on the OODA loop as well as the contributions from Mary Brazier, Waitman Beorn, Douglas Waterfall and The...

Gareth and Chris thought that the end of the year might be a good time to reevaluate why they do the podcast and explore a little bit more about each of their own personal journeys that has led them to being self-confessed Leadership, Management and Strategy nerds.  Gareth talks about process of becoming a Royal Marine Commando. Chris describes his formative years at Britania Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.   They finish the episod...