The Episodes
Why EleventhRoot?
Why the root? And why eleven?
I get asked about the name EleventhRoot a lot. The truth is, there was never one neat answer. It came from a mix of how I think about people, business growth, systems, human behaviour and intuition, with a little competitive founder energy thrown in.
Somewhere along the way, that became: "You know what? F*** it. Make it eleven."
In this episode, I unpack the story behind the name, what the root represents, why eleven stuck, and how it all connects back to the way I think about people, businesses and the outcomes we see.
Read moreRead less
The root is about looking underneath the outcomes a business can already see, including turnover, performance, engagement, conflict, growth and even revenue, and asking what systems, behaviours and decisions are actually creating them.
And eleven? There is a little more to that story, including growth, intuition, entrepreneurship and, surprisingly, some legitimate math.
Because when we understand what is happening at the roots of a business, we are much better positioned to grow, scale, navigate change and create meaningful, sustainable results.
Repair Often. Manage the Damage.
Inspired by How to Work with Almost Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier
What happens when leaders avoid the small conflicts because dealing with them feels uncomfortable?
In this unscripted leadership conversation, I pull How to Work with Almost Anyone by Michael Bungay Stanier off my bookshelf, flip to a random section, and talk through where it takes me. We landed on: "Repair often. Manage the damage."
Read moreRead less
From there, I explore what that looks like in practice: regulating before communicating, helping employees feel heard even when the answer is no, using process to create fairness, and recognizing when avoiding discomfort today could create a much bigger organizational problem tomorrow.
I also get into the idea of a Pyrrhic victory, winning the immediate battle but creating enough damage that you ultimately lose the war. Using compensation conversations as a practical example, I talk about why clear processes, accountability and values matter so much when leaders are navigating difficult people decisions.
Because good leadership isn't about avoiding conflict, and it isn't about winning. It's about getting it right.
More episodes are on the way.
Work With Us
Ready to go deeper than an episode?
A conversation with EleventhRoot is a structured working session, not a pitch. Bring us the friction, and we'll bring a candid read.