Lee dives into the critical leadership challenges of 2025, emphasising the importance of connecting with people during times of change. Reflecting on his past messages, Lee highlights that effective leadership is not just about tools and processes but fundamentally about engaging the head, heart, and hands of team members. He discusses the necessity of asking better questions, fostering emotional buy-in, and empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully. Lee also addresses the need for transparent communication, collaboration across silos, and balancing technology with the human touch. This episode serves as a rallying cry for leaders to embrace genuine connections and inspire their teams to navigate change effectively.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Focus on People-Centric Leadership: The defining leadership challenge for 2025 is leading people through change. Successful leadership hinges on the ability to connect with and empower individuals, fostering understanding, trust, and commitment.

• Engage the Head, Heart, and Hands: Effective leadership requires engaging people intellectually (head), emotionally (heart), and practically (hands). This holistic approach ensures that change is not just implemented but embraced.

• Tailor Communication: Understanding the unique needs, motivations, and challenges of team members is crucial. Leaders should ask better questions and communicate transparently to build trust and ensure everyone feels valued.

• Break Down Silos: Collaboration across teams and functions is essential for successful change. Leaders must encourage teamwork and collective progress, moving away from siloed thinking to a shared vision and purpose.

• Balance Technology with Humanity: While technology can enhance efficiency, it cannot replace the human touch necessary for effective leadership. Leaders should use technology to support communication and foster critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

BEST MOMENTS

"The defining leadership challenge for 2025 is leading people through change. It’s about people because leaders are people in change." 

"Engaging the head, heart, and hands of your people ensures that change isn't just implemented, it is embraced." 

"Connection is more than a buzzword. It's the foundation of effective leadership and successful transformation." 

"You need to tailor your communication to meet them where they are, considering their unique needs, motivations, and challenges." 

"The greatest challenge of 2025 is also the greatest opportunity to lead change and people in a true way that connects and inspires." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 journey through 2024, a year marked by significant personal and professional challenges, including completing both the London Marathon and an Ultra Marathon. He shares insights on the importance of setting meaningful goals and the need to prioritise time with loved ones, particularly as his children grow older. Lee emphasises the value of being present and making conscious choices about how to spend time, rather than simply exchanging time for money. He introduces his upcoming book, which aims to document critical success factors for sustainable change and people leadership, and encourages listeners to adopt a more ambitious and strategic approach to their own goals in 2025. The episode serves as a motivational reminder to think differently and take actionable steps towards achieving personal and professional aspirations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Value of Time: The importance of prioritising time with loved ones over solely focusing on work and financial goals is important, to consciously make choices on how to spend your time.

2. Goal Setting: Setting ambitious and meaningful goals is crucial. Instead of waiting for a new year or a specific date, one should take immediate action towards their aspirations, ensuring that goals are strategic, meaningful, ambitious, real, and targeted.

3. Reflection and Learning: Taking time to reflect on past experiences, such as completing marathons, can provide valuable insights into personal growth and the importance of gradual progress in achieving larger goals.

4. Authentic Connection: Building authentic connections and relationships is essential for personal and professional growth. The focus should be on championing and coaching others while maintaining a leadership role.

5. Daily Actions for Change: To achieve significant differences in life, it is necessary to think differently and take consistent actions towards goals every day. Small, incremental steps can lead to substantial progress over time.

BEST MOMENTS

1. "If there's something that actually makes you feel that you want to succeed, then you've got to really double down and go for it." 

2. "At the time when I might be ready, they might not want me." 

3. "You have to think and do different to achieve difference." 

4. "I want to provide an opportunity for other people to find about these things that I believe are the critical success factors for sustainable change." 

5. "Make sure it's by a particular date that you're aiming for." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 Horton addresses a critical challenge faced by change teams in large organisations: the need to practice what they preach. He emphasises the importance of change teams not only facilitating change for others but also engaging in self-improvement and problem-solving within their own functions. Lee discusses the necessity of creating a supportive environment that encourages the identification and resolution of problems, rather than outsourcing all improvement efforts to change teams. He advocates for empowering individuals at all levels to treat continuous improvement as part of their daily roles, ensuring that change teams are focused on meaningful work that aligns with the organisation's goals. Tune in for insights on how to enable change teams to succeed and make improvement a collective responsibility.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Practice What You Preach: Change teams often fail to apply the principles of change management to their own processes, which can hinder their effectiveness. It's essential for these teams to embody the change they advocate for.

2. Empower Problem Solving: Organisations should create an environment that encourages individuals to identify and solve problems proactively, rather than relying solely on change teams to address issues.

3. Prioritise Meaningful Work: Change teams should focus on strategic problem definitions and prioritise their activities based on organisational goals, rather than just responding to the loudest voices or immediate demands.

4. Continuous Improvement as a Core Activity: Improvement should be integrated into the daily roles of all employees, encouraging them to take ownership of their processes and suggest enhancements.

5. Collaborative Approach to Change: Successful change initiatives require collaboration across departments, with change teams facilitating improvements rather than being solely responsible for them. This collective effort is crucial for achieving organisational goals.

BEST MOMENTS

"Change teams hate more than anybody else having to go through and be changed."

"We need to create the right safe environment where problems can be found, opportunities can be found, ideas can be had and shared."

"The change team is not there to just deliver the wish list of a single person."

"If we can get over that, then we can create the right environment to deliver change successfully."

"Do not let your change team fail because of poorly set up and not working on the right stuff."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 explores the dual roles of change teams within businesses likening them to doctors and fitness instructors. He emphasises the importance of aligning change initiatives with long-term strategic goals rather than focusing solely on short-term fixes. Lee discusses the critical need for change teams to enhance their image and exposure by demonstrating their contributions to organisational success. He advocates for breaking down silos between functions and fostering collaboration towards a common destination, ultimately enabling teams to work more effectively together. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own change processes and consider how to better align daily activities with overarching objectives for sustained improvement.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Change Teams' Focus: Change teams can be likened to either doctors, who address specific pain points and problems, or fitness instructors, who focus on building capability and skills within the organisation. Understanding this distinction is crucial for effective change management.

2. Long-term vs. Short-term Thinking: Organisations often prioritise short-term gains over long-term success, which can lead to the undervaluation of change teams. A strategic approach should focus on aligning activities with long-term goals rather than just immediate fixes.

3. Importance of Image and Exposure: Career success is influenced by performance (10%), image (30%), and exposure (60%). Change teams need to effectively communicate their value and contributions to enhance their image and increase their visibility within the organisation.

4. Alignment with Strategic Intent: For change teams to be effective, their activities must align with the organisation's strategic goals. This requires clear communication and understanding of how daily contributions support the overall destination the organisation is trying to achieve.

5. Collaboration Over Competition: Breaking down silos between different functions (e.g., finance, sales, operations, HR) is essential for achieving collective success. By connecting on a shared purpose and destination, teams can work together more effectively and maximise the value of their contributions.

BEST MOMENTS

• "Change teams often chase short-term victories over long-term success because everybody's trying to justify the job that they're doing." 

• "We need to connect together on a destination and achieve success together. Don't compete, connect."

• "If you can demonstrate to people that your change teams are supportive of your destination, it will enable them to increase their positive image." 

• "We need to gain real alignment and connection to people, daily contribution to the strategic intent." 

• "Nobody comes to work to do a bad job, but we just don't help them do a good job." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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.

Join Lee as he talks about the critical concepts of psychological safety and safe spaces within organisations. Drawing from his recent experiences delivering training to diverse groups from various cultures, Lee emphasises the importance of creating environments where individuals feel secure to share their thoughts and ideas. He highlights key takeaways from his sessions, such as the value of silent brainstorming to ensure equal participation and the significance of asking follow-up questions to demonstrate genuine interest in others. Lee advocates for connecting on a human level and fostering an atmosphere where everyone feels empowered to contribute, ultimately leading to more effective teamwork and innovation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Importance of Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where individuals feel psychologically safe is crucial for encouraging open communication and sharing of ideas. This involves both internal and external factors that contribute to a person's comfort in expressing themselves.

2. Silent Brainstorming: Implementing silent brainstorming sessions allows everyone to have an equal opportunity to share their thoughts without being overshadowed by dominant voices. This method fosters inclusivity and ensures that all perspectives are considered.

3. Asking the Second Question: Engaging in deeper conversations by asking follow-up questions demonstrates genuine interest and care. This practice not only strengthens relationships but also encourages individuals to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings.

4. Human Connection: Fostering connections on a human level is essential. Using relatable icebreakers, such as asking about what someone had for dinner, can help individuals feel more comfortable and open up in group settings.

5. Adaptability in Communication: Recognising that people have different communication styles is vital. Adapting your approach based on the individuals present can enhance the effectiveness of interactions and ensure that everyone feels valued and heard.

BEST MOMENTS

"Many organizations aspire to create environments that encourage psychological safety for their individuals, but also creating safe spaces." 

"Silent brainstorming allowed the individuals the same space, the same time, the same opportunity to share their thinking." 

"We need to take this into personal conversations as well as business or coaching conversations because it demonstrates that we care." 

"Psychological safety, providing safe spaces is key to connecting with people but it comes down to how we go about doing it." 

"If you want people to share their thoughts, you need them to feel safe, but you also need to create the space for them to do it." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 explores the critical relationship between tools and the mindset of individuals in the realm of continuous improvement. Building on a previous discussion, Lee emphasizes that while various improvement methodologies, such as Lean and 5S, provide valuable frameworks, the true essence of successful change lies in fostering a culture of critical thinking and respect for people. He explores popular tools like value stream mapping and Kanban, highlighting the importance of asking the right questions to instil a mindset focused on problem identification, customer centricity, and proactive improvement. Ultimately, Lee argues that creating a thinking culture is paramount for achieving different results and driving meaningful change within organisations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Focus on Thinking, Not Just Tools: The essence of improvement lies in developing people's thinking rather than merely deploying tools. Continuous improvement and respect for people are fundamental principles that should guide all change initiatives.

2. Value Stream Mapping: This tool is not just about mapping processes but about fostering a mindset that encourages holistic thinking, customer-centricity, and problem identification. The goal is to help individuals think differently to achieve better results.

3. 5S and Workplace Organization: Implementing 5S goes beyond maintaining cleanliness and order. It aims to instil discipline, ownership, and a continuous improvement mindset among employees, encouraging them to recognize and address inefficiencies.

4. Encouraging Continuous Improvement: Regularly asking questions about small improvements, frustrations, and outdated processes helps cultivate an improvement mindset. This approach fosters collaboration, proactivity, and a belief that there is always room for enhancement.

5. Critical Thinking in Problem Solving: Tools like root cause analysis and the "5 Whys" are designed to promote critical thinking and accountability. The focus should be on creating a culture where individuals are empowered to identify problems and seek solutions, reinforcing the importance of thinking in driving effective change.

BEST MOMENTS

"It's about continuous improvement and respect for people. Those two things are not in isolation."

"If we can help people think better, then we're creating more ideas and thoughts in those people to make the world a better place."

"We want to try to create thinking. We want people to be able to spot the opportunities for improvement."

"It's not just so we can have a Kanban. It's not so we can just deploy a tool. It's because we're trying to create thinking in people."

"We need to create thinking in people first."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 explores into the often over looked aspects of training sessions, emphasising the importance of aligning language and definitions to ensure effective learning. He challenges listeners to think differently about their approach to training, whether as participants or facilitators and highlights the necessity of creating actionable plans that integrate learning into everyday practices. Lee shares practical strategies for fostering accountability, such as assigning ownership of action items and encouraging personal commitments from participants. By focusing on these elements, he aims to help organisations maximise their investment in training and achieve meaningful, lasting change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Think and Do Different: To achieve different results, it's essential to not only think differently but also to take actionable steps based on that new thinking. Training should inspire participants to implement what they've learned.

2. Alignment of Language: Ensuring that all participants have a shared understanding of key terms and concepts is crucial. Misalignment in definitions can lead to confusion and ineffective application of knowledge.

3. Action Plans for Application: Capturing tangible actions during training sessions helps cement learning. Each action should have a designated owner and a timeline for accountability, ensuring that the knowledge gained is applied in the workplace.

4. Integration into Existing Routines: Actions derived from training should be integrated into regular meeting rhythms to maintain focus and accountability. This prevents the need for separate discussions about training outcomes and promotes ongoing application.

5. Personal Commitment: Encouraging participants to make personal commitments to change fosters accountability. Sharing these commitments with the group increases investment in the learning process and encourages follow-through after the training session.

BEST MOMENTS

"You have to think and do different to achieve different." 

"When you get back from holiday, the first day back it then seems like it's been months since you've had a holiday." 

"Alignment of language is key, especially in a training room." 

"We want applied learning. We want people to take the knowledge that they're getting in the training room and apply that learning in the workplace." 

"If you don’t do that, then you’re going to have to have another meeting to just talk about the output of that meeting." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 talks through the critical role of questioning in successful change management. Drawing from his extensive experience since 2006, Lee emphasises that while tools and methodologies are essential, the true key to effective change lies in understanding and asking the right questions. He argues that change practitioners should prioritise developing their questioning skills and the principles behind those questions rather than solely focusing on tools. By engaging the minds, hearts, and hands of individuals, change practitioners can facilitate meaningful transitions and foster a culture of ownership and engagement. Tune in to explore how shifting the focus from tools to thinking can lead to more sustainable and successful change initiatives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Prioritise Questions Over Tools: Successful change management should focus on asking the right questions and understanding the principles behind those questions, rather than solely relying on tools and frameworks.

2. Engagement is Crucial: The ability to engage with people is critical for successful change. Change practitioners must work to understand and connect with individuals to facilitate a positive transition.

3. Understanding Change Dynamics: Change is fundamentally about transitioning people from one state to another. This requires a deep understanding of the thinking, habits, and behaviours of those involved in the change process.

4. Create a Safe Environment for Thinking: It’s essential to foster an environment where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions about change.

5. Focus on Meaningful Outcomes: Change practitioners should aim to create clarity around goals and desired outcomes, ensuring that these goals resonate with the people involved, making them feel real and meaningful.

BEST MOMENTS

"Our ability to work with people, our ability to engage with people is critical in the success of landing change." 

"It's not about tools, it's not about people, it's about thinking and our ability to ask the right question." 

"If you want to create new thinking, new habits, new behaviours, you need to create more thinking by asking better questions." 

"Don't ask what tools do we need to teach our change practitioners. Ask what questions need to be created in our change practitioners." 

"Success is changing the thinking of our people, engaging the heads, engaging the hearts, engaging the hands in a meaningful way."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 talks about the importance of asking the right questions as a leader and the impact it has on coaching and developing people. He emphasises that effective leadership is not just about managing tasks or providing answers, but about fostering thought and reflection in others. Horton discusses the need to balance managing, leading, and coaching, highlighting that change should be an everyday part of business rather than a one-off project. He advocates for a humann centered approach to improvement, where continuous growth and respect for individuals are paramount. By connecting on a personal level and engaging teams in meaningful conversations, leaders can inspire a highly engaged workforce dedicated to making incremental improvements every day.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Coaching Through Questions: Asking questions is a powerful tool for coaching, but the true success lies in generating thought and reflection in the individuals being asked, rather than simply obtaining answers.

2. Situational Leadership: Effective leadership requires a balance of managing tasks, leading people, and coaching gaps. The approach should be tailored to the specific situation and the needs of the individuals involved.

3. Continuous Improvement: Change should be integrated into daily operations rather than treated as a one-off project. Engaging employees in continuous improvement fosters a culture where everyone contributes to enhancing processes and outcomes.

4. Respect for People: Emphasising respect for individuals and their contributions is crucial. A highly engaged organisation thrives on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improvement.

5. Holistic Engagement: To achieve organisational success, it is essential to engage employees' heads (through thought-provoking questions), hearts (by inspiring them towards a common goal), and hands (by involving them in meaningful work).

BEST MOMENTS

"The success of asking a question is not in receiving an answer, but in generating thoughts in the people that we've asked the question of."

"Change needs to be, or should be, an everyday business as usual part of every single role because those who do the work know most about it."

"If we truly embraced those two principles, joined them together and made them business as usual for everybody, then everybody will be working to do the right thing at the right time every single time."

"It's about improving that task at hand as well in a collaborative way."

"Change and leadership is not black and white because not every person is the same."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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 explores the critical concept of empowering the right person to do the right thing at the right time, every single time. He emphasises the importance of clarity in roles and responsibilities within an organisation, highlighting that not everyone is the right person for every task. Lee discusses how leaders can create an enabling environment through clear expectations, open communication, and trust, allowing individuals to act confidently based on their awareness and experiences. By fostering a culture where responsibility is shared and acted upon with urgency, leaders can ensure their teams thrive. Tune in to discover practical approaches to enhance operational excellence and empower your team effectively.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Empowerment of the Right Person: It's crucial for leaders to identify and empower the right individuals within their teams to take responsibility and act at the right time, rather than assuming that everyone should handle every situation.

2. Clarity in Roles and Responsibilities: Clear communication of roles and responsibilities is essential to prevent confusion and ensure that team members know when they are the right person to act.

3. Setting Clear Expectations: Leaders must establish clear standards and expectations for what constitutes the "right thing" to do in various situations, aligning these with the organization's goals and values.

4. Creating an Enabling Environment: An environment that fosters trust, open communication, and support is vital for empowering team members to act confidently and appropriately when they are the right person.

5. Understanding Timing: Knowing when to act is as important as knowing what to do. Leaders should cultivate a sense of urgency and awareness of timing within their teams to ensure actions are taken at the appropriate moments.

BEST MOMENTS

"A successful environment is one where the right individual steps up at the right time, without confusion over roles and responsibilities." 

"The right thing really should align with expectations and standards." 

"Leaders must provide clear expectations of what the right thing looks like for various roles and situations." 

"When the right person does the right thing at the right time, it's a reflection of the environment that the leader has cultivated." 

"You want the choice to be crystal clear and you want them to act appropriately at the right time." 

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [email protected] 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.