Every day we make decisions that have the potential to change the course of our lives. But we rarely stop and think about how to get better at making these decisions.

This is a topic of interest based on the messages I received from episode 31  of the Effective Challenge podcast Valuing Decisions. And that's not surprising given the impact decisions have on our productivity, effectiveness and happiness.

In this episode, I discuss ten questions to help improve the quality of your decision-making. 

If you have any comments, observations or questions, please drop me a message :

[email protected]

Please subscribe and share the podcast if there are others you think could benefit from the content. It really would be appreciated.

Welcome back.

This is the first Effective Challenge Podcast since March 2020.  

In this short episode, I talk about the reasons why there has been such a gap since episode 029.

I also ask listeners to consider the impact of the stories they might be telling themselves and do they help or hinder.

In this weeks episode, I give a reminder of the PRIME model which I've referenced on the podcast previously.  The PRIME model provides a basis to consider our personal foundations. These feel more important than ever given the challenges of the Coronavirus which is impacting the UK and beyond.

I then go on to talk about an approach which can help you respond to situations when our plans change.  I use my own plan to ride the 2020 Tour of Flanders (Project Ronde) which understandably got cancelled as a basis to demonstrate the approach being used.

These are unprecedented times. The importance of looking after ourselves has never been more important.

If you feel someone you know might benefit from the content of this podcast please share it with them. I'd be really grateful.

Please drop me a line to [email protected] if you have any thoughts, questions or observations.

ECP 028 How does your environment shape what you do?

In this episode, I take a look at Rangan Chatterjee's interview with John McAvoy.  John's McAvoy transformed his life from convicted armed robber to elite Nike sponsored athlete.  I consider what lessons we can extract from his experiences. I personally took so much away from this interview. I've pulled out five areas to share:

· When our environment is all-consuming it's hard to see let alone question anything different.

· Different role models create a different impact.

· There can be a real benefit in not having benchmarks.

· Applying talents to different things can generate very different results.

· Judge people cautiously

I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback - [email protected]

Please share the podcast with friends, colleagues and family. I'd love to continue increasing its impact in 2020. Many thanks in advance.

ECP 027 O to the Q - Promoted from Within

In this episode, I respond to a question from a listener who has been promoted from within a team and is concerned about the impact this could have on her relationship with her colleagues.

In addition, I respond to a question about last weeks episode relating to breathing to help become more present.  The Box Breathing technique is recommended as one of a number of different approaches to help generally calm unhelpful thinking down.

Here's a link to a youTube video to help facilitate your own Box Breathing exploration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJJazKtH_9I&t=51s

As always I'm interested in any thoughts or comments you may have about the episode, please drop me a line to [email protected]

If you know someone who you think could benefit from the podcast then please share it with them.  Many thanks in advance.

In this episode, I discuss the habit we can get into where we construct a mental bridge between where we are today to a place in the future I call FUDLand.  FUDLand is a place of fear, uncertainty and doubt. There are some unhelpful consequences of this type of thinking.

I also consider some alternative ideas about how you might shift your thinking to become more present.

Please let me know your thoughts and feedback - [email protected]

Please share as I'd love to increase the reach of the podcast.  Who do you know who might benefit from this episode?  

In this episode, I consider the impact the stories we tell ourselves can have on our actual behaviour. 

Based on a real-life experience I witnessed in a coffee shop and the reaction someone had to spilling a cup of coffee.

I pose the question to consider what stories you are telling yourself and if they are helping or hindering.

Any comments or observations please drop me a line to [email protected]

I'm really keen to increase the impact of the Effective Challenge Podcast so I'd be really grateful if you could share or review it. Many thanks in advance. 

Questioning Quotes - in this episode, I discuss a William Shakespear quote "there is no go or bad, only our minds make it so".

I consider what could have been behind the quote and how it might apply to our everyday lives. I also observe the connection with many of the things we talk about today in the context of mental health.

I'd be really interested in hearing which quotes inspire you, particularly if they are from way back yet feel really relevant to life in 2020. Please drop me a line to [email protected]

I'd really like to increase the impact of the podcast in 2020.  Please share with someone you know who is looking to improve their performance and results.