Why do we keep getting communication so wrong?

Did you know that only about a third of companies believe they communicate effectively?
Forbes (March 2023)

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.

Posted On October 18, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Culture, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

Leading to Here with Michael Smith

Join us as we talk to Michael Smith, a humble lad from the North East of England who rose to become Chief Commercial Officer of a Silicon Valley medical technology company focused on saving teeth from tooth decay. Listen as he shares why he wrote to the Home Secretary!

Michael leads the commercial side of Sonendo®, which develops and manufactures the GentleWave® System, an innovative technology platform designed to treat tooth decay by cleaning and disinfecting the microscopic spaces within teeth without the need to remove tooth structure. Michael walks us through his journey and how his dream to join the police soon shifted to the corporate world of healthcare.

In this episode, Michael shares with us the crucial roles his role models and mentors played in his personal development, preparing him for leadership. Michael shares insight and lessons behind his journey and offers many great takeaways for everyone.

If you like this type of content, please like, share and subscribe, be sure to follow us on your chosen platform to ensure you know when the next episode is out!

Coming up next time is Neil Lloyd, who is featured in The Lawyer Magazine’s Hot 100 for 2023 and he’s not even a lawyer!

Posted On October 9, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Leading to here, Podcasts /

What causes us to fear failure?

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!

Posted On October 4, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

Is perfectionism a problem or an advantage?

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.

Posted On September 6, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, Resilience, The question is /

What is imposter syndrome (and how does it affect us)?

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.

Posted On August 23, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, Resilience, The question is /

What happens when we have unrealistic goals?

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.

Posted On August 9, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

How can I improve my confidence?

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…

Posted On July 26, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, Resilience, The question is /

Why do I procrastinate when I need to get stuff done?

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

Posted On July 12, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Coaching, Leadership, Podcasts, Productivity, The question is /

How does thinking fast and slow effect leadership?

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?

Posted On June 14, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Leadership, Podcasts, The question is /

How do I make the best of change situations?

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?

Posted On May 31, 2023 By Paul Hutchinson In Change, Leadership, Podcasts, Resilience, The question is /