In this episode, I sit down with Joe Curtis, founder of several successful recruitment and investment businesses. Joe shares his journey of transitioning from recruitment into entrepreneurship, building a business with a clear vision, and recruiting the right people to help that vision come to life.

• Starting from scratch: Joe details how he launched his first business in marketing recruitment, 11 Investments, and Recruiter Lab, and the key decisions that helped him scale.
• The importance of vision in recruitment: Joe explains how telling a compelling story about where the business is going—rather than focusing on where it is—was crucial to attract top talent, even when they were just starting out.
• Building an attractive employer brand: Learn how Joe’s businesses developed a strong Glassdoor presence, secured positive Google reviews, and won the Sunday Times Best Place to Work to solidify their reputation and attract talent.
• Hiring based on values: Joe shares how they assess potential hires not just for their skill but for their alignment with the company's values—bravery, growth, kindness, and belonging. They believe in creating an environment where people feel they belong.
• Why recruitment never stops: Joe reveals that his primary role is recruiting for his own businesses, meeting up to 20 potential hires a week. He stresses the importance of founders staying involved in the recruitment process, even as the business grows.
• The long-term approach to talent acquisition: Joe explains the importance of being transparent about company culture and ensuring that potential hires know what to expect before joining. His approach mitigates high attrition rates typical in the recruitment industry.

• “You’ve got to build the vision and this story for people to come along the ride with you.” — Joe Curtis [00:10:54]
• “We are nothing without the people that we hire—literally. There's no business without them.” — Joe Curtis [00:24:11]
• “Doing business in a kind way will pay back in dividends over time.” — Joe Curtis [00:27:51]

• Create a compelling story for your business: When hiring, don't just sell the present state of your company. Sell the future. Show candidates what role they can play in building something great.
• Hire based on values, not just skills: To build a successful company culture, focus on hiring people who align with your company's values. Skills can be taught; values are much harder to instill.
• Stay involved in recruitment: As your business grows, it’s easy for founders to step back from the recruitment process. But Joe’s approach shows that staying involved helps ensure you hire the best people, who align with your vision.

Catch the full episode to hear more from Joe Curtis on building vision, leading with kindness, and recruiting the right people to make it all happen!

In this insightful episode of the Practical Leadership Podcast, Paul Morton sits down with Stan Slovin, wealth management veteran, rock musician, and author of Better Listening. Together, they explore why active listening is a critical, often overlooked skill in both professional and personal settings, and how mastering it can transform your relationships, leadership style, and career success.

• Listening to Respond vs. Listening to Understand We’re all guilty of it—waiting for the other person to stop talking so we can jump in with our “brilliant” point. But Stan reveals the real power lies in listening to understand. When you let people empty their bucket, you move from surface conversations to meaningful dialogue.
• The Art of Pausing and Reflecting Want to become a better leader? Try pausing before you respond, reflect on what the other person is really saying, and practice empathetic listening. This small change can turn any interaction into a more collaborative, effective conversation.
• Hijacking Conversations and How to Avoid It Stan shares some humorous yet painful truths about how we often hijack conversations. His advice? Pause, reflect, and let the other person talk—they might have something crucial to share.
• Active Listening as a Leadership Superpower When leaders actively listen, they can create more impactful connections with their teams, clients, and even family members. Stan’s tips on how to combine active listening with empathy will help you build stronger, more collaborative relationships.

• 00:05:23 – "We’re not listening to understand, we’re listening to respond." Stan explains how this mindset is detrimental to both professional and personal interactions.
• 00:07:11 – "It’s not just about hearing the words; it’s about listening for the feelings." This insight reveals the deeper layer of effective communication.
• 00:16:00 – "People leave companies because they don’t feel heard." Stan points out that a lack of listening is a top reason for employee disengagement and turnover.
• 00:16:57 – "Thank you for finally listening to me." A heartwarming story where a CEO applies Stan's techniques and gets this response from his daughter.

• [00:01:00] Introduction to Listening and Leadership Paul and Stan dive into the critical role that listening plays in effective leadership and how we often fail to do it well.
• [00:06:00] The Power of Pausing Before Responding Stan shares practical strategies for leaders to pause and reflect during conversations, creating space for better understanding.
• [00:16:30] Real-Life Examples of Better Listening From personal to professional contexts, Stan provides examples where improving listening led to stronger connections and more productive outcomes.
• [00:28:30] Practical Tips for Active Listening Learn the tools you need to become an active listener, from mirroring and summarising to pausing and reflecting.

1. Pause Before You Speak Take two seconds to reflect on what’s been said before responding. This gives you time to think and shows the other person you care.
2. Reflect Back and Clarify Use phrases like “Tell me more,” or “Help me understand” to encourage deeper dialogue.
3. Practice Empathy Empathy in listening goes beyond hearing words—listen for feelings and context.

Stan Slovin’s approach to better listening isn’t just about improving business relationships. It’s about enhancing every conversation you have, making you a more empathetic, understanding, and impactful leader.

To learn more from Stan and unlock the full power of listening, check out his book Better Listening, now available on Amazon!

https://www.betterlisteningbook.com/

In this episode of the Practical Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Park Howell, a storytelling expert, coach, and host of the Business of Story podcast. Park reveals the power of the And, But, Therefore (ABT) framework, a simple yet effective tool that helps leaders, marketers, and salespeople craft compelling stories.

• [00:01:00] Introduction to Park Howell Meet Park Howell, the expert behind the ABT storytelling method. He’s spent decades helping businesses simplify their message and make a lasting impact.
• [00:03:06] The ABT Framework Explained Park explains how the And, But, Therefore structure is the secret sauce to effective storytelling, dating back to the dawn of time.
• [00:07:00] Live Example: Using ABT for Sales Executives Park guides Paul through a real-time demonstration of how to craft a story using ABT, specifically tailored to sales leaders who need to coach their managers more effectively.
• [00:17:47] Why ABT is Effective for Presentations Discover how this storytelling framework can turn long, unfocused presentations into sharp, persuasive pitches that resonate with your audience.
• [00:19:51] Building Trust with ABT How the ABT structure not only conveys your message clearly but also builds trust with your audience by showing empathy and understanding.
• [00:23:00] Storytelling for Business Success Whether you’re selling a product or leading a team, the ability to tell clear, compelling stories is a critical leadership tool.

• [00:05:15] "The ABT is the simplest way to tell a story: Agreement, contradiction, and consequence." — Park Howell
• [00:06:29] "When you are crafting your ABT, you must always do it from your audience’s point of view. What’s in it for them?" — Park Howell
• [00:16:06] "You've promoted a great salesperson, but if they don’t have the skills to manage, you won't get the ROI you need." — Park Howell

• Master the ABT Framework: If you’re in leadership, sales, or marketing, adopting the ABT framework can sharpen your message and help you communicate more effectively.
• Focus on Your Audience: The ABT forces you to think from the perspective of your audience. This shift in focus builds trust and creates stories that resonate deeply.
• Use ABT for Presentations: Whether you’ve got 20 minutes or 5, using the ABT structure will help you deliver a concise, powerful message that sticks with your audience.

• Park Howell’s ABT Micro-Course: Learn the ABT storytelling framework at businessofstory.com/ABT.

Park’s insights can transform the way you think about storytelling and communication. Tune in to the episode and start crafting stories that drive results.