My wife Taleah is a brilliant woman. I invited her onto the podcast to help me celebrate the end of 2020. In this episode we discuss tilting (an alternative to work - life balance which is often too rigid and unachievable), aside from this we discuss the scent of our home, our Covid yoga habits, national lampoons Christmas vacation and building an intentional and purpose-filled family. 

We have been married for nearly 17 years, have 4 beautiful children and Taleah is a wonderful creator of home.  While her emphasis is currently focused on our young children, she has held various leadership roles in life across different spheres in our community. 

Enjoy! 

& Merry Christmas

Josh - The Middle Man 

PS - if you wish to give back, the middle man chooses to give back to Red Frogs. To find our more details on this incredible cause check out 

redfrogs.com.au 

'Unexpected' is one word that sums up 2020. When unexpected circumstances hit with the pandemic this year many of us tried or intended to pivot our business, our life (or we at least posted about it :)....so how did we go with that? Its harder than we thought

This episode takes middle leaders through a simple process of change in unexpected circumstances. Pandemic or not....change is healthy and this process will help you if you intend to pivot, now or in the future.  

Thanks for listening

Josh Hammann

PS - in this season the middle man is giving back to Redfrogs, if you wish to donate you can do so at 

www.redfrogs.com.au 

The Middle can be messy. Our role in the middle is to ensure the vision gets experienced well by the end user. This will means if you are a manager, team leader or GM we need to bridge the gap between the metaphorical kitchen and the restaurant of our organisation. In this episode there are two things that rescue me to keep my head above the mess of the middle.  Books recommended. //start with why - Simon Sinek // & // The Advantage - Patrick Lencioni

As the middle man it can be a challenge to describe to people what it is that you actually do.  Doing something and getting it done are two different things....there are three shifts I invite you to take as we learn the art of making things happen.  In this episode I refer to a book that has helped me as the middle man. You can find the book on this link   https://www.amazon.com.au/L-Factor-Dr-Ian-Jagelman/dp/1921144017 Have a great week - Thanks for listening  Josh - The Middle Man 

Have you ever left a meeting with no idea on how to make an idea happen. There are three words that rescue me every time when making decisions. //For extra resource on managing complex change. Check out this template I use regularly. https://practices.learningaccelerator.org/strategies/tool-knoster-model-for-managing-complex-change

The Middle Man podcast is about the art of making things happen.  Episode 1 is a bit about me, why this podcast & that the view from the middle is not as bad as you think. 

I am joined by two very special guests on .his podcast. I had the privelage to sit down with Redfrogs CEO Andy Gourley & the NSW/ACT coordinator for Redfrogs, Claudine Alame. 

The conversation on this podcast with Claudine & Andy allows valuable insight into how middle leaders can take vision from CEO's and make ideas happen that make an incredible difference.  

Andy started the organisation Redfrogs in 1997 from very humble beginnings and has grown to a movement that impacts over 1.4million people every year. Redfrogs safeguards and supports the younger generation by being a positive peer influence at schoolies, on university campuses everywhere, music festivals and sporting events. 

Andy is one of the most relaxed CEO's you will meet, a passionate Queenslander and has grown an incredible & unique organisation that makes a massive difference to the younger generation. Andy has done this with a powerfully simple consistency and a very compelling 'why'. 

On the middle man, I love compelling stories of businesses and organisations but particulrly love to lift the hood on what it took to get there. I hope you enjoy this episode and it helps you lead your best in the middle 

The middle man is proudly giving back to redfrogs all across season 2, if you wish to donate you can do that by checking out 

https://redfrogs.com.au/

have a great week 

Josh @josh_hammann 

the Middle Man 

This episode I am joined by a very special guest - Julie Cochrane. Julie is the Deputy Principal of Cedars Christian College. . Cedars is an incredible school well known in its community for innovation, leadership and faith. Julie is a big part in making these aspects happen well. Julie has a wealth of leadership experience in various contexts of education & church. We chat how to be resilient in the middle & Julie offers some great wisdom on dealing with expectations from the middle. Julie is an authentic leader, the words that she says....she lives by them! Julie is the mum to two young adult children, wife to John & they live in the Illawarra with their 3 year old Cavoodle 'Benny'

Enjoy this special episode 

PS

The middle man is giving back in season 2 to Redfrogs. 

If you wish to leave a donation head to https://redfrogs.com.au/  

Have a great week  

Josh  The Middle Man  @josh_hammann

Sometimes it's important to get practical! This episode gives you 5 things that as someone in the middle you can stuff in your top pocket to help your day ahead!  Five Middle Man Life Hacks  - Always read the Agenda  - Landing a tough meeting  - Leave time...you've got mail  - Cut out some dairy*  - Be ready to act-up  *this is not medical advice - just my personal story.  Would love you to leave a review if any of these help and to help share the love!  The middle man is giving back in season 2 to Redfrogs. If you wish to leave a donation head to https://redfrogs.com.au/  Have a great week  Josh  The Middle Man  @josh_hammann 

In this episode we are going to deep dive just a bit below the surface  when it comes to leadership. The chances are you are a great leader, you have all the skill and information required to manage people and lead people well. Its highly likely that most days you love what you do and you know what's required to see you’re your organization, your family, your role succeed. I even bet you are really good at your job.

But if you have been leading for more than 5minutes…. its not enough always! & not every great leader makes it…..& middle man listeners, I want you to make it….I want to make it! . One of the quickest things to take us out of middle roles is to over-personalise failure. This episode cracks open this topic and helps us reframe our thinking when we can so easily personalising failure. 

Thanks for listening! 

you are going to make it!

Josh 

If you have ever been to Disneyland or watched one of their movies there is no doubt they are overwhelmingly amazing at creating immersive experiences for people that deliver on creating joy and happiness. So what does it take to get there? 

This episode reflects upon the Disney+ series  'The Imagineering Story' & the three things that we can take home about leading our best in the middle. 

This episode kicks off season 2 of The Middle Man. I am excited to bring this fresh season of podcasts, I hope you dig the new intro music & the fun guests I have apart of some of these episodes aswell.

If you want to get in contact with me, the best place to do that is via instagram @josh_hammann

Lastly, the Middle Man loves to give back to community initiatives that change lives. Season 2 will highlight Red frogs. If you want to join me and donate you can do that, along with finding more info through this link. 

https://redfrogs.com.au/support/donate 

Enjoy!  

We are over halfway through 2020 and it is a year like none other. To use a well used (but true) clique we are in 'unprecedented times'. So if that is the case what quality of leadership is required most in these times? 

&

What quality of leadership have you most appreciated in 2020? 

This episode unpacks why 'humility' is a surprising super power in leadership this year. I also mention the best way to humbly serve people / your organisation is being able to articulate what it is you are good at (your strengths). Knowing your strengths means you can humbly lead with confidence from the middle. The best resource I know that i have used personally and referred many people too is Strength Finder 2.0 

Here is where to find this resource https://www.amazon.com.au/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X 

As mentioned this is the last episode of Season 1. Season 2 will start in mid october 2020. 

You can connect with me in the off-season on my instagram @josh_hammann. Also check out the other projects I am involved in through this link https://linktr.ee/josh_hammann 

I hope you enjoy making things happen - thanks for listening

Josh 

The Middle Man

Cyclists use a slipstream to reduce drag so they can go faster and ride more efficiently. Your organisation has a slipstream too and you can achieve more with others than you could by yourself. This episode uncovers one of the most underrated traits of a leader that helps the slipstream and momentum of your organisation. 

My guest on the podcast today is Phil Newman. He is the lead pastor of Impact, an organisation established on the Central coast NSW and is now in 7 locations. Impact is both a church and a community space, a place where people can belong, whether it be to their gyms, cafes, churches or kids spaces.  Phil is an incredible leader with over 20 years leadership experience and in this episode he brings a refreshing insight into the mindset required to master the middle roles. Phil also talks of his passion for critiquing movies ;), his 4am starts and his thoughts around balancing family and leadership life.  Phil is a leader I admire and someone who has been a great encouragement to my leadership life...I hope you experience the same. 

Josh - the middle man