Business Problems Solved Podcast

If you want the best processes, results and people think about the BEST model. In this episode Lee explains what the BEST model is and how it can have a positive impact on your business. He also discusses the importance of creating a positive environment. KEY TAKEAWAYS The environment that people work and the results that people get are driven by the leaders. B – Leadership behaviour. What are the things that you can do to influence leadership behaviour? Leaders have a direct impact and influence on how engaged their employees are. E – Employee engagement. This drives customer satisfaction. S – Customer satisfaction. If customers are happy then your business targets will naturally follow. T – Business targets and results. Putting in solutions to move the dial of a particular problem that they’re seeing. Start by looking in the mirror and seeing what you can change to ensure you’re creating the best environment that allows people to speak up and drive improvements. BEST MOMENTS ‘Leadership behaviour drives employee engagement.’ ‘Help foster and nurture improvement’ ‘It’s not about process, It’s about people’ ‘If you can change, you can help other people change’ 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 Website: Lee@leehoughton.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/THEBusinessProblemSolver/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusiProbsSolved Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_business_problem_solver/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsf0YC2_ZBuhtC_s-AbHaDw

‘It’s about getting young people ready for the real world’ Lee is in conversation with Kamal Ellis-Hyman founder of ‘Aim a Little Higher’ Kamal has a passion for helping young people get ready for the real world and works with them to build their aspirations based on their potential, not their circumstance. They discuss the journey Kamal has taken and the very different aspirations of young people and the ways they interact with the world. Kamal is working towards a world where the ‘playing field is even for young people’ listen in and find out how he is achieving this through his passion.   KEY TAKEAWAYS I write about life and whatever is on my mind. My spoken word poetry is about empowering people. I’ve always been surrounded by the idea that if you want to do something then you should just go for it. It’s about getting young people ready for the real world, with their aspirations based on potential rather than circumstance. I help young people figure out who they are, what they want and how to get out there and get it. When talk to young people about my failures they engage with me and I can talk about my successes and what I want for them We want people to; Know yourself Know your vision Don’t chase your dreams, build them for yourself. Knowing yourself as a teenager is about knowing what you like. Start now and take small steps every day.  In pursuit of our dreams, we forget to recognise and celebrate our achievements on the journey. Growing a business is about being resilient and it’s a beautiful journey when you don’t let it affect your heart. I’ve found my thing I’m a good communicator and I like working with an audience, performing – it’s me.   BEST MOMENTS ‘A world with an even playing field for young people where they understand there is stuff they are good at and stuff they suck at’ ‘A world where everyone feels comfortable doing what they want to do because they want to do it’ ‘I talk to them like a big brother’   VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast  Aim a Little Higher website Kamal Ellis- Hyman LinkedIn   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/                              

There are two elements to become a high-performance team. Celebrate success and Self Reflection. Lee identified that having two small Team huddles, 10-15 minutes in length, can turn your team from average to high-performance. The first Team Huddle should look to identify and celebrate the things that went well. Small and big wins, things that succeeded and should continue to persist with as well as the continued success of previous wins. The second Team Huddle commences after, later in the week. This meeting is to identify and highlight where things didn’t go quite right (or even wrong!). Focus on self-reflection and improvement; what? how? Why? And then what you, as a team, will & can do to resolve and prevent it moving forward. Lee explains that by having this two-step process, he has worked within unknown teams to develop independently but also as a team far better than without this method. “Everybody needs to recognise that they can do things differently… Every team, every leader that I have supported, there has always been an opportunity for improvement”-Lee Houghton Lee also covers briefly the B.E.S.T. model for leadership and what that means; B = Leadership Behaviour E = Employee engagement S = Customer Satisfaction T = Business Targets & Results   VALUABLE RESOURCES   Business Problems Solved Podcast Mike Dennison at Speakers.com - https://www.a-speakers.com/speakers/mike-denison/ Lean Mentor International - http://www.leanmentorinternational.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 executive coach, Mike Dennison, about the role of an executive coach. There’s a huge difference between being a consultant, a coach and a mentor, and Mike breaks it down one-by-one.  Mike is an incredibly successful guide for businesses and individuals alike, who are seeking to develop themselves and their staff, and in this week’s episode, he tells you exactly how he goes about it, as well as the secret to making businesses understand why they should begin. KEY TAKEAWAYS An executive coach is someone who works at a higher level in organisations, and to help and develop those in need of development, without putting themselves in the way of that growth. A consultant has generally performed in the role previously, and is using their experience to act in advisory capacity. A mentor is much like a consultant, but acts as a one-to-one guide with someone. They make it their goal to develop and grow an individual based on their experience and wisdom. A common weakness in many organisations is the inability of leaders to connect with their staff, and understand their needs effectively.  The key to helping any company is to show them the possibilities of what development can achieve in their case.  Once you establish principles that are meaningful for the leadership team, you can then use those principles to engage with your staff. Leaders should always use more explorative open questions in order to truly get the best out of their team, and to help them discover the best way of training. Leaders should aspire to grow at all times. Never accept the status quo. Leaders need to learn that what worked yesterday, and what caused their ascent, will be different today from yesterday. Human beings have far more potential than they will ever apply in their lifetime. We are limited by our imaginations whether we like it or not, as we can't always get there. By effective coaching and mentoring we can reach new heights. BEST MOMENTS ‘De-Brie everywhere…’ ‘Most people have the capacity to think through things, but they get stuck in their own heads’ ‘I try to bring it back to the principle element’ ‘People will not share problems if they do not trust their leader’ ‘Leaders still think that because they’re a leader, what’s got them to where they are now, is going to get them to where they need to be in the future’ ‘Commitment comes through clarity'  VALUABLE RESOURCES   Business Problems Solved Podcast Mike Dennison at Speakers.com - https://www.a-speakers.com/speakers/mike-denison/ Lean Mentor International - http://www.leanmentorinternational.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/

A lot of businesses forget about the process of learning and only focus on getting the tasks they’re set to do right first time. However, in this episode Lee reminds us of how important it is to remember how we learn and how we can use failures to improve.   KEY TAKEAWAYS When we learn to walk we don’t just walk, we fall, get back up, fall, get back up and fall until you’re able to walk consistently. Allow people to fail in a safe environment and encourage them to get back up and learn from their failures. Whatever process we’re in there’s players who actually do the doing and the leaders who don’t usually do any of the doing. You can’t be good at both at the same time. Assess where you and your team are but don’t do the doing for them. Allow them to do what they’re set to do. Doing this will allow people to develop and allow them to learn. If you’re do things for them then they wont be able to learn and improve from their mistakes. BEST MOMENTS ‘Let them fail’ ‘Think of your process’ ‘Everyone should know their roles.’ 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/  

David Bovis is a management consultant, and the originator of the "psychology of change”, dealing with organisational transformation, and lee has most definitely not been stalking him for some time on LinkedIn… David has kindly joined the podcast today to discuss why change must always begin with people, how to make real, sustainable change, the science behind brain development and learning, and why it’s vital that we get people to “fall in love” with change. KEY TAKEAWAYS David quickly came to realise early in his business career that true change begins not with procedures or products, but with people. After applying himself to pursuits such as neuroscience, he developed his own theories and methods on how to implement core change. The best way of demonstrating the need for change, is to discuss the potentialities of what can be achieved: Brain Mind Culture Strategy Change All leaders are human beings. We need to remember that they are probably doing the best they can under very challenging conditions. The universal language of science is the key to importing the values and developments made in Asian businesses, and adapting them for the western way of business. The rate of change in the human brain, the time in which change is truly implemented and becomes a normal part of the brain’s operation, is generally around nine months. The only way you can really accelerate change is to affect or provoke our fear-based defence mechanisms, as in the way we fall in love and then have our trust broken. We tend to fear change that is imposed upon us. David’s definition of culture is through language. If you understand that culture pivots on language, then by implementing new language, you will have a fundamentally positive effect upon culture. You will always find that transition that is uncomfortable will cause people to leave instead of change. The imposition of change is the true obstacle. Developing the language of the brain is a vital component in the development of children, whose brains are consistently undergoing rapid shifts in neuron growth. Depending on how we act during this time has a huge impact on their educational development. BEST MOMENTS ‘I didn’t actually know what the word “philosophy” meant’ ‘Once people know this stuff, it completely transforms the way they see the world’ ‘What you’ve got to try and do is to get people to fall in love with change’ ’There’s a lot going on in the brain’ ‘You need to go to where people are at in their minds’ ‘It’s a bit like trimming the branches on an apple tree'  VALUABLE RESOURCES   Business Problems Solved Podcast David Bovis at Duxinaroe - https://www.duxinaroe.com/who-we-are.html David Bovis LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duxinaroe/?originalSubdomain=uk Blame My Brain - Nicola Morgan - www.amazon.co.uk%2FBlame-My-Brain-Amazing-Revealed%2Fdp%2F1406346934&usg=AOvVaw1HUfhsgDCOFD5jJ13KrmM   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/

If you’ve got a team or a business you always need a vision! In this episode Lee explains how to create and pursue a vision for your team or business.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Think back to the DUSK model (Desire) is what creates a vision. If you want to create a vision, then you need to include everyone who is involved. Think back to where you are then where you want to be. Decide whether your vision is going to be a picture, words or both. Pictures can be a great way to help people understand what your vision is. Check back with as many people as possible so you can get different iterations of the vision and then check back with everyone to ensure you’ve all got one same vision. Keep your vision relevant by holding morning meetings to discuss how you’re moving forward to your vision. Ensure you can sum up your vision really simply and that you can measure your progress.   BEST MOMENTS ‘Try to articulate the vision you have really simply’ ‘Recognise where you are today’ ‘Create the conversations and the platform to engage your people on a daily basis’   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   Website: Lee@leehoughton.com  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/THEBusinessProblemSolver/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusiProbsSolved   Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_business_problem_solver/?hl=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsf0YC2_ZBuhtC_s-AbHaDw   

‘If you break down your life into 4-minute sections and keep at it you will become one of the 2% of truly happy people’  Lee is with Dr Andy Cope, Author, Teacher, Speaker, Happiness expert and a keen learner.  He is the UK’s one and the only doctor of happiness so if he’s having a bad day then the nation is having a bad day.  They are discussing the science of well-being and positive psychology. Andy explains how he trundled through life being fairly average before he discovered positive psychology.  We know nothing about what’s right with us, psychology has spent many years focusing on what makes us ill, but Andy is asking what makes happy people happy?  Happy people live in the same world as everyone else they are subject to the same external experiences but their positive mindset and choice to be happy along with their desire to be the best they can be impacts not only on them but creates a significant ripple effect on those around them, listen in to hear more.     KEY TAKEAWAYS  We are all happy and upbeat sometimes but the world beats the crap out of us and we become ‘mood hoovers’.  Mood hoovers suck the happiness out of you and leave you feeling a bit sad and grumpy. It only takes one mood hoover to bring everything down.  Happy people choose to be positive. Positivity is a mindset and you can get better at it; happiness is an emotion that you experience when you are in a positive mindset.  Take personal responsibility – how can I upgrade me? Doing this puts you in a better place to deal with things.  Happiness can only emulate from your thinking. The brain is a problem-solving machine with a negative bias.  You have neuroplasticity – your brain is malleable so you can change the way you think.  When you feel amazing you are more creative, and there are lots of things you will be able to do that you couldn’t have done before.  Culture change starts from inside out, it starts with you first and foremost and when you are feeling amazing it creates a ripple effect.   Flourishing is when your happiness is bigger than you and it creates positive spirals of happiness emotion in the people around you.  4-minute rule -It’s about being the best version of yourself, when you do this, others around you catch that emotion  If you are your best self for 4 minutes others around you have almost no choice other than to catch how you feel.  If you are upbeat for the first 4 minutes of a meeting the positivity will carry on.    BEST MOMENTS  ‘You see opportunities when your wellbeing is in balance’  ‘You can create an environment where well-being is the most important element’  ‘What hasn’t happened, that you didn’t want, that you haven’t celebrated’  ‘It’s simple but not easy to do’     VALUABLE RESOURCES  Business Problems Solved Podcast  Art of Brilliance website  Jimmy's Diary YouTube     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/ 

How much time do you think you spend in the past? How much time do you think you spend in the future? How much time do you think you spend in the present? In this episode Lee explains why it’s so important to live in the present and how it can help you achieve your goals.   KEY TAKEAWAYS  Consider how much time you’re actually consciously aware of what’s going on right now.  Disney, as an example, do an amazing job of getting you to think in the present time because of all of the experiences they give you.  You can steer a conversation or meeting by being in the present, don’t worry about the future.  Spend more time in the ‘here and now’ especially is you’re working through a process. Engage in the convocation while it’s happening.  A way to help you do this is by turning off all mobile devices when you’re trying to spend time with people or achieve a certain goal.  BEST MOMENTS  ‘Having a moment with someone is because you’re both in the present’  ‘Ask a question and then move on’  ‘Spend time with the people you’re engaging with in the present’  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   Website: Lee@leehoughton.com  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/THEBusinessProblemSolver/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusiProbsSolved   Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_business_problem_solver/?hl=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsf0YC2_ZBuhtC_s-AbHaDw 

This week, Lee talks to former BBC Breakfast presenter, Penny Haslam, who’s become one of the country’s most sought-after motivational speakers, helping others to achieve their optimal confidence levels and providing them with the boost they need in order to succeed. But can Penny’s inspiring message help those looking to succeed in business? And how? Find out in this fascinating, empowering conversation. KEY TAKEAWAYS Penny left broadcasting because she felt as though she could never truly be herself. Moving into motivational speaking is where she feels she has always belonged, as she gets to help people, work with people, and has made numerous connections along the way. Media training is hugely expensive and is really only available to a chosen few. Having spent so long in broadcasting and seeing how fame and media training can help businesses succeed, Penny decided to put her considerable experience into helping others become “a little bit famous” The old idea of the business persona is gradually slipping these days. It is far more valuable to be ourselves in the business world. Speaking and acting in a natural way is far more appealing. Telling stories is an act of development. It comes from trying, failing and eventually succeeding in getting the ingredients just right. Penny’s acronym of FACE is designed to help storytellers develop their skills: F - Tell us a Fact A - Add a bit of detail C - What is your Comment? E - Give us an Example A common trait among business owners is the sense of static that comes from reaching a certain level of success, and feeling as though they are not being asked to do more. This is in stark contrast to the exciting, early days of growth and invention that kicks off a business’s life. Building confidence and engendering faith in one’s self must begin at home. Outwardly, confidence may seem natural to some, but privately confidence is something that many of us work on constantly. BEST MOMENTS ’No one wants to be a best-kept secret’ ’The broadcasters need experts, so how do they do that?’ ’Most sensible people in business have got better things to do than be a massive famous person’ ‘You’ve got to be a visible leader’ ‘Preston itself was still the same underneath’ ‘Be yourself. Be bold as well. And be visible’  VALUABLE RESOURCES   Business Problems Solved Podcast www.pennyhaslam.co.uk penny@pennyhaslam.co.uk How To Make Yourself A Little Bit Famous - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Yourself-Little-Bit-Famous/dp/1912300273/ Penny Haslam LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyhaslam/?originalSubdomain=uk Penny Haslam Twitter - https://twitter.com/pennyhaslam Penny Haslam Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pennyhaslamspeaker/?hl=en%20 Penny Haslam Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PennyHaslamSpeaker/ 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/