Episode 24 – Every organisation relies on others to be successful, so this week, we discussed:  The importance of suppliers in delivering on your purpose, strategy and performance.  Why most organisations create relationships with their suppliers that don't work for either party. Our seven golden rules for turning 'suppliers' into 'partners'. Follow these' rules' to unlock value, performance, and innovation and create a better working environment. You will always be hamstrung trying to deliver to your customers without them, so create mutually satisfying relationships. Do you stil ..read more

This week, we talk with our resident Learning and Development Guru, Amanda Gilbert, about Emotional Intelligence (EQ). What is it? Why should you use it? What are the risks associated with using it?  and importantly, how can you develop it?    Jimmy was put out by Rishi Sunak's lack of EQ when he trashed the credibility of his favourite trainers. James struggled to see the problem (he still can't spell empathy). Amanda just rolled her eyes and continued to share her wisdom on the subject    If you've ever wondered about what EQ is and want to learn how to understand an ..read more

This week, we look at Performance Appraisals. Dating back to the 3rd century, these systems try to solve many of an organisation's performance management and leadership challenges but often destroy more value than they create.  We look at the pros and cons of the process and, if you have the opportunity, discuss some of the things to consider when improving it. Most importantly, if you cannot change your organisation's approach, we discuss how you can at least survive the annual process and maybe even thrive and get the best results for you and your team. If you've got any questions or co ..read more

This week, we unlock the mystery of cost savings with James's formula for making savings thoughtfully without damaging service—doubters, listen on! We argue that this is something we will all face at some point in our careers, so it's best to get on the front foot and do it the right way.    James has spent decades (he is that old!) working out the most effective way of approaching cost saving, and here he shares his approach so you can avoid some of the mistakes we've made in the past.    If you need help becoming more efficient and effective and reducing costs, contact ji ..read more

This week, we looked at dysfunctional organisations and the behaviours they encourage. We discussed what that looks and feels like and how it impacts you. More importantly, we talked about how you can manage it. All organisations go through dysfunctional periods, though, as we discovered, dysfunction is in the eye of the beholder. So, being able to work effectively (and thrive) through dysfunctional times and ensuring it doesn’t affect your organisation or team is a vital capability we should all develop. To find out more, contact jimmy@ajopbdonewell.com, or james@ajobdonewell.com ..read more

This week, our resident Learning and Development Guru, Amanda Gilbert, joins us again for the third episode in our Leadership series. We explore the subject of Curious Leadership (and we don't mean odd!)    We conclude that this is a practical part of any leader's toolkit. It can have a positive impact if used correctly and at the right time. We share a helpful model to understand and assess your own levels of curiosity, some of the upsides and downsides to this approach, and, most importantly, how you can become more curious.    If you need any help exploring or developing ..read more

Is that impossible, you think? This week, we will examine governance — what it is and why it is essential.  What are some of the mistakes made when setting up governance, and how can you ensure it fulfils its vital purpose  —  ensuring the right things get done, accelerating progress and maintaining quality — without boring the pants off everyone? It's not impossible. Just have a listen... Find out more by emailing jimmy@ajobdonewell.com or james@ajobdonewell.com ..read more

This week, we take a 30,000-foot view and deep dive into corporate language. If it's only Buzzword Bingo, why do 75% of us use it? We add value by granularising the different types of language and circle back to find the upsides of this blight of the modern workplace. It has a place and use, but net-net, it should be handled with care! The ball is in your court. If we missed anything, give us a heads up and reach out to jimmy@ajobdoneell.com or james@ajobdonewell.com ..read more

This week, we discuss how to work with ego - yours and others. We explore what ego means and why it is a complicated subject. How do our egos show up, and what's our experience working with egotistical people?    Most importantly, we get into some of the things that have helped us manage our egos and work effectively with the egos of others.    It is an often-mentioned subject but rarely explored, so we hope you find this a thoughtful and practical episode. Email jimmy@ajobdonewell.com or james@ajobdonewell.com and let us know what you thought ..read more

This week, we discuss our different tastes in pancakes - what does Jimmy’s preference for vegan delights and James’s taste for galettes say about us?    We also talk about Reward and Recognition - what is the difference between the two, and what behaviours and outcomes they drive. They’re like steroids. They will turbocharge behaviours, but are they the behaviours you want? Do large corporate incentives work, or are they a waste of money?  We also discuss what works, a simple thank you for a job done well (see what we did there) and creating an environment where your staff can f ..read more