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Iain's Top Tips Podcast

Iain's Top Tips Podcast

Hosted by: Iain Smith

Welcome to Iain's Top Tips, where every episode dives into practical advice and entertaining anecdotes to help you master personal growth, productivity, communication, and much more. Based on Iain’s popular blog...

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Episodes

Why Is Buffer Time So Important?

Buffer time is the secret weapon of smart time management. In this top tip, I share why being early isn’t just polite, it’s powerful – giving you peace of mind, options, and control whether you’re heading into a big...
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Why Some People Act and Others Just Wait - The Freedom Ladder

Leadership and initiative aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the difference between waiting around and making things happen. In this story (featuring a Mac, a taxi, and the FA Cup Final), I explain the Freedom Ladder, a...
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How to Stay Calm Instead of Shouting Back

How to stay calm instead of shouting back is a key skill. Calmer reactions can change everything. In this top tip we explore what it means to “argue in lower case” — choosing thoughtfulness over shouting. Inspired by...
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How Goals Actually Get Done - Lessons from Oasis, Champagne, and Showing Up

How goals actually get done isn’t through manifesting or magic—it’s through clarity, action, and showing up. In this episode, I share why writing your goals down (and keeping them in sight, Oasis-style) makes all the...
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Tips For Clear Communication – Avoid Mix-Ups and Misunderstandings

Clear communication is the difference between rocking out at the Reading Festival or ending up at a book-reading tent by mistake. In this top tip, I share a classic dad-prank on my daughter, some everyday examples of...
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Why Listening Makes You Smarter

Curiosity vs confidence is the real secret to better conversations and why listening makes you smarter. In this Top Tip, I explore why listening beats loudness, why questions beat quick-fire opinions, and how to avoid...
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The 'Yes And' Technique That Makes Conversation Flow

Yes And communication, sometimes called "accepting the pass," is a simple but powerful technique for building smoother conversations and stronger collaboration. Instead of shutting down ideas with a “Yes, but…”, this...
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Failure Is A Bruise Not A Tattoo

I got knocked down in Barcelona—literally. But building resilience isn’t about avoiding bruises, it’s about not turning them into tattoos. Here’s what a mugging, a muscle strain, and ex soccer pro Gary Neville taught...
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Cracks, Dents & Golden Glue: How Imperfection Builds Resilience - Introducing Kintsugi

What if the bits of your life that feel broken are actually your greatest strengths? In this episode, Iain explores the Japanese philosophy of Kintsugi and how embracing our flaws can help us build resilience. From...
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True Leaders Command Respect, Not Demand Respect

In this top tip, we dive into how great leaders earn respect, inspire loyalty, and build trust—not by shouting the loudest, but by staying calm, intentional, and focused on the big picture. It's the difference between...
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