James Reed: all about business9 Jun 2025

31. MIND GYM: The work-out that will enhance your brain for ultimate productivity | Octavius Black CBE

How can you use psychology to quickly go from struggling employee to productivity machine?

Today’s guest on All About Business is Octavius Black CBE, the co-founder of MindGym, a corporate learning company that merges behavioural science with leadership development to turn struggling teams into powerhouses of productivity.

In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind high performance, why most leadership programmes are a waste of time, and the psychometric test that can predict your team’s future.

Octavius Black CBE is the founder and executive chair of MindGym, a company that delivers corporate learning and development programmes through 90-minute training sessions known as workouts.

Octavius has also co-authored several books that provide actionable insights and techniques to improve mental fitness and overall wellbeing.

In recognition of his contributions to business, Octavius was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2023.

Timestamps

00:41 The origin story of MindGym

03:50 The 90-minute learning revolution

07:11 Coaching and performance improvement

13:24 The importance of belonging and inclusion

19:43 HR challenges and innovations

27:42 Addressing workplace stress and wellbeing

30:15 Five conditions for thriving at work

35:39 The role of feedback in the workplace

41:54 The importance of emotional self-regulation

49:06 The future of AI in talent development

Links

Read Octavius’ book

Follow Octavius Black on LinkedIn

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

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