Lee talks about the significance of language in the context of business improvement. He explores the use of Japanese terminology, often adopted from Toyota's principles, and the debates surrounding the choice between using familiar English words or introducing new terms. Lee emphasises that words are merely labels and that the real challenge lies in the thoughts and actions they inspire in others. He presents three approaches to introducing new concepts: challenging existing definitions, using foreign words to bypass biases, or creating entirely new terms. Ultimately, Lee underscores the importance of aligning language with the desired actions to ensure that everyone is doing the right thing at the right time, every time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Language as Labels: Words are merely labels for concepts or objects, and the meanings we attach to them can vary significantly among individuals. Understanding this can help in effective communication and change management.

2. Three Approaches to Language in Improvement: When introducing new concepts, one can either challenge existing definitions, use foreign terms to avoid biases, or create entirely new words. Each approach has its own implications for understanding and acceptance.

3. Importance of Thought Creation: The primary goal of using language is to create specific thoughts in others that lead to desired actions. It's essential to focus on the thoughts generated by the words used rather than the words themselves.

4. Emotional Connection: Words and actions should aim to evoke feelings, as emotions play a crucial role in influencing behaviour. As Maya Angelou famously said, people may forget what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel.

5. Alignment of Thinking and Action: To achieve effective outcomes, it is vital to align the thinking of individuals with the desired actions. Misalignment can lead to confusion and hinder progress, making it crucial to ensure clarity in communication.

BEST MOMENTS

"Words are just labels that we give that thing... and we may use the same word to articulate a completely different point."

"It comes down to the thinking and the thoughts that are created with the words that we use."

"The name of something is just a label. It's the thinking that you're creating in the people that you are wanting to do something that is important."

"It's a thinking challenge, not a new dictionary challenge. We want to create the right thoughts in the people to do the right thing."

"People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but never forget how you made them feel."

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 intricacies of leading effective daily conversations within organisations. Building on previous discussions about tiered meeting structures, Lee outlines 12 essential skills that leaders need to master to engage their teams and maximise contributions. He emphasises the importance of creating a safe environment for open communication, interpreting information clearly, and transitioning from information-sharing to actionable steps. By addressing common pitfalls and offering practical approaches, Lee encourages leaders to reflect on their capabilities and seek support in facilitating impactful daily meetings.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Daily Conversations: Regular meetings, whether called stand-ups, huddles, or performance cells, are crucial for engaging teams, aligning information, and ensuring everyone is on track to meet organisational goals.

• Leader Preparedness: Leaders must be equipped to facilitate effective daily conversations. This includes skills in public speaking, engaging team members, and creating a safe environment for open communication.

• Structured Approach: A successful daily meeting should follow a structured approach, including setting the tone, interpreting information clearly, asking open-ended questions, and ensuring clarity on next steps and accountability.

• Encouraging Participation: Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to share their thoughts and feelings without judgment, promoting a culture of collaboration and collective problem-solving.

• Motivation and Clarity: At the end of each meeting, it’s essential to ensure that team members leave feeling motivated and clear about their roles and responsibilities for the day, which contributes to overall productivity and morale.

BEST MOMENTS

"Done right, these can be the most powerful opportunity to engage your people and enable them to maximise their contribution."

"Just because they lead a team does not mean that they can lead an effective daily conversation."

"You want to create as many thoughts in your people. You want to get as many ideas and suggestions from your people as possible."

"How comfortable are you as a leader getting a single owner for activities and actions and then pinning them down to a date?"

"You want people to feel motivated, positive and ready to go and make a positive contribution today."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee talks about the crucial concept of connection within the framework of successful change initiatives. He reflects on his frequent use of the term "connection" and emphasises its importance as the first of the Four Cs: Connection, Conversation, Collaboration, and Celebration. Lee shares insights on how to foster genuine connections with team members, highlighting the significance of understanding individuals on a personal level, communicating transparently, and adapting communication styles to suit different audiences. He also discusses the value of creating an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and the importance of celebrating small wins to maintain morale.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Importance of Connection: Connection is the foundation of effective communication and change management. It is essential to prioritise building relationships before introducing tools or processes.

2. Person-Centric Approach: To foster connection, it's crucial to view team members as individuals with unique experiences, challenges, and motivations. Taking the time to understand them enhances trust and openness.

3. Transparent Communication: Open and honest communication is vital for building trust. Clearly explaining the reasons behind changes and how they benefit both the organisation and the team encourages engagement.

4. Adaptability in Communication: Tailoring communication styles to suit different audiences is important. Understanding how individuals prefer to receive information can significantly enhance connection and engagement.

5. Fostering Inclusion and Celebrating Wins: Creating an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued strengthens connection. Additionally, recognising and celebrating small wins keeps morale high and encourages ongoing engagement.

BEST MOMENTS

"Connection is the start of the Four Cs: Connection, Conversation, Collaboration, Celebration."

"Tools don't lead people. Tools can't influence. Tools can't inspire. People do these things."

"Open and honest communication is the cornerstone of connection."

"Finding common ground takes time, takes your ability to ask questions, but also having a genuine interest in that person."

"Connection is far more than a word. Connection is a feeling between two people."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee engages in a great conversation with Tommy, a video testimonial expert originally from Leeds, now residing in Malta. Tommy shares his unique journey from a challenging upbringing to discovering the power of video testimonials in business. He emphasises the importance of creating a safe space for clients to express their feelings and experiences, which ultimately leads to authentic and impactful testimonials. Throughout the discussion, Tommy provides valuable insights on how to maximise the effectiveness of video testimonials, the significance of emotional connection in storytelling, and the art of asking the right questions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Importance of Emotional Connection: Building a safe space for clients to share their feelings and experiences is crucial. This emotional connection leads to more authentic and impactful video testimonials.

2. Value of Real Results: Effective video testimonials focus on concrete outcomes rather than abstract benefits. Testimonials should highlight specific results, such as increased leads, reduced stress, or improved relationships.

3. Maximizing Testimonials: To get the most out of video testimonials, ensure they are easily accessible to clients and suppliers, incorporate them into webinars, and reuse the entire interview content for additional marketing materials.

4. Ongoing Relationships: Maintaining strong connections with clients is essential. Regular check-ins and accountability help ensure that clients utilise the services they’ve paid for, leading to better outcomes and referrals.

5. Storytelling Through Questions: Asking open-ended questions that encourage clients to share their stories and feelings can reveal deeper insights. This approach not only enhances the quality of testimonials but also fosters a more engaging and relatable narrative.

BEST MOMENTS

"What I noticed was that after a short amount of time, the way he wrote sounded like the way I talked. And I liked that. The light bulb went off."

"How do you make somebody feel safe? Because in every business, we want everybody to feel safe and that they can contribute their thoughts."

"A great testimonial talks about real results, not abstract ones that are kind of all feel good, but no substance."

"I realised that the trick to getting people to hang around longer with you was to get them to open up and feel like they were the ones who had the spotlight."

"It's all about connection and relationships... It's about how you deal with people."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee engages in a compelling conversation with former professional goalkeeper Lee Robinson, who has transitioned into a modern-day goalkeeping coach and entrepreneur. They discuss Robinson's journey from a challenging football career to his mission of transforming goalkeeping training through innovative methods and specialized gloves. The episode delves into the importance of character, work ethic, and decision-making in goalkeeping, contrasting traditional views that prioritise physical attributes like height. Robinson shares insights on how he aims to empower young goalkeepers by encouraging them to embrace mistakes in training to enhance their performance in games. This episode not only highlights the parallels between sports and business leadership but also emphasizes the significance of mentorship and personal growth in achieving success.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Character Over Size: The importance of a goalkeeper's character and decision-making skills outweighs physical attributes like height. A smaller goalkeeper with a strong character can be more effective than a taller one lacking in these qualities.

2. Learning from Mistakes: Making mistakes in training is essential for growth. The approach encourages goalkeepers to make errors during practice to avoid repeating them in games, fostering a mindset that values learning over perfection.

3. Innovative Training Methods: The use of specialised training gloves that challenge goalkeepers to improve their catching skills and decision-making under pressure. This method aims to make training more realistic and beneficial for performance in actual games.

4. Mental Health Awareness: Acknowledging the mental challenges faced by goalkeepers, including feelings of inadequacy and pressure. The discussion highlights the need for support and guidance to help young players navigate these challenges effectively.

5. Changing Goalkeeping Norms: Advocating for a shift in how goalkeeping is perceived and trained, moving away from traditional methods that focus solely on physicality and technique. The goal is to inspire a new generation of goalkeepers who are confident, skilled, and capable of making smart decisions on the field.

BEST MOMENTS

"I want to give the benefit of all my underachievements and failures and hard times and help these young goalkeepers not have to deal with what I had to go through."

"I think you should have to earn the right to call yourself a professional instead of just leaving school and a couple weeks later having a professional contract."

"The best goalkeepers aren't the best technically; they're the best decision makers under pressure."

"What you did in those camps absolutely engages the heads of the goalkeepers, engages the hearts of them because they love it, and fundamentally engages the hands and the footwork."

"You have to make more mistakes in training to make less in a game."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

In this episode of "Business Problems Solved," host Lee Horton explores the concept of PIP—People, Information, and Product—and explores how these three critical elements must flow harmoniously for an organisation to achieve operational excellence. Lee discusses the importance of engaging the head, heart, and hands of the organisation, highlighting key challenges such as misalignment between teams, burnout, and information overload. He offers practical strategies to foster effective people flow, streamline information flow, and optimise product flow, emphasising the need for connection, conversation, collaboration, and celebration within teams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Understanding PIP Flow: PIP stands for People, Information, and Product (or Process and Services). Achieving operational excellence requires these three elements to flow harmoniously within an organization.

2. Challenges to People Flow: Key challenges include misalignment between teams, burnout or low morale, and siloed collaboration. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering a motivated and engaged workforce.

3. Importance of Information Flow: Effective information flow is essential for informed decision-making. Challenges include horizontal and vertical communication breakdowns and information overload, which can hinder timely and accurate decisions.

4. Optimizing Product Flow: Product flow represents the processes and actions involved in delivering goods and services. Challenges include bottlenecks, balancing speed with quality, and inflexibility in processes. Streamlining these processes is vital for efficiency.

5. The Four C's Framework: To orchestrate harmony in PIP flow, organizations should focus on connecting people to the vision, fostering constant conversations, collaborating across functions, and celebrating successes while reflecting on areas for improvement.

BEST MOMENTS

"Does your pip flow or does your pit squeak? PIP stands for People, Information, and Product or Process and Services."

"Achieving operational excellence means orchestrating these three flows so that they work seamlessly together."

"The heart represents the emotion, the energy, the culture, the motivation of its people, driving engagement and collaboration."

"If the energy and motivation are stifled, information flow suffers, which is the head."

"Success is not zero problems. Success is a culture of openness and proactivity in dealing with them."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Join Lee as he talks about the critical theme of choices and their impact on personal and professional growth. He emphasises that every decision we make, whether automatic or deliberate, shapes our future and the outcomes we achieve. Lee introduces a framework for making effective choices, highlighting three key components: awareness, evaluation, and commitment. He also shares practical strategies for making better decisions, such as aligning choices with core values, prioritizing long-term benefits over short-term gratification, and seeking diverse perspectives. Additionally, he warns against impulsive decision-making, avoiding responsibility, and clinging to the status quo out of fear. Tune in to discover how to empower yourself and your team to make informed choices that lead to meaningful results.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Choices: Life and business revolve around the choices we make. Every decision, whether big or small, influences our future and the outcomes we achieve.

• Three Key Components of Making Choices: Effective decision-making involves three steps:

• Awareness: Recognising that a decision needs to be made and understanding the available options.

• Evaluation: Weighing the pros and cons of each option and aligning them with personal values and goals.

• Commitment: Taking action on the chosen option and being responsible for the outcome.

• Best Practices for Making Choices: To achieve desired results, focus on:

Aligning decisions with core values and long-term goals.

Prioritising long-term benefits over short-term gratification.

Seeking diverse perspectives to gain insights and avoid blind spots.

• Avoiding Poor Decision-Making: Steer clear of:

Acting on impulse, which can lead to poor outcomes.

Avoiding responsibility for decisions, which limits personal growth and learning.

Sticking to the status quo out of fear, which can hinder progress and innovation.

• Creating a Supportive Environment: Leaders should foster an environment where team members feel safe to make choices. This involves providing clarity on options, encouraging evaluation, and supporting commitment to decisions, ultimately leading to collective progress towards goals.

BEST MOMENTS

"Do not leave your change initiatives to chance. You need to really think about the choices that you're making and the choices that you're enabling."

"A choice is a deliberate act of will, shaped by your values, beliefs, and the circumstances you find yourself in."

"Making a choice is not just about selecting an option, it's about committing to it and taking action."

"The best choices are those that are aligned with your values and your goals."

"Every choice you make is a step towards shaping your future, the team's future, your business's future."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.

Lee explores the crucial topic of behaviours and how they impact our daily actions. He introduces the concept of ACT - Attitude, Choices, and Technique - as the key components of behaviour. He emphasises the importance of having the right attitude, making conscious choices, and executing tasks with the correct technique to achieve success in business and personal endeavours. By framing behaviors in this way, Lee encourages listeners to reflect on their own actions and consider how they can improve their attitude, decision-making, and skills.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Behaviour Definition: A behavior is defined as an observed act, emphasising the importance of actions being visible and tangible.

• ACT Framework: The ACT acronym breaks down behaviours into Attitude, Choices, and Technique, highlighting the key components that influence actions.

• Attitude: Having the right attitude, whether positive or negative, plays a significant role in shaping behaviours and outcomes.

• Choices: Making decisions, whether right or wrong, is crucial as it allows for learning and progress while making no choice hinders growth.

• Technique: The execution of actions with the right technique is essential for success, emphasising the importance of honing skills and capabilities.

BEST MOMENTS

"The best thing you can do is make the right choice. The second best thing you can do is make the wrong choice."

"And if we're here to influence habits and behaviours in everybody, then we need to help everybody act in the right way every time."

"So just by thinking about making the right or wrong choices, having the right or wrong attitude and the right or wrong technique, makes me think about and perform better."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.