Business Problems Solved Podcast

Lee continues his "Not Just An International Author" mini-series, by talking to Mark Graban, a management consultant, and the author of several works, including ‘Lean Hospitals’, and ‘Measures Of Success’. KEY TAKEAWAYS Mark has found great success by taking the lessons learned from various sectors, and translating them into others, such as healthcare. The older, more traditional models say that the higher up you go, the more infallible you become, or the more answers you have. This runs counter to effective problem solving. Many use the metric of follower numbers in order to denote success, but it should really be measured on the quality of the message. There is always the element of luck when it comes to opportunities. But luck favours the prepared. We can only take advantage of fortuitous chances if we have laid the groundwork that enables it. BEST MOMENTS 'I was applying problem solving, and leadership methods from other industries into healthcare’ ‘These approaches might run counter to what we’ve been taught’ ‘Even if I’m not inventing methods, I’m good at connecting dots’ ‘You just have to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself, even if it wasn’t part of the plan’ VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Mark Graban LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgraban/ Mark Graban - https://www.markgraban.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/

In the first of this, a new mini-series for Business Problems Solved, Lee talks to Adam Lawrence, who is "Not Just An International Author", but also the managing partner of Process Improvement Partners.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes the thoughts and feelings inside us need an outlet. The results can change lives for others if channelled correctly. We pour energy and resources into solving problems that sometimes don't stay solved. The way to sustain solutions is through the art of sustainability. Sustainability removes the element of doubt, and the drain on time, that we expend by revisiting issues. It allows us to focus on other things. One of the main issues leaders worry about is the lack of time. Sustainability can aid in helping them in a valuable way, to save time on repetitive challenges. BEST MOMENTS 'Once the problem was solved, it didn't stay solved' 'I knew that there was something that had been bothering me for many years' 'I am somebody who typed a lot of words and had a lot of help' 'Their solution was still solved, and even better than when we left it' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Adam Lawrence LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-t-lawrence/ Process Improvement Partners - https://pi-partners.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/

In this final episode of the Confident Women Leaders series, Lee talks to Chief Executive and keynote speaker, Susie Palmer-Trew, who talks about the value in learning from mistakes, the importance of great teams, and why we should always be true to ourselves.  KEY TAKEAWAYS We learn the best lessons and develop the most from making mistakes, recognising them as mistakes, and overcoming the challenges themselves. Our powers and skills are amplified and energised by surrounding ourselves with a great team. Connecting with real people provides the best value in business. There is no shame in failure, and the great leaders are those who help others to understand that, and to move on when it occurs. There is no substitute for being yourself. The more we try to emulate others, the more we bury the unique gifts that make us individuals. BEST MOMENTS 'I make lots of mistakes and learn from those mistakes' 'From each of my decisions, I've learned something about me' 'What if you fail? But what if you fly?' 'It's about coming home to yourself' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Susie Palmer-Trew LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susie-palmer-trew-13108646/?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/

In this continuing series of conversations with confident women leaders, Lee talks to Sandra Thompson, founder of EI Evolution, and the first Goleman Emotional Intelligence Coach in the UK, who joins the show to talk about her career so far, the role of emotional intelligence in business and life, and the best ways in which to get what we want in life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes you need to leap before you look, or the chance to make a positive impactful change can pass you by. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand the emotions within yourself so that you can develop your relationships and better your life. Historically, consultants have gone into businesses with the aim of trying to improve measures or metrics. They then moved to improve customer satisfaction. Employee engagement came next, followed by leadership behaviour. If you can focus upon a goal enough, and chase a desire with enough passion, then it is always achievable. If you want it, you can have it. BEST MOMENTS 'You don't know until you say yes and then figure it out' 'If you want it, you can have it' 'It call comes to down to how you recognise and understand the emotions in you' 'A lot of people think it's a magic wand' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       The EI Evolution - https://www.eievolution.com The EI Evolution Summit - www.eievolutionsummit.com Sandra Thompson LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cxeisandra/?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/

In his continuing set of conversations with confident women leaders, Lee talks to Angie McQuillin, a confidence and career success coach, about the incredible content she provides, her journey in business, and how people can improve their own confidence. KEY TAKEAWAYS There's a misconception about people who work at an executive level. People assume that those in positions like this must be filled with confidence, and this may be the external picture isn’t always a true reflection of how someone feels. The internal battles we face are generally not that uncommon, They may feel particular to us, but more people suffer from inferiority than we think. People seems to gain confidence from the things they achieve, but the part that affects self-esteem are the internal challenges. The coaches we find ourselves drawn to are not necessarily based on society or gender. We find the best coaches by looking for the energy that attracts us. BEST MOMENTS 'That might be their game face, but it doesn't mean that's what they're feeling behind it' 'It's been an ongoing journey to where I am now' 'You are the person in that seat, so you have to be comfortable in yourself first' 'It comes down to the energy we project as coaches'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Angie McQuillin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiemcquillincoaching/?originalSubdomain=uk Angie McQuillin - https://www.angiemcquillin.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/

The Confident Women Leaders series continues with a conversation with Alison Tansey, the co-founder of Simply Brilliance, in which Alison discusses her path to business success, the values she adheres to, and where her passions lie in the business landscape. KEY TAKEAWAYS You don't always find your groove by working in a job. Sometimes you have to take a risk in order to find fulfilment. We identify the business needs of others by sometimes identifying the needs of ourselves. Looking at what's missing for us, can show us the missing piece for everyone else. Life is far too short to be serious for too long. Bringing a sense of fun and humanity to business helps to make jobs more inspiring. Using devices to learn, instead of the more traditional ways of reading, is changing, slowly, the ways in which our brains work. BEST MOMENTS 'I'm a bit of an accidental entrepreneur' 'I had to get somebody quick, they had to be great, and there was no way of doing it' 'The aspiration is to have suppliers from every aspect of HR' 'You need to get it, and understand what works and what doesn't'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Alison Tansey - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisontansey/?originalSubdomain=uk Simply Brilliance - https://www.simplybrilliance.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/

This week, Lee continues his series surrounding confident women leaders in business, by talking to Kate Birtles, customer services director for Biffa, about her amazing journey through life and business - taking in everything from dancer to director!  KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes the best directions for our careers, are the ones that allow us to develop and broaden the skills we have, and to develop new ones. When trying to effect change, we must recognise that the individuals we work with have valuable insights, perceptions and input. There is always further that we can go. There is always higher that we can reach. We must constantly be on the lookout for ways to be the better versions of ourselves. Our careers are often the result of someone seeing something within us, and giving us a chance. It is incumbent upon us to do the same when we see others that aspire to being better. BEST MOMENTS 'I'm very people focussed - I really like people' 'People give me the inspiration to better myself' 'What can I learn now? What's different? How can I develop?' 'I feel very fortunate and blessed to have been given opportunities by other people'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Kate Birtles LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katebirtles/?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/

In the next part of his continuing insight into confident women leaders, Lee talks to Veronica Owusu, a transformational online course creation strategist and online deep-dive mindset coach, about her incredible journey through business so far.  KEY TAKEAWAYS By harnessing the power or "gold dust" of other leaders, impactful change can be made as they take their own messages out into the world. At certain times in life, we are presented with defining moments that divert us towards different and radically new pathways. We must embrace them and recognise that change is occurring. We create internal prisons for ourselves by living the life meant for others, and pretending to be someone we're not. Everyone is the sum of their own stories, sometimes buried, that tell the complete tale of who we are. If we unearth these tales, then we come closer to fulfilling our potential. BEST MOMENTS 'Through the essence of my gold dust I serve with focus and clarity' 'This voice was my fearless warrior, but she was caged' 'The powerless transformed into the power' 'Today I want to equip other coaches with the mind-set and tools to thrive online'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Veronica Uwusu LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-owusu-byczkowska/?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/

In the first of a new mini-series focussing upon confident women leaders, Lee talks to Clare Muscutt, the CEO of Women In CX, as well as a global keynote speaker and podcast host, about the incredible work she's doing in order to empower and inspire women in business around the world.  KEY TAKEAWAYS There is a level of conditioning that comes from working in a corporate environment, especially for women, who are made to attach their identities to the role they occupy. For those feeling fundamentally unhappy, the first thing to come to terms with is finding the bravery to step away from the elements of unhappiness, and being true to ourselves. The best way to combat any kind of negativity is to take action. Never let your emotions and our thoughts become your reality. Remember that we can always change our outcomes. The platform being developed now is designed to raise women up so that their voices can be more effectively heard, and to create spaces for them to better collaborate. BEST MOMENTS 'We're empowering women around the world to support, inspire and grow together through collaboration' 'I am currently undergoing my own transformation' 'The connections that we made, made me realise that we are not alone' 'I've finally found my purpose'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       CMXperience - https://www.cmxperience.com/about-1 Clare Muscutt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-muscutt/?originalSubdomain=uk Clare Muscutt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecxnomad/?hl=en 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/

In this week's show, Lee talks to self-professed "revenue strategy nerd" and sales legend, Liston Witherill, about the concept of ethical communication, and how to be a better and more intentional listener in order to create sales.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The things that hold many businesses and their leaders back, are their inability to communicate clearly and directly, listening and asking great questions. Ethical communication is about understanding who we are talking to, and communicating clearly and with honourable intent. If we feel that ethical selling sounds better on paper, but that it will not help you to close vital sales, then it's a signal that you do not have enough demand, not that the concept itself is lacking. If you want to become known for solving a problem, you have to have content. There is no other way to achieve this position. BEST MOMENTS 'I founded what amounts to an idea about how business could be' 'Business must be ethical considerate and empathetic' 'One of the things that makes it easy to be ethical is to have confidence that another opportunity will come soon' 'The problem with a generalist position, is that there's no compelling reason to attract anyone beyond word-of-mouth'  VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Liston Witherill - https://www.liston.io Liston Witherill LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/listonwitherill/ 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/