Business Problems Solved Podcast

This episode delves into the crucial aspect of role modelling within change teams. Lee, drawing from his 18 years of experience in change management, highlights the common failure of change teams to effectively role model the behaviours and strategies they advocate for others. By emphasising the importance of role modelling, Lee underscores the significance of change teams embodying the principles they aim to instil in leadership and operational teams. Through practical insights and real-world examples, Lee encourages change teams to prioritise self-improvement and consistent modelling of best practices to effectively support and guide others through change initiatives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Change teams often struggle with role modelling effective systems themselves, which can hinder their ability to support others effectively.

• Role modelling what is expected of others is crucial for change teams to build credibility and trust with the teams they are supporting.

• By continuously improving their own systems and practices, change teams can better empathise with the challenges faced by the teams they work with.

• Change teams should prioritise developing their own operational excellence tools and techniques before assisting others to ensure they lead by example.

• Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement within the change team can lead to better outcomes for the teams they support.

BEST MOMENTS

"Change teams seem to have a big challenge with role modelling." 

"If we don't role model, if we don't do what we're suggesting that everybody else should do, then why the blooming heck should they do it?" 

"Change teams historically are not the best at role modelling the things that they are expecting others to do." 

"Change is for everybody and the people that should be the best at change are change people." 

"We need to role model. We need to believe because it allows us to empathise."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee explores the concept of footprints leaving clues in our personal and professional journeys. Reflecting on his own diverse experiences, including DJing, owning a bouncy castle business, and self-publishing children's books, Lee highlights the valuable lessons learned from each endeavour. By exploring the footprints left behind by these experiences, Lee emphasises the importance of understanding and maximising the potential of one's team members.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Reflect on past experiences to understand present actions and behaviours.

• Consider the transferable skills gained from diverse past roles.

• Explore how personal journeys can influence current approaches.

• Recognise the importance of understanding team members' unique backgrounds.

• Maximise potential by leveraging the footprints and clues left by individuals.

BEST MOMENTS

"I've had to delve deeper into my past and start to note down some of the things that I've carried with me, the footprints that I've left behind on my journey."

"I really think that my random journey is not actually that random. When you look at the footsteps that I have trodden, the clues that have been left behind, you see how I am."

"Footprints leave clues. What clues have your footprints left and what clues have the footprints of your people left? Have you tried to understand it? If not, why not?"

"I've learned something in every interaction that I've taken to developing the person that I am today."

"The communication from DJing, the understanding the customer from DJing, and the importance of really getting to know the customer."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Join Lee as he delves into the crucial role of rest in personal and professional growth. Drawing from his experience training for marathons, Lee highlights the necessity of rest periods for muscles to grow and strengthen. He parallels this concept with the workplace, emphasising the importance of downtime between meetings to allow for reflection, action, and progress. Through relatable analogies and thoughtful insights, Lee encourages listeners to consider how adequate rest can lead to enhanced performance and overall well-being. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Rest is essential for growth: Just like muscles need rest to grow stronger after exercise, individuals and organizations require rest periods to reflect, recuperate, and progress effectively.

• Back-to-back meetings hinder productivity: Constantly being in meetings without breaks can lead to fatigue and limit the opportunity to act on tasks and initiatives discussed during those meetings.

• Reflection is key to personal and professional growth: Taking time to reflect, unpack thoughts, and work through challenges can lead to personal development and improved performance in the workplace.

• Create space for action: Allocating time between meetings to work on action items and allowing individuals to physically rest and mentally unpack information can lead to better outcomes and growth.

• Balance is crucial: Just as a balanced workout routine includes rest days, a balanced approach to work involves creating space for reflection, action, and personal growth to achieve optimal results.

BEST MOMENTS

"Rest and not just keep doing activities... I need to rest to be able to grow." 

"Growth only occurs during rest... muscles need the opportunity for growth after being under tension."

"We treat everybody like a simple maths... we try to deal with everything in our heads."

"Actions need progressing, whether it's from you or whether you're the conduit to create activity." 

"Are you giving yourself enough space and enough rest to grow personally?" 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee talks about the concept of looking at people through a deeper lens to truly understand and engage with them. He discusses the importance of considering individuals as a whole person, comprising their thoughts, feelings, actions, and beliefs. By breaking down the person into these four components, Lee explores how leaders can effectively engage with their teams and drive positive change. The episode emphasises the significance of whole-person reflection, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions to enhance personal growth and leadership effectiveness. T

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Consider the Whole Person: Break down individuals into four parts - head (thoughts), heart (feelings), hands (actions), and belief (spirit) to truly understand and engage them.

• Engagement and Leadership: Use the four components (head, heart, hands, belief) to assess engagement and leadership effectiveness. Leadership can be seen as an input, while engagement is the output.

• Whole Person Reflection: Encourage reflection on what has been learned, emotional journey, actions taken, and beliefs challenged to gain a deeper understanding of oneself and improve personal growth.

• Individualised Approach: Treat each person as an individual by understanding them emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually to lead change initiatives effectively.

• Continuous Improvement: Constantly evaluate and adjust leadership and engagement strategies by considering the whole person to collectively move forward towards shared goals.

BEST MOMENTS

"I often say that it's all about people. But that's really easy to say, but what do I actually mean by that?"

"Whole person reflection is something that we can all do each and every day. So we can tap into and really understand whether ourselves have, we're tapping into the whole of our person by looking at our belief, our head or our thoughts, our heart or our feelings, our hands or our actions." 

"But the more I thought about it, it's not that easy to do because we need to consider people with different lenses on. And I think if we look at the whole person, heads, hands, hearts, and belief, or thoughts, feelings, actions and spirit." 

"How is your leadership building belief? How is your leadership challenging or making new thoughts? How is your leadership making people feel?" 

"And when you reflect, think about you as the whole person and see if asking those questions creates any new thoughts, feelings, actions or beliefs."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

In this episode, Lee discusses the importance of managing things, leading people, and coaching the gaps in a business setting. He stresses that while coaching is an effective way to develop employees, it is crucial to recognise when to manage situations and lead people instead. Lee highlights the need for clarity of vision, setting expectations, and role modelling when leading people. He also emphasises the importance of asking questions and providing challenges to close gaps and empower employees to take action. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Coaching is an effective way to develop people and should be utilised in leadership.

• Leadership should be situational and adapt to the specific needs and challenges at hand.

• Managing things involves processes, performance, standards, health and safety, and quality.

• Leading people requires setting a clear vision, direction, expectations, and role modelling.

• Coaching the gaps involves asking questions, providing challenges, and empowering individuals to think and take action.

BEST MOMENTS

"We've got to be really, really careful that we cannot coach everything." 

"Coaching is the optimal way to develop your people." 

"We need to lead our people with clarity of vision, clarity of direction." 

"We're not providing answers. We're providing questions."

"If we can coach the development of our people, it frees us up. It creates more time and capacity for us to spend more time with more people, to develop more people and develop them further."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee explores the difference between organisational habits and personal habits. He reflects on his previous discussions about individual habits and how they influence culture. Lee defines organisational habits as routines that occur automatically within an organisation, independent of specific individuals. He emphasises the importance of understanding and influencing both personal and organisational habits to shape the desired environment and achieve collective goals. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Differentiating between organisational habits and personal habits is important. Organisational habits are routines that happen automatically within an organisation, while personal habits are individual routines.

• Culture can be defined as the sum of all personal and organisational habits within an organisation.

• Organisational habits are not necessarily driven by individuals and can include routines such as daily meetings and problem-solving processes.

• Changing organisational habits can be achieved by changing personal habits, but it is essential to understand and identify the specific organisational habits that need to be influenced.

• Consider both personal and organisational habits when shaping the environment and culture within a team, department, or business.

BEST MOMENTS

"Organisational habits, if we follow the same root as habits, so it's routine. It's a routine that happens automatically." 

"There's a lot of habits or routines stacked on top of each other, but influenced by the environment they're in." 

"There are organisational habits that we need to consider to allow everybody to move forward together." 

"Organisational habits are the ones that provide structure and organisation to enable you to move forward together." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee explores the concept of instincts and habits. He delves into the idea of striving for perfection in human behaviour by encouraging individuals to do the right thing at the right time, every time. Lee discusses the differences between instincts and habits, highlighting that instincts are reactive and unconscious, while habits involve conscious awareness and practice. Overall, this thought-provoking episode challenges conventional thinking and offers practical insights for solving business problems.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Instincts and habits are different. Instincts are automatic responses without conscious awareness, while habits have some conscious awareness.

• Habits can be learned and practised, while instincts are often innate.

• The goal should be to develop habits that become instinctive, enabling people to do the right thing at the right time, every time.

• Developing organisational habits is challenging, but striving for organisational instincts can lead to more spontaneous and effective actions.

• Creating clarity, and alignment, and providing space for practice and learning are essential in developing habits and potentially turning them into instincts.

BEST MOMENTS

"I want to maybe just go a little bit deeper on this in terms of habits and aspirationally as leaders of people and as leaders of change."

"Maybe doing the right thing at the right time, every time, is our striving for perfection, like we do in the improvement world." 

"Maybe habits are more reactive and maybe instincts are more proactive at a point, maybe." 

"We should be trying to create organisational instincts so that if anything happens, if anything occurs, we all do the right thing at the right time every time." 

"Habitual suggests routine. Instinct suggests spontaneity. And if we truly want people to do the right thing at the right time, every time, then we need to create more spontaneity." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee explores the importance of effectively engaging the hearts and senses of people when leading and implementing change. He emphasises the power of words, pictures, and emotions in creating a strong connection with individuals. Lee highlights the significance of creating a vision that resonates with people and involves them in the process, as it increases their level of commitment and engagement. He shares personal experiences, such as his running journey, to illustrate the impact of words and motivation on taking positive action.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Engaging the hearts of people is crucial when leading and implementing change.

• Different people resonate with different things, so it's important to use a combination of words, pictures, and emotions to create a meaningful impact.

• Creating a vision picture without accompanying words may only engage a portion of the audience while using both words and visuals can engage more people.

• Involving people in the creation process can increase their level of engagement and buy-in.

• Tapping into the senses of people, such as what they see and hear, can help create a strong feeling that motivates positive action.

BEST MOMENTS

"When we are delivering change, when we're leading people, it's really important that we recognise that everybody is different." 

"People will forget what you've said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel." 

"If you create a vision picture, without the words, it'll only engage a number of your people."

"You either involve them in the creation of something... Then they're going to feel something about it." 

"The best way to create a positive action towards a destination is to create a feeling, a strong enough feeling that makes it compelling to do something." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee discusses the parallels between his marathon training journey and running a business. He shares his experiences and lessons learned from his training, emphasising the importance of paying attention to the small details and not sweating the unimportant stuff. Lee also talks about the value of seeking guidance and feedback from experienced individuals to understand what truly matters. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The importance of sweating the small stuff: Paying attention to the small details is crucial for achieving success, whether it's in personal goals or in business.

• Clarity is essential: Having a clear understanding of the direction, purpose, and destination is crucial for making progress and focusing on the important tasks.

• Conscious effort leads to improvement: By consciously putting effort into the important tasks, individuals can continuously improve and achieve their goals.

• Consistency is key: Consistently applying oneself and working on the small things over time is necessary for long-term success.

• Seek guidance and learn from others: Recognise the importance of seeking advice and learning from those who have experience in the field to gain a deeper understanding of what is important and how to improve.

BEST MOMENTS

"Don't sweat the unimportant stuff, not don't sweat the small stuff, because I think the small stuff is really, really important."

"It's the small stuff that's going to help us achieve. Whether that's personal goals, like the marathon or ultramarathon, or whether that's in business today, tomorrow."

"80% of your successes, 80% of your progress, 80% of your improvements are going to be delivered by the small things, by understanding the small things." 

"You can only really understand the small stuff, which is the important stuff, if you're conscious about it. If you're conscious about doing, when you're doing and the activities that we're talking about." 

"I am training, I am progressing, I am getting there, but it's only by working on the small things, and that's what's gonna allow me to achieve what I've set out to achieve."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

This episode explores the importance of conversation in today's technology-driven world. Lee highlights how distractions and short-form communication have led to a loss of the art of conversation. Lee emphasises the need for engaging and meaningful conversations to solve business problems and improve personal relationships. He shares his own experience of transitioning from scripted questions to open-ended conversations in his podcast interviews. Lee believes that by prioritising conversation and being present in our interactions, we can foster connection, generate new ideas, and ultimately solve more problems. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The biggest challenge in today's world is the loss of the art of conversation.

• Technology has made communication faster and more convenient, but it has also led to shorter, less meaningful conversations.

• Conversations breed connection, allow for the sharing of thoughts and ideas, and can lead to problem-solving.

• Many conversations today are focused and process-driven, lacking depth and exploration of thoughts and minds.

• To have better conversations, it is important to create a suitable environment, be open and present, ask questions, and actively listen and respond.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think we may have lost the art of conversation and we need to get back to a place where we can start having conversations with people." 

"I think the biggest challenge we've got is actually conversing, conversing and having conversations effectively."

"The art of conversation, you might absolutely disagree with me at this point, and I can understand why, because you're in so many conversations every single day, but they are focused dialogues." 

"I think everybody is only one question away from their next conversation. One question. And you, that can start amazing, amazing exploratory conversations." 

"I think every business problem can be solved through a conversation. Every life problem can be solved through a conversation." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Join Lee as he reflects on the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on various industries over the past year. He draws a parallel between AI and artificial grass, highlighting the advantages and limitations of both. While AI offers predictability and efficiency, human intelligence possesses emotional depth and adaptability. Lee emphasises the importance of leveraging technology to enhance productivity and problem-solving, but also warns against over-reliance on it, as it can hinder effective communication and critical thinking. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to be leveraged and used in various industries in 2024.

• Technology, including AI, machine learning, and automation, can help businesses improve their operations and customer service.

• While technology provides predictable and repeatable answers, human intelligence is still valuable due to our emotional and experiential nature.

• The use of technology should not hinder communication and connection among individuals and teams.

• Leaders should focus on developing the thinking of their people, asking better questions, and engaging them more frequently to overcome communication challenges and foster growth.

BEST MOMENTS

"Last year, ChatGPT made a difference, it made an impact in a number of industries and it started to be leveraged." 

"AI can help with simple responses to customer queries. It can produce copy for social media posts, but it can't replicate fully humans because we are emotional." 

"The more we leverage technology, the greater gap we create with our communication on a human level." 

"The more we live in this world, the more we need to leverage and understand that. And then we need to learn how to communicate more effectively." 

"We need to make every person think more than they are doing now. We need to grow, develop and care for our people."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

In this final episode of 2023, Lee reflects on the year and shares personal challenges, including his training for the London Marathon and an ultra marathon in 2024. He discusses the parallels between his training journey and the challenges faced in leadership. Lee emphasises the importance of having a compelling vision, making goals tangible and relatable, and creating accountability through public commitment. He also explores the four C's: connection, conversations, collaboration, and celebration, and how they apply to business and team success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The power of making goals public and being held accountable: Lee mentions that by making his charity events public, he is being held accountable by friends, family, and colleagues. This highlights the importance of sharing goals with others to increase motivation and accountability.

• The significance of effective communication and collaboration: Lee discusses the need for clear communication and collaboration within teams and organisations. They talk about the importance of having regular conversations, creating a safe environment for sharing ideas, and collaborating on key challenges.

• The value of effort and putting in one's best abilities: Lee reflects on the concept of effort and how it is often underestimated. He discusses the need to not just do something, but to do it to the best of one's abilities. This applies to achieving goals, having meaningful conversations, and celebrating success.

• The continuous nature of improvement and reflection: Lee emphasises that the journey towards achieving goals and implementing the four C's (connection, conversation, collaboration, celebration) is an ongoing process. He encourages reflection on past efforts and the commitment to continuously improve and apply the principles discussed.

BEST MOMENTS

"This year I just reminded again how short life is and how I don't contribute and support those that have either going through the challenges dealing with with cancer and other things, also I want to help those who are trying to cure it as as well so that's that's the motivating factor behind the charity events."

"Having clarity of destination, having belief in being able to get there, making it tangible and making it relatable to every single individual in the team and letting them know what their contribution is into achieving it." 

"We need to be connected on the vision. We need to be connected as people and with people. We need to be connected together with purpose. We need to be connected to make sure our communication flows effectively."

"Your effort is on a scale and you might put more effort into some things than other things. And are you truly putting the right levels of effort into successful delivery of the four Cs?" 

"Are you doing it? Or are you really doing it? That's my reflection for 2023."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee explores the concept of putting your body where your priorities are. He challenges the common practice of leaders simply sending emails or making phone calls about their priorities, and instead encourages leaders to physically show up and contribute to the work that aligns with their number one priority. By being present both physically and mentally, leaders can demonstrate their support and care for their teams, ultimately creating a more engaged workforce. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Putting your body where your priorities are: Lee emphasises the importance of physically showing up and being present in the places where your priorities lie. This means going beyond sending emails or making phone calls and actively engaging with the work and the people involved.
• Clarity on priorities: It is crucial to have a clear understanding of what your top priority is. This allows you to focus your efforts and resources on the most important task or goal that will have the greatest impact on your business.
• Conscious effort: Making a conscious effort involves both physical and mental presence. Physically showing up at the workplace and actively supporting your team, as well as mentally being fully engaged and present in the moment, without distractions.
• Consistency: Consistency is key in building trust and engagement with your team. It means consistently showing up and being present, not just during emergencies or high-pressure situations, but on a regular basis. This helps create a sense of reliability and care for your employees.
• Caring for your people: Lee talks about the importance of genuinely caring for your team. By putting your body and mind where your priorities are, you demonstrate that you value and support your employees. This leads to a more engaged workforce and fosters a positive work environment.

BEST MOMENTS

"I don't think there's anything more powerful than a leader turning up to the place that is contributing their efforts towards delivering against your number one priority."

"What I'm talking about here is not sending emails, not making phone calls, not tasking others, but you going to the place of work, putting your body where the priority is." 

"If everything's a priority, then nothing is a priority."

"I believe that one of the most important ways that you can get across that you care about your people is when things are going right or wrong, you are consistently turning up, consistently showing up." 

"I think everybody can do it more. But I think we've got to do it right. So that comes down to these three C's: clarity on the priority, conscious effort physically and mentally being present, and then thirdly, doing it consistently." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

In this episode, Lee Horton explores the complexities of communication and the challenges that arise when messages are not received as intended. Lee emphasises the importance of consistently and clearly communicating messages multiple times to ensure they are understood by different individuals. He shares the six key factors in any communication process into six key factors and talks about how acknowledging these factors and actively checking for understanding can help set up leaders for success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Communication is a complex process: There are multiple factors that can affect how a message is received and understood, including our senses, thoughts, words, environment, and the listener's interpretation.

• Consistency is key: To ensure that messages are understood, it is important to communicate consistently and repeatedly. One-time communication may lead to misunderstandings or the message being lost.

• Check for understanding: It is crucial to verify that the intended message has been understood correctly. This can be done by asking for feedback or engaging in conversations to clarify any confusion.

• Consider different mediums: Sharing messages through various mediums, such as in-person conversations, emails, or presentations, can increase the chances of effective communication and understanding.

• Give people the opportunity to succeed: By communicating clearly and consistently, we can provide others with the best chance to act on our messages and achieve success in their tasks or responsibilities.

• The communication process can be broken into six key factors: senses, thoughts, words with intent, environment, ears of the listener, and their understanding and subsequent actions. 

• By acknowledging these factors and actively checking for understanding, leaders can improve their communication effectiveness and increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

BEST MOMENTS

"The art or the secret of communication is what has been heard, not what has been said."

"Different people receive messages in different ways...we need to give everybody the greatest opportunity to truly understand what we mean in our words by saying them multiple, multiple times." 

"If you only give a message once, then there is a high likelihood that that message will not be received in the intended way." 

"Words are just labels for things, then my labels need to match your labels. And the only way we know that is by speaking to people and actually understanding that the labels, the words that we use for different things, mean the same thing." 

"What can you do to help ensure that your messages land more effectively with your people, give them a greater chance of success and doing the things that you'd like them to do by maybe communicating a little bit more, communicating clearer and checking understanding." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee opens up in this episode, sharing a personal experience of feeling overwhelmed and struggling to manage his time effectively. He reflects on the importance of structure and prioritisation to avoid becoming overwhelmed and unproductive. Lee emphasises the need for clarity, conscious effort, and consistency in managing one's schedule and making time for important tasks. He also highlights the limited nature of time and the importance of being kind to oneself by prioritising and sticking to a structured schedule.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Time management is crucial: Managing your time effectively begins with making a conscious effort to prioritise tasks. 
• Structure helps prevent overwhelm: Lee acknowledges that while they used to believe they were more creative and could go with the flow, they now recognise the need for structure when their task list becomes overwhelming. Having a structured schedule allows for better productivity and prevents feelings of being overwhelmed.
• Clarity on priorities is essential: Lee highlights the importance of having clarity on what is truly important. He suggests understanding one's priorities and making conscious efforts to stick to them, even when faced with a busy schedule.
• Consistency is key: Consistency is essential to follow through with tasks and commitments. It's important to be consistent in applying your schedule and making conscious efforts to do what you say you will do at the designated times.
• Be kind to yourself: Lee encourages being kind to yourself and recognising the need to prioritise personal well-being. 

BEST MOMENTS

"I tend to put off the tasks that I really should be doing, which then compounds the problem." 

"I've realised the importance of structure... I really need to be strict with my time and with my structure and be kind to myself." 

"Do you turn up and just go through the day being led by the diary that other people have maybe put in a load of meetings and you're just going from meeting to meeting that you've not actually put in based on your priorities?" 

"We need to have complete clarity on our priorities and what's important to us." 

"We need to remember that time's limited... always make time for the important stuff." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee shares a personal story about his son's confidence and how it relates to building successful teams in business. Lee's son, Jack, plays for two football teams and has different levels of confidence and involvement with each team. Lee introduces the concept of the "Q for Confidence" formula, which includes comfort, understanding, and effort. Lee talks about the importance of creating a comfortable and supportive environment for team members to build their confidence and perform at their best. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Confidence is situational: Confidence levels can vary depending on the situation and the level of comfort one feels in that particular environment.
• The Q for Confidence formula: Lee talks about the Q for Confidence formula, which consists of three elements: comfort, understanding, and effort. By assessing and improving these factors, individuals can enhance their confidence levels in different situations.
• Building connection and intimacy: Building connection and intimacy within a team can boost confidence. Activities like social events, team bonding exercises, and creating a supportive environment can contribute to increased comfort and confidence.
• Trust and confidence: There is a parallel between trust and confidence, they are often interconnected. Building trust within a team can enhance confidence levels and create a more positive work environment.
• Enabling confidence in others: Consider how you can enable confidence in your team members. Reflect on whether you are creating a comfortable and supportive space for individuals to thrive and perform at their best.

BEST MOMENTS

"I want to talk about confidence of my son because there's been some interesting developments."

"I have seen it play out with Jack that his actual confidence levels are different and his level of involvement and interaction is different."

"Do you trust? Do you have confidence? Do your people have confidence in you?"

"Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, do they? But do we really enable our people to do a good job?" 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Join Lee as he discusses the importance of the four C's: Connect, Converse, Collaborate, and Celebrate. He challenges listeners to reflect on how effectively they are applying these principles within their teams. He also encourages listeners to have clarity in their understanding, be conscious in their actions, and remain consistent in their messaging and activities. By doing so, the four C's become a living and breathing system rather than a one-off activity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The four C's are Connect, Converse, Collaborate, and Celebrate. These four C's are essential for effective teamwork and problem-solving in a business setting.
• The speaker emphasises the importance of connection in various contexts, such as connecting with an audience, connecting with team members, and connecting different elements in an online ecosystem.
• The three additional C's that can enhance the implementation of the four C's are Clarity, Consciousness, and Consistency. These three C's help ensure that the application of the four C's is meaningful and ongoing rather than a one-off activity.
• Clarity is crucial in understanding the meaning and purpose of connection, while consciousness involves actively working towards delivering on that clarity. Consistency is important in maintaining a consistent message and actions in achieving the goals of connection.
• The speaker acknowledges that the concept of the four C's and three additional C's may be confusing and seeks feedback from listeners to improve clarity and understanding. The ultimate goal is to make the four C's a living and breathing entity in daily business practices.

BEST MOMENTS

"I wanna give you another lens to look through these 4 Cs and really focus on the first one around connection." 

"So that, the ecosystem, my online ecosystem is connecting all of my products, all of my communications and my narratives together to provide the fullest suite of information that I can." 

"The big challenge with the four C's is making them live and breathe every single day." 

"Let me know whether you think I've absolutely lost the plot or let me know whether it's resonating with you in any way, shape or form." 

Business Problems Solved Podcast

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Lee discusses the concept of failure and how it is perceived differently in the gym versus in the workplace. Drawing parallels between failing to achieve fitness goals and failing to meet business targets, Lee challenges the negative connotation associated with failure and encourages listeners to reframe it as a stepping stone towards success. He emphasises the importance of intrinsic motivation, creating a safe environment for failure, and providing support and encouragement as leaders. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Failure should be reframed as a positive word, as it simply means an obstacle or challenge that needs to be overcome in order to achieve a goal.

• In the gym, failure is seen as a normal part of the process of improvement. People continue to train and strive to reach their targets, understanding that failure is temporary and a stepping stone towards progress.

• In business, failure is often viewed as negative and punished, creating an environment where it is not safe to admit mistakes or take risks. This hinders growth and improvement.

• Leaders should focus on creating a safe environment where failure is rethought and seen as an opportunity for learning and growth. Encouraging and supporting employees in their development is crucial.

• Motivation plays a key role in both the gym and the workplace. Leaders should strive to increase motivation levels in their employees, encouraging them to give their best every day and continuously improve.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think failure is a positive word and that we should reframe failure as positive because it just means it's something that's prevented you from achieving your goal that you need to overcome." 

"But why is this thinking so different in business? Why in business do we think of failure as bad and as negative?" 

"We highlight issues and challenges in a way that doesn't make people want to or doesn't allow people to fail safely to get better." 

"So are we really trying our best every single day to get better like we do in the gym?" 

"Failure is not bad. It's just a limit that we have hit on our way to achieving our goal. And if we make it a bad thing to fail, then we will always stay below that bar." 

Business Problems Solved Podcast

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

Join Lee as he explores the importance of trust in leading change. He introduces the concept of the trust equation, which includes reliability, credibility, intimacy, and self-orientation. Lee discusses three key aspects where trust is crucial: trust in the change facilitator, trust in the business, and trust in the solution. By building trust, leaders can successfully navigate organisations and achieve their desired outcomes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Trust is a crucial factor in leading change and solving business problems. It is determined by the other person and can be influenced by factors such as reliability, credibility, intimacy, and self-orientation.

• Trust can be assessed in three aspects: trust in the change facilitator, trust in the business, and trust in the solution or answer being provided.

• To increase trust in the change facilitator, individuals can focus on being reliable, credible, building relationships, and demonstrating that the change is for the benefit of others.

• Trust in the business can be enhanced by demonstrating reliability in past change initiatives, credibility in achieving goals, building intimacy and alignment with employees, and showing that the change is not solely for the business's benefit.

• Trust in the solution or answer can be strengthened by providing evidence of its reliability, establishing credibility, fostering intimacy and interest in the solution, and clarifying who will benefit from its implementation.

BEST MOMENTS

"Trust is seen in the eyes of the other person, trust is something that's given by the other person." 

"Does the person or do the people trust the business in seeing the change through?" 

"Does the person or people trust the solution or answer that's being provided to overcome the challenge?" 

"Often we can largely influence our own levels of trust as the change facilitators or leaders of change." 

"Trust is seen and scored through the eyes of the other person, not you." 

Business Problems Solved Podcast

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.

In this episode of Business Problems Solved, Lee Horton discusses the three non-negotiables for a high-performing leadership team. Drawing inspiration from a leadership team he has been working with, Lee emphasizes the importance of alignment, clear expectations, and role-modelling accountability. He explains that a high-performing team does not necessarily require all high-performing individuals, but rather a shared understanding and direction. Lee encourages leaders to align their definitions and interpretations of key concepts, set clear expectations for their team, and lead by example while holding others accountable. This episode offers practical insights for creating a high-performing leadership team.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Alignment is crucial for a high-performing leadership team. This includes aligning on understanding, direction, and key concepts. It is important to have a shared definition of terms and a clear vision of the destination.
• Setting clear expectations is essential. Leaders should communicate what is expected of team members in terms of behavior, actions, and outcomes. This clarity helps everyone understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Role modeling and accountability go hand in hand. Leaders should lead by example and demonstrate the behaviors and actions they expect from others. They should also hold team members accountable if they are not meeting the set expectations.
• High-performing teams do not necessarily require all high-performing individuals. As long as everyone understands and works towards the agreed-upon goals, the team can outperform individual efforts.
• These non-negotiables apply to both micro and macro levels. They can be implemented in day-to-day activities within the team or in larger strategic initiatives. The principles of alignment, clear expectations, and accountability are applicable in various contexts.

BEST MOMENTS

"To have a high performing team, it doesn't need to include a team of high performing individuals." 

"The first non-negotiable for a high-performing leadership team is to agree and gain alignment on some key bits of language." 

"What expectations do you have that people need to have, be, do and have, I guess?" 

"Role modeling and holding people to account should be one and the same." 

"These are the three non-negotiables that I believe every high performing team should strive towards: alignment, clear expectations, and role modeling and holding people to account." 

Business Problems Solved Podcast

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com 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.