Business Problems Solved Podcast

Opera singer, author, coach, and founder of ’The Voice of Your Mind’, Emma Buratti, joins Lee on this week’s show, to talk about how we can instantly optimise our body language and our voices in order to maximise our communication potential.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• We are immediately attracted to those who speak well. The voice is like a diet - it requires work and training in order to optimise it.
• Often, when trying to improve the voice, the aim is not to minimise the dialects or regional inflections, but to train the voice in how to breathe properly, or soften consonant in order to reduce plosives.
• A good technique for improving your energy in a video call, is to first dress for the occasion, and secondly to set the area up as though you are staging an important meeting. 
• To make a larger impact, we must never underestimate the power of silence. A well timed pause can add gravitas and emphasis to a verbal bullet-point.

BEST MOMENTS

’The voice has always been important’

‘Everybody can keep their accents - it’s about softening the consonants’

‘If your energy goes down, guess where it shows…'

‘If you want to be confident, then you have to learn to stand in your own power’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

Emma Buratti LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-buratti-30472a33/?originalSubdomain=uk

The Voice Of Your Mind - https://www.thevoiceofyourmind.com/about-me

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

What do the great ones in business have in common? 

Those who succeed are not always the most talented in the room. But they do have willpower. Perseverance and clarity about people and ourselves are the forces that can take anyone towards their goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Knowing ourselves is the first step in understanding each other. By tapping into ourselves, we unleash a new level of creativity.
• The message and the content aren’t always the most important step. We need to create a connection before we can properly deliver the message.
• Everything must start with people. We must begin with thought, and a better understanding. Everyone is an individual.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It’s your thoughts that drive your creativity’

‘Business improvement is not just about the methodology’

’A habit is an automatic action'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Lee talks to Tom Lock, the founder of The British Snack Company, one of the most popular snack brands in the country.

Tom discusses the importance of brand identification, perseverance, and the lessons he learned while scaling a small business concern to one of national importance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Perseverance is the secret to success. If the idea you have is a viable one, then keep pushing. Eventually, your product will reach the right person.
• Whether you’re selling to a single pub or a chain of supermarkets, the principle is always the same; you’re knocking on a door and selling yourself and your idea. 
• We must never be scared to leverage the people around us, or ask for help. We cannot be the best at everything. Focus on the tasks in which you excel and delegate the rest.
• Creating a brand is about boiling down the essence of your values, and marketing your idea through that filter. Tom is proud to be British, and his products all reflect the tastes of the country. 

BEST MOMENTS

’The longer you’re in it, the harder it is to walk away from’

‘I guess it’s always been in me, to start a business’

‘You can’t be ashamed of trying to get in front of people, and trying to command their attention’

‘As any organisation grows, you have to delegate and hire more people'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

Tom Lock LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-lock-ba446740/?originalSubdomain=uk

The British Snack Company - https://www.britishsnackco.com

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Lee talks to Oliver Burton of Forbes Solicitors about the importance of people, the true meaning of leadership, and why the wisest and most influential minds in business are the ones who keep the individual front and centre.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understanding what makes ourselves tick and what makes others tick, allows us to get the best out of everyone, and subsequently improve the business.
• Wins should always be celebrated. It is acceptable to look to the future, but we must never sacrifice our time in the present.
• Being respected is just as important, if not more so, than being liked. Those who lead with compassion and enthusiasm are the ones who find the right balance between both.
• We do our best when we create an environment so that others can acknowledge and understand where they are, coupled with where we think they are, and the providing of a personal development plan for each individual.

BEST MOMENTS

‘When you’re in a big PLC, change passes through you’

‘I never wanted to look back and think “what if?”'

‘Culture is about finding fun in what you’re doing’

‘You have to be able to reward and recognise and celebrate along the way'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

Oliver Burton LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oburton/?originalSubdomain=uk

Forbes Solicitors - https://www.forbessolicitors.co.uk/news/41780/forbes-appoints-oliver-burton-as-chief-executive-officer

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Lee talks again to Emily Leyland, the Operations Director for Fresh Perspective, an innovative recruitment agency, specialising in helping businesses to find their ideal candidates by offering highly bespoke, internal solutions.

In this episode, Emily talks about what makes her tick, the importance of personal branding, and how she’s developed the will and the determination to rise to the crest of business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Self-belief begins with your own authenticity. By determining our own happiness with the way we are, we make it far easier to plot out own course through life.
• Living in the moment is crucial to find that sense of grounding; of connecting entirely to the present. We can use breathing techniques and mindset to hit the reboot button.
• The best way to appeal to people is to subvert the accepted thinking and forget “niche”. Go as broad as you can, and then focus upon your respondents.
• Don’t ever be afraid to pivot. If something isn’t working for you, then take the lesson and change to a strategy that does dynamically improve your reach.

BEST MOMENTS

‘It doesn’t matter what other people think. All that matters is what you think’

‘You’re a LinkedIn legend!’

‘We warm up the market - we see what’s happening!’

‘Everyone’s favourite topic is themselves'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

Emily Leyland LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyleylandfreshperspectiveresourcing/?originalSubdomain=uk

Fresh Perspective - https://fp-resourcing.co.uk/who-are-fresh-perspective/emily-leyland/

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Lee talks to Emily Leyland, the Operations Director for Fresh Perspective, an innovative recruitment agency, specialising in helping businesses to find their ideal candidates by offering highly bespoke, internal solutions.

Emily talks to Lee about Fresh’s unique outlook on recruitment, and how they are disrupting the industry with empowering alternatives and forward thinking.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Typical recruitment agencies will generally accept a job spec from a company and find candidates that fit the requirements. Fresh Perspective offer a far more personalised solution, based upon investigative action.
• Feedback is essential for candidates, even if they are unsuccessful. People can take the learning and apply solutions in order to make themselves stand out in future.
• Recruitment can be a huge drain on a business’s resources. With a little forward thinking, companies can save time and money.
• The great agencies are the ones who do not go for quick wins, but try to add true value to their profession by supplying a quality service. In the long run, quality counts for more than money.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We offer a more internal approach to recruitment’

‘We become your brand ambassador’

‘We want to disrupt the industry. We want to make the industry better’

‘If you add value every single day of your life, then you’re definitely doing something right'  

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

Emily Leyland LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyleylandfreshperspectiveresourcing/?originalSubdomain=uk

Fresh Perspective - https://fp-resourcing.co.uk/who-are-fresh-perspective/emily-leyland/

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

With more people out there searching for work right now, it’s important to make sure we give ourselves the best chance possible. With this in mind, Lee talks this week about how you can optimise your LinkedIn profile, in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Endeavour to tailor your LinkedIn profile to the job for which you’re applying. Consider the type of job you’re looking for, and then adjust your profile accordingly.
• The sentence below your name is your opportunity to tell the world what is you do, and who you do it for. Don’t waste the opportunity to sell yourself.
• Create engaging content, specifically designed to appeal the people you want to work for, and make your About section keyword heavy, and useful for recruiters. How can you solve their problems?

BEST MOMENTS

‘Your LinkedIn profile is your electronic CV’

‘How can you talk to the ideal client, to make it more about them than you?’

‘It’s not a numbers game. It’s not a vanity game'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast 

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

When was the last time you read something, or learned something, about marketing?

Marketing is something that we all need to know more about, and yet many of us don’t spend the time developing this vital business skill. In this week’s show, Lee talks about why it matters so much, and how you can follow the advice of an ancient philosopher in order to make your marketing strategy more dynamic.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The principles of Aristotle’s Pyramid Of Persuasion is still being used by marketers today:
  • Logos - Appealing to logic
  • Pathos - Appealing to emotions
  • Ethos - Appealing to a sense of trust
• In marketing, we must try to get people to feel something whenever we can. We are trying to appeal to the universal in humanity. 
• In order to get to where we want to be, we need to create allies, communicate effectively, and overcome the objections that people have in what you are trying to achieve.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We’re trying to market a way of making today better than yesterday’

‘I thought these sounded like the Three Musketeers!’

‘The difference between being good and being great is getting people to feel something’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

One of the more fascinating concepts being discussed today is that of “humble curiosity”, the act of learning with humility, in order to directly benefit another.

In this week’s episode, Lee discusses this invaluable concept, and talks about the ways in which it can instantly enrich your life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The definition of being humble is showing a moderate or low estimate of one’s importance. Curiosity’s definition is a strong desire to know or learn something. Humble curiosity is the art of learning something for other people’s benefit.
• Great leaders and change agents are the ones who unselfishly recognise that by strengthening others, we strengthen ourselves.
• We should sometimes feel the courage to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers. We can empower others by encouraging them to seek answers without us.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Humility is not thinking less of one’s self. It is thinking about one’s self less’

’The method you should use depends upon your desired outcome’

‘Is your level of curiosity for yourself, or for other people?'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast   

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Jazmine Wolf is a business and life coach who’s gained an incredibly empowering viewpoint upon life and success through a series of setbacks that may well have derailed the ambitions of a less resilient spirit.

Jazmine joins Lee today to talk about the power of trust, empowerment, positivity and the force of will that has led her to founding a highly successful business that seeks to embolden others.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Empowerment comes from surrounding ourselves with the people who can vitalise the areas in which we hope to gain strength. Empowering our teams empowers ourselves.
• Authenticity is very attractive to people, and provides an extra level of engagement in business. People love a story, and they engage with honesty
• In business, in tends not to be the processes and systems that need improvement, but the mind-set, beliefs, and self-imposed limitations that people put upon themselves.
• An effective technique in empowering people, is to show them the potential future version of themselves and their plans, in order to help them visualise a successful outcome.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I’m a natural nurturer of people’

’There’s nothing like being authentic’

‘Most people get in their own way in business’

‘You can always find positives when working with people'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

Jazmine Wolf - https://www.jazminewolf.com/about

Jazmine Wolf LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazmine-wolf/?originalSubdomain=uk

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Today’s special guest is a specialist side-splitter, and pioneer of the revolutionary idea that laughter can help to turn your workplace into a far less stressful environment.

Lee is joined by Laughing Yoga expert and founder of Canned Laughter, Mr Pete Cann, who talks about why laughter is the best medicine, not just for individuals, but for businesses!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• By practising laughter yoga, we effectively trick our bodies into thinking that we are laughing authentically, and trigger the same release of endorphins and dopamine.
• One of the greatest benefits of laughter yoga is that it can be practised remotely. It was founded as a collective exercise, but can be just as effective through networking technology.
• Laughter is a proven method of combating lack of sleep, rising stress levels, anxiety and mental discomfort. Especially during lockdown, it has proven remarkably effective.
• People are becoming far more accepting of laughter as a way of treating mental health, and more and more people are losing their inhibitions in order to give laughter yoga a try.

BEST MOMENTS

‘You release stress, anxiety, and connect with other people!’

’This is my gold’

‘I wasn’t expecting such a lengthy ha!’

‘If I can crack chefs then I can crack most people!'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

Canned Laughter - https://www.petecann.com

Pete Cann LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cannedlaughter/?originalSubdomain=uk

Laughter And Positivity Podcast - https://www.petecann.com/podcast/

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

As we begin the transition from lockdown back to the workplace, Lee takes this opportunity to answer a vital question: how can we hope to work as a close-knit team without being able to huddle and get together regularly in the same way?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The first step in developing new ways of working is to ask ourselves why the old practices were in place in the first place.
• If you do plan to take action, consider what you’d like people to know, how and what do you want them to do, and how you want them to feel.
• Connection, conversation, collaboration and celebration will always exist in whatever workplace we return to. We simply need to redesign the way we think about them.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We talk about things to engage people!’

‘We should engage people to make today better than yesterday’

’Think creatively about solving the problem at hand'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

One of the main reasons for employees leaving their positions within companies, is that they’re not enjoying their job. With that in mind, Sunny Sandwell, the Managing Director of Fun At Work, is on a mission to bring the culture you need in your workplace, in order to retain and inspire the people you worked hard to assemble.

In this week’s show, Sunny talks through her philosophy around keeping fun as a central part of any business, and what companies can gain from keeping their workforces happy and engaged!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• People often misconstrue fun in the workplace as silly, or a distraction. But Fun At Work is living proof that fun can be constructive and purposeful. This in turn benefits the business by strengthening teams and helping to dismantle divides.
• There is a preconception among some companies, that their workforce should act as robots, who do nothing but sit still and produce results. But human beings are conditioned not act as worker ants. Breaks are essential.
• Fun events such as team building exercises, tend to be held annually. By the time the next event arrives, the positive effects have begun to wane. The key is to have fun incrementally, and more often.
• People are often reluctant to engage with activities outside of work, if they feel they are being forced to do so. It is incumbent upon us to market these events in such a way that makes it appealing and valuable.
• Fun is far easier to incorporate into your working life if it's done sooner rather than later. Treat it as a core principle upon which your company is founded.

BEST MOMENTS

‘My business is evidence that fun isn’t distracting’

‘Fun is a good thing for us, and for mental health and wellbeing’

‘I’d like fun to be part of our core values’

‘Fun is the thing that will hold your business together'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

Sunny Sandwell LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunny-sandwell-fun-at-work/?originalSubdomain=uk

Fun At Work - https://funatwork.co.uk/about-us/

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Your story is incredibly important. 

No matter where you’re from in life, you’ve overcome far more than you may even remember to get to where you are today. As Lee discusses in today’s show, the sum total of your life experiences may be the key to building successful relationships, and to overcoming the hurdles of the future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Recognising that you are already the veteran of many challenges in life, can help people buy into your story.
• We build relationships by connecting our stories to those around us. It is the bringing together of shared or aspirational experiences.
• By focusing on the moments of elation in our livers, we can take from them the lessons that matter most to us.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Everybody’s stood on a mountain of value’

‘What is it that gives you that feeling of scoring a goal?’

’Don’t be afraid, because these are the things that have shaped you as a person'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

As a change agent, it’s crucial to develop and nurture your personal brand, and your approach in bringing people along with you on the journey towards change.

Peter Brodie, known as THE Sales Coach, is a man who specialises in coaching the best of the coaches and consultants, and joins Lee today to talk about the ways in which change agents can evolve and expand to become true innovators.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Work carefully to build credibility and brand. Provide clarity in who you are, who you serve, and what the benefits are of working with you.
• By engendering trust, we become the go-to voice when help is needed. Positioning ourselves as someone to be trusted will mean that they will come to you at the right time. 
• VITL = Valuable, Individualised, Timely, and Legitimate. If your message follows these four parameters, then people will welcome your input.
• Clients will always gravitate towards a specialist in the area they need help with. It’s best to emphasise your talent for specific niches than try to appeal to many bases.
• It’s crucial to find your own individual style, stick to it, and enhance it. You’ll attract the set of clients who want to work with your specific style. If you’re trying to be something you’re not, the clients you attract will be the wrong ones.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I’m the only sales coach that guarantees their outcomes’

‘It’s all about trust and timing’

‘You attract the right clients for you by being yourself’

‘If you try to please everyone all the time, you can kiss your ass goodbye'  

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

Peter Brodie LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-brodie-bys/?originalSubdomain=uk

BYS Coaching - https://www.byscoaching.group

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For change agents or leaders working in business, one of the greatest challenges can be in how to differentiate yourself. How do we make ourselves stand out?

As Lee discusses in this week’s show, the best way of standing out can be in the way we communicate, and by maximising the significance of each interaction, through using a simple formula.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Impact means many things, but most importantly, it represents the outcome we aspire to receiving after any communication.
• Lee’s formula for maximising impact through communication is:
  • Intent - why are you communicating in the first place?
  • Memorable - how can you make sure you stand out among the other communications?
  • Passion - are we communicating emotion in the message?
  • Actionable - have we included a call to action with a timeframe involved?
  • Clarity - can you communication be understood by everyone?
  • Targeted - is your message directed to the relevant person or team?

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll make the impact you always have’

‘What do you want somebody to know, to feel, and to do?’

‘Clarity reduces the chance of misinterpretation'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

It’s a return engagement for Damian Hughes, best-selling author and Professor Of Organisational Psychology & Change.

Damian has returned to Business Problems Solved to guide you through how to unlock the secrets of high-performance in people, so that you can invigorate your business journey!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• High performers are generally blessed with a rare humility. It is this humility that allows them to see the potential of external change.
• Everybody has the capacity to be a high performer in a selected field. The key is to unlock the identity of that field, and help that person to become the best performer they can be.
• The transition into becoming a high performer is often triggered by an event that jolts our way of thinking. these are the “golden seed” moments as described by Freud.
• The art of successful teaching is the art of reducing an idea, or gestating it, so that the idea is refined to its core. By discovering the seed of the idea, we can make it translatable to every kind of audience through the outer garments of words.
• When we slow down, we come to appreciate the speed at which we were moving. The lockdown has given us all the benefit of seeing how reflection can alter perception.

BEST MOMENTS

‘We are often distracted by the outcome of a performance instead of the seeds of it’

‘If you’re good at something, then you’re also smart enough to be able to explain why you’re good at it’

‘At some stage in your life, someone comes along and sows a golden seed that makes you believe in yourself’

’Sometimes ideas need time to gestate and grow’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast  

Damian Hughes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-hughes-a376121?originalSubdomain=uk

Damian Hughes - https://www.gordonpoole.com/talent/damian-hughes/

The High Performance Podcast - https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KrR4/

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

It’s a time for reflection, and due to popular demand, Lee has decided to share his own highly personal story; the powerful advice that has brought him here, as well as the emotionally-charged lesson that drives him forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sometimes it takes the darkest moments of tragedy in life to wake us up to the missing components in our own lives.
• Always be yourself. Make good friends. Time is limited. These are the lessons that mean the most.
• It’s vital to achieve your goals on your own terms. Always be yourself, and never try to be a carbon copy of someone you emulate.

BEST MOMENTS

’There are some pivotal moments in life that have shaped me into the person I am’

‘If I went now, would my kids be proud of what I’ve achieved?’

’The key to successful change is people'

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Lee talks to Paul McGee, also known as "The Sumo Guy”, the author of many books that have had a transformative effect on the way we think, and which have helped many in the business industry to adopt a new, more empowering way of operating.

Paul joins Lee today for a very special conversation in which he discusses the message of inspiration he lives by, how evolution can be more powerful than revolution, and the importance of looking forwards.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• SUMO is an acronym for “Shut Up, Move On”, a phrase that soon became the more inspiring “Stop. Understand. Move On”, a mantra that has led Paul to great success.
• People are a much more effective way of creating change and growth. We need to focus less on technological innovations, and more on understanding people.
• Dwelling on our failures only keeps us rooted in the present, instead of driving us forward. Learn and grow with each failure, and treat them as lessons.
• It is the response to any challenge that influences the outcome. Making sure our messages are eternal and relevant will ensure their survival, and our success.
• The art of empowering communication is the distillation of any concept into concise simplicity, and transmitting it in the most powerful way at that moment.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Get the best out of yourself, the best out of others, and the best out of life’

‘My life’s been about evolution, not revolution’

‘I want to equip the next generation with skills that will last a lifetime’

‘I’ve got a message that is relevant for your life. I’m scratching where you’re itching’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast

The Sumo Guy - https://www.thesumoguy.com

Paul McGee Twitter - https://twitter.com/thesumoguy

Paul McGee Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/paul.mcgee.5245

Paul McGee LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulm5/?originalSubdomain=uk

Paul McGee YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUn8r9hCk8ewTXHapv1-Ngg

How Not To Worry by Paul McGee

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Geoff Ramm is the owner and creator of Celebrity Service, a professional speaker, author and customer service and marketing specialist.

Geoff is the architect behind Celebrity Service, a system designed to give your business a customer service experience that will radically alter the way your customers see you. It’s a system that can create a paradigm shift in the way you operate; which can give you an insurmountable lead over your competitors today!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• We can learn and develop ourselves exponentially by applying the lessons learned and recounted in stories. The art of storytelling is the art of improving ourselves through refinement.
• The accepted wisdom is that businesses need to go the extra mile, and to exceed expectations. These are not new or disruptive teachings. We need to go deeper.
• Celebrity Service is founded upon the principle of closing the gap between the service we give customers, and the aspirational service we would give to the biggest celebrity in the world.
• The main problem businesses face in increasing their service levels is engagement between their staff and customers. 
• There’s always a nugget of information in the things that customers say; a small truth that can enable you to fully understand their needs, and to better serve them.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I genuinely believe that Celebrity Service is the differentiator between you and your competitors’

‘I’m not telling stories. I am in the stories’

’Small-minded people say “cost”. The positive people say “invest”'

‘Celebrity Service is the art of asking questions and listening to the nugget’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Business Problems Solved Podcast

Geoff Ramm - http://www.geofframm.com

To take Geoff up on his incredible offer, connect with him at geoff@geofframm.com

Geoff Ramm LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingspeakermarketing/

Geoff Ramm Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Geoff-Ramm-Celebrity-Service-OMG-Marketing-Speaker-192560274147492/

Geoff Ramm Twitter - https://twitter.com/GeoffRamm

ABOUT THE HOST

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.

CONTACT METHOD

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194

Lee@leehoughton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/