High-performing organisations aren’t built on strategy alone – they’re built on leadership teams that stay curious, connected and calm. That’s the core message from organisational psychologist, author and leadership expert Stephanie Bown, who has spent 20+ years helping founders, startups, scale-ups and market disruptors embed high-performance habits and culture.

Stephanie works with leaders to strengthen trust, alignment, and performance through science-backed behavioural systems like the LSI. Stephanie explains how strategy, culture, and leadership interlock to create enduring success, why developing mid-level leaders is critical for growth, and how silence in meetings can be the first warning sign that a culture is beginning to drift.

Takeaways 
High-performing organisations thrive when leadership teams stay curious, connected and calm under pressure.
Culture, strategy and leadership must operate as one interconnected system for real performance.
Silence in meetings is often the first signal that trust is breaking down.
Great leaders grow their people instead of doing the work themselves.
A culture drifts when honesty is replaced by politeness or avoidance.
Systems create habits, and habits determine whether performance endures or fades.
High-performing teams are independent thinkers who build collective capacity together.
Better businesses focus on sustainability, trust and alignment – not just growth for growth’s sake.

Follow Stephanie Bown 
https://stephaniebown.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebown1/ 
https://www.instagram.com/stephiefromthebay/# 

Books on this episode 
Curious, Connected and Calm by Stephanie Bown https://amzn.asia/d/craeCTh
Purpose, Passion and Performance by Stephanie Bown https://amzn.asia/d/2nK6u2A
Fierce Conversations: Achieving success in work and in life, one conversation at a time by Susan Scott https://amzn.to/47ul0qu 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/

Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

Enjoying the show? Leave a review 

High-performing organisations aren&rsquo;t built on strategy alone &ndash; they&rsquo;re built on leadership teams that stay curious, connected and calm. That&rsquo;s the core message from organisational psychologist, author and leadership expert Stephanie Bown, who has spent 20+ years helping founders, startups, scale-ups and market disruptors embed high-performance habits and culture.
Stephanie works with leaders to strengthen trust, alignment, and performance through science-backed behavioural systems like the LSI. Stephanie explains how strategy, culture, and leadership interlock to create enduring success, why developing mid-level leaders is critical for growth, and how silence in meetings can be the first warning sign that a culture is beginning to drift.
Takeaways&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>High-performing organisations thrive when leadership teams stay curious, connected and calm under pressure.</li>
<li>Culture, strategy and leadership must operate as one interconnected system for real performance.</li>
<li>Silence in meetings is often the first signal that trust is breaking down.</li>
<li>Great leaders grow their people instead of doing the work themselves.</li>
<li>A culture drifts when honesty is replaced by politeness or avoidance.</li>
<li>Systems create habits, and habits determine whether performance endures or fades.</li>
<li>High-performing teams are independent thinkers who build collective capacity together.</li>
<li>Better businesses focus on sustainability, trust and alignment &ndash; not just growth for growth&rsquo;s sake.</li>
</ul>
Follow Stephanie Bown <a href="https://stephaniebown.com/">https://stephaniebown.com/</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebown1/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniebown1/</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephiefromthebay/">https://www.instagram.com/stephiefromthebay/#</a>&nbsp;
Books on this episode Curious, Connected and Calm by Stephanie Bown <a href="https://amzn.asia/d/craeCTh">https://amzn.asia/d/craeCTh</a> Purpose, Passion and Performance by Stephanie Bown <a href="https://amzn.asia/d/2nK6u2A">https://amzn.asia/d/2nK6u2A</a> Fierce Conversations: Achieving success in work and in life, one conversation at a time&nbsp;by Susan Scott <a href="https://amzn.to/47ul0qu">https://amzn.to/47ul0qu</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
<a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/made-to-thrive/">Made to Thrive:</a> The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded/">Onboarded:&nbsp;</a>How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/onboarded-for-managers-book/">Onboarded for Managers:</a> Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp; <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/bigger-isnt-better/">Bigger isn&rsquo;t Better, Better is Better:</a>&nbsp;Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life)&nbsp;
Follow me: on&nbsp;<a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

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