Lee explores the intricacies of leading effective daily conversations within organisations. Building on previous discussions about tiered meeting structures, Lee outlines 12 essential skills that leaders need to master to engage their teams and maximise contributions. He emphasises the importance of creating a safe environment for open communication, interpreting information clearly, and transitioning from information-sharing to actionable steps. By addressing common pitfalls and offering practical approaches, Lee encourages leaders to reflect on their capabilities and seek support in facilitating impactful daily meetings.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Importance of Daily Conversations: Regular meetings, whether called stand-ups, huddles, or performance cells, are crucial for engaging teams, aligning information, and ensuring everyone is on track to meet organisational goals. Leader Preparedness: Leaders must be equipped to facilitate effective daily conversations. This includes skills in public speaking, engaging team members, and creating a safe environment for open communication. Structured Approach: A successful daily meeting should follow a structured approach, including setting the tone, interpreting information clearly, asking open-ended questions, and ensuring clarity on next steps and accountability. Encouraging Participation: Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to share their thoughts and feelings without judgment, promoting a culture of collaboration and collective problem-solving. Motivation and Clarity: At the end of each meeting, it’s essential to ensure that team members leave feeling motivated and clear about their roles and responsibilities for the day, which contributes to overall productivity and morale. BEST MOMENTS "Done right, these can be the most powerful opportunity to engage your people and enable them to maximise their contribution."  "Just because they lead a team does not mean that they can lead an effective daily conversation." "You want to create as many thoughts in your people. You want to get as many ideas and suggestions from your people as possible."  "How comfortable are you as a leader getting a single owner for activities and actions and then pinning them down to a date?"  "You want people to feel motivated, positive and ready to go and make a positive contribution today."  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 crucial concept of connection within the framework of successful change initiatives. He reflects on his frequent use of the term "connection" and emphasises its importance as the first of the Four Cs: Connection, Conversation, Collaboration, and Celebration. Lee shares insights on how to foster genuine connections with team members, highlighting the significance of understanding individuals on a personal level, communicating transparently, and adapting communication styles to suit different audiences. He also discusses the value of creating an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and the importance of celebrating small wins to maintain morale.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Importance of Connection: Connection is the foundation of effective communication and change management. It is essential to prioritise building relationships before introducing tools or processes. Person-Centric Approach: To foster connection, it's crucial to view team members as individuals with unique experiences, challenges, and motivations. Taking the time to understand them enhances trust and openness. Transparent Communication: Open and honest communication is vital for building trust. Clearly explaining the reasons behind changes and how they benefit both the organisation and the team encourages engagement. Adaptability in Communication: Tailoring communication styles to suit different audiences is important. Understanding how individuals prefer to receive information can significantly enhance connection and engagement. Fostering Inclusion and Celebrating Wins: Creating an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued strengthens connection. Additionally, recognising and celebrating small wins keeps morale high and encourages ongoing engagement. BEST MOMENTS "Connection is the start of the Four Cs: Connection, Conversation, Collaboration, Celebration." "Tools don't lead people. Tools can't influence. Tools can't inspire. People do these things."  "Open and honest communication is the cornerstone of connection."  "Finding common ground takes time, takes your ability to ask questions, but also having a genuine interest in that person."  "Connection is far more than a word. Connection is a feeling between two 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.

Lee engages in a great conversation with Tommy, a video testimonial expert originally from Leeds, now residing in Malta. Tommy shares his unique journey from a challenging upbringing to discovering the power of video testimonials in business. He emphasises the importance of creating a safe space for clients to express their feelings and experiences, which ultimately leads to authentic and impactful testimonials. Throughout the discussion, Tommy provides valuable insights on how to maximise the effectiveness of video testimonials, the significance of emotional connection in storytelling, and the art of asking the right questions.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Importance of Emotional Connection: Building a safe space for clients to share their feelings and experiences is crucial. This emotional connection leads to more authentic and impactful video testimonials. Value of Real Results: Effective video testimonials focus on concrete outcomes rather than abstract benefits. Testimonials should highlight specific results, such as increased leads, reduced stress, or improved relationships. Maximizing Testimonials: To get the most out of video testimonials, ensure they are easily accessible to clients and suppliers, incorporate them into webinars, and reuse the entire interview content for additional marketing materials. Ongoing Relationships: Maintaining strong connections with clients is essential. Regular check-ins and accountability help ensure that clients utilise the services they’ve paid for, leading to better outcomes and referrals. Storytelling Through Questions: Asking open-ended questions that encourage clients to share their stories and feelings can reveal deeper insights. This approach not only enhances the quality of testimonials but also fosters a more engaging and relatable narrative. BEST MOMENTS "What I noticed was that after a short amount of time, the way he wrote sounded like the way I talked. And I liked that. The light bulb went off." "How do you make somebody feel safe? Because in every business, we want everybody to feel safe and that they can contribute their thoughts." "A great testimonial talks about real results, not abstract ones that are kind of all feel good, but no substance." "I realised that the trick to getting people to hang around longer with you was to get them to open up and feel like they were the ones who had the spotlight." "It's all about connection and relationships... It's about how you deal with 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.

Lee engages in a compelling conversation with former professional goalkeeper Lee Robinson, who has transitioned into a modern-day goalkeeping coach and entrepreneur. They discuss Robinson's journey from a challenging football career to his mission of transforming goalkeeping training through innovative methods and specialized gloves. The episode delves into the importance of character, work ethic, and decision-making in goalkeeping, contrasting traditional views that prioritise physical attributes like height. Robinson shares insights on how he aims to empower young goalkeepers by encouraging them to embrace mistakes in training to enhance their performance in games. This episode not only highlights the parallels between sports and business leadership but also emphasizes the significance of mentorship and personal growth in achieving success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Character Over Size: The importance of a goalkeeper's character and decision-making skills outweighs physical attributes like height. A smaller goalkeeper with a strong character can be more effective than a taller one lacking in these qualities. Learning from Mistakes: Making mistakes in training is essential for growth. The approach encourages goalkeepers to make errors during practice to avoid repeating them in games, fostering a mindset that values learning over perfection. Innovative Training Methods: The use of specialised training gloves that challenge goalkeepers to improve their catching skills and decision-making under pressure. This method aims to make training more realistic and beneficial for performance in actual games. Mental Health Awareness: Acknowledging the mental challenges faced by goalkeepers, including feelings of inadequacy and pressure. The discussion highlights the need for support and guidance to help young players navigate these challenges effectively. Changing Goalkeeping Norms: Advocating for a shift in how goalkeeping is perceived and trained, moving away from traditional methods that focus solely on physicality and technique. The goal is to inspire a new generation of goalkeepers who are confident, skilled, and capable of making smart decisions on the field. BEST MOMENTS  "I want to give the benefit of all my underachievements and failures and hard times and help these young goalkeepers not have to deal with what I had to go through."  "I think you should have to earn the right to call yourself a professional instead of just leaving school and a couple weeks later having a professional contract."  "The best goalkeepers aren't the best technically; they're the best decision makers under pressure." "What you did in those camps absolutely engages the heads of the goalkeepers, engages the hearts of them because they love it, and fundamentally engages the hands and the footwork."  "You have to make more mistakes in training to make less in a game." HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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," host Lee Horton explores the concept of PIP—People, Information, and Product—and explores how these three critical elements must flow harmoniously for an organisation to achieve operational excellence. Lee discusses the importance of engaging the head, heart, and hands of the organisation, highlighting key challenges such as misalignment between teams, burnout, and information overload. He offers practical strategies to foster effective people flow, streamline information flow, and optimise product flow, emphasising the need for connection, conversation, collaboration, and celebration within teams. KEY TAKEAWAYS Understanding PIP Flow: PIP stands for People, Information, and Product (or Process and Services). Achieving operational excellence requires these three elements to flow harmoniously within an organization. Challenges to People Flow: Key challenges include misalignment between teams, burnout or low morale, and siloed collaboration. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a motivated and engaged workforce. Importance of Information Flow: Effective information flow is essential for informed decision-making. Challenges include horizontal and vertical communication breakdowns and information overload, which can hinder timely and accurate decisions. Optimizing Product Flow: Product flow represents the processes and actions involved in delivering goods and services. Challenges include bottlenecks, balancing speed with quality, and inflexibility in processes. Streamlining these processes is vital for efficiency. The Four C's Framework: To orchestrate harmony in PIP flow, organizations should focus on connecting people to the vision, fostering constant conversations, collaborating across functions, and celebrating successes while reflecting on areas for improvement. BEST MOMENTS "Does your pip flow or does your pit squeak? PIP stands for People, Information, and Product or Process and Services." "Achieving operational excellence means orchestrating these three flows so that they work seamlessly together." "The heart represents the emotion, the energy, the culture, the motivation of its people, driving engagement and collaboration."  "If the energy and motivation are stifled, information flow suffers, which is the head."  "Success is not zero problems. Success is a culture of openness and proactivity in dealing with them."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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 talks about the critical theme of choices and their impact on personal and professional growth. He emphasises that every decision we make, whether automatic or deliberate, shapes our future and the outcomes we achieve. Lee introduces a framework for making effective choices, highlighting three key components: awareness, evaluation, and commitment. He also shares practical strategies for making better decisions, such as aligning choices with core values, prioritizing long-term benefits over short-term gratification, and seeking diverse perspectives. Additionally, he warns against impulsive decision-making, avoiding responsibility, and clinging to the status quo out of fear. Tune in to discover how to empower yourself and your team to make informed choices that lead to meaningful results. KEY TAKEAWAYS Importance of Choices: Life and business revolve around the choices we make. Every decision, whether big or small, influences our future and the outcomes we achieve. Three Key Components of Making Choices: Effective decision-making involves three steps: Awareness: Recognising that a decision needs to be made and understanding the available options. Evaluation: Weighing the pros and cons of each option and aligning them with personal values and goals. Commitment: Taking action on the chosen option and being responsible for the outcome. Best Practices for Making Choices: To achieve desired results, focus on: Aligning decisions with core values and long-term goals. Prioritising long-term benefits over short-term gratification. Seeking diverse perspectives to gain insights and avoid blind spots. Avoiding Poor Decision-Making: Steer clear of: Acting on impulse, which can lead to poor outcomes. Avoiding responsibility for decisions, which limits personal growth and learning. Sticking to the status quo out of fear, which can hinder progress and innovation. Creating a Supportive Environment: Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to make choices. This involves providing clarity on options, encouraging evaluation, and supporting commitment to decisions, ultimately leading to collective progress towards goals. BEST MOMENTS "Do not leave your change initiatives to chance. You need to really think about the choices that you're making and the choices that you're enabling." "A choice is a deliberate act of will, shaped by your values, beliefs, and the circumstances you find yourself in." "Making a choice is not just about selecting an option, it's about committing to it and taking action." "The best choices are those that are aligned with your values and your goals." "Every choice you make is a step towards shaping your future, the team's future, your business's future."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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 crucial topic of behaviours and how they impact our daily actions. He introduces the concept of ACT - Attitude, Choices, and Technique - as the key components of behaviour. He emphasises the importance of having the right attitude, making conscious choices, and executing tasks with the correct technique to achieve success in business and personal endeavours. By framing behaviors in this way, Lee encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and consider how they can improve their attitude, decision-making, and skills.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Behaviour Definition: A behavior is defined as an observed act, emphasising the importance of actions being visible and tangible. ACT Framework: The ACT acronym breaks down behaviours into Attitude, Choices, and Technique, highlighting the key components that influence actions. Attitude: Having the right attitude, whether positive or negative, plays a significant role in shaping behaviours and outcomes. Choices: Making decisions, whether right or wrong, is crucial as it allows for learning and progress while making no choice hinders growth. Technique: The execution of actions with the right technique is essential for success, emphasising the importance of honing skills and capabilities. BEST MOMENTS "The best thing you can do is make the right choice. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong choice."  "And if we're here to influence habits and behaviours in everybody, then we need to help everybody act in the right way every time."  "So just by thinking about making the right or wrong choices, having the right or wrong attitude and the right or wrong technique, makes me think about and perform better."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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.

Business Problems Solved's 300th episode features host Lee reflecting on his personal transformational journey of running the London Marathon and completing a 100-kilometer ultra challenge. Through his experience, Lee introduces the SMART FIRST method for setting and achieving goals, emphasising the importance of strategic, meaningful, ambitious, real, and targeted goals. He also discusses the FIRST method, focusing on fueling the body and mind, being in the moment, preparing adequately, having a supportive team, and taking one step at a time to achieve success. Lee shares how these methods have not only helped him in his physical challenges but also in guiding his son through a goal-setting process. The episode concludes with Lee's commitment to applying these principles to further grow and improve the podcast in the next 100 episodes. KEY TAKEAWAYS Episode 300 Milestone: The episode marks a significant milestone in the podcast's journey, reflecting on personal achievements and setting the stage for future goal-focused content. SMART FIRST Approach: Introduces a refined version of SMART goals, emphasising strategic, meaningful, ambitious, real, and targeted aspects to provide the right motivation for goal achievement. The FIRST Method: Outlines the FIRST method for achieving SMART goals, focusing on fueling the body and mind, being in the moment, ensuring proper preparation, having a supportive team, and taking one step at a time. Future Podcast Direction: Lee plans to apply the SMART FIRST approach to the podcast's content, aiming to help senior leaders and change professionals navigate challenges and achieve desired outcomes. BEST MOMENTS "I never expected nearly six years ago to ever get to 300 episodes. I thought I was gonna run out of content. But here I am sat 300 episodes later with still quite a few ideas."  "The A should be for ambitious in smart goals, and not achievable because if we say that it's achievable then it's limiting what we can actually achieve." "The more that I verbalized the challenge with those people around me, and the more that they could see me training, the more that people started to support because they started to believe in the challenge." "So are you thinking smart first to achieve your possible dreams? That's what I would encourage you to think about." "My aim in every single episode of this podcast is to make you think some stuff, and make you think enough stuff that you do something different, or you try something new."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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 an unconventional yet thought provoking analogy between cleaning and successful change initiatives. Lee draws parallels between the four key components of cleaning—movement, cleaning solution, heat, and time—and the essential elements required for effective change. Through this insightful comparison, listeners are encouraged to apply the same rigour and methodology to their change initiatives as they do to everyday cleaning tasks, ultimately aiming to create sustainable and impactful transformations in their working environments. KEY TAKEAWAYS Four Key Components of Cleaning and Change: The four key components of cleaning (movement, cleaning solution, heat, and time) are paralleled with the components needed for successful change (movement, support, heat, and time). Importance of Agitation and Movement: Lee emphasises the importance of agitation and movement in both cleaning and change processes to bring about effective results. Need for Support and Heat in Change: Having support (cleaning solution) and introducing heat (conflict or challenge) in change initiatives to drive progress and improvement. Time as a Critical Factor: Lee stresses the significance of allowing the relevant amount of time for change to take place and for new processes to be established and sustained. BEST MOMENTS "We clean something to make it look good or to return it to its original state or to make it last longer, to maybe remove something from it that shouldn't be on it." "Do we really have the relevant amount of time? Do we really create enough heat warmth of relationship or challenge to create the most optimal ways of working?"  "Are you applying those four things to your change initiatives? Or are you just doing it when you get in the shower in the morning?"  "Saying you know how to do it is not doing it. Saying you know how to change is not changing."  "We only really improve when we do something different."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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 key insights from Carlo Ancelotti's leadership book, "Quiet Leadership." He reflects on the importance of relationships, connection, and authenticity in leadership, drawing inspiration from Ancelotti's approach to managing world-class football teams. The episode highlights the three Cs to becoming a champion: capability of tasks, cultural fit, and contribution to the team. Listeners are encouraged to apply these principles to enhance their leadership skills and team performance. KEY TAKEAWAYS Importance of Relationships: Building strong relationships with team members, support staff, and superiors is crucial for effective leadership. Authentic Leadership Style: Being authentic in leadership, maintaining emotions, and connecting with individuals on a personal level can lead to success. Three C's to Becoming a Champion: Focus on capability of tasks, cultural fit within the team, and contribution to the team to create a high-performing team. Capability: Clarity of tasks, support, and learning opportunities are essential for individuals to be capable in their roles. Cultural Fit: Aligned values, supportive environment, and clarity of vision are key components for fitting into the team or organisation. Contribution to the Team: Clear roles and responsibilities, empowerment, and clarity of goals are crucial for making a valuable contribution to the team. BEST MOMENTS "He leads by understanding the person... around the importance of connection."  "There's three Cs to being a champion... how capable are you to do the task?"  "So how much of a contribution to the team do you make? How much of a contribution do each member of the team make?" "He would make a point of understanding the person, but then also leading in that way."  "So the three Cs to being a champion are those three Cs... what you are doing for yourself to make sure that you are as capable as you can be."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 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.