Business Problems Solved Podcast

Business Problems Solved's latest episode discusses the concept of operational excellence and high-performing environments. Lee emphasises the importance of engaged and empowered people in driving business performance. By focusing on the interactions and engagement of team members rather than just metrics and tools, Lee highlights the true essence of operational excellence - making people and driving performance simultaneously. Listeners are encouraged to consider the impact of their leadership style on creating a culture of growth and development within their organisations. KEY TAKEAWAYS Operational Excellence: Focus on creating high-performing environments, engaged and empowered people, and effective leadership to drive better performance. Purpose of Performance Boards: Emphasise that the purpose of performance boards is not just about the visuals or metrics but about driving engagement, conversation, and improvement within the team. Creating Engaged People: Highlight the importance of creating an environment where people feel comfortable being vulnerable, discussing feelings, and addressing challenges openly to drive growth and performance. Watermelon Reporting: Address the issue of superficial reporting where problems are covered up due to fear, emphasising the need for honesty, openness, and acceptance of mistakes to drive improvement. Focus on People and Environment: Emphasise that true operational excellence is achieved by focusing on developing people and creating an environment that fosters growth, challenge, and continuous improvement for both individuals and business performance. BEST MOMENTS "I believe, are working towards the same destination. Because all of these things done correctly help the team, the function, the business perform better than they are today." - "And following observing this conversation with the two change folk, I went for a cup of coffee and I reflected on what I had just seen unfold in front of me."  "Watermelon reporting. I've often spoke about so it's it looks green on the outside or it's green on the outside. So we're reporting green." "Do they all feel like they've just watched the best film or TV programme that they've had an opportunity to do at the end of every meeting?"  "You can't just keep hitting people over the head to get them to work faster. You have to help your people grow."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee explores the concept of creating an innovative and engaged workforce by challenging the traditional notion of "ask for forgiveness, not for permission." He discusses the importance of leading with context, giving permission, and encouraging behaviours like challenge, conflict, failure, and problem-solving within a safe environment. Listeners are encouraged to embrace failure and conflict as opportunities for growth and improvement, ultimately fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. KEY TAKEAWAYS Encourage Creativity and Risk-Taking: Instead of asking for forgiveness, not permission, create an environment where people feel safe to try new things and be creative without fear of failure. Lead with Context, Not Control: Provide clear expectations and direction while allowing individuals to define their own approach. This fosters creativity, innovation, and empowerment. Give Permission: Allow individuals to challenge, confront, fail, and solve problems. Make it acceptable to hold each other accountable and provide constructive feedback. Role Model Behavior: Leaders should demonstrate the behaviours they expect from others, including being vulnerable and embracing discomfort. Check-In and Reflect: After encouraging action, follow up to ensure individuals act on their thoughts and feelings. Address any barriers preventing them from doing so and reinforce a culture of continuous improvement. BEST MOMENTS "Ask for forgiveness, not for permission. Ask for forgiveness, not for permission. And you say that when you want people to try new things."  "Lead with context, not with control. And when you lead with context and not control, then that is encouraging people to define their own how." "We need to give permission and lead with context. Give permission for people to do certain things. Give permission for people to hold people to account, but lead with context."  "The more we do it, the easier it becomes. So don't just say to people, ask for forgiveness, not for permission. There's some ground rules, there's some Things you need to do to make that possible."  "Let's create this environment where failure, challenge, conflict and problems are recognized, identified, and actually reinforced that actually the good things, they're not bad things, they're good things."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee explores the concept of operational excellence through the lens of two renowned entrepreneurs, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. He talks about the importance of connecting the dots in operational excellence, drawing on the wisdom of Jobs and Branson.  Through examples and practical insights, listeners are encouraged to connect the dots between tools, behaviours, and environments to drive success in business operations. The episode underscores the need to start with the end in mind, as advocated by Stephen Covey, and to always be connecting dots to create a conducive environment for achieving business goals. KEY TAKEAWAYS Continuous Improvement: The key habit within operational excellence is the habit of continuous improvement, engaging people, and striving for excellence in all aspects of the business. Connecting Dots: The importance of connecting the dots between different elements in a system to achieve a particular destination, as emphasised by successful entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. Reflecting Backwards: Understanding that one can only join the dots looking backwards, as plans may change and evolve, highlighting the importance of reflection and learning from past experiences. Creating the Right Environment: Focusing on creating the ideal environment through connecting the right dots, including leadership behaviours, visual performance boards, and metrics, to drive engagement and achieve business targets. Start with the End in Mind: Emphasising the concept of starting with the end goal in mind and connecting the dots looking back to create a path towards success and making a difference in the business. BEST MOMENTS "Fundamentally, it's about the habit of continuous improvement and the habit of engaging people."  "You can only join the dots looking backwards... the plan's out of date."  "Always be connecting dots... you have to stop at a particular point."  "If you create the right environment, then people will behave in a particular way." "Start with the end in mind, connect the dots looking back."  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 delves into the common issue of setting vague deadlines and lack of follow-through in business meetings. Lee challenges the practice of assigning generic due dates like "next Friday" or "end of the month," urging listeners to prioritise specific times for completing tasks. By emphasising the importance of committing to realistic deadlines and actively prioritising key activities, Lee highlights how this approach can lead to increased productivity and successful task completion.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Prioritise specific deadlines: Instead of setting vague deadlines like "next Friday" or "end of the month," prioritise specific dates and times for completing actions to increase accountability and likelihood of completion. Gain commitments: By asking individuals when realistically they will make time to complete an action, you can gain commitments and increase the chances of the task being done. Avoid procrastination: Proactively scheduling specific times to complete tasks helps avoid procrastination and ensures that important actions are given the attention they deserve. Major time on major things: Focus on spending major time on major tasks rather than major time on minor tasks to prioritise activities that will make the biggest impact on achieving goals. Challenge and improve: Continuously observe and challenge the way deadlines are set and actions are prioritised to improve efficiency and effectiveness in completing tasks. BEST MOMENTS "When realistically are you going to make time to complete this action? That question provides a different answer."  "If somebody says to me that they didn't have time My response is you're telling me the action wasn't important enough."  "How can you spend major time on major things? and minor time on minor things and that is through prioritisation."  "Don't be lazy with setting your due dates. Be disciplined. You can do better."  "Saying you know how to do it is not doing it."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

This episode delves into the importance of intent, intensity, and impact in achieving desired outcomes. Lee introduces the concept of the three I's - intent, intensity, and impact - as key factors in determining the success of actions and conversations. Listeners are encouraged to look inward, assess their approach, and strive for greater effectiveness in their interactions to achieve the desired impact. KEY TAKEAWAYS Intent, Intensity, and Impact: The three I's discussed in the podcast are crucial for achieving desired outcomes in business interactions. Clarity of Intent: Having a clear purpose and motivation before taking action or engaging in conversations is essential for success. Intensity and Frequency: Applying the right level of conviction and doing so consistently are key factors in making a significant impact. Reflect and Learn: Analysing the gap between intentions and outcomes provides an opportunity for reflection, learning, and improvement. Personal Responsibility: Emphasising the importance of taking ownership of one's intent, intensity, and frequency to drive impactful results. BEST MOMENTS "Are you really putting enough in? Do you have clarity of intent of all of your interactions, of all of your conversations, of all of your actions?" "Intent is personal to us. Impact is what happens as a result of our intentions."  "If your intent is the motivation and purpose for your action and conversation, if you have that conversation or do that action and you do it with enough intensity, feeling, strength behind it..."  "So, intent is around motivation or purpose of your actions or conversations. Intensity is the level that you apply, I guess, of your conviction of your action, of your conversation."  "Often we look through the window at other people and think that actually they have not done what we expected them to do, so they are in the wrong. I believe it's down to the inputs that we put in..." 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 delves into the importance of not just doing tasks, but doing them well to make a real difference. He emphasises the four levels of performance: not doing it, doing it, doing it well, and doing it well to shift performance. Drawing parallels to driving a car, Lee explains how simply completing a task is not enough; it must be done with the aim of achieving a specific goal or destination. He challenges listeners to consider their internal motivations and the impact of their actions on reaching desired outcomes.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Strive for Excellence: It's essential to aim for doing tasks well to shift performance and make a difference, rather than settling for just completing them. Focus on Destination: Align behaviors and activities with the end goal or destination to ensure contributions count towards achieving it. Internal Motivation: Understanding individual motivations and connecting them to the overall goal can drive better performance and results. Continuous Improvement: Emphasise the importance of doing tasks well to drive continuous improvement and exceed limits set by oneself. Clarity and Alignment: Ensure clarity on expectations, behaviours, and performance goals to align everyone towards a common destination and purpose. BEST MOMENTS "Saying you know how to do it is not doing it." "We want people to do it well, and we want them to do it well to shift performance, to make a difference, to make their contribution count." "Are you and your teams focused on doing whatever it is that you're doing well and to shift performance, to make a difference, to achieve your destination and your goal." "We've got to strive and aspire to do everything well to make a difference." "Have I made you think differently in order to make you do differently to achieve a different result?" 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, Lee reflects on his recent completion of the London Marathon and shares five key takeaways that helped him achieve this milestone. Lee draws parallels between lessons from his marathon experience and their applicability in business settings, emphasising the significance of proper fueling, being in the moment, perseverance, support, and training to achieve success.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Fuel Brain and Body Properly: Focus on providing the right fuel through food, thoughts, and sleep to ensure optimal performance. Be Present in the Moment: Embrace each moment fully to enhance the experience and make better decisions. Keep Moving Forward: Continuously take steps forward, overcoming obstacles and challenges along the way. Support and Encouragement: Provide the right level of support and encouragement to foster accountability and motivation. Train Properly: Ensure proper training and development to equip individuals with the skills and capabilities needed for success. BEST MOMENTS "I had a dream the night before the marathon, in the dream, I didn't complete the marathon. I just couldn't get to that distance. I couldn't do it."  "I really did enjoy running 26 miles in front of all those people. It was just an enjoyable experience because I was in the moment."  "Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, but are we helping them do the best job they can? And to do that, they need to fuel their brain and their body properly."  "What can we do to keep moving forward? Sometimes moving forward, I mean, suggests that if something's not working, we need to keep doing it."  "What can you do to ensure and encourage everybody that you're working with is fully trained and is able to do the job that they need to do every single day."  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 reflects on his recent completion of the London Marathon and shares five key things that helped him achieve this milestone. Lee draws parallels between these lessons from his marathon experience and their applicability in business settings, emphasising the significance of proper fuelling, being in the moment, perseverance, support, and training to achieve success.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Fuel Brain and Body Properly: Focus on providing the right fuel through food, thoughts, and sleep to ensure optimal performance. Be Present in the Moment: Embrace each moment fully to enhance the experience and make better decisions. Keep Moving Forward: Continuously take steps forward, overcoming obstacles and challenges along the way. Support and Encouragement: Provide the right level of support and encouragement to foster accountability and motivation. Train Properly: Ensure proper training and development to equip individuals with the skills and capabilities needed for success. BEST MOMENTS "I had a dream the night before the marathon, in the dream, I didn't complete the marathon. I just couldn't get to that distance. I couldn't do it."  "I really did enjoy running 26 miles in front of all those people. It was just an enjoyable experience because I was in the moment."  "Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, but are we helping them do the best job they can? And to do that, they need to fuel their brain and their body properly."  "What can we do to keep moving forward? Sometimes moving forward, I mean, suggests that if something's not working, we need to keep doing it."  "What can you do to ensure and encourage everybody that you're working with is fully trained and is able to do the job that they need to do every single day."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

This episode explores the importance of understanding and meeting the needs of others in conversations. Lee discusses the concept of the three H's - being heard, helped, or hugged - and how individuals typically seek one of these in interactions. Drawing inspiration from Charles Dewick's book, "Super Communicators," Lee emphasises the significance of recognising what the speaker wants from a conversation to enhance connection. The episode concludes with a reminder to prioritise connection over mere technicalities in conversations. KEY TAKEAWAYS Three H's: The concept of "heard, helped, and hugged" can help tailor interactions to build more connection with others. Understanding Identities: Showing different aspects of one's identity can influence the outcome of conversations and help in connecting with others. Connection is Key: The most important aspect of conversations is how well one can connect with the other person, understanding their needs, and turning up in a way to provide that. Vulnerability: Being more vulnerable and sharing more of oneself can lead to better connections and understanding in conversations. Continuous Learning: Taking time to get to know people and understand their identities can enhance communication and connection in interactions. BEST MOMENTS "People, when they are in an interaction or a conversation with somebody, they typically want one of three things. They want to be heard, they want to be helped, or they want to be hooked."  "So if you as a speaker, if the person that's speaking wants to be heard, then you need the listener to actively listen and not interject."  "But dependent upon the conversation that I'm in, I show different parts of my identity."  "So how can you really connect with somebody if you only see one identity? But more importantly, how can you connect with people if you only share one identity?"  "The most important thing in your conversations is how well you can connect to the other person."  HOST BIO You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

This episode delves into the practical application of the ICE model in coaching conversations to drive transformational change. Lee introduces a four-box model that focuses on the coachee's level of thinking and action, guiding leaders on how to navigate coaching sessions effectively. The episode offers a structured approach to coaching that aims to empower individuals to think differently and take meaningful action towards improvement. KEY TAKEAWAYS ICE Model: The ICE model consists of three steps - Intent, Conversation Starters, and Expected Outcome - which can be used to guide coaching conversations effectively. Four Box Model: The Four Box Model helps in understanding the level of thinking and level of action of the coachee, guiding the coach on how to navigate through existing thoughts, new thoughts, transactional actions, and transformational actions. Starting Point: It is recommended to start coaching conversations in the existing thoughts box (low thought, low action) to explore the current mindset of the coachee before progressing to new thoughts and actions. Transitioning: Transitioning from existing thoughts to new thoughts and then to action is crucial in creating sustainable change and transformation in individuals. Questioning Strategy: Using the right questions at each stage of the coaching process, from exploring existing thoughts to creating transformational actions, is key to guiding individuals towards personal growth and development. BEST MOMENTS "The reason why it's transformational action It's because it's based on new thoughts."  "Remember people protect what they build."  "And if you can create an internal change in people's minds, you're more likely to create a sustainable external change."  "So start by clarifying your intent. Understand a couple of conversation starters that keep you in that safe space of exploring the existing thoughts of your coachee." "And really, it starts with understanding your intent, your expected outcome."  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.