Management Learning Podcast Management Learning Podcast

Exceptional leaders create outstanding teams.
Outstanding teams create an outstanding culture.
An outstanding culture will transform business performance.

It doesn't work the other way round - you have to start with leadership.

Mike Mair & Louise Winters talk about what you need to be or create exceptional leaders:

> Permission to pause
> Timeless principles for management & leadership
> Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing
> the Kubler Ross Change Curve
> Vulnerability & resilient leadership
> Applying the principles to Hybrid Working

If you listen, let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you.


Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash.

Special guest Neil Hopkins, a freelance communications leader, joined Diana, Gordon & Louise to talk about why we need equity in the workplace as well as equality.

Neil brings his experiences of working in the equity and equality space within the NHS and we explore what we mean by equity. We discuss why appreciating the differences between us is important and Neil offers some examples from his work of the damaging effects of not truly supporting organisational diversity.

Special thanks to Lena Barden for the music.
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash.

Resources & references from this episode:

> Good definitions of equity & equality https://social-change.co.uk/blog/2019-03-29-equality-and-equity

> Cartoon series which takes it further: https://culturalorganizing.org/the-problem-with-that-equity-vs-equality-graphic/

> Research report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/research-report-53-building-understanding-of-fairness-equality-and-good-relations.pdf

> 20 differences between equity & equality: https://www.publichealthnotes.com/equity-vs-equality/

> A practical response to Race Inequality in the Workforce report: http://therightethos.co.uk/promoting-equality-recruitment-launching-rooney-rule-within-right-ethos/

> Poem - I shall Paint my Nails Red by Carole Satyamurti https://genius.com/Carole-satyamurti-i-shall-paint-my-nails-red-annotated

Special guest Matt Matheson joined Louise, Gordon & Diana talk about why good connection is so important for team performance.

We cover the importance of connection with the self and being really curious about someone else’s experience. We also talk about what might cause us to lose connection and things that get in the way of connection without us realising.

Approximately 30 minutes in, Matt shares a simple exercise for bringing our feelings into a conversation at work, to help us connect without it being too awkward.

References from this episode:

Matt talked about Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication. If you’d like to find out more, here’s a couple of starting points.

> BOOK: Nonviolent Communciation: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg https://www.nonviolentcommunication.com/product/nonviolent-communication-a-language-of-life-3rd-edition/

> VIDEO: Basics of Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, ~12 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT8KGgDo6TY

> Find out more about Matt: as The Speaking Coach he helps people communicate and connect https://www.thespeakingcoach.co.uk/

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.

Are our different lockdown experiences leading to division in our workplaces and, if so, how do we manage it?

In episode 5 of the Management Learning podcast host, Louise Winters, poses this question to Diana Barden and our guest, Kevin Hard. It’s an interesting topic - some of us are working harder than ever to maintain production through massive change at work, some of us are on furlough and facing uncertainty, some of us are juggling working remotely and juggling home-life.

If resentments are building up as a result, how can we steer our teams towards unity of purpose and the empathy needed to work well together?

> Kevin brings his experience of inspiring organisations to improve business performance through a culture of care.
> Diana brings her 26 years experience in training and learning culture.

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash.

In episode 4 of the Management Learning Podcast we ask the question "Are sales conversation difficult?"

Host, Louise Winters, is joined by Paula Tasker and Gordon Borer who share how they approach sales conversations. We cover what can put you under pressure when you're working in sales and how to ease that pressure; how to listen and follow the other person's agenda and how to open a conversation.

Takeaways from our guests (listen in at ~27 mins):

> Gordon's takeaway: Keep this question at the front of your mind "How can I help?"
> Paula's takeaway: When you pick up the phone it's not about you, it's about them. It's about letting them get their problem across to you.

Photo by Gabriel Gonzalez on Unsplash.

In episode 3 of the Management Learning podcast we explore what's needed to manage people and teams who work under intense pressure.

Host, Louise, is joined by Diana Barden and Jules Bevis to take a look at high pressure working cultures, with the NHS as an example. We pose the question 'Is it too easy to lose sight of the PEOPLE amidst the tasks, budgets & objectives?'

We also acknowledge that the language of business can get in the way of seeing the whole human being, so we used poetry as conversation starter to help us stay connected with the human side of working together.

References from this episode:
> This article inspired us to think about NHS staff working under immense pressure: 'I spend the final moments with coronavirus patients' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52345177
> Diana’s choice of poem: Chemotherapy by Julia Darling from These Are The Hands: Poems from the Heart of the NHS (more info here: https://biggerpicturecollaboration.co.uk/)
> Jules’ choice of poem: Working Together by David Whyte https://workthoughts.com/2015/07/17/working-together-a-poem-by-david-whyte/

Featured image by Anna Samoylova on Unsplash.