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Lee engages in a compelling conversation with former professional goalkeeper Lee Robinson, who has transitioned into a modern-day goalkeeping coach and entrepreneur. They discuss Robinson's journey from a challenging football career to his mission of transforming goalkeeping training through innovative methods and specialized gloves. The episode delves into the importance of character, work ethic, and decision-making in goalkeeping, contrasting traditional views that prioritise physical attributes like height. Robinson shares insights on how he aims to empower young goalkeepers by encouraging them to embrace mistakes in training to enhance their performance in games. This episode not only highlights the parallels between sports and business leadership but also emphasizes the significance of mentorship and personal growth in achieving success.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Character Over Size: The importance of a goalkeeper's character and decision-making skills outweighs physical attributes like height. A smaller goalkeeper with a strong character can be more effective than a taller one lacking in these qualities.
Learning from Mistakes: Making mistakes in training is essential for growth. The approach encourages goalkeepers to make errors during practice to avoid repeating them in games, fostering a mindset that values learning over perfection.
Innovative Training Methods: The use of specialised training gloves that challenge goalkeepers to improve their catching skills and decision-making under pressure. This method aims to make training more realistic and beneficial for performance in actual games.
Mental Health Awareness: Acknowledging the mental challenges faced by goalkeepers, including feelings of inadequacy and pressure. The discussion highlights the need for support and guidance to help young players navigate these challenges effectively.
Changing Goalkeeping Norms: Advocating for a shift in how goalkeeping is perceived and trained, moving away from traditional methods that focus solely on physicality and technique. The goal is to inspire a new generation of goalkeepers who are confident, skilled, and capable of making smart decisions on the field.
BEST MOMENTS
"I want to give the benefit of all my underachievements and failures and hard times and help these young goalkeepers not have to deal with what I had to go through."
"I think you should have to earn the right to call yourself a professional instead of just leaving school and a couple weeks later having a professional contract."
"The best goalkeepers aren't the best technically; they're the best decision makers under pressure."
"What you did in those camps absolutely engages the heads of the goalkeepers, engages the hearts of them because they love it, and fundamentally engages the hands and the footwork."
"You have to make more mistakes in training to make less in a game."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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In this episode of "Business Problems Solved," host Lee Horton explores the concept of PIP—People, Information, and Product—and explores how these three critical elements must flow harmoniously for an organisation to achieve operational excellence. Lee discusses the importance of engaging the head, heart, and hands of the organisation, highlighting key challenges such as misalignment between teams, burnout, and information overload. He offers practical strategies to foster effective people flow, streamline information flow, and optimise product flow, emphasising the need for connection, conversation, collaboration, and celebration within teams.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Understanding PIP Flow: PIP stands for People, Information, and Product (or Process and Services). Achieving operational excellence requires these three elements to flow harmoniously within an organization.
Challenges to People Flow: Key challenges include misalignment between teams, burnout or low morale, and siloed collaboration. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a motivated and engaged workforce.
Importance of Information Flow: Effective information flow is essential for informed decision-making. Challenges include horizontal and vertical communication breakdowns and information overload, which can hinder timely and accurate decisions.
Optimizing Product Flow: Product flow represents the processes and actions involved in delivering goods and services. Challenges include bottlenecks, balancing speed with quality, and inflexibility in processes. Streamlining these processes is vital for efficiency.
The Four C's Framework: To orchestrate harmony in PIP flow, organizations should focus on connecting people to the vision, fostering constant conversations, collaborating across functions, and celebrating successes while reflecting on areas for improvement.
BEST MOMENTS
"Does your pip flow or does your pit squeak? PIP stands for People, Information, and Product or Process and Services."
"Achieving operational excellence means orchestrating these three flows so that they work seamlessly together."
"The heart represents the emotion, the energy, the culture, the motivation of its people, driving engagement and collaboration."
"If the energy and motivation are stifled, information flow suffers, which is the head."
"Success is not zero problems. Success is a culture of openness and proactivity in dealing with them."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Join Lee as he talks about the critical theme of choices and their impact on personal and professional growth. He emphasises that every decision we make, whether automatic or deliberate, shapes our future and the outcomes we achieve. Lee introduces a framework for making effective choices, highlighting three key components: awareness, evaluation, and commitment. He also shares practical strategies for making better decisions, such as aligning choices with core values, prioritizing long-term benefits over short-term gratification, and seeking diverse perspectives. Additionally, he warns against impulsive decision-making, avoiding responsibility, and clinging to the status quo out of fear. Tune in to discover how to empower yourself and your team to make informed choices that lead to meaningful results.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Importance of Choices: Life and business revolve around the choices we make. Every decision, whether big or small, influences our future and the outcomes we achieve.
Three Key Components of Making Choices: Effective decision-making involves three steps:
Awareness: Recognising that a decision needs to be made and understanding the available options.
Evaluation: Weighing the pros and cons of each option and aligning them with personal values and goals.
Commitment: Taking action on the chosen option and being responsible for the outcome.
Best Practices for Making Choices: To achieve desired results, focus on:
Aligning decisions with core values and long-term goals.
Prioritising long-term benefits over short-term gratification.
Seeking diverse perspectives to gain insights and avoid blind spots.
Avoiding Poor Decision-Making: Steer clear of:
Acting on impulse, which can lead to poor outcomes.
Avoiding responsibility for decisions, which limits personal growth and learning.
Sticking to the status quo out of fear, which can hinder progress and innovation.
Creating a Supportive Environment: Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to make choices. This involves providing clarity on options, encouraging evaluation, and supporting commitment to decisions, ultimately leading to collective progress towards goals.
BEST MOMENTS
"Do not leave your change initiatives to chance. You need to really think about the choices that you're making and the choices that you're enabling."
"A choice is a deliberate act of will, shaped by your values, beliefs, and the circumstances you find yourself in."
"Making a choice is not just about selecting an option, it's about committing to it and taking action."
"The best choices are those that are aligned with your values and your goals."
"Every choice you make is a step towards shaping your future, the team's future, your business's future."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee explores the crucial topic of behaviours and how they impact our daily actions. He introduces the concept of ACT - Attitude, Choices, and Technique - as the key components of behaviour. He emphasises the importance of having the right attitude, making conscious choices, and executing tasks with the correct technique to achieve success in business and personal endeavours. By framing behaviors in this way, Lee encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and consider how they can improve their attitude, decision-making, and skills.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Behaviour Definition: A behavior is defined as an observed act, emphasising the importance of actions being visible and tangible.
ACT Framework: The ACT acronym breaks down behaviours into Attitude, Choices, and Technique, highlighting the key components that influence actions.
Attitude: Having the right attitude, whether positive or negative, plays a significant role in shaping behaviours and outcomes.
Choices: Making decisions, whether right or wrong, is crucial as it allows for learning and progress while making no choice hinders growth.
Technique: The execution of actions with the right technique is essential for success, emphasising the importance of honing skills and capabilities.
BEST MOMENTS
"The best thing you can do is make the right choice. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong choice."
"And if we're here to influence habits and behaviours in everybody, then we need to help everybody act in the right way every time."
"So just by thinking about making the right or wrong choices, having the right or wrong attitude and the right or wrong technique, makes me think about and perform better."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Business Problems Solved's 300th episode features host Lee reflecting on his personal transformational journey of running the London Marathon and completing a 100-kilometer ultra challenge. Through his experience, Lee introduces the SMART FIRST method for setting and achieving goals, emphasising the importance of strategic, meaningful, ambitious, real, and targeted goals. He also discusses the FIRST method, focusing on fueling the body and mind, being in the moment, preparing adequately, having a supportive team, and taking one step at a time to achieve success. Lee shares how these methods have not only helped him in his physical challenges but also in guiding his son through a goal-setting process. The episode concludes with Lee's commitment to applying these principles to further grow and improve the podcast in the next 100 episodes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Episode 300 Milestone: The episode marks a significant milestone in the podcast's journey, reflecting on personal achievements and setting the stage for future goal-focused content.
SMART FIRST Approach: Introduces a refined version of SMART goals, emphasising strategic, meaningful, ambitious, real, and targeted aspects to provide the right motivation for goal achievement.
The FIRST Method: Outlines the FIRST method for achieving SMART goals, focusing on fueling the body and mind, being in the moment, ensuring proper preparation, having a supportive team, and taking one step at a time.
Future Podcast Direction: Lee plans to apply the SMART FIRST approach to the podcast's content, aiming to help senior leaders and change professionals navigate challenges and achieve desired outcomes.
BEST MOMENTS
"I never expected nearly six years ago to ever get to 300 episodes. I thought I was gonna run out of content. But here I am sat 300 episodes later with still quite a few ideas."
"The A should be for ambitious in smart goals, and not achievable because if we say that it's achievable then it's limiting what we can actually achieve."
"The more that I verbalized the challenge with those people around me, and the more that they could see me training, the more that people started to support because they started to believe in the challenge."
"So are you thinking smart first to achieve your possible dreams? That's what I would encourage you to think about."
"My aim in every single episode of this podcast is to make you think some stuff, and make you think enough stuff that you do something different, or you try something new."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee talks about an unconventional yet thought provoking analogy between cleaning and successful change initiatives. Lee draws parallels between the four key components of cleaning—movement, cleaning solution, heat, and time—and the essential elements required for effective change. Through this insightful comparison, listeners are encouraged to apply the same rigour and methodology to their change initiatives as they do to everyday cleaning tasks, ultimately aiming to create sustainable and impactful transformations in their working environments.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Four Key Components of Cleaning and Change: The four key components of cleaning (movement, cleaning solution, heat, and time) are paralleled with the components needed for successful change (movement, support, heat, and time).
Importance of Agitation and Movement: Lee emphasises the importance of agitation and movement in both cleaning and change processes to bring about effective results.
Need for Support and Heat in Change: Having support (cleaning solution) and introducing heat (conflict or challenge) in change initiatives to drive progress and improvement.
Time as a Critical Factor: Lee stresses the significance of allowing the relevant amount of time for change to take place and for new processes to be established and sustained.
BEST MOMENTS
"We clean something to make it look good or to return it to its original state or to make it last longer, to maybe remove something from it that shouldn't be on it."
"Do we really have the relevant amount of time? Do we really create enough heat warmth of relationship or challenge to create the most optimal ways of working?"
"Are you applying those four things to your change initiatives? Or are you just doing it when you get in the shower in the morning?"
"Saying you know how to do it is not doing it. Saying you know how to change is not changing."
"We only really improve when we do something different."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee explores the key insights from Carlo Ancelotti's leadership book, "Quiet Leadership." He reflects on the importance of relationships, connection, and authenticity in leadership, drawing inspiration from Ancelotti's approach to managing world-class football teams. The episode highlights the three Cs to becoming a champion: capability of tasks, cultural fit, and contribution to the team. Listeners are encouraged to apply these principles to enhance their leadership skills and team performance.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Importance of Relationships: Building strong relationships with team members, support staff, and superiors is crucial for effective leadership.
Authentic Leadership Style: Being authentic in leadership, maintaining emotions, and connecting with individuals on a personal level can lead to success.
Three C's to Becoming a Champion: Focus on capability of tasks, cultural fit within the team, and contribution to the team to create a high-performing team.
Capability: Clarity of tasks, support, and learning opportunities are essential for individuals to be capable in their roles.
Cultural Fit: Aligned values, supportive environment, and clarity of vision are key components for fitting into the team or organisation.
Contribution to the Team: Clear roles and responsibilities, empowerment, and clarity of goals are crucial for making a valuable contribution to the team.
BEST MOMENTS
"He leads by understanding the person... around the importance of connection."
"There's three Cs to being a champion... how capable are you to do the task?"
"So how much of a contribution to the team do you make? How much of a contribution do each member of the team make?"
"He would make a point of understanding the person, but then also leading in that way."
"So the three Cs to being a champion are those three Cs... what you are doing for yourself to make sure that you are as capable as you can be."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee's latest episode talks about the intricacies of maintaining change momentum and combating loneliness within change management. He shares insights on understanding individual journeys, building belief and trust, leading with connection over tools, and the importance of habits in driving change. Through engaging anecdotes and actionable advice, Lee encourages listeners to embrace the challenges of change management with enthusiasm and purpose.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Understand that everybody is on a journey, including yourself, and recognise where individuals are on their journey to create the right conversation.
Build belief, confidence, and trust in yourself, the solution, and the organisation to understand and address potential barriers to progress.
Lead with connection rather than tools to tailor your approach and make it more relatable and effective.
When creating or breaking habits, focus on the cue and reward, not just the routine, to facilitate lasting change.
Help individuals move away from pain or towards pleasure, considering the neutral zone as a stepping stone to transition effectively.
BEST MOMENTS
"Lead with connection not with tools because that allows you to tailor your narrative about the tool, the solution, the technique, the thing in a meaningful way and vary your presentation."
"Don't just focus on the routine and document in the process because if you just create a process and ask people to do it, not everybody will do it."
"Fundamentally, we're trying to get people to create and have the right motivation, the right reasons for action so that they do the right thing at the right time every time."
"The toothpaste manufacturers made the reward feel so amazing that everybody then wanted, okay, your teeth are now clean, your mouth feels so fresh."
"It's not our approach that's broken, it's our approach to change that's broken. And I think just by applying a few different strategies to what we do and how we do it, it can help us overcome some of the challenges that we face today."HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee talks about the complexities of leading change within organisations, focusing on maintaining momentum and limiting loneliness in the process. He emphasises the importance of understanding where individuals are on their change journey, addressing resistance, and building belief, trust, and confidence in the solution, approach, and organisation. This episode serves as part one of a two-part series, offering practical approaches to make positive strides in the ever-evolving landscape of change management.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Change can be both the best and worst job, with feelings of loneliness and loss of momentum being common challenges.
Understanding where individuals are on their change journey and addressing their beliefs, confidence, and trust are crucial for successful change implementation.
Change and improvement should be viewed as everyone's job, but not everyone sees it that way, leading to challenges in driving change.
It is important to view situations through the eyes of others, considering their perspectives on consistency, connection, and credibility in relation to the proposed solutions and organisation.
By recognising and addressing resistance, maintaining momentum, and limiting loneliness, change practitioners can deliver successful change initiatives in a people-focused business environment.
BEST MOMENTS
"Change for me has been and is the best and worst job that I have ever had."
"Everybody is on a journey. So if they're on a journey, we're on a journey, and people are saying these things."
"All change starts with belief. So like Santa, we believe in Santa, don't we?"
"I shared those four quads because those four quads are what I've heard a lot and I asked a group which one of these four quotes have they heard the most." "And that's where his lack of belief, confidence or trust came from."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Join Lee as he talks about the importance of considering three key factors before implementing tools in business change initiatives. Lee emphasises the significance of prioritising connection and understanding the audience before introducing tools, drawing parallels to the world of comedy where connection is paramount. He highlights the need to assess the problem the tool aims to solve, the design principles behind it, and the predictability of results in the current environment. Listeners are encouraged to think critically about their approach to tools and change, aiming for meaningful connections and tailored solutions for optimal outcomes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Connection is Key: Prioritise building a connection and relationship with the individuals you are working with before introducing tools or solutions.
Consider the Problem: Before applying a tool, identify the problem it aims to solve and ensure that problem exists in the context you are working in.
Understand Design Principles: Learn about the design principles behind the tool to determine if they still align with the current situation and if they may be constraining your solution.
Predictability of Results: Evaluate how predictable the results of the tool are in the environment you are in and if it effectively addresses the problem at hand.
People First: Remember that success in implementing initiatives relies heavily on how well you connect with and understand the people you are working with.
BEST MOMENTS
"Any fool with a tool is still a fool."
"People protect what they build. If you turn up with a ready-made tool, then it's got to absolutely fix the issue that they've got in the best way that they perceive for them to have any ownership or belief in that thing."
"Change is not easy. If it was, everybody would be doing it."
"When you lead with connection and relationship and build an understanding of who you are delivering, supporting these initiatives with, then it allows you to vary your performance based on who is in front of you."
"I think by understanding those three things, it can give you a better understanding of the tool that you need to apply."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee's latest episode explores the concept of change as a journey, emphasising the individual nature of each person's experience. Lee discusses various models like the Kubler-Ross change curve and Bridges transition model, highlighting the importance of understanding people's past experiences and emotions when leading change initiatives. The episode underscores the significance of making individuals feel positive, safe, and supported throughout the change process, ultimately expressing the need for empathy and gradual progress in navigating the complexities of change.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Change is a journey that individuals go through, and it is important to understand each person's unique journey.
Resistance to change often stems from past experiences and habits that individuals are comfortable with.
Making people feel positive, safe, and supported is crucial when leading and delivering change initiatives.
Change requires breaking old habits or creating new ones, which can be challenging but necessary for progress.
Understanding where people are coming from, collectively working towards a common destination, and moving forward gradually are key aspects of successful change management.
BEST MOMENTS
"Change is not easy because we are creatures of habit. Every single day, the majority of the things that we do are habitual."
"We need to make people feel positive. We need to make people feel safe. We need to make people feel supported."
"Everybody is on a journey. Not everybody wants to be on a journey. We may face resistance."
"Change is a journey for everybody... Changing anything is often not like flicking a switch."
"Mayor Angelou said, 'I'll forget what you did, I'll forget what you said, but I'll never forget how you made me feel.'"
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee reflects on the first six months of 2024, sharing his personal achievements, including running marathons and launching online courses, attributing his success to the intensity and frequency of his nine-month challenge. He discusses the importance of structure and rhythm in achieving goals, emphasising the concept of intensity times frequency equals connection. The episode concludes with a challenge for listeners to apply intensity and frequency to their endeavours for a successful second half of the year.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Reflect on Your Progress: Take time to reflect on your achievements and progress at regular intervals, like at the end of six months, to see how successful you have been.
Set Big, Ambitious Goals: Setting big, scary, and ambitious goals can provide the structure and intensity needed to achieve them, allowing for creativity and engagement throughout the process.
Intensity and Frequency Create Habits: By combining intensity (strength of reason and feeling) with frequency (repetition), you can create new habits and connections, whether in personal goals or professional relationships.
Strive for Connection: Building connections, whether with yourself, others, or within an organization, requires intensity and frequency to strengthen the bond and achieve common goals.
Consistency is Key: Consistently applying intensity and frequency to important tasks or goals can lead to success and achievement, as seen in the example of training for a marathon.
BEST MOMENTS
"I absolutely believe that this has all been achieved through the consistency in my nine month to 100km challenge."
"Intensity times frequency equals connection. Connection is the first of the four C's, so connect, converse, calibrate and celebrate."
"Whatever fires together, wires together. But the only wire together, if you do it continually and repeatedly, and you've got a strength of feeling, strength of reason, and then you do that repeatedly, it will then become habitual."
"So last week we spoke about how we're connecting everything together from the bottom all the way through the top and connecting from a best perspective."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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This episode explores the crucial concept of connection in the realm of leadership, change management, and organisational success. Lee emphasises the significance of connecting people to the purpose, vision, and initiatives of a business to drive sustainable performance excellence. Through the framework of the four C's - connection, conversation, collaboration, and celebration/reflection - Lee explores how fostering strong connections among individuals and aligning behaviours with organisational goals are essential for achieving desired outcomes. The episode underscores the necessity of aligning values with behaviours, fostering emotional connections, and continuously striving to improve connectivity within organisations to drive success.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Connection is Key: Connection in leadership, change management, and overall business is essential for success
The Four C's Framework: The four C's framework - Connection, Conversation, Collaboration, and Celebration & Reflection - is a high-level process for delivering sustainable performance excellence.
The Best Model: The Best Model focuses on connecting strategies and improvement initiatives to influence leadership behaviours, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, business targets.
Behavioural Alignment: Aligning company values with expected behaviours can be challenging, there is a need for clear communication and understanding to create a cohesive environment.
Future-Framing: Encouragement is needed to envision the future state of the organisation in terms of what will be seen, heard, and felt, and align improvement initiatives to create that desired future.
BEST MOMENTS
"Connection is absolutely key. And I guess if I was to do a word cloud of all of the podcasts, the nearly 300 podcasts, I think the word connection and connected would probably feature quite highly."
"Connection is key. Why am I banging on about connection?"
"Engagement is largely influenced by the behaviours of the people that we are working with."
"We need to connect the behaviours of all of our people. The environment that is being created to engage our employees."
"Connect the dots to achieve success. Start with the behaviour and how we wanna be in it actually."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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This episode explores the intriguing debate between maturity and ownership when implementing solutions in organisations. Lee reflects on his experiences and conversations, emphasising the importance of balancing these two factors. Through engaging storytelling and practical advice, Lee navigates the complexities of decision-making in organisational improvement, offering a thought-provoking perspective on achieving long-term success.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Ownership Over Maturity: When introducing a solution, prioritise ownership over maturity. People are more likely to protect and improve something they have built themselves.
Balancing Act: Striking a balance between maturity and ownership is crucial. Sometimes compromising on one for the other is necessary.
Long-Term Success: Focusing on ownership and developing a habit of continuous improvement leads to sustainable success in the long run.
Context vs. Control: Depending on the situation, decide whether to lead with context (ownership) or control (maturity) to address the problem effectively.
Infinite Game: Emphasise playing the long game rather than a finite one. Encourage continuous improvement and sustainability for lasting impact.
BEST MOMENTS
"I cannot believe that we are nearly at episode 300. When I started the podcast, I believed after about 10-20 episodes, I would run out of content."
"One of the things that I am a big advocate of and we have spoke about before is that people protect what they build."
"The right answer is ownership. But I'm not sure that when things play out, when the pressure is on, when we are trying to help people get better, I think that inadvertently a number of people might push the maturity button."
"So when you are introducing a solution, consider maturity and ownership. And sometimes you can't have both. You might have to compromise one for the other."
"It's not about what you would like it to. It's about whether they own it and they know how they can develop it continually. That is successful. That is sustainable. And that is how you win the long game."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Business Problems Solved's latest episode discusses the concept of operational excellence and high-performing environments. Lee emphasises the importance of engaged and empowered people in driving business performance. By focusing on the interactions and engagement of team members rather than just metrics and tools, Lee highlights the true essence of operational excellence - making people and driving performance simultaneously. Listeners are encouraged to consider the impact of their leadership style on creating a culture of growth and development within their organisations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Operational Excellence: Focus on creating high-performing environments, engaged and empowered people, and effective leadership to drive better performance.
Purpose of Performance Boards: Emphasise that the purpose of performance boards is not just about the visuals or metrics but about driving engagement, conversation, and improvement within the team.
Creating Engaged People: Highlight the importance of creating an environment where people feel comfortable being vulnerable, discussing feelings, and addressing challenges openly to drive growth and performance.
Watermelon Reporting: Address the issue of superficial reporting where problems are covered up due to fear, emphasising the need for honesty, openness, and acceptance of mistakes to drive improvement.
Focus on People and Environment: Emphasise that true operational excellence is achieved by focusing on developing people and creating an environment that fosters growth, challenge, and continuous improvement for both individuals and business performance.
BEST MOMENTS
"I believe, are working towards the same destination. Because all of these things done correctly help the team, the function, the business perform better than they are today." -
"And following observing this conversation with the two change folk, I went for a cup of coffee and I reflected on what I had just seen unfold in front of me."
"Watermelon reporting. I've often spoke about so it's it looks green on the outside or it's green on the outside. So we're reporting green."
"Do they all feel like they've just watched the best film or TV programme that they've had an opportunity to do at the end of every meeting?"
"You can't just keep hitting people over the head to get them to work faster. You have to help your people grow."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee explores the concept of creating an innovative and engaged workforce by challenging the traditional notion of "ask for forgiveness, not for permission." He discusses the importance of leading with context, giving permission, and encouraging behaviours like challenge, conflict, failure, and problem-solving within a safe environment. Listeners are encouraged to embrace failure and conflict as opportunities for growth and improvement, ultimately fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Encourage Creativity and Risk-Taking: Instead of asking for forgiveness, not permission, create an environment where people feel safe to try new things and be creative without fear of failure.
Lead with Context, Not Control: Provide clear expectations and direction while allowing individuals to define their own approach. This fosters creativity, innovation, and empowerment.
Give Permission: Allow individuals to challenge, confront, fail, and solve problems. Make it acceptable to hold each other accountable and provide constructive feedback.
Role Model Behavior: Leaders should demonstrate the behaviours they expect from others, including being vulnerable and embracing discomfort.
Check-In and Reflect: After encouraging action, follow up to ensure individuals act on their thoughts and feelings. Address any barriers preventing them from doing so and reinforce a culture of continuous improvement.
BEST MOMENTS
"Ask for forgiveness, not for permission. Ask for forgiveness, not for permission. And you say that when you want people to try new things."
"Lead with context, not with control. And when you lead with context and not control, then that is encouraging people to define their own how."
"We need to give permission and lead with context. Give permission for people to do certain things. Give permission for people to hold people to account, but lead with context."
"The more we do it, the easier it becomes. So don't just say to people, ask for forgiveness, not for permission. There's some ground rules, there's some Things you need to do to make that possible."
"Let's create this environment where failure, challenge, conflict and problems are recognized, identified, and actually reinforced that actually the good things, they're not bad things, they're good things."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee explores the concept of operational excellence through the lens of two renowned entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. He talks about the importance of connecting the dots in operational excellence, drawing on the wisdom of Jobs and Branson.
Through examples and practical insights, listeners are encouraged to connect the dots between tools, behaviours, and environments to drive success in business operations. The episode underscores the need to start with the end in mind, as advocated by Stephen Covey, and to always be connecting dots to create a conducive environment for achieving business goals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Continuous Improvement: The key habit within operational excellence is the habit of continuous improvement, engaging people, and striving for excellence in all aspects of the business.
Connecting Dots: The importance of connecting the dots between different elements in a system to achieve a particular destination, as emphasised by successful entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Richard Branson.
Reflecting Backwards: Understanding that one can only join the dots looking backwards, as plans may change and evolve, highlighting the importance of reflection and learning from past experiences.
Creating the Right Environment: Focusing on creating the ideal environment through connecting the right dots, including leadership behaviours, visual performance boards, and metrics, to drive engagement and achieve business targets.
Start with the End in Mind: Emphasising the concept of starting with the end goal in mind and connecting the dots looking back to create a path towards success and making a difference in the business.
BEST MOMENTS
"Fundamentally, it's about the habit of continuous improvement and the habit of engaging people."
"You can only join the dots looking backwards... the plan's out of date."
"Always be connecting dots... you have to stop at a particular point."
"If you create the right environment, then people will behave in a particular way."
"Start with the end in mind, connect the dots looking back."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee delves into the common issue of setting vague deadlines and lack of follow-through in business meetings. Lee challenges the practice of assigning generic due dates like "next Friday" or "end of the month," urging listeners to prioritise specific times for completing tasks. By emphasising the importance of committing to realistic deadlines and actively prioritising key activities, Lee highlights how this approach can lead to increased productivity and successful task completion.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Prioritise specific deadlines: Instead of setting vague deadlines like "next Friday" or "end of the month," prioritise specific dates and times for completing actions to increase accountability and likelihood of completion.
Gain commitments: By asking individuals when realistically they will make time to complete an action, you can gain commitments and increase the chances of the task being done.
Avoid procrastination: Proactively scheduling specific times to complete tasks helps avoid procrastination and ensures that important actions are given the attention they deserve.
Major time on major things: Focus on spending major time on major tasks rather than major time on minor tasks to prioritise activities that will make the biggest impact on achieving goals.
Challenge and improve: Continuously observe and challenge the way deadlines are set and actions are prioritised to improve efficiency and effectiveness in completing tasks.
BEST MOMENTS
"When realistically are you going to make time to complete this action? That question provides a different answer."
"If somebody says to me that they didn't have time My response is you're telling me the action wasn't important enough."
"How can you spend major time on major things? and minor time on minor things and that is through prioritisation."
"Don't be lazy with setting your due dates. Be disciplined. You can do better."
"Saying you know how to do it is not doing it."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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This episode delves into the importance of intent, intensity, and impact in achieving desired outcomes. Lee introduces the concept of the three I's - intent, intensity, and impact - as key factors in determining the success of actions and conversations. Listeners are encouraged to look inward, assess their approach, and strive for greater effectiveness in their interactions to achieve the desired impact.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Intent, Intensity, and Impact: The three I's discussed in the podcast are crucial for achieving desired outcomes in business interactions.
Clarity of Intent: Having a clear purpose and motivation before taking action or engaging in conversations is essential for success.
Intensity and Frequency: Applying the right level of conviction and doing so consistently are key factors in making a significant impact.
Reflect and Learn: Analysing the gap between intentions and outcomes provides an opportunity for reflection, learning, and improvement.
Personal Responsibility: Emphasising the importance of taking ownership of one's intent, intensity, and frequency to drive impactful results.
BEST MOMENTS
"Are you really putting enough in? Do you have clarity of intent of all of your interactions, of all of your conversations, of all of your actions?"
"Intent is personal to us. Impact is what happens as a result of our intentions."
"If your intent is the motivation and purpose for your action and conversation, if you have that conversation or do that action and you do it with enough intensity, feeling, strength behind it..."
"So, intent is around motivation or purpose of your actions or conversations. Intensity is the level that you apply, I guess, of your conviction of your action, of your conversation."
"Often we look through the window at other people and think that actually they have not done what we expected them to do, so they are in the wrong. I believe it's down to the inputs that we put in..."
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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Lee delves into the importance of not just doing tasks, but doing them well to make a real difference. He emphasises the four levels of performance: not doing it, doing it, doing it well, and doing it well to shift performance. Drawing parallels to driving a car, Lee explains how simply completing a task is not enough; it must be done with the aim of achieving a specific goal or destination. He challenges listeners to consider their internal motivations and the impact of their actions on reaching desired outcomes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Strive for Excellence: It's essential to aim for doing tasks well to shift performance and make a difference, rather than settling for just completing them.
Focus on Destination: Align behaviors and activities with the end goal or destination to ensure contributions count towards achieving it.
Internal Motivation: Understanding individual motivations and connecting them to the overall goal can drive better performance and results.
Continuous Improvement: Emphasise the importance of doing tasks well to drive continuous improvement and exceed limits set by oneself.
Clarity and Alignment: Ensure clarity on expectations, behaviours, and performance goals to align everyone towards a common destination and purpose.
BEST MOMENTS
"Saying you know how to do it is not doing it."
"We want people to do it well, and we want them to do it well to shift performance, to make a difference, to make their contribution count."
"Are you and your teams focused on doing whatever it is that you're doing well and to shift performance, to make a difference, to achieve your destination and your goal."
"We've got to strive and aspire to do everything well to make a difference."
"Have I made you think differently in order to make you do differently to achieve a different result?"
HOST BIO
You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/
For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.
Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.
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