Business Problems Solved Podcast Lee Houghton

Lee delves into the common issue of setting vague deadlines and lack of follow-through in business meetings. Lee challenges the practice of assigning generic due dates like "next Friday" or "end of the month," urging listeners to prioritise specific times for completing tasks. By emphasising the importance of committing to realistic deadlines and actively prioritising key activities, Lee highlights how this approach can lead to increased productivity and successful task completion. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Prioritise specific deadlines: Instead of setting vague deadlines like "next Friday" or "end of the month," prioritise specific dates and times for completing actions to increase accountability and likelihood of completion.



Gain commitments: By asking individuals when realistically they will make time to complete an action, you can gain commitments and increase the chances of the task being done.



Avoid procrastination: Proactively scheduling specific times to complete tasks helps avoid procrastination and ensures that important actions are given the attention they deserve.



Major time on major things: Focus on spending major time on major tasks rather than major time on minor tasks to prioritise activities that will make the biggest impact on achieving goals.



Challenge and improve: Continuously observe and challenge the way deadlines are set and actions are prioritised to improve efficiency and effectiveness in completing tasks.



BEST MOMENTS

"When realistically are you going to make time to complete this action? That question provides a different answer." 

"If somebody says to me that they didn't have time My response is you're telling me the action wasn't important enough." 

"How can you spend major time on major things? and minor time on minor things and that is through prioritisation." 

"Don't be lazy with setting your due dates. Be disciplined. You can do better." 

"Saying you know how to do it is not doing it." 

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.

This episode delves into the importance of intent, intensity, and impact in achieving desired outcomes. Lee introduces the concept of the three I's - intent, intensity, and impact - as key factors in determining the success of actions and conversations. Listeners are encouraged to look inward, assess their approach, and strive for greater effectiveness in their interactions to achieve the desired impact.

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Intent, Intensity, and Impact: The three I's discussed in the podcast are crucial for achieving desired outcomes in business interactions.



Clarity of Intent: Having a clear purpose and motivation before taking action or engaging in conversations is essential for success.



Intensity and Frequency: Applying the right level of conviction and doing so consistently are key factors in making a significant impact.



Reflect and Learn: Analysing the gap between intentions and outcomes provides an opportunity for reflection, learning, and improvement.



Personal Responsibility: Emphasising the importance of taking ownership of one's intent, intensity, and frequency to drive impactful results.



BEST MOMENTS

"Are you really putting enough in? Do you have clarity of intent of all of your interactions, of all of your conversations, of all of your actions?"

"Intent is personal to us. Impact is what happens as a result of our intentions." 

"If your intent is the motivation and purpose for your action and conversation, if you have that conversation or do that action and you do it with enough intensity, feeling, strength behind it..." 

"So, intent is around motivation or purpose of your actions or conversations. Intensity is the level that you apply, I guess, of your conviction of your action, of your conversation." 

"Often we look through the window at other people and think that actually they have not done what we expected them to do, so they are in the wrong. I believe it's down to the inputs that we put in..."

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 delves into the importance of not just doing tasks, but doing them well to make a real difference. He emphasises the four levels of performance: not doing it, doing it, doing it well, and doing it well to shift performance. Drawing parallels to driving a car, Lee explains how simply completing a task is not enough; it must be done with the aim of achieving a specific goal or destination. He challenges listeners to consider their internal motivations and the impact of their actions on reaching desired outcomes. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Strive for Excellence: It's essential to aim for doing tasks well to shift performance and make a difference, rather than settling for just completing them.



Focus on Destination: Align behaviors and activities with the end goal or destination to ensure contributions count towards achieving it.



Internal Motivation: Understanding individual motivations and connecting them to the overall goal can drive better performance and results.



Continuous Improvement: Emphasise the importance of doing tasks well to drive continuous improvement and exceed limits set by oneself.



Clarity and Alignment: Ensure clarity on expectations, behaviours, and performance goals to align everyone towards a common destination and purpose.



BEST MOMENTS

"Saying you know how to do it is not doing it."

"We want people to do it well, and we want them to do it well to shift performance, to make a difference, to make their contribution count."

"Are you and your teams focused on doing whatever it is that you're doing well and to shift performance, to make a difference, to achieve your destination and your goal."

"We've got to strive and aspire to do everything well to make a difference."

"Have I made you think differently in order to make you do differently to achieve a different result?"

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, Lee reflects on his recent completion of the London Marathon and shares five key takeaways that helped him achieve this milestone. Lee draws parallels between lessons from his marathon experience and their applicability in business settings, emphasising the significance of proper fueling, being in the moment, perseverance, support, and training to achieve success. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Fuel Brain and Body Properly: Focus on providing the right fuel through food, thoughts, and sleep to ensure optimal performance.



Be Present in the Moment: Embrace each moment fully to enhance the experience and make better decisions.



Keep Moving Forward: Continuously take steps forward, overcoming obstacles and challenges along the way.



Support and Encouragement: Provide the right level of support and encouragement to foster accountability and motivation.



Train Properly: Ensure proper training and development to equip individuals with the skills and capabilities needed for success.



BEST MOMENTS

"I had a dream the night before the marathon, in the dream, I didn't complete the marathon. I just couldn't get to that distance. I couldn't do it." 

"I really did enjoy running 26 miles in front of all those people. It was just an enjoyable experience because I was in the moment." 

"Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, but are we helping them do the best job they can? And to do that, they need to fuel their brain and their body properly." 

"What can we do to keep moving forward? Sometimes moving forward, I mean, suggests that if something's not working, we need to keep doing it." 

"What can you do to ensure and encourage everybody that you're working with is fully trained and is able to do the job that they need to do every single day." 

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 reflects on his recent completion of the London Marathon and shares five key things that helped him achieve this milestone. Lee draws parallels between these lessons from his marathon experience and their applicability in business settings, emphasising the significance of proper fuelling, being in the moment, perseverance, support, and training to achieve success. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Fuel Brain and Body Properly: Focus on providing the right fuel through food, thoughts, and sleep to ensure optimal performance.



Be Present in the Moment: Embrace each moment fully to enhance the experience and make better decisions.



Keep Moving Forward: Continuously take steps forward, overcoming obstacles and challenges along the way.



Support and Encouragement: Provide the right level of support and encouragement to foster accountability and motivation.



Train Properly: Ensure proper training and development to equip individuals with the skills and capabilities needed for success.



BEST MOMENTS

"I had a dream the night before the marathon, in the dream, I didn't complete the marathon. I just couldn't get to that distance. I couldn't do it." 

"I really did enjoy running 26 miles in front of all those people. It was just an enjoyable experience because I was in the moment." 

"Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, but are we helping them do the best job they can? And to do that, they need to fuel their brain and their body properly." 

"What can we do to keep moving forward? Sometimes moving forward, I mean, suggests that if something's not working, we need to keep doing it." 

"What can you do to ensure and encourage everybody that you're working with is fully trained and is able to do the job that they need to do every single day." 

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.

This episode explores the importance of understanding and meeting the needs of others in conversations. Lee discusses the concept of the three H's - being heard, helped, or hugged - and how individuals typically seek one of these in interactions.

Drawing inspiration from Charles Dewick's book, "Super Communicators," Lee emphasises the significance of recognising what the speaker wants from a conversation to enhance connection. The episode concludes with a reminder to prioritise connection over mere technicalities in conversations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS



Three H's: The concept of "heard, helped, and hugged" can help tailor interactions to build more connection with others.



Understanding Identities: Showing different aspects of one's identity can influence the outcome of conversations and help in connecting with others.



Connection is Key: The most important aspect of conversations is how well one can connect with the other person, understanding their needs, and turning up in a way to provide that.



Vulnerability: Being more vulnerable and sharing more of oneself can lead to better connections and understanding in conversations.



Continuous Learning: Taking time to get to know people and understand their identities can enhance communication and connection in interactions.



BEST MOMENTS

"People, when they are in an interaction or a conversation with somebody, they typically want one of three things. They want to be heard, they want to be helped, or they want to be hooked." 

"So if you as a speaker, if the person that's speaking wants to be heard, then you need the listener to actively listen and not interject." 

"But dependent upon the conversation that I'm in, I show different parts of my identity." 

"So how can you really connect with somebody if you only see one identity? But more importantly, how can you connect with people if you only share one identity?" 

"The most important thing in your conversations is how well you can connect to the other person." 

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.