The coaching question in this podcast might not be as common as others we have covered, but it is one we can personally relate to. Regardless of your role or expertise, there are times when we give it our all, putting everything we have to get something over the line, then we reset to the start and have to go again.  Sales targets reset each year, project manager complete their delivery only to get a new project, software engineers get the release out the door, and then start working on a new feature. Ricky and Paul explore what it take to have to reset, sometimes overnight, and the find the energy to go again.

This episode continues our series of common topics from coaching conversations.  In this episode, Paul and Graham consider the idea of 'people pleasing' - being helpful to the point of thier own detriment.   From understanding the difference between helpfulness and people pleasing, through to how to say no to the boss, Graham and Paul talk about what might be driving some of these behaviours and shat are the simple strategies that you can adopt to ensure you find the balance between helping and supporting the people around you, and ensuring that you protect your own time and wellbeing.

As we continue our mini-series of common topics from coaching conversations, in this podcast, Ricky and Paul explore why sometimes people feel drained at work, leaving them with an overall feeling of being tired. Clearly, at times, we can all burn the candle at both ends, but in coaching situations, this is often a sign of something deeper going on.  From doing work that is draining to the unintended consequences of the habits we adopt when our workload goes up, Ricky and Paul explore some potential causes and strategies to help maintain us through these peak times.

As part of our series of questions often raised in coaching conversations, in this episode of The Question Is, Paul and Graham explore the often asked, without ever being actually said, question: How do I know if I should change roles? Being ready to move on from your current role can be challenging. From not feeling like you have finished what you needed to do in the role to not feeling ready for the next role, changing jobs can be difficult and anxiety-inducing. There is rarely a good time to change roles, with opportunities presenting in manual ways at inappropriate times. Graham and Paul share their experience and pose the questions you need to ask yourself about opportunity, growth, and passion, which will help you understand when it is time to move, even when that might not have been in your plan.    

Every leadership role you undertake is slightly different.  Different people, different problems, different cultures, maybe just a different time and place.  Our ability to lead can be as much about the context or situation we find ourselves in as it is the skills we bring to the party! As part of our series of questions commonly raised in our coaching practice, Ricky and Paul explore the situation that many people find themselves in: doing the things that have always worked for them and finding that, for some reason, this time,, they do not get the outcomes they envisaged.

Feedback has been described as the breakfast of champions, but giving feedback can be one of the toughest things we have to do, with many people avoiding giving feedback if they possibly can. In this, another podcast in our series of questions from coaching conversations, Ricky and Graham focus on why some people find it so difficult to give good feedback and how developing your technique around feedback is a vital leadership skill. From why we find feedback so difficult, through to models and structures to make you better at feedback - if you want to help the people around you be better at what they do, then this podcast is for you.

Paul and Graham tackle saying no in this latest episode of the podcast where we look at the questions that are frequently raised in coaching sessions.  Saying no, especially to the boss, is one of the things most of us find hard to do. From the desire to say yes to the mindset that makes it okay to say no when that is the right thing to do, this episode explores all the aspects of saying no and offers some simple strategies to help you navigate these difficult conversations without ever having to actually say no.

There is an old saying in business psychology: People rarely leave a company; they normally leave a manager!  Not all bosses are good bosses, yet at the same time, not all bosses people think are bad are really bad bosses. Sometimes what appears as a difficult boss, is actually a different style that evokes a reaction from some of the people working for them.  Sometimes though, it is the managers behaviour that makes it difficult for those working for them. In this podcast, Ricky and Paul explore the different categories, from bosses who are just different to toxic bosses who may not provide the support their people deserve.

Continuing with our series of podcasts exploring questions that come up during coaching sessions, this podcast builds on episode 131, this time looking at how you find your purpose in life (not just work). In this episode, Ricky and Graham, chat about life's purpose, talking through the different areas of life, and the different things that motivate us in life.  They have a really open and honest conversation on how they have had to consider the different aspects of their own life, using the five balls or the wheel of life to ensure they consider all of the aspects of their life.

Most of us spend over a third of our time at work - until we get to retire!  Next to sleep is the part of our life that we spend the most time doing, yet often, we have no idea why we are there or what we are trying to achieve.  Yeah, we are there for the money, and that means hitting some goals, but is that enough? What makes work meaningful? What is our 'ripple on the universe'?  Without a clear understanding of why we are here, we risk mistaking what we do as our purpose and ignoring why we are doing it. This is one of the questions that regularly comes up in coaching.  In this podcast, Paul and Graham explore how coaches help people find their work purpose and how they can make work meaningful.

Continuing our journey into the questions that often come up in coaching sessions, in this podcast Richard and Paul explore how success in demanding jobs and work-life balance often can seem incompatible. Creating balance is a popular topic, with no end of articles and influencers talking about the tricks to create balance, or the sacrifices required to be successful.  However, the topic is more nuanced that commonly presented, as balance is a very personal thing, and what might look like as balance for one person, would feel like purgatory for another.   It is possible to create balance and have a demanding role, but as Richard and Paul discuss, this takes self-awareness, an ability to prioritise different aspects of your life and choices.

Uncertainty has become a very present factor of modern working life, yet almost all of us crave certainty and spend a lot of our time and effort working very hard to create as much of it as we can.  Only to find that uncertainty often wins out! In this podcast, part of a mini-series looking at the questions and topics that often come up in coaching sessions, Richard and Paul dive into the world of uncertainty.  They explore some of the ways that we can ensure that we don't get stuck waiting for certainty, or derailed when the world gets messy.  Uncertainty can feel disorienting and makes decisions far more complex, yet we can all learn the skills that enable us to lead, work, and succeed in an uncertain world.

Another podcast in our mini series exploring some of the questions that come up in coaching sessions, in this episode of the podcast, Richard and Paul discuss the questions that is asked without ever being asked, what are my values? Values are at the heart of behaviours, driving both purpose and actions. Yet, we are often oblivious to them and their impact on our decisions and perceptions of the world.  Paul and Richard explore their influence on our lives, how you can find out what your values are, and the ways they change at different stages of our lives.

Sometimes (at work) we get a little lost.  Maybe our actions are not working, our dreams suddenly appear unattainable, or we become disconnected from the purpose.  It may happen slowly over time or can be a sudden upheaval when things around us change. It can be very disconcerting to feel lost, yet many of us experience it at some point. As coaches, we are frequently asked the question, 'What's the point?'.  In this podcast Paul and Ricky explore how people may find themselves lost, and what they can do to reconnect with their purpose, or discover a new purpose that will give them the energy and desire to carry on.

Continuing our series of podcasts that explore the most common questions asked in coaching sessions, Rob and Paul explore the very common topic of time in this podcast.  A range of time questions come up, all of which centre around the genuine issue of having more things to do than the time available. Time management skills are essential to modern working but are only part of the story.  Most of us have jobs where the demands outstrip the time available, and in this episode, Paul and Rob explore the different mindset (and skills) required to ensure that the time you have is used in the best possible way.       Oh, and sorry about the audio quality on this one...  Just to be clear, this was not because we did not have enough time!

Let's face it, none of us really love getting feedback.  We know it is important, and helps us grow,  It is also hard to hear sometimes and often badly delivered.  Sometimes, it feels like it is easier to not be told, even though we know that is not really the right answer! This podcast is part of a series based on the questions that come up the most in coaching sessions. In this episode, Rob and Ricky explore how feedback can be helpful once you get past the emotive reaction it often creates. They also explore the different types of feedback that you might get and how best to reflect on and take action that will help you grow.

We are back with new podcasts for 2024, and we are starting the year with some of the questions that we get asked as coaches.    In this episode, Rob and Paul explore the question most new leaders ask themselves: What makes me worthy of being a leader? There are several reasons why people pose this question, from self-doubt, to seeing the capability of others (while not seeing our own strengths) or simply not seeing leadership for what it is. If this is a question you have asked yourself, then this podcast will help you think through all the reasons why you should be a leader, and come to terms with the fact that leaders are rarely experts, and experts are normally too busy exporting to lead.

There are moments, often, when we hit milestones that symbolise the end of something (like the end of a year), that we stop and take a moment to look back.  These moments are opportunities to reflect, to learn and to prepare to start again. Yet, in work, these moments are missed as we jump from project to project, urgent task to urgent task.  Urgency getting in the way of growth, learning and, most importantly, using this wisdom to focus on the things that will have the biggest impact on our goals. In this podcast, Ricky talks with Paul about the power of these moments, asking why these are so important, yet often undervalued in the workplace.  Of course, they also get into some simple ways that you can make your reflection time more effective and why this does not need to take very much time at all if you do it right.

It is that time of year, when we start to reflect on the year and promise ourselves that next year will be different.  Next year, we will be fitter, healthier, more successful and just so much better.  Sadly, for most of us, New Year's Resolutions have the nasty habit of fading away as life pushes us back to old habits and practices. So, what if this is the year? What if there is something that you want to change?  That is what Ricky wanted, so in this podcast, he finds out from our resident psychologist, Paul, what is required to make your New Year Resolutions stick.  Probably not a surprise, but these tips turn out to work for all goals.  So, even if you don't have the urge to reinvent yourself this podcast offers simple strategies to make sure that you stick at and pursue the goals that matter to you.

In this podcast, Rob and Ricky don their capes and dive into the world of stellar communication.  (what they get up to in their own time is up to them!) What does it take to be a true communication superhero in an era riddled with distractions, impatience, and information overload?  Being an effective communicator isn't just about conveying messages; it's about understanding, connecting, and making an impact. Yet, many of us falter, whether it's due to a lack of skills, a disregard for respect and courtesy, or simply a scattered focus and lack of purpose in our interactions.  In this episode, they dissect the critical skills that often go amiss in daily communications.  They look at areas such as the role of respect and courtesy in dialogue and deep into the importance of having a clear focus and purpose behind every word and gesture.  They also provide actionable steps, techniques, and insights to help you rise above these challenges. It's time to transition from a communication novice to a true communication superhero.  Capes are optional.     

Rob and Ricky as they dive headfirst into the intricate web of common communication pitfalls that leave many of us scratching our heads, wondering, "Where did that go wrong?"  Have you ever sat through a meeting and thought it was a complete waste of time? We explore the impact of poorly conducted meetings - how they not only drain our time but also our energy and productivity. We've all been there, and it's time to address the elephant in the room.  But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Assumptions. They say when you assume, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me." We delve into the dangers of making assumptions in communication, how they lead us astray, and the strategies to avoid them.  In our digital age, emails have become the backbone of corporate communication. But are they always effective? We discuss the overuse and misuse of email, leading to cluttered inboxes and missed messages. And as if that wasn't enough, we're also battling against the tide of information overload. 

With an alarming statistic revealing that a staggering 70% of errors in the workplace can be traced back to miscommunication, it's no wonder that businesses are feeling the pinch. Dive deeper, and you'll find that poor communication ranks as the number one concern for a majority of businesses, overshadowing even financial concerns or market competition.  But what really happens when communication goes awry? Trust erodes. The very foundation upon which business relationships are built begins to wobble. Employees start second-guessing, leading to serious doubts about the motives, integrity, and capabilities of their employers. The domino effect of this breakdown? A jaw-dropping cost of £50 - £70 Bn in lost productivity annually.  But there's more. As a result of these communicative missteps, 33% of employees report having low morale, feeling disengaged, and disheartened.   In this episode, Ricky and Rob not only highlight the challenges but also explore solutions and best practices to cultivate an environment of open, transparent, and effective communication. 

Did you know that, according to a Forbes (March 2023), only about a third of companies believe they communicate effectively?   In this episode, Rob and Ricky dive into the complex realm of communication, a skill so integral yet so frequently misinterpreted. They explore why most companies fail to communicate effectively and share some of the stumbling blocks hindering effective communication.  Consider this, when one individual errs, does everyone else receive a blanket message? We know this is not the best approach, so why does this keep happening? Ricky and Rob also delve into the human side of miscommunication.  Our emotions, ever a double-edged sword, often weave themselves seamlessly into our dialogues, clouding judgment and disrupting clear exchanges. Then there are assumptions – we all make them, but at what cost? Plus, we discuss the dangerous 'dance of ambiguity', where leaving things open to interpretation can spell disaster.

We have two primal fears: shame and death!  Evolutionary strong feelings that were designed to keep us alive, but not really designed for the modern workplace, yet these fears play out strongly in our day-to-day lives. In this episode of our mini-series on getting out of your own way, Richard and Ricky discuss how fear of failure might drive our behaviour, and not always in ways that make us more productive or easy to get on with!

We want people to be authentic in the workplace, to show up as they are, and to be their best selves.  Not only do we want to be authentic because it helps us build trust and better relationships, but it is easier - it takes less work just to be you. At the same time, we all want to fit it, show off our best bits and look good, so from time to time, we put effort into ensuring that others see us in the way that we want them to. In this podcast, Rob and Paul explore another way we might 'get in our own way', when we start to put some much effort into managing how we are seen, we don't have enough left in the tank to get things done.

Rob and Paul continue this mini-series within The Question Is podcast about some of the different ways that people 'get in their own way'.  This time we consider perfectionism.  Could perfectionism be an advantage, or are we confusing high standards, with nothing ever being quite good enough? Like most traits that get in our way, these habits were once useful, which is why they have become a habit.  Then, out of the blue, the very thing that was helping becomes the thing getting in the way.  Paul and Rob explore the fine line between driving to excel and perfectionism and discuss strategies for perfectionists to stay on the right side of the line.  

The feeling that you are an imposter, doing something you feel unqualified for or that you have no right to do.  Going to work every day with the feeling that this is the day when everyone will realise that you are there by mistake, and it is time for you to go.  Surprisingly, it is a very common feeling, one that most of us will experience at some point in our working life.  In this episode of the podcast, we continue to explore the different things that we do, getting in our own way.  Richard and Paul talk about imposter syndrome / phenomenon / thoughts (it has many names), look at why it exists, share their experience of having it, and explore strategies that might help you see the feeling in a completely different light.

Can you have a goal that is too big?  Or too small? In this episode of the podcast, Ricky and Rob explore how we can get in our own way when we pick goals that are either too easy or too hard.    They discuss how our belief in our ability to achieve the goal dramatically impacts how we approach it, so the best goals always fall within a 'goldilocks' zone of not too hard and not too easy; falling in the zone of just-right like the best porridge!  Even when we have the right level of belief, that on its own is not enough.  Rob and Ricky explore how the goal needs to be relevant to us, congruent with our overall priorities, before we will truly allocate the time needed to be successful.  

Confidence is an integral part of our own personal success.  With it we make bolder decisions, try and little harder and frame difficulties as obstacles, without it we become more cautious and only see barriers.  Not having confidence, in ourselves, the people around us or the situations we find ourselves in is one of the most common ways we get in our own way. In this podcast, Rob and Paul explore what confidence is, and how we get it.  Do we need confidence to do the things we do, or do we get confidence from doing them?  This is the classic psychological chicken and egg...     

Ever wondered why you can find so many things to do when you have something important to get done or why social media seems more interesting than the piece of work in front of you?    Most of us procrastinate from time to time, some of us more than others.  In this podcast, Paul and Ricky explore why we do and how it is often misunderstood (especially by those that don't do it as much). Importantly, they explore the different strategies for tackling procrastination when it gets in the way.     If you know someone who might find this or any of our other podcasts useful, can you do us a favour and share this with them?    You will be helping them and helping us.  Thanks  

When asked, 'what gets in your way?', most of us have the same answer.  Me! However hard we try, we cannot get out of our own way.  We spend our life erecting barriers for us to them climb over, acting like a critic and sometimes even being a bully to ourselves. This is the first of several podcasts exploring the different ways we get in our own way and looking at some simple things that any of us can do to reduce self-inflicted barriers.  Getting in your own way is perfectly normal, but you don't have to accept it as being inevitable. In this first podcast, Rob and Rich explore self-esteem.  How do we understand that we have self-worth in a hyperconnected world where we are asked to compare to highly edited versions of everyone else, yet we have a warts and all version of ourselves?

The idea that we think fast and slow (Daniel Kahneman) or like a chimp and a human (Steve Peters) has moved from the world of psychology and now is part of everyday understandings of human behaviour.  So, what is the impact of these two different ways of thinking have on leadership in organisations, and which one should leaders be using? Ricky and Rich discuss their observation of working with leaders and how their thinking drives the results and behaviours in themselves and their followers.  Where does fast thinking work, and where might slow thinking have the advantage?    

Why is it that some people thrive when change happens, and others seem to do so badly?  Change at work is almost the only constant left, yet many of us are really bad at handling it; missing the opportunities that change often presents.   In this podcast, Richard and Ricky explore what we can learn from the people who have handled change well.  What can all learn from their behaviours to ensure that the next time we face change at work, we can make the most of the situation? 

Dealing with unexpected change, especially when working with or in large organisations, has become a core skill every employee must master. Yet, many people find themselves unprepared for change when it happens and can find themselves struggling to cope. In this podcast, Paul and Rich explore why some people are good at dealing with change and others struggle. What makes some people resilient and how can the rest of us use the techniques for ourselves?

Change at work often takes us by surprise, appearing out of nowhere.  This makes sense when you think about it.  Organising and getting ready to announce change, big or small, takes a lot of work, with many moving factors.  When we are on the receiving end of change, we crave clarity - we probably don't want to be involved in the early changes when there are more questions than answers. Organisational change can, therefore, knock us for six. Blindsiding our carefully thought-through plans.  Some people take this in their stride, while others find it really hard to deal with.  Richard and Ricky explore why we react differently and consider how different people can see the same change in very different ways.

Talent conversations come in many shapes and sizes.  Talent is more than just how good you are today; it also encompasses how well you fit into the plans for tomorrow.  Your plans, the organisation's plans, and their plans....    What could possibly go wrong? Ricky and Paul tackle the conversations that leaders need to have to help the people around them understand where they are right now, what is expected of them and where they need to develop.   Talent conversations may not be easy, but with a bit of structure and thought, they can be positive and constructive interactions that help people grow.

Working out who the talented people are sounds easy, but it turns out to be quite complex for many leaders.  Loyalty and liking get in the way of tough decisions, and potentially get confused with performance.  We also ignore issues when they are small, making them really difficult to deal with once they become a problem. In this podcast, Paul and Ricky explore a model used by a lot of organisations to help them think about talent, and the different ways that people need to be managed to get the best out of them. The model, affectionately known as the nine-box talent grid, explores two distinct factors: current performance and future potential.   Performance is all about what they are doing today, whereas Potential considers what the organisation needs from them tomorrow.  How can we use this model to get the right people in the right place, and manage our people effectively? You can see a version of a nine box grid at https://thinkingfocus.com/how-do-you-work-out-who-your-talented-people-are/

Developing the skills and growing the people around us is, all too often, perceived as something that HR or L&D own.  The perception is that this has very little to do with day-to-day activities, maybe even getting in the way of doing the work.  Yet, without building the skills to do what is needed now and what will be needed next, it is impossible to achieve our goals. In this episode, Ricky and Paul propose that talent management is a leadership issue.  From setting the expectation of what skills are going to be needed to encouraging people as they grow, only leaders can create the environment and define a culture of growth. If you can attract the right people and remove the wrong ones, you have a much better chance of achieving your vision. 

Who is responsible for developing you so that your career progresses?    It used to be something that employers took responsible for; however, that may not be the case anymore.  In this podcast, Paul and Ricky explore the way that career development changes over your career and how modern careers may have to have quite different expectations around learning and development. So, ask yourself, who owns developing your career?  Is it you, or is it your boss?    

So what are the important things that leaders need to focus on to ensure that they are leading for success?  Does that change in a year like 2023, when, yet again, everything is up in the air? In this podcast Paul and Ricky consider what would be the five most important areas that a leader should focus on when leading in such uncertain in times.  They consider how this might be different from other years (hint, it isn't, it is just that this level of uncertainty is much less forgiving than normal), and offer some practical tips on where you can start.

In this special edition, one-hundredth episode of the podcast we explore the four key topics, Productivity, Change, Culture and Leadership to see if we can get each of them down to one piece of wisdom, well one piece each from Ricky, Rob, Rich and Paul.    Without creating any spoilers, you may have guessed that we did not get it down to one, or one per topic!    However, we did come up with some real nuggets for each of the areas, so listen in for a quick grounding in how to get things done in your organisation, department or team.

Every day in every workplace there are important conversations that just don't happen.  Conversations around performance, disagreements around strategy, information that may stop a mistake about to happen.  Important and beneficial conversations that don't happen. These are difficult conversations.  An exchange that may go wrong, get emotional or have future consequences.  In that moment, the cost of having the conversation seems so much bigger than the cost of not having the conversation in our heads.  We stay quiet, it is the safest approach.  Yet, in the long term, we end up dealing with the consequences of the things left unsaid. In this episode, Ricky and Paul discuss why we all do this and explore some techniques to make these conversations just a little easier.  

In the last of our short series of podcasts on questions, Rob and Ricky tackle the role of questions in critical thinking.  From exploring the advantages or disadvantages of different options to making decisions, asking the right questions allows us to cut through and get the best answers.  Great outcomes start with great questions.

Another short podcast in our mini-series on questions, this time Rob and Ricky look at the role of questions in making us think creatively.   Questions have the magical property of making you think, even when you don't want to, so with small shifts in the structure of the question, you can use questions to make anyone think more creatively.  

Continuing our short series on the power of questions, in this podcast, Rob and Ricky explore the role of questions in creating clarity. Questions are one of the easiest ways of engaging our minds.  In fact, they are sneaky, as it is almost impossible not to think about a question when asked, even if you don't want to answer it.   Questions can help us sort through the noise to discover exactly what we want, when we want it, and how we will know when we get there.

As part of a mini-series on the power of questions, Ricky and Rob look at the role of questions, why they are an important tool for leaders and managers and discuss why they work. From the way we ask questions, to using questions to helping others think, this podcasts asks questions about questions.

So, you have spent hours working out how best to run your meeting or workshop, you have a plan, you have the timing perfect...  then the workshop starts, and you watch as your plan gets up and leaves the building! In this podcast, Paul gets experienced facilitators Richard and Rob to share some of their secrets so that you look like everything is running to plan; you end up exactly where you said you would end up, even if you don't quite know how you got there.

Often to get to the heart of a problem or strategy, you need to create an honest and open exchange of views, yet you don't want it to tip over into an argument or the participants becoming overly emotional. In this podcast, Paul explores this with experienced facilitators Richard and Rob to find out how they find the balance, getting everything on the table, even surfacing controversial opinions, while ensuring the group works together and continues to support each other.