Andrew Croasdale - From Counter Terrorism to Leadership Consulting

Andrew Croasdale, a former police officer turned consultant, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his transition from policing to consulting.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:18) - Andrew's Background in Policing (01:05) - Transition to Consulting (05:11) - First Steps in Business (06:06) - First Client Experience (09:37) - Challenges of Small Business Owners (17:38) - Defining Governance and Leadership (26:25) - Diagnostic Approach in Consulting (29:10) - Cross-Referencing in Police Work (29:32) - Challenges in Communicating Strategic Objectives (29:48) - Overcoming Ego for Improvement (30:09) - Psychological Differences in Large vs. Small Organizations (31:27) - Resistance to Change in Large Companies (35:11) - The Importance of Psychological Safety (36:15) - Choosing the Right Company Size to Work With (37:11) - Balancing Impact and Satisfaction (41:04) - Implementing Values in Solopreneurship (43:58) - Defining Mission and Values (51:22) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information Andrew’s Links:- LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-croasdale/- Website » https://octopusleadership.com/AI SUMMARYIn this conversation, Jonathan Stark interviews Andrew Croasdale, a former police officer turned consultant, about his transition from policing to the business world. Andrew shares insights on how his background in counter-terrorism policing informs his consulting work, particularly in enhancing governance and operational excellence for businesses. He discusses the importance of creating high-performing environments, the role of governance versus leadership, and the need for clear communication and structure within organizations. Andrew emphasizes that good governance can lead to improved team performance and customer service, ultimately benefiting the business as a whole. Andrew discusses the critical role of transparency in leadership and the importance of clear communication of strategic goals within organizations. He emphasizes the need to overcome ego and fear in order to foster a culture of improvement and psychological safety. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced when working with larger organizations compared to smaller businesses, highlighting the impact of organizational structure on decision-making. Additionally, Andrew shares insights on how solopreneurs can define their values and create alignment with their clients to drive business success.TAKEAWAYS- Andrew transitioned from policing to consulting to seek a change- His experience in policing helps him develop high-performing teams- Customer service quality significantly impacts people’s lives- Starting a business involves aligning passion, skills, and market value- His first client came from a casual conversation in a showroom- Small business owners often lack leadership training and support- Good governance is crucial for effective team performance- Clear communication and structure are essential for business success- High-performing environments require a holistic approach to governance- Leadership and governance are interconnected but distinct concepts- Transparency is essential for effective leadership- Assessing strategic goals requires open communication- Ego can hinder organizational change and improvement- Working with large organizations often involves navigating politics- Smaller businesses may allow for quicker decision-making and implementation- Creating governance structures is important for solopreneurs- Defining clear values helps align business practices with client expectations- Continuous improvement should be a focus for all businesses- Psychological safety encourages team members to admit mistakes- Finding the right client size can enhance the impact of consulting work ----Do you know you need to niche down, but keep hesitating because you're afraid of picking the wrong niche, cutting off good opportunities, or boxing yourself in?You DON'T need more convincing that vague positioning is a problem.You DO need a way to make positioning feel less risky so you can finally choose a direction, test it in the market, and adjust without blowing up your business.On Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, at noon Eastern Time, I'm running a live workshop called Positioning For Soloists Having A Hard Time Niching Down.That's what we'll tackle in this workshop.It's the second session of my Fall 2026 Soloist Growth Workshop series for expertise-based business owners just like you.Live attendance is limited to 20, so don't wait.Learn more at: https://jonathanstark.com/sgsEnroll in Positioning For Soloists now »Hope to see you live in Zoom on Tuesday.