How will I know when it is time to change roles?

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.

Posted On October 9, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Podcasts, The question is /

Why is this leadership role harder than my last one?

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.

Posted On September 11, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, The question is /

Leading to Here with Jon Dawson

Meet Jon Dawson, a keen follower of his beloved Everton Football Club and the UK and Ireland Director of STAAR Surgical, a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™). Their lenses provide visual freedom to patients, lessening or eliminating the reliance on glasses or contact lenses.

Jon’s inspiring career started in the family business, a local printer. He took it upon himself to go door to door to drum up business in his local area. He navigated various sales and management roles before taking the opportunity to lead STAAR’s strategy in the UK and Ireland.

Posted On August 30, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Leading to here, Podcasts /

Why do I find giving feedback so difficult?

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.

Posted On August 14, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

How Do I Say No (To Senior People)?

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.

Posted On July 31, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

How do I deal with a bad boss?

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 manager’s 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.

Posted On July 19, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, The question is /

Leading to here with Rachel Hurst

This episode of Leading to Here is a must-listen for everyone looking for inspiration, especially women in business.

It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with Rachel Hurst, the Chief Operating Officer of Domino Printing Sciences. She’s understated, thoughtful, and nothing short of a trailblazer in her field. A successful woman in a male-dominated world, she has overcome obstacles and challenges to excel as she carved out her career in engineering.

Rachel has sat on the board of a FTSE 250 company, seen many acquisitions, and was part of a team that found a new parent company in Brother, which went on to acquire Domino to unlock huge market potential while maintaining its core values.

Rachel’s story is a beacon of inspiration for those seeking personal and professional growth. Her journey is particularly empowering for female leaders, aspiring female engineers, and women in business. Despite her natural introversion and shyness, she’s a leader who removes blockages and creates an environment for people to get things done.

Posted On June 20, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Uncategorized /

How can I be successful and have balance in my life?

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.

Posted On June 5, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Resilience, The question is /

Leading to Here with Steve Britton

This latest episode of Leading to Here is a must-listen; Steve Britton shares his story, his journey to here that includes a life-changing experience as he turned up to a football match looking forward to seeing his beloved Liverpool FC in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final that quickly descended into a tragedy.

Listen to how Steve navigated life in the immediate aftermath and how another life-changing moment meant he had to take a job before embracing every opportunity that came his way. Hear how he transitioned from ‘old-school’ into a modern people-focused leader who leads with passion and energy and someone who proudly says, “I love my job.”

Posted On May 27, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Leading to here, Podcasts, Resilience, Uncategorized /

How do I become comfortable with uncertainty?

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.

Posted On May 22, 2024 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /