I’ve had the chance to sit down with a number of great hosts to talk about leadership, my time in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), and the work we do through K6 Consulting.
Each conversation went in a slightly different direction. Some focused on experiences from operations, others explored what leadership looks like in business today and how leaders can develop the capability to lead well over time.
But they all circled the same idea: Leadership isn’t just a role you step into. It’s a profession you develop.
We thought it would be helpful to bring a few of these interviews together here, so you can easily watch or listen in one place.
Leadership is a profession, not a position
Interview with Pete Liston, Veteran Business Community
In this conversation with Pete Liston from the Veteran Business Community, we spoke about my leadership journey, the lessons from my time in the Australian Defence Force, and how those experiences eventually led to the creation of K6 Consulting.
Over 20 years in the ADF, including 14 years in the SAS, I had the privilege of leading teams across multiple deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and the Philippines. Those environments have a way of teaching you quickly what works and what doesn’t.
We talk about:
- Why leadership should be treated as a profession
- Lessons learned leading teams in high-pressure environments
- Why I chose to serve as a soldier first after completing officer training
- How behavioural science and psychology shape K6 leadership programs
Listen to the full episode:
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gyxU7PQg
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gzXA7hyU
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gsCZJ7ym
Website: https://lnkd.in/gp7kZeXm
Control the Controllables
Interview with Chris Turkington, Aegis Leadership
One of the most valuable lessons from SAS Selection is learning where to focus your attention. On selection, almost everything is outside your control. The terrain, the tasks, the timing and the conditions. You quickly realise that worrying about those things only drains energy. The people who succeed are the ones who keep bringing their focus back to what's within their control.
The same principle applies to leadership.
In this conversation with Chris Turkington, we talk about why leaders often lose momentum when they focus on things they can’t influence.
Some of the topics we cover include:
- The discipline required to perform under pressure
- Why clarity of focus matters for leaders
- How the “control the controllables” mindset applies to business
- The habits high-performing teams rely on when things get difficult
Watch the full conversation: Mindset and Leadership: Lessons from the SAS
From SAS to Business Leadership
Interview with Nick Bell
In this discussion with Nick Bell, we explored leadership lessons from my time in the SAS and how those lessons translate into business and organisational leadership.
Lots of people assume leadership in elite military units is mostly about technical skill or operational competence. Those things matter, but they’re not what ultimately defines a leader.
The leaders who make the biggest impact tend to be the ones who genuinely care about their people and build strong relationships within the team.
In this conversation we discuss:
- Early leadership lessons from sport and the army
- The difference between leadership in conventional units and the SAS
- Why empathy and vulnerability play a bigger role than many people expect
- How leaders create trust and loyalty in demanding environments
At its core, leadership is about people. When people trust their leader, performance follows.
Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/dXAcdrUp
Army to the SAS and Beyond
Zero Limits Podcast with Matty Morris
I also had the chance to sit down with Matty Morris on the Zero Limits Podcast for a longer conversation about my military career and the path that eventually led to K6 Consulting.
We talk through the journey from starting at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and officer training at Royal Military College (RMC), to the decision to enlist as a soldier before commissioning. At the time it wasn’t the conventional path, but it gave me the chance to experience leadership from the ground up and see what it looked like from the perspective of the people being led. We also cover my transition out of the military and how those experiences now shape the work we do through K6 Consulting.
This conversation touches on leadership, resilience and the lessons that carry from military service into business leadership.
Explore the podcast:
Website: www.zerolimitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en
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Great leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It’s developed through experience, reflection and a deeper understanding of how people and teams actually perform when it matters most.
If you're interested in building stronger leadership capability within your organisation, get in touch to start a conversation.
