Continuing our series on facilitation, Paul asks Rob and Richard how they create the trust and 'safety' required to get honesty and openness from workshop participants. Creating a safe space is one of the primary responsibilities of a facilitator. If you get the environment and dynamic wrong, it may cause people to close down, limiting the ideas, challenge and acceptance of the group.  Getting it wrong makes the facilitator's role harder. A series of simple interventions, from the room layout to the first few minutes, can make all the difference, even though the group may not even notice you are doing it.

The Thinking Focus team have facilitated workshops all over the world.  We facilitate thinking for companies large and small, as well as charities, and government bodies; if you have something that you need the team to think about, then the team can help. In this short series, Paul talks to Richard and Rob to understand how master facilitators work, giving you some inside tips on how to be a better facilitator, so you can get better outcomes in the meeting you are running. This first podcast explores the thinking of the facilitator when they are planning the workshop, from the goal to the group; what do you need to know?

We spend most of the time with our brains on 'autopilot'.  We are thinking at a subconscious level, causing us to act without being truly aware of what we are doing.   This handy little trick helps us get through the day, making the most of the energy available and freeing up our conscious mind to work on the more important stuff, like 'what's for dinner?'. Rob and Ricky explore in this podcast how you can turn off this automatic process, so you can take conscious control of the things that you really need to think about, not just respond to.

Every time we learn something new we have to connect that to our world, to understand how that new piece of information or skill will work for us.  Knowing is not enough, we have to integrate the new into our existing understanding of the world.  That takes reflection. In this podcast, Ricky and Rob explore why reflection is so important and offer up different strategies that will help you reflect, and therefore embed, your learning.

How many goals should you have?   Should you have goals for everything, or just focus on one thing?   Ricky and Rob have one goal in this podcast, to talk about how many goals should have if you want to make sure you achieve all of the goals that you set yourself.

Ricky and Rob get ARCI in this podcast, looking at how (and why) people often confuse accountability and responsibility.   The RACI model is a great tool to help understand different roles and responsibilities, but is Responsible (the R in RACI) really the place to start, or should Accountable go first? 

Someone, probably a past manager, will have talked to you about time management at some point in your working life.  You won't be alone if these conversations have left you feeling that if you could just organise your time a little bit better, you would suddenly become so much more successful. In this podcast, Rob and Paul explore this idea and pull apart the myths behind time management, suggesting that the alternative might be just to be better at managing your attention and choices.

In this episode of the podcast, we explore motivation.  Ricky and Paul consider why the typical motivational strategy of rewards and consequences (Carrot and Stick) might not be getting the best out of your team.  They consider why this approach is so common when it has such a limited impact, and discuss alternative strategies that will create more engaged and motivated team members.  

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you try and do things and it works, and sometimes you try and things just don't come together for you? In this podcast Ricky and Rob talk about three steps in our thinking that leads to getting stuff done. If you can create Clarity about your outcome, be more Creative in your ideas while using Critcial thinking to ensure you focus your energy on the right areas, then you increase your chances of getting stuff done. At the heart of this is our thinking model Fooodo; you can find out more about the FoooDo at https://bit.ly/TF-FoooDo You can also download the O! ideas worksheet at https://bit.ly/0_ideas

People underperform in sales (and other roles) for several reasons, in this podcast we will explore how mindset can be one of the biggest reasons why people underperform.  Sales can be easier than other roles to spot when people underperform given the metrics available but identifying the factors behind underperformance is not so easy.    What do we mean by mindset?  Our experience of psychology points to limiting beliefs and assumptions that cause people to get in their own way.  Mark Davies and Ricky Muddimer explore the topic in more detail asking how you can unlock the mindset of your people to free them up to perform. 

People underperform in sales (and other roles) for several reasons, in this podcast we explore the environment we create.    Sales can be easier than other roles to spot when people underperform given the metrics available but identifying the factors behind underperformance is not so easy.    What do we mean by environment?  It may sound obvious; in our experience, it’s not, which is why Mark Davies and Ricky Muddimer explore the topic in more detail and what we mean by creating an environment for your people to perform. 

People underperform in sales (and other roles) for several reasons, in this podcast we will explore the skills aspect of the role.    Sales can be easier than other roles to spot when people underperform given the metrics available but identifying the factors behind underperformance is not so easy.    What do we mean by skills?  It may sound obvious; in our experience, it’s not, which is why Mark Davies and Ricky Muddimer explore the topic in more detail and what we mean by skills and why looking at skills more broadly is so important.

People underperform in sales (and other roles) for several reasons, in this podcast, we will explore the knowledge aspect of a role.  Sales can be easier than other roles to spot when people underperform given the metrics available but identifying the factors behind underperformance is not so easy.    What do we mean by knowledge?  Mark and Ricky explore what we mean by knowledge, discussing why knowledge is more than just job knowledge and exploring why it’s important.  What is the knowledge requirement by your team, if you expect them to perform?

This is the last of our podcasts around our leadership model.  This time we explore the leader's role in process. Leadership creates stability and change, and this dichotomy shines through when it comes to process.  How do leaders deal with the dual roles of creating efficient and consistent approaches, while at the same time continually improving to make them better, or occasionally transforming them to create competitive advantage? Doing both of these is something many leaders find difficult; Rob and Paul consider why this is and what you can do about it.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

Continuing our series on the day to day leadership, and what is it that leaders do.  This time we consider the balance between being the leader and being a subject matter expert.   Often people are asked to become leaders because of their strong technical skills; then they are expected to step back from the day-to-day and let others do the work.  If they can balance the demands of expert and leader then they empower their team, providing expert direction, growing team skills and providing governance.  If they get the balance wrong, they risk becoming the limit of the team's ability.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership  

Leaders want their followers to take accountability for their deliverables.  Most leaders think about what they can do to get more accountability, yet rarely consider what they might be doing that is destroying the very accountability that they are looking for. Paul, Ricky and Rob explore what accountability means, and how leaders can create a culture where people own things, or how they might be accidentally driving a culture where people avoid being accountable because it is seen as too risky.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

Another podcast exploring the role of a leader. This time we dive into engagement.  How do leaders create engage followers? To us, engagement is more than just making sure people like working here.  It is the way that leaders connect people to purpose, the team and the plan.  This is an ongoing role, constantly needing updating and resetting as the team gets buffeted by day-to-day challenges.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

This is another podcast in our series about the actual things that leaders do.  This time Richard, Rob and Ricky talk feelings!  In particular, they discuss the leader's role in managing feelings; dealing with conflict, smoothing over loss when difficult decisions need to be made and most importantly creating a psychologically safe environment where people can flourish. Leaders who ignore the people elements of the role risk damaging their own productivity and put their underlying purpose at risk.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

The last 18 months has radically changed the way that we work.  The old culture no longer applies, but the temporary culture we have been working with cannot move us forward. Now is a time for cultural re-set for many organisations, but how can leaders shape this cultural change, to encompass the best bits from lockdown working; driving automony, collaboration and accountability. Ricky, Rich and Paul consider how leaders can become role models and create cultural standards by lifting the culture and empowering, and not dumbing it down for everyone when it gets challenging.

This time on the podcast, we ask a very relevant question for the last quarter of 2021, as we work through this strange lull in the pandemic, trying to act like it is over yet without being really sure that it is. This leads to a feeling that we should be getting back to normal, yet for many going back to what they were doing still feels a way off.  As leaders, how do we engage people who have lost their sense of purpose, or are having to do something slightly different as their organisation adjusts and repositions?

Once upon a time running a business was all about having the right resources or equipment, yet for most 21st-century organisations it is the people that make all the difference.   In this podcast Ricky, Rob and Rich explore the leader's responsibility to ensuring that they have the right people to deliver their vision.  From attracting the right people in the first place to developing the skills and experience required to deliver tomorrow, leaders have to invest in their talent, because talent is the only thing we have to make our businesses unique.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

Often leaders have more influence over what does not get done than what does.  From creating the boundaries that keep the team focused on the core objectives, to deciding where best to focus resources, the leader needs to help the team focus on the areas that will have the biggest impact on the goal and higher purpose.   In this podcast, Paul, Rob and Ricky explore how leaders manage the Scope, ensuring that the resources are directed towards the purpose, even if this means making difficult choices to leave some things undone.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do. It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader. You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

Part of a leader's role is to share the purpose or vision with others - to turn them into followers who can help achieve the vision.  This is much easier to do when your leadership goal is to try and change the world, but what if you just want to be the best at whatever it is you do - why, and how, do these leaders build their tribe? Rob, Ricky and Paul explore the idea of building a tribe; a group of followers who range from active participants to supporters engaged in their own projects, supporting you from the sidelines.   This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do.  It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader.  You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

We are purpose-driven creatures.  We need to understand why we do what we do, meaning creates the motivation to do whatever it is we need to do.  Yet, often, leaders leave the purpose to chance, allowing team members to work it out for themselves.   In this podcast Rob, Rich and Paul explore why leaders need a higher purpose, something that explains why we are doing what we are doing, to drive the team forward, to allow them to priorities resources and to know when they can say no. This podcast is part of a series about the role of leaders, exploring the nuts and bolts of what leaders need to do.  It is based on a model (we created) to help aspiring leaders work out what it means to be a leader.  You can find the model, and details of all the areas at www.thinkingfocus.com/what-is-leadership

With many organisations considering hybrid working, what does that change about the ways that we manage people?  Ricky and Paul walk through some of the key areas that managers need to consider if they are leading a  team that combines working styles - office, home and various hybrid options. In some ways, managing a team is managing a team, and where the team works should not make much difference.  Yet, in other ways, mixing home workers and office workers can create some unique challenges that will require teams, and managers, to change their approach to maintain peak performance.

As the pandemic lockdown hopefully draws to a close, many of us are starting to consider how will we work going forward. Will we return to the office as if nothing happened, or will many people carry on working from home? Many organisations are considering hybrid working, splitting the working week between home and office, but is this a simple as it sounds?  In this podcast, Paul and Ricky explore some of the challenges and advantages, from power to personality, collaboration to management style; we think about what needs to happen to make this approach work for everyone.

Leadership roles require different cognitive skills than many of the roles we do earlier on in our careers, but often we are expected to work this out for ourselves. In this podcast, Richard and Ricky explore what this means. What is different about the way in which senior people need to think, and what does that mean for them and the way that they work? This podcast is the last of four podcasts considering what is required of anyone who wants to take a senior role or highly demanding job in an organisation. You can find out more about the four areas and how we use them at http://www.thinkingfocus.com/pillars-of-leadership

Leadership roles, big all-encompassing roles can be great fun, but doing them can have a big impact on your physical and mental health. While it might look like the people who end up in these top jobs just have natural resilience. However, for many, resilience is actually part of their leadership discipline.  In this podcast, Richard and Paul reflect on the habits and behaviours that they have seen in leaders who continually build their resilience to ensure they have the physical and mental health to deal with the demands of the role.   This podcast is the third of four podcasts considering what is required of anyone who wants to take a senior role or highly demanding job in an organisation. You can find out more about the four areas and how we use them at http://www.thinkingfocus.com/pillars-of-leadership

While sometimes it is hard to admit, if you have a big job, such as a senior leadership role, it does impact almost every part of your life.  To operate successfully in these demanding roles, you need to be able to find a balance between work and private lives that works for you and for the others in your life.  Managing this balance, and some of the conflict that naturally arises out of it is something that is often only tackled when problems arise. Richard and Ricky explore how leaders can develop a clear understanding of their priorities (work and home) and engage their families in the decisions about how to manage the demands of their role.   This podcast is the second of four podcasts considering what is required of anyone who wants to take a senior role or highly demanding job in an organisation. You can find out more about the four areas and how we use them at http://www.thinkingfocus.com/pillars-of-leadership  

Senior people need high levels of awareness to be able to do their jobs effectively, but what exactly does it mean to be more aware.  In this podcast, Richard and Paul discuss how awareness of self, others, their organisation and the market place is different as people rise in organisations, and for those wishing to do so how they might start developing that awareness. This podcast is the first of four podcasts considering what is required of anyone who wants to take a senior role or highly demanding job in an organisation. You can find out more about the four areas and how we use them at HTTP://www.thinkingfocus.com/pillars-of-leadership 

Do you need to understand others to be able to lead them, or is a compelling idea or vision enough? In this podcast, Richard and Paul explore the role of empathy in our lives, talking through what empathy is, and the advantages and disadvantages of empathy to leaders. Can people who master empathy can utilise this trait to become more effective leaders?

How important is trust for leaders?  Is it possible to lead teams without building trust between leader and followers, or is trust an essential leadership skill? Rob and Paul explore trust in leadership relationships by exploring what trust is and how that impacts leadership when it is done well, and what happens when trust is missing.

All of us can be hard on ourselves sometimes, but when we are under pressure, or stressed, or like right now worn out after a difficult year, sometimes our inner critic can be very harsh. In this podcast, Richard and Rob explore why this happens and some of the things that we might be doing that with a little awareness we can take control of and change our thinking to make it more helpful and hopeful.

Lockdown just seems to go on and on, and even though the end is finally in sight, for lots of people it feels like this last bit might be the hardest.  If you have people in your organisation that look like they are running on empty, then in this podcast Ricky and Paul will help you understand what might be causing this and provide practical tips to help you to help them.  

This year has been tough, leaving many people drained, some days struggling to find the energy to get through the day.  Why have the last few months been so draining, and what can we do about it? This time on the podcast, Rich and Paul explore resilience and discuss small changes that any of us can do to build our resilience back up.  These simple strategies can be used to help ensure ourselves, our team members and even family and friends are better equipped to cope.  

As lockdowns continue in many countries around the world, we wondered why this time feels so much harder than the first lockdown back in March. With their change management heads on, Ricky, Richard and Paul talk about the factors that are causing us to struggle.  We cannot promise any answers but hopefully can shed a little light on why we might all be feeling it a little more right now.

As we start 2021, still in lockdown, managing teams that we no longer get to meet each other, while teaching the kids and learning to live without leaving the house; it is easy to imagine that you may not be winning. As people take on more and more, finding their own way through the new ways of working and living, this may be the time to re-think what success looks like.  Ricky and Rich explore how, at times, we set unrealistic expectations and miss the real successes we have.

As Leaders and Managers, we very influential in the creation of the culture in the teams that we lead.   Taking an idea from sports psychology, are we creating a Challenge or a Threat culture?  A Challenge culture that encourages our people to step up and take risks, whereas a Threat culture creates limits as our people, focusing their efforts on remaining safe. In our last podcast of 2020, Richard, Rob, Ricky and Paul explore what a Challenge culture might mean for us as leaders, and how we might unknowingly be creating the threat culture that limits our potential.

At some point in our career, probably when we feel like we are giving everything we have, someone above us in the organisation tells us that now is the time to step.  This has never been more true than this year where all of our plans have gone awry, yet we still need to close out the year and get things back on track. Maybe you are that manager, being asked to have the difficult 'stepping up' conversation with your team, yet sensing that they don't see the situation quite the same way you do. In this podcast, Ricky and Paul explore why we all react differently when being asked to give more at work, and how as managers we can communicate better with the people around us so that they do not interpret stepping up as secret code for longer hours.

Has the lockdown experience impacted the way that you manage or interact with the people around you? The current high levels of uncertainty might be causing you, or your boss, to become much more hands-on in the day to day workload than you used to be. Ricky and Rob talk about what might be driving this change in behaviour and how you can let go to empower the people around you again.

Ever feel like you are out of your depth?  It is estimated that 7 out of 10 people will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their life.   In this episode, Richard, Rob, Ricky and Paul explore this common phenomenon; looking at the causes, sharing personal experiences of having to deal with it and considering strategies to help people to use the feeling to help them become more successful.

When things change we become a little uncertain for a while.  With large scale organisational change, this uncertainty can become almost paralysing for some people, and right now we are all experiencing more change than any of us are used to.  There is change both at work and at home, and it is impacted on almost every aspect of our lives. We look to leaders to help us create certainty and stability, but how do you lead out of so much confusion?  Paul and Rob explore how leaders can bring people together and create the certainty that we need to move forward together.

The way we work has changed more in the last few months than any other time in our working lives.  Who will be the winners? Political styles that might have worked well in the office may not be as effective when working remotely.  However, ignoring the politics is equally as bad.    Rob and Paul explore political styles during change, asking how do we find a balance between doing the right thing and getting what we want?

2020 is probably not working out quite as you had planned, that is certainly the case for us at Thinking Focus.  If we carry on with our plans as if nothing has happened, then risk running out of steam chasing impossible targets.  When things go off track, you need to reset the targets and expectations, moving the focus to achievable yet ambitious goals that start moving back in the right direction.   Richard and Ricky explore how you can quickly reset the goals, help the people around you let go of the past and embrace the new challenges in front of you.

This year the summer break could not come quick enough, work has been hard this year and most of us needed a break.  We hope that the people in our teams can take some time to recharge and come back 'raring to go'.   But what if they don't?  What if, this year, teams find themselves heading into the last quarter drained and apathetic?    In this podcast, Paul and Richard explore what might be causing this and what can we, as leaders, do to help.     This podcast was recorded while we are still in lockdown.  Like most people, we are working from home (kids and pets may appear at any time).  We are still focused on the questions that are getting in the way.

2020 has been a year of change unlike any other for most of us, with many still coming to terms with the different ways of working (and living) that have been forced upon us.  There is little sign that the 'normality' that existed at the start of the year is going to return any time soon. What is the impact of this longing for a return to simpler times?  Richard and Paul discuss how leaders can help people let go and start to embrace a new normal.   This podcast was recorded while we are still in lockdown.  Like most people, we are working from home (kids and pets may appear at any time).  We are still focused on the questions that are getting in the way.