E186: Tony Brooks - Escaping The 5 Mind Traps Of Survival Thinking, Overcoming Negative Self-Talk and Becoming a Better Public Speaker

With over 30 years of experience in the business world and 15 years as a leadership, mindset and public speaking coach, Tony Brooks has a wealth of experience supporting leaders in senior roles to be the best version of themselves. By focusing on mindset, he believes that individuals are more likely to succeed and thrive in their career. In this podcast, Tony dives into the critical topics of leadership, mindset and the evolving dynamics of the workplace. With an emphasis on the significance of recharging, avoiding burnout and nurturing a growth mindset, this conversation provides valuable insights for leaders within fast-paced industries like tech and eCommerce.  From strategies for handling negative self-talk to the art of public speaking and managing remote teams, this episode covers it all. Stay tuned for an enriching dialogue that explores the power of mindset in driving strategy, fostering team engagement and achieving personal and professional growth. Topics Covered 04:25 - Finding space, both physical and psychological. It is important for emotional regulation and decision-making. Leaders should prioritise reflection over reactive behaviour 07:33 - People need breaks to avoid burnout, leaders should prioritise their recharge and consider seeking support or delegating tasks 10:12 - The importance of building a strong leadership team to empower employees and allow the business owner to take time off 13:12 - Scaling a business requires investing in training and team growth 17:53 - Encouraging self-talk for struggling individuals in senior positions 19:53 - Recognising vulnerability and the power of conscious choice 25:30 - Stepping out of your comfort zone is essential for growth. It is important to avoid pushing people into a panic zone 26:17- Encourage gradual comfort zone expansion for personal and team growth and adapt to new technology 31:37 - Teams now working from anywhere, international teams and how to support them 32:53 - The pandemic pushed a mindset shift towards focusing on results over time worked and office presence 38:05 - How to improve public speaking 41:29 - Overcoming fear, enjoying the moment, and downplaying pressure for TEDx talk 42:49 - Importance of public speaking and persuasion for business growth 46:34 - Parenting style influences children's ability to speak for themselves; emphasises letting kids order for themselves at a young age 51:12 - AI journey enables greater work-life balance and creative opportunities in the future of business 54:59 - Understanding resilience and personal growth in business leadership 56:03 - Striving for consistency and coping with difficulty