Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector.
Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable
tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals.
Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull
Join hosts David Altena and Rob Bull as they delve into the subject of small and medium- business productivity in New Zealand. With a focus on driving operational excellence and business improvement, The Better SMB Podcast is your go-to resource for strategies, insights, and success stories from the front lines of the SMB sector.
Despite New Zealand’s historical challenges with productivity compared to our OECD peers, David and Rob are on a mission to turn the tide. Tune in to discover actionable
tips, expert interviews, and innovative ideas that will help your business thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, The Better SMB Podcast will equip you with the tools you need to enhance productivity and achieve your business goals.
Connect with us on LinkedIn: @DavidAltena and @RobBull
In this episode, David and Rob break down the themes from their latest NZ Manufacturer column, Own It: Leadership is a personal responsibility, not a title.
This candid and practical conversation explores how business performance is inextricably linked to leadership quality and why many SMB owners unknowingly hold their teams back.
They dive deep into the cultural, structural and behavioural shifts needed to lead high-performing, sustainable teams and challenge listeners to take a long look in the mirror.
Highlights:
“You can’t scale a business by working harder; you scale it by leading better.”
Why reactive leadership creates chaos and burnout and how intentional leadership builds resilient, thriving teams.
The power of standardising work, designing your “perfect week,” to shift from hustle to high performance
How to create psychological safety and team ownership, so leaders stop playing hero and start creating more leaders
Real-world lessons from Toyota’s team structure and problem-solving culture and how NZ manufacturers can adapt the same principles
This episode is a must-listen for any business owner or leader ready to move from burnout to strategic impact. The bad news? Your business is a reflection of you. The good news? You have the power to change it.
🎧 Tune in, share with your team, and take the first step toward sustainable leadership.
Thank you for listening 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
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