Big Picture Insights Key Topic 2: People, Leadership & Strategy

Lee continues the discussion on "Big Picture, Big Insights," focusing on two critical themes: people and teams, and leadership and strategy. Drawing insights from 5,000 voices across 10 UK organisations, Lee explores the barriers to achieving business vision from an internal perspective. He highlights the importance of fostering collaboration, psychological safety, and inclusivity within teams while addressing the detrimental effects of silos and poor communication. Additionally, Lee emphasises the need for visible and engaged leadership that aligns with strategic goals to build trust and clarity. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their organisational dynamics and consider how to shift from disconnection to engagement, ultimately enhancing team performance and morale.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Critical Themes for High Performance: The podcast identifies six critical themes that impact organisational performance: systems and processes, people and teams, leadership and strategy, culture and morale, communication and collaboration, and work environment and resources.

2. Moving from Disconnection to Collaboration: To enhance team dynamics, organisations should focus on eliminating toxic behaviors, fostering psychological safety, and breaking down silos between departments. Key elements to maintain include strong morale, flexibility in working arrangements, and a customer-focused approach.

3. Leadership Visibility and Engagement: Effective leadership requires visible and accessible leaders who engage meaningfully with employees. Organisations should aim for consistent messaging and strategic clarity to build trust and empower employees to make decisions.

4. Identifying Challenges: Organisations can assess their engagement and collaboration levels by asking specific questions about employee comfort in sharing ideas, collaboration between teams, recognition of contributions, and the clarity of strategic priorities.

5. Actionable Steps for Improvement: To transition from disconnection to engagement, organisations must connect with their people, understand their challenges, and facilitate meaningful conversations. This process is essential for gathering insights and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

BEST MOMENTS

"A dysfunctional team environment can severely impact productivity, morale and overall business success when poor communication and isolation take root." 

"The two most important metrics in an organisation that are never actually measured are the number of thoughts we are creating in our people and the length of time from those thoughts to conversation to action." 

"To create a high performing, inclusive and engaged teams, organisations must cultivate consistent collaboration across departments, breaking down silos." 

"A lack of leadership visibility and strategic alignment can leave teams feeling disconnected, uncertain and unsupported." 

"If the answers reveal gaps, it's time to move from disconnection to engagement, from mixed messaging to strategic clarity."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 [e-mail] https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.