Episode Title: Industry Leaders Series
Guest: Nik Tabain – National Managing Partner, Gray Puksand
What does leadership really look like when industries are under pressure to evolve?
In This Episode:
In this episode of Growing Beyond – Industry Leaders Series, Seton sits down with Nik, an experienced industry leader, to unpack real-world leadership, decision-making under pressure, and what it takes to build impact that lasts.
We dive into:
- Nik’s leadership journey and industry experience
- What effective leadership looks like beyond titles
- Making tough decisions in complex environments
- Leading people through change and uncertainty
- Building culture, accountability, and long-term thinking
- Lessons for emerging and senior leaders
Connect and Follow Nik Tabain:
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/niktabain
Website: https://www.graypuksand.com.au/
Takeaways:
- Strong leadership is built on clarity and trust
- Long-term impact requires intentional decision-making
- Culture plays a critical role in business performance
- Leaders must balance people, pressure, and purpose
- Growth happens when leaders stay grounded and adaptable
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Psychological Safety
04:45 – The Importance of Psychological Safety in the Workplace
10:17 – Operational Excellence and Team Dynamics
13:16 – The Role of Leadership in Fostering Safety
18:40 – The Human Element in Organizational Success
22:20 – Burnout: Understanding and Addressing the Issue
23:31 – Navigating Unsafe Environments
24:36 – Understanding Artificial Harmony
27:40 – The Power of Post-Heroic Leadership
30:45 – Creating Psychological Safety in Teams
35:15 – Empowerment and Personal Responsibility
41:17 – Resources for Building Better Teams
Sound Bites / Quotes:
“Leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice — it’s about making theclearest decisions.”
“People don’t follow strategy; they follow trust.”
“Sustainable growth comes from consistency, not quick wins.”– Nik Tabain
Referenced in This Episode:
- Situational Leadership Model – Paul Hersey & Ken Blanchard https://www.kenblanchard.com/Solutions/Situational-Leadership
- Servant Leadership – Robert K. Greenleaf https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/
- Adaptive Leadership – Ronald Heifetz https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cpl/programs/adaptive-leadership
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni https://www.tablegroup.com/books/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team/
- Start With Why – Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/
- Good to Great – Jim Collins https://www.jimcollins.com/books/good-to-great/
- Long-Term Value Creation (McKinsey Insights) https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights
LET’S BE CONNECTED