BIG DREAMS
GREAT TEAMS PODCAST
with your host
Paula Maidens
PODCASTS
We're pulling back the curtain on what 2024 really looked like - beyond the glossy social media highlights and into the reality of running a business!
In this special end-of-year episode, I'm sharing MY full picture of running a successful business - from the moments that had me pouring a glass of bubbly to the days that had me questioning everything. Because real business growth isn't just about the victories we post online - it's about how we handle the difficult days, what we learn from our mistakes, and how we keep showing up even when things don't go to plan.
Join me for an honest conversation about the wins, the challenges, and those messy middle moments that actually shape us as business owners and leaders.
What if the secret to scaling your business wasn't about rigid systems, but about leading with your values?
In this inspiring episode, Helen Wait shares how she transformed her solo occupational therapy practice into ActivOT, Australia's first OT franchise business with over 65 franchisees across five states.
Have you ever wondered why some tasks energise you while others leave you drained? Or why certain people’s problem-solving approaches make perfect sense to you, while others leave you feeling baffled?
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula Maidens explores the fascinating world of thinking preferences and how understanding them can transform your leadership style and team dynamics.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Allana Ford, the founder and CEO of Muse Pilates, who has built an incredible fitness empire across Australia in just five years. Since opening her first studio in December 2019, Alana has grown Muse Pilates to 13 locations with nearly 100 team members - and she's just getting started.
In this conversation with Paula, Allana openly shares her leadership journey and the essential business insights that drove her successful scaling story - from building high-performing teams to successfully launching into franchising.
In this episode, Paula shares her thoughts on the debate between time management and energy management. Paula reflects on a recent discussion she heard about the shift from time management being the gold standard to energy management taking the lead and explores how both concepts are crucial for productivity and well-being, ultimately arguing that they complement each other rather than compete.
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula sits down with Dr. Jodi Richardson, a leading expert on anxiety and mental health, to dive deep into the complexities of anxiety, stress management, and burnout. Dr. Jodi shares her personal journey and professional insights, offering practical tools and strategies for managing anxiety in both personal and professional contexts.
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, Paula dives deep into the strategic activities you can prioritise in Q4 to wrap up 2024 on a high note and set your business and team up for success in 2025.
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, I'm joined by Peta Serras and we dive into the strategies that can help small business owners turn challenging days into opportunities for growth and innovation and ultimately make business more profitable and sustainable.
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, we're diving into one of the most crucial aspects of building a strong and loyal team—rewarding employees. As your small business grows, choosing the right remuneration model can be a game-changer for attracting and retaining top talent.
In this episode of The Big Dreams Great Teams Podcast, host Paula Maidens dives into the five critical leadership habits that CEOs of small businesses need to break in order to scale successfully.
In this episode, Paula reveals five proven strategies to measure and optimise your team’s productivity. With real-world examples, she demonstrates how increasing team productivity leads directly to higher profitability and greater financial success for your business.
Jane McFadden, an entrepreneur, former psychologist, author, neurodiversity specialist, and neuroscientist, shares her personal experience and academic knowledge on ADHD, entrepreneurship, and business.
She discusses her journey from traditional psychology to starting her own psychology company (now the largest in Australia), and the challenges she faced in the early years as a neurodivergent individual.
Paula shares her #1 philosophy in business and life and that is… the power of choice. In this personal share, she opens up about how this applies to various aspects of her life and business and how this belief is empowering and stress relieving!
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of Team Events and how to build High Performing Teams with the incredible Myke Dixon - a jazz musician, award-winning speaker, award-winning author and recognised authority and professional speaker for Fortune 500 and ASX200 listed companies.
In this episode, Paula dives into the different types of subcontractors that are available, and in particular she compares hiring a Subcontracting Team to a Freelancer.
This episode addresses a commonly asked question which is How to Retain Employees. Paula discusses the elements to both Attract and Retain Loyal Employees and Team Members which to her, is much more than someone who just ‘stays’ and ‘shows up’ every day in your business.
In this episode, Paula Maidens addresses the importance of reference checks in the hiring process for small business owners. She shares unique insights into a candidate's past performance and work ethic, which you can gather from a reference check, including information that cannot be obtained through interviews or resumes.
In this episode, Paula shares a personal lesson from the universe about the importance of delegation and recognising when to ask for help.
In this episode, Paula Maidens discusses the difference between hiring a subcontractor and an employee. She addresses common assumptions and myths about each option and provides insights into the pros and cons of both.
The theme of this lesson is the importance of pausing and not reacting immediately to every urgent situation that arises. By finding the power of the pause, entrepreneurs and CEOs can make considered decisions and regain control of their time and priorities.
In this episode, Paula Maidens discusses the stress that comes with having employees and provides practical tips and strategies to reduce that stress. She emphasises the importance of normalising the stress and reframing the mindset to view employees as an investment rather than just an expense.
In this episode, we discuss the critical considerations when hiring someone to deliver the same services you provide, meaning when you are hiring someone to do more of what you already do.
In this episode, Paula Maidens explores the necessity of team meetings and how to make them effective. She discusses the signs of unnecessary meetings, such as boredom and long durations, and highlights the importance of impactful and purposeful meetings.
In this episode, Paula dives into the essential steps for business owners to take a well-deserved holiday without the stress of constantly checking in. Paula shares practical advice on how to set up your team for success and ensure you can genuinely relax while away.
Today’s guest with Paula Maidens is Dr Hayley Kelly, a clinical psychologist and business coach, shares her journey of overcoming stress and burnout and offers insights on managing stress as an entrepreneur.
In this client lesson, Paula talks about delegating leadership and how it is important as your business grows, and requires clear communication and specific expectations. When empowering someone else to lead, it's crucial to ensure they operate in the same way and have the necessary skills. Without proper development and guidance, performance can suffer.
In this episode, Paula Maidens explores the impact of effective team management on brand experience through real-life observations of two very different renovation teams on her street.
In this client lesson, Paula shares an inspiring lesson from one of her recent private clients who has come to the end of her first round of private coaching working with Paula. She reflects on the progress of the client who, after three months of targeted coaching, transformed her perspective and management of her business.
In this episode, Paula reflects on the past 12 months in her business and shares her end-of-financial year review. She discusses the decline in revenue but emphasises that she paid herself more in wages compared to the previous year, which is more important to her.
In this conversation, Paula discusses the common feeling of “being mean” or “awkward” during the hiring process when including a test and offers the reframe that the idea of testing candidates can be kind and mutually beneficial practice.
In this episode, Paula shares her behind-the-scenes experience of hiring a Filipino virtual assistant, providing an in-depth look at the hiring process and valuable insights for businesses considering hiring virtual assistants from the Philippines.
