This week marks the end of the second season, so James Lawther and Jimmy Barber have an extravaganza for you - well, it should at least be mildly entertaining! They share some of the highs and lows from the series, things that they've learned and a few of their vast catalogue of outtakes. They'll be back for season 3 in September, so if you have any special requests on topics, questions or guests you'd like to hear from, then please get in touch with us. In the interim, they'll share some excerp...
Jul 15, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 44
In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber delve into the topic of innovation, dispelling common misconceptions and emphasising its true value in enhancing performance and enjoyment at work. They share personal experiences and discuss both successful and failed innovations, highlighting the importance of involving all employees in the innovation process. They then also discuss the necessary cultural and procedural changes required to create a genuinely innovative environment. Tune in for pr...
Jul 08, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Nearly a quarter of us are impacted by grief every year - so why aren't we talking about it more at work? In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Baber explore the crucial topic of grief in the workplace with special guest Lou Hynes, 'The Grief Guru'. Lou shares her personal story, in which, through devastating personal loss, she has found her calling - helping us become a more grief-literate society. The discussion covers how grief affects employees, the importance of organisational supp...
Jul 01, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 42
In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the impact of AI on contact centres and back-office jobs. This follows a question from Rob, a member of the audience, who asked about the potential for AI to reduce contact centre jobs by a claimed 80-90% in the next year or two. The hosts share insights from a former guest, Alex Alexander's AI team, and James interviews Google's Gemini to discover if the AI themselves believe they will put us all out of a job. This is all balanced wi...
Jun 24, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 41
In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the importance of networking with special guest Andy Warren - the best-connected person we know! They talk about the nuances of networking, what makes it effective, and how to overcome common barriers. Andy shares invaluable insights, including key strategies such as the significance of personal branding, overcoming the fear of rejection, and the 80/20 rule in listening versus speaking. Whether you're just starting or looking to refin...
Jun 17, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 40
In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss “Flow”, a mental state where we achieve peak performance whilst our actions feel effortless. They discuss how Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi discovered this phenomenon, and they also explore the benefits of being in the “Flow” state and its effect on happiness. The discussion leads to practical tips on achieving and maintaining flow state - setting clear goals, challenging yourself, eliminating distractions, and cre...
Jun 10, 2025•26 min•Season 2Ep. 39
In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber study unintended consequences and how they affect you personally and in business. Their discussion ranges from Donald Trump’s tariffs to the introduction of Cane Toads in Australia and the invention of the microwave oven. They also share the unintended consequences that have impacted them personally (both positively and negatively). Most importantly, the hosts also explore why these things happen and how to avoid them from derailing your work...
Jun 03, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 38
In this episode, host James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss some common 'corporate myths' that hinder performance at work. They explain that while targets will drive performance, it necessarily result in the performance you want, the fallacy that senior management has all the answers, and the misconception that long hours equal productivity. They also highlight the value of small, tactical improvements over big strategic projects, the benefits of treating suppliers as partners, and how introver...
May 27, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 37
This week, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber delve into the topic of midlife career changes with expert coach Jess Spiers. They explore how to think about and approach a career crossroads - a point we all face at some point in our lives. Jess shares her own journey from digital content creation to career coaching, discussing the importance of clarity, confidence, and action in making intentional career choices. The conversation emphasises the importance of identifying values, super strengths,...
May 20, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 36
This week, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber welcome special guest Vick Grimes, a project management expert, to help them refine their delivery skills. Skills which are critical for everyone at work. They explore the need to create clarity, define processes, manage stakeholders, and sustain change. The discussion covers strategies for getting things done effectively, including breaking down tasks, managing risks, and recognising small wins along the way. Whether you’re leading a complex proje...
May 13, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 35
In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber are joined by Rachael Edmondson-Clarke to dive into the importance of understanding and aligning personal and organisational values to boost performance and enjoyment at work. Rachael explains how clarifying personal values can significantly impact your happiness and satisfaction, leading to a more fulfilling career and life. She guides James and Jimmy through a values elicitation exercise, demonstrating how to identify and align those values...
May 06, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Did you know the sense of 'belonging' at work improves performance by 56%, reduces attrition risk by 50% and decreases absence by 75%... Want to find out more? Check out this week's episode where hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss why belonging is so important and why it's not just changing your behaviour to 'fit in'. Research, examples and mildly "amusing" anecdotes help bring the subject to life and provide pragmatic ways to unlock the sense of belonging and reap the benefits of sati...
Apr 29, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 33
In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber are joined by leadership development guru Frank Devine. Frank shares insights about which methods of leadership development work and which don't. After a long and varied career within HR working with some of the best organisations, people and academic research, Frank shares what he has learnt testing different "best practices". His research led him to develop the Cathedral Model (check out this link or visit the episode web page to see a diagram). ...
Apr 22, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this episode, we dive into how to make more money at work while still enjoying what you do. We chat about everything from the difference education makes to earnings, choosing the right industry and company, to the importance of ongoing development whilst climbing the corporate ladder. We share our stories and tips on networking, moving companies, and why enjoying your job is as essential as your paycheck! Plus, we discuss the downsides of focusing too much on money and why it doesn't always e...
Apr 15, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In this episode, we are joined by Amanda Gilbert, and we dive deep into collaboration in the workplace. We discuss the importance of collaboration, how to achieve it, and the common corporate pitfalls that can prevent it. We share practical steps for setting up collaborative environments, building trust among team members, and achieving shared goals. We also highlight real-world examples of successful collaboration and provide insights on leveraging collaboration tools and techniques. Tune in to...
Apr 08, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 30
This week, we delve into the intricacies of leadership power and its impact on workplace dynamics. We explore power’s misuse and ethical implications, highlighted by current events and personal experiences. We also share our 'research' and insights - all aimed to encourage self-awareness for leaders to wield their power conscientiously and effectively for positive outcomes. You can also see if you are more intelligent than James by benchmarking your scores on LinkedIn puzzle games! Got a questio...
Apr 01, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this episode, we are joined by returning guests Amanda Gilbert and Dawn Wray to discuss the pervasive impact of fear in the workplace. We explore various sources of fear, including individual anxieties, interpersonal dynamics, and systemic issues. The conversation, featuring personal anecdotes and professional insights, highlights how fear can hinder performance and well-being and occasionally serve as a motivator in specific contexts. It discusses key strategies for overcoming anxiety, such ...
Mar 25, 2025•49 min•Season 2Ep. 28
'The wise learn not only from their own mistakes but also from the missteps of others.' In this episode, we discuss the challenges faced by the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as it attempts to cut federal spending and modernise technology under President Trump's agenda. We discuss Elon Musk's cost-saving playbook, the risks of the approach, and most importantly, some suggestions on better ways of saving cost - by focusing on purpose, finding the right opportunities and listening t...
Mar 18, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 27
In this episode, we welcome guest Adrian Swinscoe, an author, researcher, and advisor on customer service and experience. Adrian challenges the underlying management beliefs that you should try to manage revenue, cost, and profitability and explains how you can create better organisational outcomes by focusing on your employees and customers. The discussion also covers the shortcomings of chatbots, artificial intelligence, and the desire to control “the customer experience”. It is all about inpu...
Mar 11, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Bernie Smith, KPI guru, is back to help us find 'gold bars' - those vital measures that drive business success. Bernie shares a simple three-step method for unlocking those gold bars, using examples as diverse as predicting an international incident from pizza sales data, spotting a COVID outbreak using scented candle complaints, and calculating the number of piano tuners in Chicago. Despite being an analytical love fest, this is one of our most entertaining and informative episodes. (They only ...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Season 2Ep. 25
This week, we are joined by KPI Guru Bernie Smith - world-renowned expert and author of 21 books...Bernie has made a career out of successfully helping people from across the globe to identify how they use KPIs to unlock performance. In this first episode, Bernie shares how to identify the KPIs that will give you the edge with practical insights and engaging stories. It is hard to believe that KPIs can be so interesting. And, of course, we'll get another dose of middle class smugness from James ...
Feb 25, 2025•24 min•Season 2Ep. 24
This week, we hear more from Leadership and Wellbeing Guru James Carrier. Following last week's episode, we discuss who's responsible for wellbeing, and if this is such an obvious thing to invest in, what gets in the way? Why do many organisations tick boxes rather than invest in their employees' wellbeing, improving the workplace and, ultimately, performance and results? Much to James L's delight, JC has a model to help you think about and take action to improve your wellbeing. Full of thought-...
Feb 18, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Wellbeing – is it another corporate buzzword, a moral responsibility or an investment in future performance? This week, we are lucky to have James Carrier joining us to discuss wellbeing at work. How do we define it? How do we measure it? How do we improve it? Why does it matter? What are our responsibilities for our personal wellbeing and those around us? James Carrier is thought-provoking and insightful as he challenges our actions and beliefs. This isn't just an exercise to see how many James...
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Throughout our work lives, we change jobs - sometimes, we get a promotion, move to a new organisation, or move within a company. It happens all the time. Often, the initial transition can be bumpy and influence your entire tenure in a role, so this week, we explore some ways that you can ensure a smooth transition and maximise the impact you have in a new job. Preparing for new responsibilities goes beyond the usual inductions or initial training. We share a tried-and-tested (by Jimmy, at least)...
Feb 04, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 21
This week's special guest is Graeme Rainbird, a Leadership expert and self-confessed question addict. Questioning is something we do daily, but with little thought, Graeme talks about the power of questions for shaping outcomes and relationships and gives some hints and tips for asking great questions. It's an easy but impactful win, so check out what Graeme says. This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, so you'll also get an insight into our attitudes and ability to ice skate! Get in touch wi...
Jan 28, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 20
You or someone near you suffers from one of these..... This week, Steve Shutts joined us to discuss energy-limiting conditions, which impact 15 million people in the UK or 1 in 5 in the workplace. These conditions are a silent challenge for many, often not talked about or understood, and consequently negatively impact many people's working lives. Steve shares the extent to which these conditions impact people, provides insights into how to make the workplace inclusive for people with ELCs, and d...
Jan 21, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 19
On average, we spend 28% of our working lives in meetings. So how do we make the most of this time and ensure meetings are productive and positive rather than "hours of my life I won't get back."? This week's podcast discusses the importance of meetings and how we fool ourselves by using them to define our status and importance. By following some simple principles, you can turn the corporate treacle into an invaluable investment of your time and your organisation's money. After all, you don't wa...
Jan 14, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Happy New Year! We're back and starting 2025 on a high with a special guest: Patricia Brooks, a high-performance strengths coach. Patricia shares the importance and value of knowing what you are good at and her model for identifying, owning, and leveraging your personal strengths. This approach is invaluable for us all, as we perform better and enjoy our work more if we concentrate on the areas we excel at rather than constantly focusing on our "Development Areas." To find out more by contacting...
Jan 07, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 17
We end the year with our version of the 12 Days of Christmas – a light-hearted look at some seasonal insights to help you over the festive period and into 2025. Amanda Gilbert our Learning and Development Guru attempts to keep us in order as we cobble together insights on habits, collaboration and how to behave at Christmas Do's. Thank you to everyone for listening, sharing, following, and supporting the podcast this year. We hope you all have an amazing festive period and a great 2025. If you'r...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Free advice from two old men, but is it any good? This week, we explore 'how to manage your career' - a subject often discussed, rarely taught, and where perfect answers don't exist. We have both had decades of experience—good and bad—trying to make the most of our careers. So, we thought we would share some of the dilemmas we faced and the insights we have gained. If our expertise isn't enough, maybe Baz Luhrmann's advice from a classic 90s song will be an adequate substitute. You'll also hear ...
Dec 10, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 15
