6. Expanded Case Studies Looking At Regenerative Intelligence

Practical views of real life scenarios

1. Steve – Trade Business Owner, Rotorua

Focus - Emotional Intelligence

Situation
Steve runs a plumbing and gas-fitting business with a crew of five. After a rough 12 months — COVID delays, a key apprentice leaving, and several customer complaints — the team's energy was low. Staff were turning up late, grumbling about each other, and avoiding direct conversations. Steve felt like he was constantly putting out fires and starting to doubt himself as a leader.

What Changed
After talking with a mentor, Steve realised he was pushing through stress and avoiding emotional conversations, hoping problems would sort themselves. He decided to front-foot it by learning some basics of Emotional Intelligence. He started asking each team member how they were really going — not just about work, but life. He also did a short EI online course, and practiced naming how he felt before staff meetings (“I’m a bit wired this morning — let’s pace ourselves today.”)

Result
Team members began opening up — one was struggling with family issues, another felt undervalued. Steve shifted from just “fixing problems” to listening better and checking in regularly. Within three months, staff were more focused, customer feedback improved, and Steve felt more confident leading not just the work — but the people.

Key Move - Active listening + emotional self-awareness

2. Moana – Café Owner, Gisborne

Focus - Somatic Intelligence

Situation
Moana had built her café from scratch and took pride in high standards. But the morning rush had become intense — she’d find herself tense, irritable, and snapping at staff over small things. She didn’t like how she sounded, but felt out of control. Her staff were polite but distant, and turnover was increasing.

What Changed
After a quiet chat with her manager — who gently mentioned staff were nervous around her — Moana decided to take a hard look at what was going on. She realised her stress showed up physically: shallow breathing, clenched jaw, sore neck. She started reading about somatic intelligence and how physical tension often triggers emotional reactivity. With the help of a mindfulness teacher, she learned to pause and scan her body before starting each shift, using deep breaths and posture resets to stay grounded.

Result
Her team noticed the difference almost straight away. Moana became calmer, more patient, and more approachable. Staff became more engaged and confident speaking up. Over time, Moana built a culture where presence and calm were valued, even in peak hours — and the café’s atmosphere shifted from tense to welcoming.

Key Move - Body awareness + breath regulation

3. Ana – Online Retailer, Nelson

Focus - Creative Intelligence

Situation
Ana sold handmade homewares and accessories online. Her business was steadily growing until overseas shipping delays began to hit her stock levels hard. She found herself out of her top-selling items for weeks at a time. Social media engagement dropped, and so did sales. She started to panic, unsure how to keep momentum.

What Changed
Instead of waiting passively, Ana decided to experiment. She asked herself, “What do I still have, and how can I show it differently?” She made short, down-to-earth videos showing how to use existing items in new ways — tea towels as gift wrap, scarves as wall hangings — and shared behind-the-scenes updates about sourcing locally. She brainstormed five new product ideas using leftover materials, and launched a “limited local” series that sold out quickly.

Result
Sales stabilised, and her brand grew a loyal following for its honesty and creativity. Customers appreciated her transparency and started engaging more online. Ana realised that creativity wasn’t about being flashy — it was about staying curious, trying things out, and showing up with heart.

Key Move - Reframing + low-risk creative experiments

4. Tane – General Contractor, Northland

Focus - Regenerative Integration (EI + SI + CI)

Situation
Tane had been running a small general contracting business for years. He was solid on tools and timeframes, but managing people wore him out. Apprentices would leave after a few months, and he’d end up doing long hours solo. He felt stuck - the work was good, but the culture never clicked.

What Changed
Tane attended a leadership workshop through a local trade association, where he learned about Emotional and Somatic Intelligence. He realised he was ignoring his gut instincts and emotions, trying to “just get on with it.” He started doing a short weekly reflection — how he’d felt during the week, where he noticed stress in his body, and what problems he could approach differently. He also invited his team to share ideas more freely and created a “no blame” space to debrief jobs.

Result
His apprentices stayed longer and started stepping up. Tane became more proactive, not reactive — noticing tension early and communicating more clearly. He even found creative ways to manage workflow during winter months. His business didn’t just improve; he felt better in it, like he was finally building something that reflected his values.

Key Move - Whole-self leadership - feeling, sensing, adapting

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✉️ Email john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz
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If you’d like to read more RegenerationHQ thinking on SME business and other things, go here – www.regenerationhq.co.nz/articlesoverview

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Supporting NZ SME Owners to Exit Well, Lead Better and Build Business Value.