What do we mean when we talk about culture in an organisational context? Should we also be talking about organisational climate? And why should we care about it?

If you find yourself fatigued by the frequent headlines about 'toxic culture', this is the detox you need. Lottie and Lorna get to grips with this too-often-nebulous concept to help you make real, lasting, and positive change in your organisation.

How do you create opportunity, for yourself and others, out of adversity and challenge? Joyce Idoniboye (CPO of Oxfam) knows a thing or two about this - and much else! We had the pleasure to spend an hour talking to her about her journey from foster care, to working night shifts in hotels to becoming a leader within one of the most recognisable and important charities in the world.

How do you create opportunity, for yourself and others, out of adversity and challenge? Joyce Idoniboye (CPO of Oxfam) knows a thing or two about this - and much else! We had the pleasure to spend an hour talking to her about her journey from foster care, to working night shifts in hotels to becoming a leader within one of the most recognisable and important charities in the world.

How do you create opportunity, for yourself and others, out of adversity and challenge? Joyce Idoniboye (CPO of Oxfam) knows a thing or two about this - and much else!

We had the pleasure to spend an hour talking to her about her journey from foster care, to working night shifts in hotels to becoming a leader within one of the most recognisable and important charities in the world.

What are the principles and lessons you can draw on when going through a period of change in your organisation?

Lorna and Lottie share their insights - not only gleaned from years of professional practice and study but also the very recent period of change they themselves have been through as Woodreed transforms into 7 Seas.

References:

Kim Scott 'Radical Candor': https://www.radicalcandor.com/

Ruby Wax on Being Busy: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ruby-wax/ruby-wax-being-busy_b_5067889.html

Beyoncé's new house: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/england/cotswolds/wiggington-cotswolds-beyonce-jayz-b2827532.html

Remington advert: https://youtu.be/D47nzAU4PHo?si=3iy8Wqw02Wcv1VW1

Google's Project Aristotle: https://psychsafety.com/googles-project-aristotle/

Tuckman's Model of Team Development: https://instituteprojectmanagement.com/blog/the-5-stages-of-team-development/

Edwina Dunn (The Power of 2): https://www.edwinadunn.com/

Lorna and Lottie riff on the importance, power and potential of employee voice (one of Engage for Success's four enablers of engagement). Listen to learn why involving your people in solving your organisation's challenges is the answer. How we apply the principles of employee voice in the way we work, ways to make sure it lands, and why leaders often avoid it (even though they shouldn't!)

References

Google's Project Aristotle: https://rework.withgoogle.com/intl/en/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness

Have Lorna and Lottie branched out into poultry farming? Not quite. Get your channel and content ducks in a row with fresh insights and ideas around how to meet your people where they are. If you're finding it difficult, or downright impossible, to land messages with your teams then this is the episode for you. You'll never want to send another email again.

In the midst of a war on EDI, particularly in the US right now, Lorna and Lottie explain why diverse teams get better results. Based on the best evidence we have, they make a powerful case for the de-politicisation of EDI and call for a return to the facts.

Sources:

"How Integrating DEI Into Strategy Lifts Performance" by Quinetta Roberson (MIT): https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-integrating-dei-into-strategy-lifts-performance/

"Diversity matters even more: The case for holistic impact" by McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-matters-even-more-the-case-for-holistic-impact 

“Rebel Ideas” by Matthew Syed (John Murray, 2021)

Death by powerpoint, building structures out of spaghetti, and drenching employees in the Thames. These are just some of the things organisations try when attempting to get their teams inspired on the too-often-dreaded company away day.

Lorna and Lottie get under the hood of how to create amazing team days. Lottie applies lessons from the world of communications to give you 3 principles you can apply immediately and Lorna takes her cues from the world of theatre to make your presentations unforgettable (in a good way).

If you're struggling to get your employees engaged with your organisation's mission, feeling energised and more collaborative, this episode is a must-listen for you.

Two authors referenced:

Vanessa Van Edwards - Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication (2022)

Amy Cuddy - Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges (2015)

As we enter the new year, Lorna and Lottie use the opportunity to cast an occasionally irreverent but always insightful eye back on the business-world phenomena of 2024 that they definitely don't want to see again in 2025. 

What would you put on your Get in the Bin list?