From AFL To Fintech: Paul Roos on Building a High Performance Culture

Happy 2025 and welcome back to another intriguing year. I've been back since 6th January and usually I'm able to do very little until after Australia Day as most of Australia seems to be at the beach.

But this year is different. Last week I spent two days in Sydney, had meetings with 10 CEO's and bumped into about 20 founders/Execs walking up and down George and Pitt St.

They were all back at work on 6th January, in the office and committed to making 2025 a success. There is a definite change in the mood and it seems like the mindset of leadership is changing to building a high performance team, with a distinct push to get people back into the office 4/5 days per week.

Which makes the timing of this Special episode of Fintech Chatter Podcast impeccable.

In this episode of Fintech Chatter, I'm joined by Paul Roos, an AFL legend and leadership coach.

Now before you think I've lost my marbles bringing an AFL coach on to a Fintech Podcast let me explain. I've long considered there to be many parallels between elite sports and startup culture. I believe the two are much closer than a corporate culture.

I invited Paul to join me after spending the past 6 months on one of his leadership programmes. And the more Paul and I talked about leadership and culture, the more we realised how aligned we are.

Please join us as we unpack the secrets of building a high-performance culture, the role of leadership in shaping that culture, and the challenges faced by founders as they grow their businesses.

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My Favourite Quotes

"Culture is what the leaders do."

"You can't fake culture."

About This Episode

Paul shares insights from his experience as a player and coach, and shares the strategies he used to bring the first Trophy to the Sydney Swans in 72 years.

We discuss the essentials to startup success: The need for founders to have self-awareness, what is effective recruitment, and the impact of health and wellbeing on leadership performance. The conversation also touches on the significance of defining company culture early on to avoid pitfalls during growth.

Takeaways

Building a high-performance culture is essential for success in both sports and business.

Leadership behaviors directly influence company culture.

Self-awareness in leaders helps in making better hiring decisions.

Recruitment should focus on cultural fit, not just skills.

Startups must define their culture before scaling to avoid fragmentation.

Health and wellbeing of leaders impact the overall health of the business.

Incremental changes in leadership practices can lead to significant improvements.

Remote work requires a focus on team dynamics and communication.

Culture is not just about perks; it's about behaviors and values.

Investing in culture can save money in the long run by reducing turnover.

Chapters

00:00 Paul's Background

04:38 Transition from Sports to Corporate Culture

09:30 Building a High-Performance Culture

14:13 Leadership and Self-Awareness in Startups

18:49 The Importance of Foundational Culture

23:30 Role of Leaders in Shaping Culture

27:20 Navigating Growth and Leadership Challenges

30:18 The Shift to Remote Work and Team Dynamics

32:24 Hiring for Culture and Team Cohesion

36:11 The Importance of Defining Company Culture

38:46 Mental Health and Personal Wellbeing in Leadership

41:31 Looking Ahead: Commitment to Growth in 2025

Links

Visit?Performance by Design?website

Connect with?Paul Roos

Connect with?Dexter Cousins

Learn more about?Tier One People