The question is

Continuing our series of podcasts that explore the most common questions asked in coaching sessions, Rob and Paul explore the very common topic of time in this podcast. A range of time questions come up, all of which centre around the genuine issue of having more things to do than the time available. Time management skills are essential to modern working but are only part of the story. Most of us have jobs where the demands outstrip the time available, and in this episode, Paul and Rob explore the different mindset (and skills) required to ensure that the time you have is used in the best possible way. Oh, and sorry about the audio quality on this one... Just to be clear, this was not because we did not have enough time!

Let's face it, none of us really love getting feedback. We know it is important, and helps us grow, It is also hard to hear sometimes and often badly delivered. Sometimes, it feels like it is easier to not be told, even though we know that is not really the right answer! This podcast is part of a series based on the questions that come up the most in coaching sessions. In this episode, Rob and Ricky explore how feedback can be helpful once you get past the emotive reaction it often creates. They also explore the different types of feedback that you might get and how best to reflect on and take action that will help you grow.

We are back with new podcasts for 2024, and we are starting the year with some of the questions that we get asked as coaches. In this episode, Rob and Paul explore the question most new leaders ask themselves: What makes me worthy of being a leader? There are several reasons why people pose this question, from self-doubt, to seeing the capability of others (while not seeing our own strengths) or simply not seeing leadership for what it is. If this is a question you have asked yourself, then this podcast will help you think through all the reasons why you should be a leader, and come to terms with the fact that leaders are rarely experts, and experts are normally too busy exporting to lead.

There are moments, often, when we hit milestones that symbolise the end of something (like the end of a year), that we stop and take a moment to look back. These moments are opportunities to reflect, to learn and to prepare to start again. Yet, in work, these moments are missed as we jump from project to project, urgent task to urgent task. Urgency getting in the way of growth, learning and, most importantly, using this wisdom to focus on the things that will have the biggest impact on our goals. In this podcast, Ricky talks with Paul about the power of these moments, asking why these are so important, yet often undervalued in the workplace. Of course, they also get into some simple ways that you can make your reflection time more effective and why this does not need to take very much time at all if you do it right.

It is that time of year, when we start to reflect on the year and promise ourselves that next year will be different. Next year, we will be fitter, healthier, more successful and just so much better. Sadly, for most of us, New Year's Resolutions have the nasty habit of fading away as life pushes us back to old habits and practices. So, what if this is the year? What if there is something that you want to change? That is what Ricky wanted, so in this podcast, he finds out from our resident psychologist, Paul, what is required to make your New Year Resolutions stick. Probably not a surprise, but these tips turn out to work for all goals. So, even if you don't have the urge to reinvent yourself this podcast offers simple strategies to make sure that you stick at and pursue the goals that matter to you.

In this podcast, Rob and Ricky don their capes and dive into the world of stellar communication. (what they get up to in their own time is up to them!) What does it take to be a true communication superhero in an era riddled with distractions, impatience, and information overload? Being an effective communicator isn't just about conveying messages; it's about understanding, connecting, and making an impact. Yet, many of us falter, whether it's due to a lack of skills, a disregard for respect and courtesy, or simply a scattered focus and lack of purpose in our interactions. In this episode, they dissect the critical skills that often go amiss in daily communications. They look at areas such as the role of respect and courtesy in dialogue and deep into the importance of having a clear focus and purpose behind every word and gesture. They also provide actionable steps, techniques, and insights to help you rise above these challenges. It's time to transition from a communication novice to a true communication superhero. Capes are optional.

Rob and Ricky as they dive headfirst into the intricate web of common communication pitfalls that leave many of us scratching our heads, wondering, "Where did that go wrong?" Have you ever sat through a meeting and thought it was a complete waste of time? We explore the impact of poorly conducted meetings - how they not only drain our time but also our energy and productivity. We've all been there, and it's time to address the elephant in the room. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Assumptions. They say when you assume, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me." We delve into the dangers of making assumptions in communication, how they lead us astray, and the strategies to avoid them. In our digital age, emails have become the backbone of corporate communication. But are they always effective? We discuss the overuse and misuse of email, leading to cluttered inboxes and missed messages. And as if that wasn't enough, we're also battling against the tide of information overload.

With an alarming statistic revealing that a staggering 70% of errors in the workplace can be traced back to miscommunication, it's no wonder that businesses are feeling the pinch. Dive deeper, and you'll find that poor communication ranks as the number one concern for a majority of businesses, overshadowing even financial concerns or market competition. But what really happens when communication goes awry? Trust erodes. The very foundation upon which business relationships are built begins to wobble. Employees start second-guessing, leading to serious doubts about the motives, integrity, and capabilities of their employers. The domino effect of this breakdown? A jaw-dropping cost of £50 - £70 Bn in lost productivity annually. But there's more. As a result of these communicative missteps, 33% of employees report having low morale, feeling disengaged, and disheartened. In this episode, Ricky and Rob not only highlight the challenges but also explore solutions and best practices to cultivate an environment of open, transparent, and effective communication.

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

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!

We want people to be authentic in the workplace, to show up as they are, and to be their best selves. Not only do we want to be authentic because it helps us build trust and better relationships, but it is easier - it takes less work just to be you. At the same time, we all want to fit it, show off our best bits and look good, so from time to time, we put effort into ensuring that others see us in the way that we want them to. In this podcast, Rob and Paul explore another way we might 'get in our own way', when we start to put some much effort into managing how we are seen, we don't have enough left in the tank to get things done.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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

When asked, 'what gets in your way?', most of us have the same answer. Me! However hard we try, we cannot get out of our own way. We spend our life erecting barriers for us to them climb over, acting like a critic and sometimes even being a bully to ourselves. This is the first of several podcasts exploring the different ways we get in our own way and looking at some simple things that any of us can do to reduce self-inflicted barriers. Getting in your own way is perfectly normal, but you don't have to accept it as being inevitable. In this first podcast, Rob and Rich explore self-esteem. How do we understand that we have self-worth in a hyperconnected world where we are asked to compare to highly edited versions of everyone else, yet we have a warts and all version of ourselves?

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?

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?

Dealing with unexpected change, especially when working with or in large organisations, has become a core skill every employee must master. Yet, many people find themselves unprepared for change when it happens and can find themselves struggling to cope. In this podcast, Paul and Rich explore why some people are good at dealing with change and others struggle. What makes some people resilient and how can the rest of us use the techniques for ourselves?