In this episode of Sparks, Milly and Jonna return to explore what it really takes to drive performance improvement. From effective feedback to the power of data, we break down practical strategies for leaders looking to elevate their teams. Is a skills matrix the right tool? How can leaders create a culture of growth? And is comparison really the thief of joy?--// Brought to you by Interactive Workshops x Cegoshttps://interactiveworkshops.com/podcast/// See what we do bestwww.interactiveworkshops.com// Want to spark something with [email protected]// Connect with us on LinkedInJonna Sercombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnasercombe/Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/00:00 We are concerned00:42 Welcome to Sparks02:32 Improvement is a serious business05:49 Tips for leaders who want to improve their team07:26 How to give feedback12:16 The importance of data17:38 Milly takes over!22:39 Should we use a skills matrix?28:32 Find them on LinkedIn!28:54 Did they know we were still recording?!

How do you really know if you're improving? In this episode of Sparks, Jonna Sercombe and Milly Gladstone dig into the tricky world of performance measurement—where numbers don’t always tell the full story, and some of the most important factors can’t be tracked on a spreadsheet.We start with a simple question: Does feedback count as measurement? From there, we explore the tension between qualitative and quantitative data, uncover the motivational role of data in marathon training, and ask whether clients actually want to talk about training at all.Discover the unexpected metric The Body Shop uses to measure success and get to grips with the difference between leading and lagging indicators. At the end of it all we wrestle with the conundrum of how to use data when some of the things that matter most to workers are the hardest to measure.Let us know in the comments what you measure most frequently.Don't forget to like and subscribe to stay up to date with all our episodes.

00:00 Why should we measure performance?00:42 Welcome to Sparks03:26 Does feedback count as measurement?04:30 Qualitative vs quantitative06:16 Running a marathon and data09:10 Do clients want to talk about training?10:14 Milly takes over!17:27 The unexpected metric The Body Shop use to measure performance19:59 Leading vs lagging indicators, what are they?21:50 What matters to workers that you can't measure?23:08 How did they do?

Disagreement and difficult conversations vs making people feel valued. It would be easy to assume that only one of those was useful in fostering a spirit of collaboration. Yet this insightful conversation with Ken Govan and Sarah Ratcliff revealed that the secrets to fostering effective collaboration might not have been what we expected. Join them as they reveal the real meaning of collaboration, how it's changed as a result of hybrid working, and why brave conversations are at the heart of an effective team.Subscribe for more insights from industry leaders and discover how your work and life can be transformed!--// Brought to you by Interactive Workshops x Cegoshttps://interactiveworkshops.com/podcast/// See what we do bestwww.interactiveworkshops.com// Want to spark something with [email protected]// Connect with us on LinkedInHost: Chris Lissaman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman/Guests: Sarah Ratcliff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahratcliff/Ken Govan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-govan-b03a35b/00:00 Collaboration00:36 Welcome to Sparks02:15 What does collaboration actually mean?07:26 When shouldn’t we collaborate?11:22 Collaboration tools, helpful or not?15:34 How do we handle disagreements?17:09 Alternatives to collaboration19:48 Catch them doing it right27:29 Top collaboration tips28:27 How is Cegos helping turn skills into performance?

Pressure—it’s something we all experience, but what does it really mean and how can we handle it? In this episode of Sparks, we take a closer look at what happens when the stakes are high. Ben Heath and Emily Larson share their own experiences of performing under pressure, from military scenarios to million dollar creative challenges. We explore the fight, flight, or freeze response, challenge some common myths, and ask the big question—should you love planning or love the plan?

Join host Chris Lissaman for this episode of Sparks as he sits down with Milly Gladstone and George Dickinson to tackle the messy, often misunderstood world of feedback. They kick things off by sharing the best feedback they've ever received and what it taught them, then dig into what feedback actually is and why it matters so much. Along the way, they unpack the benefits (and challenges) of giving and receiving feedback, how to handle and give constructive feedback so that it doesn't just feel like criticism, and the common mistakes people make when delivering it.

Chris, Milly, and George break down why feedback conversations can be daunting and give tips on how to feel more comfortable giving feedback with plenty of real talk and insights. They even explore how feedback can become a conversation (not a one-off event), and how organisations can build better feedback cultures. Whether you're looking to step up your feedback game or just figure out how to ask for it, this episode has got you covered!

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// Brought to you by Interactive Workshops x Cegos

https://interactiveworkshops.com/podcast/

// See what we do best

www.interactiveworkshops.com

// Want to spark something with us?

[email protected]

// Connect with us on LinkedIn

Host: 

Chris Lissaman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman/

Guests: 

Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

George Dickinson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-dickinson-7a513596/

00:00 Best feedback I ever received 

00:54 Welcome to the show

01:39 What is feedback?

05:54 Best feedback George ever received

07:52 Best feedback Milly ever received

09:14 Benefits of feedback

10:50 What about negative feedback?

13:12 Bad ways to deliver feedback

18:19 Chris gets some feedback

19:51 Why do we struggle to give feedback?

23:26 Feedback is a conversation

25:30 Giving feedback on the feedback?

31:02 Asking for feedback

33:54 How are we helping organisations with their feedback culture?

Join host Chris Lissaman in this episode of Sparks, where we delve into the dynamics of performance and motivation with two exceptional guests: Lisandra Radu and Blair Wagner. From exploring Lisandra's career journey as senior L&D coordinator, to discussing what truly gets us out of bed in the morning, this conversation tackles the critical role of passion, purpose, and personal choice in the workplace.

Aisha Ahmed joins host Blair Wagner and Interactive Workshops director Nathan Rager to discuss a challenge faced by all L&D teams - how to engage learners and keep them committed to learning. We've started looking at sales, now what happens when we're trying to sell internally? Along the way they also reveal their solutions to challenges such as balancing client requests with actual needs, providing direction whilst allowing learner autonomy, and getting buy-in from senior stakeholders.

Daryl Wood joins Chris Lissaman and Nathan Rager as she shares her journey and expertise in sales enablement, offering a deep dive into what it takes to create a successful sales enablement programme. We explore what sales enablement truly means and discuss why it’s essential in today’s business landscape. From inception to delivery we follow the journey of bringing a programme to life covering the merits and challenges of integrating technology and how to get the buy in of senior stakeholders.

In this episode of Sparks, Chris Lissaman sits down with Nathan Rager and Commercial Training Manager, Nicola Frier, for a deep dive into the world of sales enablement. They discuss strategies to ensure sales enablement programs align with the needs of sales teams and, most importantly, how to secure their buy-in for success.

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// Brought to you by Interactive Workshops

https://interactiveworkshops.com/podcast/

// See what we do best

www.interactiveworkshops.com

// Want to spark something with [email protected]

// Connect with us on LinkedIn

Host: Chris Lissaman: linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman

Guests:

Nicola Frier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nf5

Nathan Rager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanrager/

00:00 Up next

This week on Spark, we are joined by our very own producers, Blair Wagner and George Dickinson, to discuss employee motivation. Get a sneak peek behind the scenes at IW and learn how we inspire our employees.

Why is employee motivation not a ‘one size fits all’ approach? How do we tailor our methods to spark different individuals? Join us as we delve into these questions and more, uncovering the secrets to effective employee motivation.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to be part of the Sparks network.

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Host:
Chris Lissaman, Marketing, Interactive Workshops. 

linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman

Guests:
Blair Wagner, Producer Interactive Workshops. 

linkedin.com/in/blairrosewagner

George Dickinson, Producer Interactive Workshops. 

linkedin.com/in/george-dickinson-7a513596

00:00 How to spark a career