Business Problems Solved Podcast

Join Lee as he discusses the importance of the four C's: Connect, Converse, Collaborate, and Celebrate. He challenges listeners to reflect on how effectively they are applying these principles within their teams. He also encourages listeners to have clarity in their understanding, be conscious in their actions, and remain consistent in their messaging and activities. By doing so, the four C's become a living and breathing system rather than a one-off activity. KEY TAKEAWAYS The four C's are Connect, Converse, Collaborate, and Celebrate. These four C's are essential for effective teamwork and problem-solving in a business setting. The speaker emphasises the importance of connection in various contexts, such as connecting with an audience, connecting with team members, and connecting different elements in an online ecosystem. The three additional C's that can enhance the implementation of the four C's are Clarity, Consciousness, and Consistency. These three C's help ensure that the application of the four C's is meaningful and ongoing rather than a one-off activity. Clarity is crucial in understanding the meaning and purpose of connection, while consciousness involves actively working towards delivering on that clarity. Consistency is important in maintaining a consistent message and actions in achieving the goals of connection. The speaker acknowledges that the concept of the four C's and three additional C's may be confusing and seeks feedback from listeners to improve clarity and understanding. The ultimate goal is to make the four C's a living and breathing entity in daily business practices. BEST MOMENTS "I wanna give you another lens to look through these 4 Cs and really focus on the first one around connection."  "So that, the ecosystem, my online ecosystem is connecting all of my products, all of my communications and my narratives together to provide the fullest suite of information that I can."  "The big challenge with the four C's is making them live and breathe every single day."  "Let me know whether you think I've absolutely lost the plot or let me know whether it's resonating with you in any way, shape or form."  Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 discusses the concept of failure and how it is perceived differently in the gym versus in the workplace. Drawing parallels between failing to achieve fitness goals and failing to meet business targets, Lee challenges the negative connotation associated with failure and encourages listeners to reframe it as a stepping stone towards success. He emphasises the importance of intrinsic motivation, creating a safe environment for failure, and providing support and encouragement as leaders.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Failure should be reframed as a positive word, as it simply means an obstacle or challenge that needs to be overcome in order to achieve a goal. In the gym, failure is seen as a normal part of the process of improvement. People continue to train and strive to reach their targets, understanding that failure is temporary and a stepping stone towards progress. In business, failure is often viewed as negative and punished, creating an environment where it is not safe to admit mistakes or take risks. This hinders growth and improvement. Leaders should focus on creating a safe environment where failure is rethought and seen as an opportunity for learning and growth. Encouraging and supporting employees in their development is crucial. Motivation plays a key role in both the gym and the workplace. Leaders should strive to increase motivation levels in their employees, encouraging them to give their best every day and continuously improve. BEST MOMENTS "I think failure is a positive word and that we should reframe failure as positive because it just means it's something that's prevented you from achieving your goal that you need to overcome."  "But why is this thinking so different in business? Why in business do we think of failure as bad and as negative?"  "We highlight issues and challenges in a way that doesn't make people want to or doesn't allow people to fail safely to get better."  "So are we really trying our best every single day to get better like we do in the gym?"  "Failure is not bad. It's just a limit that we have hit on our way to achieving our goal. And if we make it a bad thing to fail, then we will always stay below that bar."  Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 explores the importance of trust in leading change. He introduces the concept of the trust equation, which includes reliability, credibility, intimacy, and self-orientation. Lee discusses three key aspects where trust is crucial: trust in the change facilitator, trust in the business, and trust in the solution. By building trust, leaders can successfully navigate organisations and achieve their desired outcomes. KEY TAKEAWAYS Trust is a crucial factor in leading change and solving business problems. It is determined by the other person and can be influenced by factors such as reliability, credibility, intimacy, and self-orientation. Trust can be assessed in three aspects: trust in the change facilitator, trust in the business, and trust in the solution or answer being provided. To increase trust in the change facilitator, individuals can focus on being reliable, credible, building relationships, and demonstrating that the change is for the benefit of others. Trust in the business can be enhanced by demonstrating reliability in past change initiatives, credibility in achieving goals, building intimacy and alignment with employees, and showing that the change is not solely for the business's benefit. Trust in the solution or answer can be strengthened by providing evidence of its reliability, establishing credibility, fostering intimacy and interest in the solution, and clarifying who will benefit from its implementation. BEST MOMENTS "Trust is seen in the eyes of the other person, trust is something that's given by the other person."  "Does the person or do the people trust the business in seeing the change through?"  "Does the person or people trust the solution or answer that's being provided to overcome the challenge?"  "Often we can largely influence our own levels of trust as the change facilitators or leaders of change."  "Trust is seen and scored through the eyes of the other person, not you."  Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 Horton discusses the three non-negotiables for a high-performing leadership team. Drawing inspiration from a leadership team he has been working with, Lee emphasizes the importance of alignment, clear expectations, and role-modelling accountability. He explains that a high-performing team does not necessarily require all high-performing individuals, but rather a shared understanding and direction. Lee encourages leaders to align their definitions and interpretations of key concepts, set clear expectations for their team, and lead by example while holding others accountable. This episode offers practical insights for creating a high-performing leadership team. KEY TAKEAWAYS Alignment is crucial for a high-performing leadership team. This includes aligning on understanding, direction, and key concepts. It is important to have a shared definition of terms and a clear vision of the destination. Setting clear expectations is essential. Leaders should communicate what is expected of team members in terms of behavior, actions, and outcomes. This clarity helps everyone understand their roles and responsibilities. Role modeling and accountability go hand in hand. Leaders should lead by example and demonstrate the behaviors and actions they expect from others. They should also hold team members accountable if they are not meeting the set expectations. High-performing teams do not necessarily require all high-performing individuals. As long as everyone understands and works towards the agreed-upon goals, the team can outperform individual efforts. These non-negotiables apply to both micro and macro levels. They can be implemented in day-to-day activities within the team or in larger strategic initiatives. The principles of alignment, clear expectations, and accountability are applicable in various contexts. BEST MOMENTS "To have a high performing team, it doesn't need to include a team of high performing individuals."  "The first non-negotiable for a high-performing leadership team is to agree and gain alignment on some key bits of language."  "What expectations do you have that people need to have, be, do and have, I guess?"  "Role modeling and holding people to account should be one and the same."  "These are the three non-negotiables that I believe every high performing team should strive towards: alignment, clear expectations, and role modeling and holding people to account."  Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 explores the concept of "Measure Mountain" and the importance of recognising and enabling effective teams within an organisation. Lee talks about the need to not only focus on the team delivering the 'valuable' work but also on other teams such as the leadership team. He encourages leaders to consider the horizontal lines of communication and collaboration, in addition to the vertical hierarchy. Lee challenges listeners to think about how many teams they really need and how they can help their teams become better, ultimately driving overall success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Recognise the importance of having effective teams at different levels within your organisation. It's not just about the team delivering the value work, but also about the leadership team and other horizontal teams. Avoid the pitfall of every layer of leadership having the same conversation every day. Enable capable individuals to fix issues within their own teams, rather than escalating them to higher levels unnecessarily. Consider the right rhythm for team meetings and communication. Depending on the needs of your organisation, you may benefit from more frequent meetings, such as weekly or daily, to address challenges and enable efficiency. Connect the goals and metrics from top to bottom within your organisation. Break down long-term strategic goals into shorter-term targets that are meaningful and relevant to each level. Focus on building the capabilities of your teams. Don't solely prioritise the value-adding work, but also invest time in developing the skills and effectiveness of your teams to help everyone move forward together. BEST MOMENTS "How many team of teams? Is your organisation or your department, your function built up of many different teams?" "Those that are doing the work day in, day out, often get a lot of the focus, and the other teams get neglected." "One pitfall that I see in organisations is that every layer of leadership having the same conversation every single day about the same issues." "Does your leadership team need to be recognised as a team? And if so, what does that mean to them? How can they work better together?" "Spending a bit of time building the capability and getting your teams to perform better may actually help everybody else move forward together as well." Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 the podcast, host Lee is joined by guest Sam Morgan to discuss the challenges and mindset shifts involved in starting your own business and helping others as a change leader. Sam shares his personal journey from being introduced to Lean principles to realizing his passion for empowering people and helping them unlock their potential. They delve into the importance of building trust and confidence, taking small steps towards goals, and overcoming self-doubt. They also explore the challenges of valuing oneself, setting prices, and navigating the mental obstacles that come with starting a new venture.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Lean is about people empowerment: Lean is not just about improving processes, but also about empowering people to realize their potential and believe in their ability to achieve their goals. Building trust and confidence: To help others believe in themselves, it is important to build trust and confidence through building relationships, asking questions, and encouraging experimentation. Belief is a journey: Belief in oneself and one's abilities does not happen overnight. It requires consistent practice, overcoming self-doubt, and taking action to build confidence over time. Overcoming mental obstacles: The biggest challenges in pursuing one's own path or starting a business are often the mental obstacles, such as self-doubt, fear of failure, and undervaluing oneself. It is important to work on changing these negative narratives and beliefs. Focus on the most important things: In order to achieve success and avoid overwhelm, it is crucial to focus on the most important tasks and goals. Filtering out unnecessary noise and distractions allows for greater clarity and progress. BEST MOMENTS "Lean is all about how things work together to make what we see at the end." "It's all in service of making life better for people and people realizing that they have potential inside them." "It really is an empowerment framework… It's about people believing that they can do the things that they didn't believe they could do."  "It's much easier to act our way to a new way of thinking than to think our way to a new way of acting." "The most important thing is the battle of the mind… The importance of the narrative, our stories that we tell ourselves." ABOUT THE HOST 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 shares a personal experience that has made him reflect on the importance of making challenges and changes feel real for people. He discusses his decision to participate in two charity events, the London Marathon and a 100-kilometre ultra event, and how it only became real for him when he started sharing it with others and receiving donations. Lee explores the significance of emotional attachment and involvement in driving motivation and commitment, emphasising the importance of communication and creating a sense of accountability.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Making something real involves sharing it with others and getting them invested in it. Lee's charity events became real when he created JustGiving pages and told his family and friends. This emotional connection and involvement of others made the challenge feel more tangible and significant. Getting people to have "skin in the game" is crucial for leadership challenges and change initiatives. Lee says to think about how you can involve more people and make the challenges feel real to them. This could include working in groups, explaining the impact on a daily basis, selling a vision for the future, or leveraging current pain points to motivate action. Having a goal or vision is not enough; it needs to be made real through communication and conscious awareness.  Emotional attachment and belief are triggered when something becomes real. Lee's own challenge made him feel physically sick and driven by the fear of letting others down. When something becomes real, it evokes strong emotions and motivates individuals to take action and succeed. Planning and structuring are essential in achieving goals. Structuring the journey and aligning actions with intent and goals can lead to success. BEST MOMENTS "And ever since that moment, and ever since donations have started to come in, something has happened and it's become real."  "So, how can we use and leverage people's current feelings of what's not working to help them move towards a neutral state, to help them to move towards an acceptable state to where they want to get to because it's definitely pain that's fueling me at the minute…"  "The thing that's actually driving me and the thing that made it real was when I shared it with other people. When other people started sponsoring me and I'm driven by, I don't want to let anybody down."  "What can you do to make it real to people so they can feel what it means to them? So what can you do to make it real? Because when it becomes real, my God, it feels real."  VALUABLE RESOURCESBusiness Problems Solved Podcast          CONTACT METHODYou can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ ABOUT THE HOSTFor 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 discusses the importance of silence in both the external and internal world. He emphasises the need to create spaces for silence in meetings to allow people time to think and truly engage in the conversation. Lee challenges listeners to consider their comfort level with silence and how it affects their ability to listen and ask better questions. He suggests avoiding padding or justifying questions, and instead giving people the space and time to think before exploring their understanding. Lee also explores the concept of quieting the chatter in one's own mind to be fully present and actively listen. He encourages listeners to become more comfortable with silence, as it can lead to better answers and a deeper understanding of others. KEY TAKEAWAYS Creating space for silence: In meetings and conversations, it is important to save a seat for silence. Allowing people time to think without filling the silence with unnecessary words or padding on questions can lead to more thoughtful and meaningful responses. Comfort with silence: It is essential to assess one's comfort level with silence. Some individuals may feel nervous or uncomfortable with silence and tend to fill it with laughter, additional words, or noises. Recognising and addressing this discomfort can help create a more conducive environment for effective communication. External silence: When asking questions, it is important to be comfortable with silence in the external world. Avoid questions with unnecessary justifications or explanations. Instead, ask concise questions and give people the space and time to think before responding. This can lead to more genuine and thoughtful answers. Internal silence: To truly listen and be present in a conversation, it is crucial to quiet the chatter in one's internal mind. Starting with an empty cup, emptying the mind of biases and preconceived notions, and focusing solely on listening can enhance understanding and engagement in the conversation. Trusting safe space: Creating a trusting safe space is crucial for effective communication. Actively listening and showing genuine interest in others' thoughts and ideas can foster trust and encourage open and honest communication. Being comfortable with silence plays a significant role in creating this safe space. BEST MOMENTS "If I didn't [think every episode was important], then it wouldn't be an episode, so that's a silly thing for me to say."  "Often, the only thinking time that people have is when somebody else is speaking, and that means, that they are not actually engaged fully and listening truly to what other people are saying."  "Don't pad your questions out. Don't justify the reason why you've asked the question. Give people space and time to think about it first and then explore."  "Start with an empty cup, means empty your mind of all of those thoughts and then just ask the first question and then your second question has got to be the mother of, I guess the answer that the person gives has got to be the mother of your next question, not your internal chatter."  "Silence is just as important, if not more important, than what you say. So how can you become more comfortable with silence, both in the outside world and in your internal mind?" -   Business Problems Solved Podcast 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 difference between getting by and getting better in business. He emphasises the importance of asking the right questions to promote continuous improvement and challenges leaders to reflect on the questions they ask their teams. Lee discusses the three key factors to consider when asking questions: the type of question, the environment in which it is asked, and the person being asked. He provides examples of questions that promote getting by versus getting better and encourages leaders to engage the minds of their team members by asking open-ended and expansive questions.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The questions we ask as leaders can either hinder or promote continuous improvement. It is important to ask better questions that encourage deeper thinking and generate more ideas from our teams. The type of question we ask is crucial. Instead of asking closed-ended questions that elicit simple yes or no answers, we should ask open-ended questions that start with "what" or "how" to encourage more expansive thinking and tap into the memory of our people. The environment in which we ask questions is also important. It should be a safe and trusting environment where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas without fear of being chastised or blamed. Engaging the minds of our people is essential for creating an engaged team. By asking better questions and actively listening to their responses, we can understand what gets in their way and take action to help them improve. Continuous improvement requires more than just going through the motions of daily meetings. Leaders should focus on extracting valuable insights and ideas from their teams by asking better questions and creating a culture of continuous improvement. BEST MOMENTS "I've come to the realisation that actually, as leaders, the questions that you ask may be preventing and stifling you from getting better."  "We want to promote a level of thinking that taps into the memory of our people. We don't just want front-of-mind and in-moment answers."  "What happened yesterday that may have caused a safety issue? You're then promoting thinking and getting people to think about all of the near misses, all of the opportunities that may have caused a safety issue."  "Are you OK? How are you feeling? It opens the mind and allows you to understand the things that are getting in people's way and then allowing you to then get better."  "Don't just assume that just having a daily meeting and going through the motions of the topics that you believe are the right ones to talk about. Don't just go through the motions and ask everybody, have they had a safe day?"  Business Problems Solved Podcast 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, I delve into the intriguing concept of "empty happiness" and "empty improvement." It's fascinating how we often confuse fleeting moments of joy with genuine, lasting happiness that we experience when we look back on our life's journey. This parallels the world of business, where I've witnessed countless instances of efforts aimed at improvement that ultimately lead to no substantial change.My exploration will illuminate the path toward transformation in both personal and professional spheres, offering valuable insights for leaders striving to make a real impact. So join me as we dissect the nuances of happiness and improvement, and discover how they intertwine in the realm of business problem-solving. KEY TAKEAWAYS Empty happiness is a real phenomenon that occurs when we experience temporary joy or satisfaction in the moment, but upon reflection, realise that it was not a truly fulfilling or meaningful experience. The same concept applies to improvement efforts in business. Empty improvement refers to making changes or fixes that may seem beneficial in the moment, but ultimately do not have a significant impact or contribute to the overall goals and direction of the organisation. To avoid empty improvement, it is important to differentiate between developing the habit of continuous improvement and making tangible, meaningful improvements. The habit of improvement involves regularly engaging in problem-solving sessions and creating a culture of continuous improvement within the organisation. Tangible improvements, on the other hand, require a clear understanding of the organisations destination and the obstacles that are preventing progress towards that goal. By aligning problem-solving efforts with these obstacles, leaders can ensure that improvements are meaningful and contribute to the overall success of the organisation. Building the habit of problem-solving and improvement requires creating a desire in individuals to fix things and solve problems. This can be achieved by connecting their emotional attachment to the organisations goals or by creating a craving for completing specific activities. Developing understanding, skills, and confidence in problem-solving will naturally follow, leading to more effective and impactful improvements. BEST MOMENTS "Happiness in the moment is different to happiness when you're looking back." "Empty happiness is a real thing. We only want to have happy moments that are not empty, that when we're looking back, they are actual happy moments." "Empty improvement is a real thing. How can you ensure that you're not delivering or having empty improvement?" "If you can encourage and create an environment where people are continuously improving regularly, then you're forming that habit." "Building the habit of problem solving whilst selling the destination of where you're trying to get to will build the desire." VALUABLE RESOURCESYou can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/ ABOUT THE HOSTFor 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.