Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Over the years and especially through conversations on the Find Your Influence Podcast. I’ve had the privilege of speaking with CEOs, founders, frontline leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Different industries. Different personalities. Different challenges.
But the same leadership truths keep showing up.
These conversations have reinforced something powerful: Leadership isn’t about position. It’s about influence.
Here are the biggest lessons I’ve learned from talking to great leaders and how you can apply them immediately.
1. Influence Is Alignment, Not Control
One of the strongest patterns I’ve noticed? The best leaders don’t try to control everything. They focus on alignment.
In my conversation with Andrea Durrant, we explored how influence is often the leadership skill people underestimate most. Real influence isn’t about authority, it’s about clarity of intent and consistency of behaviour.
▶ Watch the episode: The Influence Leaders Underestimate: Lessons from the Boardroom with Andrea Durrant
How to apply this:
- Clarify what “good” looks like before you correct behaviour.
- Explain the “why” behind decisions, not just the directive.
- Stay calm under pressure. Your emotional control sets the tone.
Pro Tip: Ask your team, “Where do you feel unclear right now?” Alignment starts with listening.
2. Ego Builds Followers. Humility Builds Trust.
If there’s one recurring theme from high-performing leaders, it’s this: Humility creates sustainable influence.
In my discussion with Troy Sawdy, we unpacked a powerful idea: “Ego builds followers. Humility builds trust.”
The leaders who last aren’t the loudest. They’re the most grounded.
▶ Watch the episode: Leadership Without Ego: Timeless Insights from a Humble Leader
How to apply this:
- Own mistakes quickly and publicly.
- Give credit more often than you take it.
- Separate performance conversations from personal worth.
Great leaders don’t protect their ego, they protect the standard.
3. Clarity Beats Noise (Especially in a Digital World)
Technology, AI, dashboards, data leaders today are drowning in information. But influence isn’t about having more data. It’s about making better decisions.
In my conversation with Frank Losinno, we explored a simple but critical question: “Is your technology helping your business or just adding noise?”
▶ Watch the episode: From Data to Decisions: Building Intelligent Products with Frank Losinno
How to apply this:
- Before adopting new tools, ask: What decision will this improve?
- Remove one unnecessary report before adding another metric.
- Start with frontline pain points, not executive trends.
Leadership reminder: Clear thinking under pressure is influence in action.
4. Psychological Safety Is Operational, Not Optional
Whether we’re talking about blue-collar trades, first responders, or corporate teams, psychological safety keeps surfacing as the difference between reactive teams and resilient ones.
In my conversation with Louise Azzopardi, we discussed the real cost of toxic culture and what it takes to create safe, high-performing environments.
▶ Watch the episode: Surviving Toxic Trades Culture and Building a Support System for Women in Blue Collar Work
How to apply this:
- Respond well to bad news.
- Encourage respectful challenge.
- Address behaviour early, silence reinforces culture.
Psychological safety isn’t “soft.” It protects performance, reputation, and lives.
5. The Best Leaders Stay Curious
From CEOs to frontline operators, the leaders who grow the most never assume they’ve “arrived.” They ask better questions. They seek feedback. They keep learning.
That curiosity is what drives influence because people trust leaders who evolve.
▶ Explore more conversations: Browse all Find Your Influence episodes here
How to apply this:
- Ask one more question before giving your opinion.
- Invite feedback on your leadership style.
- Model learning publicly.
Closing Thoughts
After speaking with so many great leaders, one thing is clear: Influence isn’t about fame. It’s about impact.
It’s about staying calm under pressure. Choosing humility over ego. Creating clarity instead of noise. And building environments where people feel safe enough to perform at their best.
If you’re looking to strengthen leadership capability, elevate culture, and build psychologically safe, high-performing teams, you can Book Anton here or reach out via the Contact page .
Question for you: What kind of influence will you be known for?
And if you found these insights valuable, stay tuned! I’ll be sharing more reflections, leadership lessons, and powerful conversations from Find Your Influence Podcast very soon. The best leaders never stop learning and neither should we!
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If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams