The Better SMB Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

David and Rob are joined by Dave Bunting, Managing Director of Architectural Glass Products in Cambridge. 

They dive deep into operational excellence and manufacturing leadership, exploring Dave’s key insights and perspectives on planning for and expecting excellence. 

Listen to the discussion centred on the power of a continuous improvement mindset, the importance of building a high-performing culture and how New Zealand manufacturers can transform their approach to leadership and high performance. 

Highlights:  

• "Anyone can buy the equipment. It's culture and operational excellence that set you apart." - Dave Bunting on creating competitive advantage in manufacturing 

• "Leadership is about taking teams to places they didn't think they could go before. It's not always a nice journey, but it's about channelling problem-solving skills in the right way." 

• "What gets measured gets worked on. Being deliberate with discipline is key - you can't just do it for a week and then forget about it for six weeks." 

Key Takeaways:  

• AGP's approach to operational excellence includes a flat organizational structure, daily 8:30 meetings, and a focus on data-driven improvements 

• The importance of hiring for cultural fit and training employees in continuous improvement 

• Insights into leadership development and the need to make manufacturing a more attractive career path 

Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB! Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave a review. 

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn 

Rob Bull 

David Altena 

Learn more about NZ Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today  

In this episode, we explore the hidden dangers of working at an unsustainable pace and why "being busy" is not the same as being productive. Our guest, executive coach Rachel King, shares powerful insights on the causes of burnout, why New Zealanders are particularly affected, and how leaders can shift towards sustainable, thriving work environments. 

Highlights: 

• How stress impacts health, engagement, and life satisfaction. 

• Why clearing more emails doesn't mean you're achieving more. 

• The four pillars of shifting from burnout to thriving: Awareness, Filter, Understand Yourself, and Manage Energy. 

• Practical strategies to manage physical, mental, and emotional energy at work. 

Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB! Please support us by liking, subscribing and leaving a review. 

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn 

Rob Bull 

David Altena 

Learn more about New Zealand Lean Academy and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business  

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today  

This episode dives deep into the implications of the recent US election and what it means for New Zealand’s SMBs, exploring key insights and strategies from hosts David Altena and Rob Bull. With tariffs on exports potentially rising under a Trump presidency, Rob frames this as a wake-up call rather than a crisis, emphasising how such challenges can spur innovation, productivity improvements, and strengthen New Zealand’s position in the global market.

Strategies are discussed for turning obstacles into opportunities, including leveraging constraints to fuel creativity, adopting emerging technologies like AI, and refining business processes for greater efficiency. Real-world examples are shared of businesses already embracing automation and productivity improvements. David and Rob also stress the importance of proactive planning, industry collaboration, and reducing reliance on government support to drive meaningful change.

Highlights include:

• "This isn’t a crisis—it’s a wake-up call to innovate, improve productivity, and compete globally."
• "Constraints, like tariffs, can drive creativity and efficiency gains across your business."
• "Proactive planning and leveraging tools like AI can turn adversity into a sustainable advantage."

Packed with practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for SMB owners looking to embrace change, adopt a growth mindset, and turn global challenges into lasting competitive advantages.

Thank you for tuning in to The Better SMB Podcast! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review.

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

Rob Bull

David Altena

Learn more about Plexus Consulting and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business 

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today 

David and Rob dive into productivity misconceptions and political posturing around the term. They discuss recent government statements suggesting that increasing speed limits and returning to in-office work will improve productivity and argue that these superficial comments confuse the subject and ignore the real issues impacting workplace effectiveness.

From the misuse of "productivity" in politics to the economic cost of poor project management and quality control in infrastructure, the episode explores how misplaced priorities and lack of accountability are hindering meaningful progress.

The episode closes with a call for a redefinition of productivity—one that focuses on genuine capability-building and smart business practices that drive real economic value. They also ask listeners to weigh in: Is it time to rebrand productivity, and what would a meaningful approach look like?

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

Rob Bull

David Altena

Learn more about Plexus Consulting and Rob's mission to make NZ the best place in the world to do business.

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today 

In this episode, hosts David Altena and Rob Bull sit down with Grant Johnson, founder and CEO of Rocketspark, to discuss the journey from a small startup to a successful SaaSbusiness.

Grant shares insights on how he and his team bootstrapped Rocketspark during the 2008 financial crisis, the evolution of their vision, and the importance of community overcompetition.

Key lessons included staying close to customers, leveraging advisors, and focusing on effective business processes to improve productivity. Grant also reflects on personal leadership growth and balancing work-life pressures as a business scales.

Don't miss this deep dive into what it takes to build and sustain a successful SMB in today’s digital landscape.

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

Rob Bull

David Altena

Learn more about Plexus Consulting and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business 

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailinglist on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today 

In this episode, hosts David and Rob discuss the intricacies of productivity, focusing on the benefits of lean methodology and continuous improvement in both large corporations and small-to-medium businesses.

Rob explains how lean was born out of necessity at Toyota and how these principles can be adapted to any business environment.

The conversation reveals the cultural barriers that often hold back SMEs, particularly in New Zealand, from embracing continuous improvement and productivity gains.

Rob shares practical, no-nonsense strategies for reducing inefficiencies, empowering teams, and creating smoother workflows. Highlighting the need for better communication, eliminating waste, and focusing on quality to achieve sustained improvements in any business.

Takeaways:

• The importance of leadership in fostering a productivity-focused work environment.
• How lean methodology can reduce waste and improve efficiency.

• Simple, actionable steps to kick-start a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identifying and overcoming common roadblocks to productivity in SMEs.

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

⁠Rob Bull⁠

⁠David Altena⁠

Learn more about ⁠Plexus Consulting⁠ and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business 

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the ⁠Altena Solutions website⁠ and start your journey to a more productive business today 

In this episode, hosts David Altena and Rob Bull sit down with Sean Wallace, Director of Product and Partnerships at Flowingly, to explore the intricacies of process improvement within local government. Sean, who has extensive experience in the sector, shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities councils face in managing their broad range of services.

The conversation delves into the complexity of local government operations, highlighting the difficulties of streamlining processes across diverse services. Sean discusses the importance of a solid approach to process improvement, the impact of decentralisation, and the struggles councils face in hiring and retaining technical talent. He also emphasises the need for collaboration among councils, suggesting that standardisation and sharing best practices can lead to significant efficiency gains.

Key topics include the disconnect between customer experience and internal processes, the inefficiencies caused by outdated systems like paper-based workflows, and the potential benefits of continuous deployment over endless documentation. Sean advocates for empowering teams at the ground level to innovate and improve their processes, with leadership playing a crucial role in providing the right tools and support.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how local governments can better manage change, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity—lessons also applicable to SMBs looking to refine their operations.

Takeaways:

• The unique challenges of managing diverse services within local government.
• The importance of collaboration and standardisation across councils.
• Strategies for improving customer experience by refining internal processes.
• The benefits of continuous deployment and empowering teams to drive change.

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

Rob Bull

David Altena

Learn more about Plexus Consulting and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business 

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the Altena Solutions website and start your journey to a more productive business today 

Co-host David takes a turn in the guest seat as Rob interviews him about his recent MBA research on productivity in New Zealand's SMB sector.

David's work, which has received attention from the National Business Review, dives deep into the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs when it comes to enhancing productivity.

David shares key findings from his research, highlighting the importance of strengthening leadership and management capabilities to drive productivity improvements.

He outlines the three-step implementation approach he created and businesses can adopt, focusing on establishing solid leadership foundations, understanding critical metrics, and applying a tailored productivity framework.

The conversation covers the role of innovation, the power of collaboration, and how these factors can lead to significant economic benefits if widely implemented.

Rob and David provide practical advice for SMB owners on measuring key business metrics, building effective business plans, and the value of networking—even for those with limited time.

This episode is a must-listen for SMB owners and anyone interested in boosting productivity within New Zealand's economy.

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Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

⁠⁠⁠Rob Bull⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠David Altena⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠Plexus Consulting⁠⁠⁠ and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the ⁠⁠⁠Altena Solutions⁠⁠⁠ website and start your journey to a more productive business today

In this episode, hosts Rob and David sit down with Simon Walker, former CEO of Proposition Group. Simon shares his insights following his recent exit from the company after nine successful years.

The discussion starts with Simon’s reflections on his journey and the intriguing concept of ID 2070. He elaborates on creating a long-term economic vision for New Zealand, inspired by Ireland’s transformative progress over 50 years. Simon delves into the productivity challenges in New Zealand, emphasising the importance of value creation and the need for a robust economic identity.

Simon also discusses his entrepreneurial journey, from founding Proposition Group to leading it solo after his business partner’s departure. He shares valuable lessons on opportunity cost, the importance of cash flow management, and the transition from a Chief Everything Officer to building and trusting a competent team.

The conversation touches on leadership maturity, the necessity of storytelling in business, and the critical role of ambition and excellence in driving success. Simon advocates for a cultural shift towards embracing ambition and highlights the potential of New Zealand’s SME sector to significantly contribute to the economy with the right mindset and support.

Wrapping up, Simon offers his vision for the future, focusing on inspiring business owners, fostering international collaborations, and emphasising the development of soft skills. His parting message is a call to action for New Zealand’s business community to strive for excellence and ambition in their pursuits.

Takeaways:

• The concept of ID 2070 and its implications for New Zealand's economic future.
• Lessons in leadership and business growth from Simon's experience at Proposition Group.
• The importance of value creation in productivity.
• Encouraging ambition and excellence in New Zealand's SME sector.
• The role of storytelling in inspiring and guiding business success.

Tune in to hear Simon's insights and discover how you can apply these lessons to your business journey.

Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

⁠⁠Rob Bull⁠⁠

⁠⁠David Altena⁠⁠

Learn more about ⁠⁠Plexus Consulting⁠⁠ and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the ⁠⁠Altena Solutions⁠⁠ website and start your journey to a more productive business today

David and Rob dive into the intricacies of various productivity reports, including the Xero Small Business Insights Report, BNZ Manufacturing Snapshots, OECD Economic Survey on New Zealand, and the NZIER and ASB Business Productivity in New Zealand Report.

They critique the relevance and utility of these reports for SMB owners, questioning the practicality of metrics and data presented. The hosts discuss the disconnect between the findings and the real needs of SMEs, advocating for more straightforward, actionable insights that can genuinely benefit business owners.

The conversation touches on the impact of regulation on innovation and productivity, arguing that much of the red tape cited as hindrances may be overstated. The episode concludes with a call for concise, practical, and directly useful reports for SME owners, emphasising the need for simplicity and actionable steps over complex jargon and unnecessary data.

Connect with Rob and David on LinkedIn

⁠Rob Bull⁠

⁠David Altena⁠

Learn more about ⁠Plexus Consulting⁠ and the mission Rob is on to make NZ the best place in the world to do business

Download David's NBR-featured report "Boosting Productivity in New Zealand SMEs" by joining the mailing list on the ⁠Altena Solutions⁠ website and start your journey to a more productive business today