Panelists Merrick Watts, Dylan Lewis, Robyn Bailey, Paul Murray and Rachel Corbett told conference delegates some home truths about management:

There’s been so much bad advice given by managers over the years, said Dylan Lewis. He does’t agree that presenters should give their whole life on air. “If I put out my life during breakfast I’d be sacked.”

Asked by penel host Scott Muller about bad advice, Paul Murray said he is sick of inconsistent advice. “A PD told me to put more of myself on air one day, then the next day came in and told me not to put so much of myself on air.”

You’ve gotta weigh up whether to do what the boss says or not, according to Merrick Watts. “I have learnt that sometimes there is no need to defend a position in the face of the greater good, so take the hit for the team and don’t be so defensive when it comes to matters of principle.“

Paul Murray told the story of his worst experience, which was when he was on Triple M in the Shebang during 2008  “I was joining someone else’s party. It was incredibly difficult for me and them. It was a pride matter for one of the presenters and my profile was low (I still hadn’t heard of me), so it was a regrettable year. I was depressed most days from survey 2 on… Upon reflection I would like to reconcile and bury the hatchet with that person.”

“It’s a bit surreal doing breakfast,” said Robyn Baily. “You go to bed with your husband and you wake up with your on air partners.” On another topic Bailey said: “There’s only one female program director in capital city commercial radio, that’s appalling!”