Level 10 Leaders

Ep 31 – Why consistency beats innovation every time, Mike Ashby

Ryan Castle sits down with Mike Ashby, co-founder of Level 10 Leaders and newly published Forbes contributor, to make the case that most businesses don't have a strategy problem. They have a consistency problem. Drawing on 25+ years in organisational development, Mike argues that the real gap isn't strategy or innovation. It's the daily failure to do the vital few things that actually move the needle. Mike unpacks why "surprise and delight" is a costly distraction, why dashboards stay green until they suddenly don't, and what the execution habit really looks like at the manager level. If your quarterly goals are always on track for 11 weeks and then mysteriously aren't, this episode will show you exactly why, and what to do about it. Useful links: Connect with Dr Mike Ashby on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmikeashby/] Why Consistency Can Outpace Innovation In The Long Term, Forbes [https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2026/06/08/why-consistency-can-outpace-innovation-in-the-long-term/] 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution [https://lvl10.us/execution]- Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tip [https://lvl10.us/submit-tip] Where else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ [https://thebreakthrough.co/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/ [http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company]

Ep 30 – Power tip: "Moving from survival to systems," Jessica Sanchez

This Level 10 Leaders Power Tip is from Jessica Sanchez, founder and CEO of Daughters of Both Sons, sharing how community leaders can escape burnout by building systems instead of carrying every piece of the mission alone. Jessica reveals that burnout in community and service leadership rarely comes from a lack of passion. It comes from becoming the entire infrastructure for a mission by yourself. She unpacks the shift from survival-based leadership to systems-based leadership: creating processes, setting boundaries, and letting others share real responsibility. Because long-term impact isn't built by the person who burns out the fastest. It's built by leaders who create something sustainable enough to keep serving people long after the crisis moment passes. Connect with Jessica Sanchez: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-sanchez-45b268153/] daughtersofbothsuns.org [%20https://www.daughtersofbothsuns.org/] 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution [https://lvl10.us/execution]- Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tip [https://lvl10.us/submit-tip] Where else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ [https://thebreakthrough.co/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/ [http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company]

Ep 29 – The hidden communication crisis inside your leadership team, Ken Bogard

Ryan Castle sits down with Ken Bogard, nine-year EOS implementer and author of Know Honesty, to challenge everything you think you know about communication in business. Ken's core argument is deceptively simple, and most leadership teams are only doing half of it. He unpacks why honesty and openness are two completely different behaviours, why your scorecard is useless without courageous conversations around it, and how growing disconnection is quietly eroding trust on leadership teams even when everyone's technically "in the room." Ken delivers three powerful insights: why removing the exceptions to honesty is the boldest move you can make, how to use data as a unifying force rather than a weapon, and why openness, not honesty, is the real secret sauce to human connection and high-performance teams. Whether you're running weekly Level 10 meetings, trying to get your scorecard to actually mean something, or just wondering why your team still isn't clicking, this episode is your playbook. Useful links: Connect with Ken Bogard on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenbogard] Know Honesty website [https://knowhonesty.com] Pursuit of Honesty Assessment [https://assessment.knowhonesty.com/?company=levelten] Know Honesty Book [https://www.amazon.com/Know-Honesty-Eliminate-Masterful-Communicator/dp/1636803458/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VOUFSVhLVtXFIJ9b2Y1vgjdaBRjKkyL1DAPHAf3NIfTDnJ0yV8wVHw5TUdhsyrfxyOnlTVLqmZ1p-tkKvX-rbgjEtjJEr7aAFjyJKJohYtfH02spTB4CCaYhwMfoxBchr-O9cjuGWAYJrFgZLo0mccpREuW4yyKouaeZZ7eiiIgXIQ4MFZ0WQIJYOXdzpqLAu7xp-9h_xDWcO_Tzu3UCgUepUJujG731ZChVJg8g464.NJBq3zOCkvnoAzZW_v9wuuK7YTocnRVRd_C0jHpBKO0&qid=1779397494&sr=8-1] 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution [https://lvl10.us/execution]- Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tip [https://lvl10.us/submit-tip] Where else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ [https://thebreakthrough.co/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/ [http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company]

Ep 28 – Power tip: "The breakthrough mindset every leader needs," Justin Maust

This Level 10 Leaders Power Tip is from Justin Maust, expert EOS implementer, sharing three uphill mindsets every leader needs to break through ceilings faster and drive real team performance. Justin highlights that success demands discipline, that whatever you tolerate you endorse, and that the speed of your vulnerability determines the speed of your breakthrough. By combining all three, leaders gain a practical framework for addressing mediocrity, having courageous conversations, and accelerating growth: in their teams, their businesses, and their lives. Connect with Justin Maust: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmaust/] 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution [https://lvl10.us/execution]- Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tip [https://lvl10.us/submit-tip] Where else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ [https://thebreakthrough.co/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/ [http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company]

Ep 27 - Hidden traps, career strategy and maximising your value with Darren Tompkins

Ryan Castle sits down with Darren Tompkins, founder of the Vedra Ray Group, to unpack what really holds technical professionals back from making the leap into people leadership, and it has nothing to do with their qualifications. Drawing on years of experience placing candidates across engineering, construction, and manufacturing, Darren exposes the hidden traps in the hiring process, why cultural fit matters more than the job description, and why showing leadership intent throughout the year beats announcing it at an annual review. Darren shares three powerful insights: how to look beyond the job posting, why leveraging virtual support is a game-changer for reclaiming your time, and how to think strategically about maximising long-term value, not just your next pay rise. This episode is for engineers, project managers, and technical professionals ready to step into leadership. If you're job hunting, already in the seat, or simply wondering if management is the right move, Darren's honest, no-nonsense perspective delivers a practical roadmap. Oh, and stay till the end for the story behind a carrot-based hot sauce company with a pro-wrestling twist. Useful links: Connect with Darren Tompkins on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tompkins-21b86814/] vaderrey.com [https://vaderrey.com/] Darren's carrot-based, wrestling-approved hot sauce. Fair warning: it creeps up on you. 🌶️ headlockhotsauce.com [https://headlockhotsauce.com/] 👉 FREE Resource: level10.us/execution [https://lvl10.us/execution]- Execution Strength Diagnostic Discover if your managers are driving results or letting commitments drift. 👉 Got a Level 10 Leaders podcast tip? - Submit your tip at lvl10.us/submit-tip [https://lvl10.us/submit-tip] Where else you can find us Website: https://www.level10leaders.com/ [https://thebreakthrough.co/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/level10leaders/ [http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-breakthrough-company]