The Right Questions Podcast: Recent Episodes
Simon Ash
Wherever you are on your leadership journey, join us to learn more about how to effective leaders of ourselves and others. All you need is an inquisitive mind!
Meetings are a necessary part of workplace communications but many people suffer from being overloaded by unproductive gatherings.
Meeting types include:
1. Briefing,
2. Decision-making.
3. Problem-solving.
4. Brainstorming,
5. Team building.
6. Project starts.
7. Planning,
8. Progress, and
9. Performance.
Whether you are organising, facilitating, or attending a meeting, you need to ask some critical questions.
This podcast outlines the seven questions, but if you want more detail, check out the related article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/the-7-questions-you-need-to-answer-for-any-successful-meeting/
Stories have the power to captivate, inspire, and transform the way we see the world.
Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling, has revealed six key principles that are essential for great stories. These are: Change, Cause and Effect, Moral Outrage, Effectness, Eudaemonics, and The God Moment.
These principles provide tips for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences on an emotional and intellectual level.
This video explores the six principles and for further details, use this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/the-science-of-storytelling-will-storrs-six-principles/
A positive attitude is a crucial element of success, happiness, and overall well-being. It can transform challenges into opportunities, enhance relationships and bolster mental and physical health.
Cultivating a positive mindset is not an overnight process but by building consistent habits, we can quickly start to see the improvements.
This podcast covers eleven proven habits including practicing gratitude, seeking positive influences, developing self-awareness, adoping a growth mindset, using positive affirmations, doing physical activity, engaging in acts of kindness, managing emotions, setting goals, keeping life balance and embracing laughter.
You can find out more details in the related article by using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-build-a-positive-attitude-and-increase-resilience/
Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, introduced the concept of the sphere of influence. This has developed into three key circles that shape our responses to life’s challenges: the Circle of Concern, the Circle of Influence, and the Circle of Control.
Understanding these circles helps individuals focus on what they can control, fostering a proactive mindset while reducing stress and frustration.
In this podcast, we will explore Covey’s three circles, their differences, and how applying this principle can transform your leadership in your personal and professional life.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/stephen-coveys-circle-of-influence-a-guide-to-proactive-living/
Throughout history, there have been countless leaders who have motivated people to achieve greatness. These leaders have left a legacy that continues to teach us valuable lessons about leadership, and the qualities, traits and skills needed to lead well.
Here we look at some of history’s most inspirational leaders and the lessons they imparted. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Malala Yousafzai and Mother Teresa.
For more details check out the related article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/lessons-from-historys-most-inspirational-leaders/
What is leadership, and can anyone be a leader? What steps do they take, and what leadership skills are essential to progress?
Here, we will explore the answers to these questions by exploring the process of becoming a leader, highlighting the six necessary steps required to lead effectively. These include:
- Self-awareness and self-assessment
- Developing fundamental leadership skills
- Gaining experience
- Setting a vision or goal to inspire others
- Embracing continual learning and personal development
- Leading with humility, integrity and authenticity
You can find more details in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/becoming-a-leader-the-process-explained/
There are lots of situations that can lead to difficult conversations, whether those are challenging conversations in the workplace or conflict resolution in social situations. For example, you might have to challenge poor performance in the office or inappropriate behaviour on a night out.
These conversations are never easy, but fortunately, some approaches and tips can help you deal with all these circumstances. This podcast covers preparation and the ABCD approach to dealing with difficult conversations.
For more information, follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-manage-difficult-conversations/
Do you get nervous at the thought of public speaking? If you do you are in good company. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health indicated that over 40 % of people have a fear of public speaking.
The good news is that no matter who you are, there are some scientifically proven, simple things you can do to improve your skills and become confident in public speaking. So here are ten top tips to help you improve your public speaking skills, develop your communication skills and bolster your confidence.
If you would like more details, then follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/10-top-tips-for-speaking-fluently-and-confidently-in-public/
Assumptions are often necessary for critical thinking, but we need to avoid wrong assumptions if we want to make good decisions.
An assumption is something we accept to be true, even if we are lacking all the evidence. Assumptions are not necessarily bad. We often need to make assumptions in decision-making as we cannot have absolutely all the information we want or need when making a choice.
But we can get things wrong by applying assumptions in inappropriate circumstances, basing expectations on bad data, or making assumptions based on wrong thinking. So don't keep making these same mistakes, apply the principles explained here.
This podcast outlines four questions to test and if you would like to find out more, follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-identify-and-disarm-wrong-assumptions/
Jim Collins, in his groundbreaking book Good to Great, introduced the notion of Level 5 Leadership as the zenith in a hierarchy of leadership capabilities. To truly understand the essence of the 5th Level, one must first navigate through the foundational levels of leadership as detailed by Collins.
This podcast explores each development level in turn and the leadership traits that a level five leader displays.
If you would like to find out more, follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/unlocking-the-secrets-of-5th-level-leadership/
John Maxwell’s Five Levels of Leadership
In his book, “The 5 Levels of Leadership,” Leadership expert John C Maxwell introduces us to a structured path that leaders can follow to enhance their abilities. Each level builds on the previous one, with skills layering onto each other.
This podcast explores the five stages of:
Level 1. Position
Level 2. Permission
Level 3. Production
Level 4. People Development
Level 5. Pinnacle
You can find more details in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/maxwell-the-five-levels-of-leadership/
Whether you are an established leader or an aspiring one, understanding your strengths and areas for improvement is essential for personal and professional growth.
Leadership self-analysis tools are invaluable resources to help individuals gain insights into their leadership styles, competencies, and readiness for advancement.
There are various types of leadership self-analysis tools available, each with its unique approach and focus. Because there are so many, here I have recommended some of my favourites that I have tested on myself and with other leaders.
For more details check out the related post using this link: https://therightquestions.co/leadership-self-analysis-tools/
In his seminal Harvard Business Review article, “What Makes a Leader?” Goleman delves into the five qualities that set truly effective leaders apart from others.
At the heart of Goleman’s leadership philosophy lies the concept of emotional intelligence. This concept is not just an additional asset but a crucial foundation for leadership at every level.
This video introduces the five aspects of emotional intelligence along with skills that help you to improve in each area.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-makes-a-leader-according-to-daniel-goleman/
Coaching is a proven tool for personal and professional growth, accelerating success in sports, life and business.
But what exactly is leadership coaching, why is it important, who does it benefit, and how do you choose a leadership coach?
This podcast explores the answers to those questions.
If you would like more detail, you can find the related article by using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-leadership-coaching-and-how-is-it-beneficial/
Inquisitive leadership is a leadership approach for a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. It is an approach I developed from my experience as a Bomb Disposal Officer.
An inquisitive leader needs humility, curiosity, empathy and a desire to serve others if they are going to properly understand situations and people, and then collaborate to find the best solutions.
There is a huge need for skills in the workforce. In a recent survey, 70% of leaders in the US identified significant skills gaps in their workforce. And The most in-demand skills are ones that directly link to leadership.
The research has shown an overwhelming demand for cognitive skills because, with the rapid pace of change, technical competence on its own is not enough. Employees at every level need to be flexible, quick learning and able to adapt to change.
This podcast covers the top eleven skills, traits and qualities that employers are after.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
therightquestions.co/in-demand-leadership-skills-for-todays-workforce/
Whether you are leading a small team or a large organisation, the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide others is crucial for success.
And, no matter our experience or seniority, we can all improve our leadership in one way or another.
In this podcast, we outline seven practical ways to enhance your leadership level and skills and make a positive impact on your team.
For more information, you can follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/seven-ways-to-be-a-better-leader/
Great leaders possess unique traits that allow them to motivate teams, drive innovation, and create lasting impact.
Here, we explore the six fundamental leadership qualities that define great leaders and how these attributes contribute to their influence and effectiveness. These are drive, emotional intelligence, integrity, authenticity, confidence and curiosity.
There are also examples drawn from Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, Sundar Pinchai, and Jacinda Ardern.
For further information, check out the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/the-6-qualities-of-a-great-leader/
Listening skills refer to the ability to actively receive, process, and understand spoken information. Unlike hearing, which is a passive physical process, listening requires focus, attention, and comprehension.
Good listening skills involve not just hearing words but also interpreting tone, emotion, and context to fully grasp the speaker’s message.
Effective listening helps to establish rapport, build stronger relationships, prevent misunderstandings, and foster better collaboration in both personal and professional settings.
As such, listening is a core life and leadership skill, foundational to personal effectiveness.
So, this podcast explains six simple ways to become a better listener and you can find out more in the related article by using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/six-simple-ways-to-improve-your-listening-skills/
No matter where you are on your leadership development journey, an understanding of different leadership styles will help you.
There are various types of leadership styles, each with its own unique characteristics and impact. Understanding these styles is essential for identifying the most effective approach for different situations and individuals.
This podcast introduces six of the most common styles and approaches.
You can find out more by following this link to the related article:
therightquestions.co/exploring-different-types-of-leadership-styles/
When dealing with any group or team, understanding how individuals engage is crucial for success.
The 5 Ps Model categorises people based on their level of involvement, attitude, and contribution within a team or organisational setting.
These five roles or types are:
1. Pilot,
2. Participant,
3. Passenger,
4. Protestor, and
5. Prisoner
This podcast explains each role and how leaders can best engage each type.
For further information, follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/5-team-roles-the-5-ps-model-of-delegate-engagement/
Listening is an essential component of effective communication and is foundational to both building rapport with people and demonstrating emotional intelligence. Being able to listen properly is also a crucial leadership skill. Understanding the stages of the listening process helps us to be better listeners and to improve our listening skills.
Joseph DeVito identified that the listening process consists of five key stages, each playing a crucial role in understanding and interpreting messages.
This podcast looks at the stages in order:
- Receiving
- Understanding
- Evaluating
- Responding
- Remembering
You can find out more details in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/the-five-steps-of-the-listening-process/
Wherever you are on your leadership journey, whether you are just leading yourself or managing thousands of people, there is always room for growth and improvement.
Here, I will introduce a competency framework to support leaders in their leadership development as well as the five foundational competencies that relate to each level.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
therightquestions.co/leadership-skills-the-five-level-competency-framework/
What is the biggest problem that you are facing now, and how should you try to solve it?
Professor Keith Grint identified that there are three key types of problems: tame, critical, and wicked.
His premise was that If you can work out the sort of problem you are dealing with, you can then apply the right leadership style or management approach to solve the problem.
This episode explores each type of problem in turn, with some examples. If you would like further detail then please follow this link to the related article:
https://therightquestions.co/wicked-problems-vs-tame-and-critical-issues/
Have you ever had a problem that, in trying to solve it, you have made it worse?
When trying to solve problems we make mistakes when we don’t properly understand the problem in the first place. Therefore, one critical step in decision-making is classifying the type of problem that you are trying to solve.
This is where the Cynefin framework can help us. It is a decision-making model championed by the Harvard Business Review and used by countless decision-makers, such as the US and UK governments.
This episode outlines the problem-solving approach and four main types of problems. You can find out more in the related article by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/the-four-types-of-problems-and-how-to-solve-them/
There are many types of questions, for example; open and closed, rhetorical, leading, loaded, or compound questions. This episode looks at six of the most common types using an example of two people going on a first date to the cinema.
To find out more you can read the related article by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/what-is-an-effective-question-and-was-that-open-or-rhetorical/
12 Common Biases Explained With Help From Simon Sinek
Implicit biases are assumptions, beliefs and rules of thumb in our minds, often based on our experiences, but that may not be reasonable or accurate. Bias affects all thinking, and it is not always bad, but we should be aware of it.
This is because the brain, as with a computer, loves speed. And, to be as fast as possible, the brain loves to take shortcuts. These decision shortcuts (known as heuristics) can help us make judgements at much greater velocities, but, as with taking shortcuts when driving, they can get us into trouble!
This episode shows how with the use of a personal example.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-cognitive-bias-influences-thinking-and-decision-making/
Mind Maps are a form of visual, non-linear notes developed by Tony Buzan and used by countless successful people.If you are anything like me, and used to doodle a lot at school (or still do when trying to listen and take notes) then you will likely love mind mapping.
Mind Maps can be used for many things, including:
· Planning essays
· Taking notes (for example in talks and lectures)
· Making notes for presenting and prompts for public-speaking
· Memorising facts
· Brainstorming and problem-solving
· Visual facilitation in workshops
· And creating learning materials, presentations and videos
This episode covers the principles behind mind mapping and how to create a mind map.
You can find out more in the related article by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-mind-mapping-and-why-should-i-use-mind-maps/
What are the most important life skills? How should we navigate work, survive challenges, and thrive in our relationships?
Research by UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), identified 10 essential life skills, common to the well-being of everyone.
So here is the list of the ten most important life skills, as per the research:
-
Critical thinking
-
Creative thinking
-
Decision-making
-
Problem-solving
-
Empathy
-
Interpersonal relationships
-
Effective communication
-
Self-awareness
-
Coping with stress
-
Coping with emotions
This episode introduces each skill area but if you would like more detail then follow this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/the-top-10-life-skills-and-how-to-develop-them/
If you want to develop your skills then why not try out this online course (you can register and try out the initial material for free!), just click on this link: https://therightquestions.thinkific.com/courses/top-10-life-skills
What is The Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring?
The terms coaching and mentoring are often used synonymously but in professional terms there are some subtle yet important differences. It is not that one is better than the other, it is that they are slightly different approaches to achieve slightly different things.
It is also worth noting that there can be considerable overlap between the two but mixing up the terms can be confusing and frustrating.
Therefore the differences in emphasis and approach are important to know, especially if you are looking for either a coach or a mentor and trying to work out what would suit you best.
This episode explains the key differences between coaches and mentors but you can also get more details by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/difference-coaching-mentoring/
So, what is a life coach and what do they do?
A good coach can do many things but commonly a life coach helps people with:
· Clarity and Direction
· Personal Growth and Self-Improvement
· Work-Life Balance and Stress Management
· Relationship Improvement
· Career and Professional Development
· Health and Well-being
· Motivation and Accountability
· Transition and Change Management
· Financial Success
This episode talks about who coaching is for and how to choose the right coach for you. You can find out more details by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/find-the-best-life-coach-and-guide-for-you/
How to Build a Personal Network or Team and the Key Roles
You want to start a grand venture. You are in the driving seat ready to go. But, who do you want on the bus with you? Organisations expert Jim Collins poses this question in the bestselling book Good to Great.
I love this analogy as it is a picture we can all identify with. For instance, whether we are off on a family holiday, a team excursion or an expedition, we can empathise with checking off to see that we have the right people in the vehicle.
The same goes for whatever goal we want to achieve.
There are various approaches to building a team or network and this episode introduces 10 key roles that are crucial to an effective group. You can also find out more details by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/how-to-create-a-powerful-personal-network/
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (or MBTI®) is a popular psychometric questionnaire for helping to understand personality types.
The MBTI approach is largely based upon the work of Psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961). Jung’s research was developed into the MBTI model by Isabel Briggs Myers, alongside her mother Katherine Briggs.
They sought to apply Jung’s theories to understanding normal behaviour, not just the psychiatric disorders which were of primary interest to psychiatrists such as Jung. Thus, the tool aims to identify and clarify individual behavioural preferences in everyday life.
This episode gives an introduction to Jung's model and the MBTI test and you can find out more by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/personality-types-carl-jung-and-limits-of-the-myers-briggs-test/
Deliberate Practise: The 5 Elements
Don’t underestimate the cumulative effect of applied time. Investors understand the power of compound interest when it comes to money. The same applies to the time we invest in something, including our personal development. If we continue to invest our time wisely and with focus then we can achieve great things.
Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers: The Story of Success did a study that explored the lives of many of the world’s most successful people and looked at the patterns behind their achievements. One large theme prevails: that it takes a concerted application of time to achieve anything truly great. Gladwell estimated that it requires 10,000 hours of quality practise to become an expert at one given thing or become world-class in a particular field.
The key point here is not so much the 10,000 hours but the idea of effective or deliberate practise, something explained in detail by Robert Pool and Anders Ericsson in Peak: Secrets from the new science of expertise.
This episode outlines the 5 elements of deliberate practice and you can find out more by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/deliberate-practise-how-to-master-skills-and-achieve-goals/
How to Apply the 4 Principles from Atomic Habits (by James Clear)
Starting towards any goal means changing our behaviour and changing behaviour means developing new habits.
The key to instilling new habits is knowing a bit about the psychology of behaviour. With this knowledge, we can craft new habits to give us the best chance of success. This is where the work of Charles Duhigg and James Clear can help us.
This episode introduces the habit loop and the four stages of James Clear's Atomic Habits. You can find more detail on the website by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/stop-procrastination-and-start-succeeding-with-good-habits/
Breaking Down a Goal or Mission to Create an Action Plan
To take a mission statement and turn it into something actionable we need to break down the overall mission into constituent parts. We then end up with a hierarchy of larger down to smaller activities.
These various elements can be called different things, but I think about the overall vision and mission, and then break this down into various goals. Each goal is then broken down into key tasks, activities, and milestones. This then becomes the basis for the overall plan.
We might not achieve every single goal or task. We may need to adapt our plan along the way. But having targets to aim for is important as it inspires action, builds confidence and helps us gain momentum. Once we have a goal we can consider what tasks and milestones will help us achieve our aim.
This episode how you can break down your goal into tasks and milestones, and you can find out more, including templates for making your plan, by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/how-to-chunk-down-goals-into-tasks-and-milestones-to-succeed/
Neuroscience research has proven that slow breathing techniques have positive effects on our central nervous system and psychological state.
Using effective breathing techniques to slow respiration increases comfort, relaxation and alertness while reducing negatives such as anxiety, stress, depression, anger, or confusion.
The simplified science behind breathing techniques is that changing the rate of your breathing changes your heart rate; if you increase your breaths, your heart rate increases; slow your breathing and your pulse rate will also go down.
This episode introduces a simple breathing technique and you can find out more by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/the-best-breathing-techniques-to-reduce-anxiety/
The Fight or Flight Response and What Happens During Amygdala Hijack
Can you remember the last time you were nervous or angry? Perhaps you felt red-faced or that your pulse was racing? What you were feeling was a psychological threat state, known as the fight or flight response.
Whether it was a physical, social or emotional threat, the physiological symptoms and psychological response would have been similar.
Physiologically, when feeling in a threat state, it is common to experience an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, faintness, a dry mouth, sweating and hot flushes, an upset stomach and tense or trembling muscles.
These changes in our bodies, created by the fight-or-flight response, can help us when we face a physical threat as they are preparing the body to do exactly that – to face and combat the risk or to run away as fast as possible.
This episode explains more about fight or flight and amygdala hijack. You can also find out more by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/how-to-overcome-fear-and-achieve-your-goals/
Everything we do has an element of risk.
We might decide to act or to do nothing but both options carry risk. Therefore assessing, and managing risk is an important part of completing our goals.
This is how you can use this tool to identify, assess and manage the key risks that you face.
Risk management can become very detailed and complex but the essentials are simple. We need to:
· Identify the risks
· Assess the risks
· And mitigate the risks.
By doing this we can create a basic risk management strategy for any task.
This podcast talks through these steps and you can find out more on the website by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/risk-assessment-a-simple-approach-when-making-life-goals/
Which brainstorming technique do you use to get new ideas? How do you improve your creative thinking? What do we mean by brainstorming?
What is brainstorming and why should we do it?
Brainstorming is about thinking creatively and generating new ideas to start initiatives or solve problems. Effective brainstorming encourages lateral and divergent thinking, allowing us to explore ideas beyond the expected approaches to challenges.
By forcing our brains to think divergently or laterally about something we can come up with new ways, and often multiple ideas, for tackling a problem.
Forced association (or forced connections) is an effective creative thinking technique, popularised by Edward de Bono, author of the book Lateral Thinking
This podcast introduces three forced association approaches and you can find out more on the website by following this link: https://therightquestions.co/brainstorming-ideas-of-how-to-achieve-your-life-goals/
How do you maintain a good life balance?
People often talk about work-life balance but the problem with thinking about balance in these terms is that it is purely binary. But work is an aspect of life, not a separate entity, and there are many other aspects of our lives that we should consider when maintaining balance. I found this out the hard way when I burnt out, physically and emotionally, but I learned a lot in the process.
I have found that it is useful to think about life balance in the following way, considering the elements of body, heart, mind and soul. This podcast explores the different elements of life that fall under those four categories.
You can find out more by following this link to the website: https://therightquestions.co/how-to-maintain-balance-in-life-to-ensure-success/
If you could sum up your life purpose in a statement on a t-shirt, what would it say?
What do you tell people when they ask you what you are about? What is your life purpose and how would you sum it up?
When we talk about ourselves, we frequently share details such as what we do for a living, what we are studying, where we live or where we are from. But even though those things give some clues to who we are, they don’t necessarily reveal our principles, dreams, or life purpose.
Our personal brand can bring all those elements together and help to communicate what we are about.
Many companies create branded clothing and designing your own branded t-shirt is a useful and simple way to think about your personal message.
So, if you had a t-shirt that could sum up what your life is about, what would it say?
This podcast introduces the concept of personal branding from the fun perspective of t-shirt design.
You can find out more on the website via this link:
https://therightquestions.co/life-purpose-how-to-create-a-catchy-personal-slogan/
How to Create Your Own Life Journey Map
The metaphor that life is a journey is a popular one. Many of our favourite stories, from historical literature such as The Odyssey and The Canterbury Tales, through to modern classics including The Lord of the Rings and The Alchemist,use this premise.
We are naturally drawn to such adventures and can relate to the idea of travelling and challenges in life (even if not faced with actual sirens or orcs!)
When we thread together the events in our past, and the hopes for our futures, we can picture a path joining these moments together; a road that we travel along.
Making a physical map of your own life journey is a fun reflective exercise that can be done easily.
It helps to pull together the core questions of:
- Past: Where have you come from?
- Present: Where are you now?
- Future: Where are you going?
Capturing these things visually can be powerful and inspirational, as well as very satisfying. Just follow the 5 easy steps in this podcast to make your own.
And if you would more information to help you, follow this link to the associated post:
https://therightquestions.co/life-is-a-journey-what-is-the-map-of-yours/
What is a CV or résumé?
A résumé is a document that summarises your professional experience including your work history and qualifications. 'CV' stands for the Latin ‘Curriculum Vitae’ meaning ‘the course of my life’, and a resume is effectively a concise version of your work life.
To create your own CV or resume, just follow these 5 steps:
- Content. Write out your CV in full.
- Tailor. Adjust your content for the specific application.
- Edit. Reduce the resume to under two pages of text.
- Format. Make the document smart and easy to read.
- Review. Check for errors and get someone else to check too.
In the podcast episode, each step is explained in more detail.
If you want further information you can also follow this link to the related post:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-write-a-cv/
The Hero’s Journey is a structured story arc, and common template, used by storytellers, from authors of ancient mythology through to Hollywood screenwriters. If you think of tales of heroes, be that Odysseus or Luke Skywalker, Perseus or Katniss Everdeen, you can see the underlying similarities.
A 17-step structure was proposed by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces(1949) and this was refined into a 12-step process by Christopher Vogler in The Writers Journey(2007). But both templates are based on a three-act structure of:
- Departure. The beginning, where the hero leaves their ordinary life.
- Initiation. The middle, where the hero overcomes adversity to get a prize.
- Return. The end, where the hero returns home but with new wisdom.
The podcast outlines the full twelve steps that make up the 3 acts of the hero’s journey with some examples from well-known stories, taken from books and movies.
If you would like further information then follow this link to the related post:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-better-understand-your-character-using-the-heros-journey/
What are your priorities in life? How does the way you use your time and money reflect your priorities?
We all have priorities, whether we recognise them or not. We all have priorities, whether we recognise them or not. Even if we think we know our priorities, it is good to reflect on our actions to see how well our ideas and behaviours align.
A good way to examine our priorities is to look at the evidence of how we spend our time and money.
It is effectively an audit of our schedule and finances. This is because, as journalist and author Germany Kent points out:
“A person’s actions will ALWAYS tell you what their priorities are. People spend their time, money, and energy on what’s important to them.”
To do the analysis effectively you want to examine at least three months. This helps to even out any anomalies in your usual habits. If you can choose an even longer period then so much the better; the more data you use, the more accurate your conclusions are likely to be.
This podcast takes you through the analysis with questions to help you along with way.
If you would like to find out more about this topic then you can follow this link to the accompanying post:
https://therightquestions.co/what-are-your-life-priorities/
What are your passions? What motivates and drives you? How about your job? Do you do what you love?
Work isn’t always fun, but most people want to do a job that they are passionate about, something they can enjoy, where they feel they can make a difference, all while earning some money.
We all have a unique blend of skills, passions, and strengths. When these are expressed in how we spend our work time, then we have a vocation.
This episode introduces The Spark Tool that you can use to explore your passions and your potential vocation.
You can read more by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-do-you-find-a-job-that-you-love/
There are many strategies for prioritising but, if you look carefully, you will see that they all boil down to the same thing.
The simple truth at the heart of prioritising is:
Do the most important task first.
So let’s look at that in more detail.
If you want to be truly productive then you need to prioritise effectively. It is a constant decision-making process, working out what to do next.
This episode looks at a few different ways to ensure you are putting first things first and getting your tasks in the right order.
If you would like to find out even more then check out the accompanying article by using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-prioritise-tasks-do-the-most-important-thing-first/
A mission statement expresses what we are striving for; it should be a clear and concise statement of what success looks like.
Being busy is not enough; it counts for nothing if there is not some deeper purpose. We need to know exactly what we are trying to achieve.
I learnt the true importance of a mission statement in the army. For any military task, there will be a set of orders, often long and detailed, which tries to plan for every foreseeable eventuality.
A really good mission or success statement should be memorable and measurable.
This episode will help you create such a mission statement and if you want more information, then check out the accompanying article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-a-mission-statement-and-why-do-you-need-one/
A vision statement is a picture or dream of a better future. This is important as dreams can be powerful things if we choose to make them a reality.
- Henry Ford had an impassioned idea of a motorcar that would be affordable for the average family and he designed the Model T Ford.
- Edmund Hillary dreamed of climbing the highest mountain on earth and he and Tenzing Norgay were the first men to stand on top of Everest.
- Tim Berners-Lee dreamed of a way of freely sharing information and knowledge to people all around the world, he went on to invent the World Wide Web.
When a vision stops being a daydream and instead becomes a destination it becomes a powerful thing; something tangible that we can work towards.
A true vision or dream stirs the heart; whether it stems from desire for a particular future or from dissatisfaction with the present it should be evocative and engaging. The vision paints the picture of a better future, it brings to life the dream of a new reality and creates a language that describes an alternative paradigm.
This episode explains more about vision statements and includes some easy exercises that you can do to help refine your ideal future.
If you would like more information then check out the accompanying article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-a-vision-statement/
The SWOT analysis is one of the best-known situational and self-awareness tools.
SWOT is an acronym that stands for: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
The SWOT analysis was originally developed by researchers at Stanford University and designed for organisations but it can equally be used by individuals.
The podcast looks at the 4 steps needed to complete a personal SWOT analysis.
For more information, you can access the accompanying article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-do-a-swot-analysis/
How would you describe your personality? What makes up your character?
When it comes to the psychology of personality people often talk about either types or traits. The difference between traits and types reflects the distinction between analogue and digital.
Personality type theory is more digital, saying that something either is or isn’t of a certain sort. For example, a test using the ‘type’ approach will say you are either extroverted or introverted. It does not illustrate to what degree you are either introverted, or extroverted, and the same with other traits. In other words, it is less nuanced. The Myers-Briggs test uses this more binary approach of typology.
Traits are analogue as they measure aspects of character on a spectrum. For example, we might be more or less of a team player. The Big 5 model uses this approach to understanding personality and is the preferred tool of most psychologists when it comes to personality tests.
The Big 5, which stands for five personality traits (also known by the acronym OCEAN) was developed by a series of researchers but is most closely associated with the work of Paul Costa and Robert McCrae. The 5 traits of the OCEAN model are:
O - Openness
C – Conscientiousness
E – Extroversion
A - Agreeableness
N – Neuroticism
The traits are generally measured by the use of psychometric questionnaires that indicate preferences and create scores expressed on a scale.
This podcast episode includes an explanation of each of the five traits. You can find out more information in the accompanying article using this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-work-out-your-personality-type-with-the-big-5-ocean-model/
If you would like to do a personality test then one free resource I often use and can recommend is https://openpsychometrics.org where you can find a variety of tests including the Big 5 model.
Nancy Kline, author of Time to Think, has spent years researching and developing better listening skills to help people think. The principles that she has identified come together to make what she calls the ‘Thinking Environment’.
The Thinking Environment is made up of ten components. These are:
- Attention
- Equality
- Ease
- Appreciation
- Encouragement
- Information
- Feelings
- Diversity
- Incisive Questions
- Place
The podcast episode includes a fuller explanation of each aspect.
If you would like to find out more, you can find the accompanying article at:
https://therightquestions.co/how-do-you-create-the-best-thinking-environment/
Burnout is brought on by mental and physical exhaustion. This can be brought on by living or working in a stressful situation. This can result in feeling drained of energy, mentally trapped and physically ill.
Ignoring such signs can make things even worse, and the best course of action is to create a balance in life to avoid getting burnt out in the first place.
We can think about our mental and physical health as being like driving a car.
When we drive a vehicle, we know we can accelerate hard or go fast for a time, but we cannot run that way for long. We must manage the strain on the engine. It is also essential to frequently refuel, and frequently check the oil and water levels. Vehicles also require servicing after a specific duration or mileage.
If we then equate this to life, we can create a dashboard that helps us monitor our health and avoid burnout. The dials on this dashboard come under the headings of heart, body, mind and soul. Under each section, there are further dials we can monitor.
This podcast explores these areas in more detail.
If you would like further information on this subject then please check out the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-prevent-burnout-the-essentials-to-monitor/
One of the biggest challenges of decision-making is generating, assessing, and then choosing from among the different solutions there are to any given challenge.
That might be buying a car, choosing a property or changing jobs but if the choice has a large impact on time and money then we are likely to spend longer considering our options and working out the best course of action.
To help make the best choice we want to:
- Brainstorm multiple options
- Develop several courses of action
- Assess the courses of action
- Make the decision
This podcast explores these 4 steps in more detail.
If you would like to know even more on this topic then check out the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/which-is-the-best-course-of-action/
Research has shown that a group must progress through certain development stages to become a high-performing team. A leader is responsible for managing this process, but it is one that affects us all, no matter our role, and we can all assist in improving our teams.
The Drexler-Sibbet model of Team Performance helps us as it identifies the questions that a team needs to work through to progress through each level of performance. In this model, there are seven questions and stages of progression. These are:
- Orientation: Why am I here?
- Trust Building: Who are you?
- Goal Clarification: What are we doing?
- Commitment: How will we do it?
- Implementation: Who does what, when, where?
- High Performance: Wow!
- Renewal: Why continue?
This podcast explores each of the stages in more detail.
If you would like to find out even more then check out the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-develop-a-group-of-individuals-into-an-effective-team/
Have you ever been a member of a dysfunctional team?
If you have then you know how frustrating, depressing, and stressful it can be.
Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, identified The 7 chronic problems of dysfunctional teams. The 7 issues are :
-
No shared vision or values
-
No strategic path
-
Poor alignment
-
Wrong style
-
Poor skills
-
Low trust
-
No self-integrity
They are called chronic because, as with chronic diseases, dysfunctional team problems are persistent and cause continual pain. If these chronic issues are not treated then the organisation will continue to deteriorate and could even die.
The podcast includes a further explanation of each one.
If you would like to find out more then please look at the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/the-7-chronic-problems-of-dysfunctional-teams/
Have you ever set yourself a goal that you have been unable to achieve? I certainly have. Choosing to do something is generally easier than the practice of actually carrying out our decision. That is because goal setting is not a one-off decision, it is just the first of a series of decisions. Decision-making itself is a cyclical process.
As a professional coach, who has worked with hundreds of clients, I can attest to the fact that most common life goals succeed or fail around the issues of habits. We might choose to get fitter or eat healthier, but the challenge is that every time we are faced with a doughnut, or the chance to veg out on the sofa them we face another choice, and our early decision (and future goal) are threatened. So, what do we do?
The answer is creating good habits. In neurological terms, a habit works as a short circuit in the brain that makes choices easier. But first, we must construct the required decision-making routine. To make effective decisions and to build good habits you should understand the psychology of the process.
Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit (2013), shows that we need to identify the habit loop of any given behaviour. We need to know the cue (the stimulus), the routine (or action) and the reward (the payoff). Once we understand the cues to behaviours, we can experiment with rewards to instil new routines.
This podcast explains how to apply each step with examples.
If you would like to find out more then do check out the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-build-supreme-habits-and-compound-good-decisions/
The Skill-Will Matrix is a situational leadership model, made popular by Max Landsberg in his book The Tao of Coaching (2003).
The Skill-Will method is popular because it is easy to remember and apply. It provides a simple way to assess the right leadership style according to an individual or team’s level of motivation and competence.
It is easily visualised as a two-by-two table with one axis being will (low and high) and the other axis being skill (low and high).
The matrix then proposes the best leadership style for a person, depending on where the subject falls in the four quadrants:
- Low-will/low-skill: Direct
- High-will/low-skill: Guide
- Low-will/high-skill: Excite
- High-will/high-skill: Delegate
The podcast includes a further explanation of each of the four quadrants.
If you would like to find out more then the accompanying article can be found here:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-use-the-skill-will-matrix-to-pick-the-right-leadership-style/
What do you most want to achieve in life? What is your biggest personal goal? Do you know what you need to do to succeed?
Don’t worry, help is here! In the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, you can work through the coaching questions in this podcast and have a much better plan for achieving your life goals.
As a coach, I spend a lot of time helping people think through their life goals and how to achieve them. I ask questions to help them through their decision-making process and then outline an action plan that they can follow.
You cannot beat going through this process with a professional coach but there is a lot you can achieve on your own. I have produced this list of questions so that you can coach yourself through setting and achieving your goals.
The idea of the question process is to capture those big life dreams and break them down until you know exactly what the first step towards success is.
To do this the questions are used in order, to explore your desires, delve into the motivations, look at options for achieving your goals and then develop a plan for succeeding in that aim.
By the end of the process, the questions lead to working out exactly what needs to be done, when, and who can help with your plan.
If you like you can even answer the questions as you listen to the podcast right now. Just pause after each question to give yourself time to write your ideas down. So go on, grab a notepad or open a document now to make the most of the episode!
If you would like to see all the 20 questions then here is the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/20-powerful-coaching-questions-to-help-you-set-and-achieve-your-goals/
And if you would like to know about the GROW coaching model you can find out more here:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-use-the-grow-model/
What do you need to improve? It might be something about you, your work, a project or your team but whatever it is, you need to review what you have done in order to work out how to progress.
This is the simple premise behind the concept of continuous improvement, a critical element of deliberate practice and fundamental to having a growth mindset.
And it is not just on the individual level. High-performing teams achieve their level through continual improvement.
And we all know that right? So why is the process often so difficult?
Well, the main challenge is time. Often review processes are too complex and time-consuming which is why we need a simple, quick but effective method.
For any review the process largely boils down to three important questions:
- What should we stop doing?
- What should we continue doing?
- What should we start doing?
You can remember this by picturing a set of traffic lights. Or in other words:
- Red – What should we stop?
- Amber – What should we maintain?
- Green – What should we start?
This episode explores each of these questions in more depth.
If you would like to find out more you can also read the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-simply-and-effectively-review-progress-and-performance/
The term Adaptive Leadership was coined by Harvard University professor Ron Heifetz in his 1994 book, Leadership Without Easy Answers. The theory of Adaptive Leadership addresses the strategic question of how to lead people through change.
Ron Heifetz set out 5 strategic principles to guide leaders, and their teams, through this process.
These are:
-
Diagnose the situation.
-
Manage distress.
-
Identify distractions.
-
Delegate effectively.
-
Encourage challenge.
The podcast looks at each principle in more detail.
There is also more information in the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/adaptive-leadership-how-to-effectively-lead-change/
The rule of 3 is very simple. Any time you use a triad of information in your communication you are using the rule of 3. A lot of the time we do it unconsciously but there is a long history of using the rule of three to structure arguments, stories and speeches.
There is something about triads that connects with us on a psychological level and supports effective communication. The rule of 3 certainly encourages clarity, brevity, and memorability.
Neuroscience research has shown that we can generally only remember 3-5 pieces of information. The more complex the information the harder it is to recall all the elements, so it is no surprise that psychologically we fixate on threes.
The podcast explores three simple structures that use this rule of 3.
If you would like further detail on the Rule of 3 then please use the link to the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-use-the-rule-of-3-to-structure-your-communication/
The Trust Equation was developed by Charles Green, co-author of The Trusted Advisor, along with David Maister and Robert Galford. They explored the psychology of trust by looking at professional services and how people relate to one another. The result of this study was the Trust Equation.
The equation is actually a measure of trustworthiness, in other words, how much trust we are willing to invest in a person. In this context, to have trust between two parties, you need someone who is trusting and another person who is trustworthy. The equation gets to the heart of that relationship.
Their conclusion was that Trust (or Trustworthiness) = (Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy), divided by (Self-Orientation)
For clarity, it is worth exploring the terms used in the equation.The podcast includes some questions you can ask to think about how someone might score against each of these terms.
If you want more information then you can also check out the associated article using the following link:
https://therightquestions.co/?s=trust
We all know that trust is important. But what do we mean by trust? How would you define it? And having defined it, what can we do to develop trust in our relationships at work?
Trust can be thought of as faith, belief, or hope. It is the feeling of confidence that we have in a person, organisation, or thing. Trust has both a logical and emotional quality. We choose to trust a thing because of how we think and how we feel.
In relationships, trust is foundational, whether that is with friends and family, or with colleagues at work. Thus, whether we are starting to get to know someone and building rapport, or maintaining a long-lasting relationship, trust is critical. But, knowing this, how do you develop a culture of trust and psychological safety in the workplace?
The first thing we need to understand is how our brains work when it comes to putting faith in someone. Paul J. Zak has spent many years studying the neuroscience of trust. His research has centred around how the hormone oxytocin and has shown that higher levels of trust are linked to the brain producing higher levels of oxytocin.
So here are the eight behaviours, identified by Paul Zak, that can help to release oxytocin naturally and build a more trusting culture in the workplace:
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Recognise excellence.
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Induce “challenge stress”.
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Give people discretion in how they do their work.
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Enable job crafting.
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Share information broadly.
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Intentionally build relationships.
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Facilitate whole-person growth.
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Show vulnerability.
The podcast gives further explanation of each behaviour and you can find out even more in the associated article by following this link:
www.therightquestions.co/8-simple-ways-to-build-trust-and-team-performance/
How do we best learn? That may be a question you have not considered before, but it is certainly important. If we want to have a growth mindset, we need to ensure we are developing effectively. It turns out that effective learning happens cyclically, in a continual loop, and that is what the Kolb learning cycle helps us to embrace.
Following extensive research, David A. Kolb published his learning cycle in 1984. Since then, Kolb’s learning cycle has become probably the best-known and most respected learning model there is.
The four stages of Kolb’s learning cycle are:
1. Concrete Experience (CE)
2. Reflective Observation (RO)
3. Abstract Conceptualisation (AC)
4. Active Experimentation (AE)
Effective learning is only achieved when the loop is completed. But, the loop can be entered at any point, as long as the full cycle is accomplished.
The podcast includes a further explanation of each stage with examples. If you would like even more detail then do follow this link to the accompanying article:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-maximise-your-development-with-kolbs-learning-cycle/
In the previous podcast we highlighted the importance of confidence and that people are wealthier, happier and have better relationships if they are confident.
We then looked at the mindset that assures confidence. Research by Dr Ian Robertson has proven that we need to think that we can do something and that it can happen for us to have real confidence.
But how do we develop this confidence?
Dr Robertson goes on to highlight five things to be aware of to improve confidence. These are language, attention, memory, imagery, and posture. By embracing the positive aspects of these factors (and limiting the negative ones) we can get into the can do/can happen mindset.
In the podcast we explore each of these aspects in turn.
If you would like more detail on the subject then please use the link to the website and the associated article: https://therightquestions.co/the-simple-science-to-help-you-be-more-confident/
How self-assured are you? Are you confident of your success, in your life, work and relationships?
If you are unsure, then you are not alone. 85% of Americans suffer from low esteem, according to research by Dr Joe Rubino. This lack of confidence affects more than just our feelings, it impacts our earnings too. Best-selling author Barrie Davenport observes that,
“One of the main obstacles to financial success is low self-confidence.”
Further studies, such as those highlighted by Francesco Drago, have shown that more confident people earn more. In fact, they earn a lot more; it can amount to thousands of extra dollars a year. Not only that, (and arguably more importantly) having greater confidence improves our relationships and overall well-being.
So, confidence is a big deal. The important question then becomes: can we improve our confidence, and if so, then how?
How Confidence Works
Dr Robertson (author of How Confidence Works) has conducted research that has identified the two critical psychological elements of confidence, which he calls ‘can do’ and ‘can happen.’ The ‘can do’ part is the intrinsic belief that we can do something. The ‘can happen’ element is the assurance that our actions can make a differ our given situation.
In the podcast, we use the example of how a confident mindset can affect success with a person wanting to adopt a healthy diet and lose weight.
You can find out more about building a confident mindset in the full article by following this link or pasting it into your browser:
https://therightquestions.co/the-simple-science-to-help-you-be-more-confident/
The SCARF model summarises the main social circumstances that prompt reward or threat responses. The SCARF model was developed by David Rock, author of Your Brain at Work. And based on extensive neuroscience and psychology research.
The SCARF model stands for:
· Status
· Certainty
· Autonomy
· Relatedness
· Fairness
These are all concepts that can trigger feelings of reward or threat in social engagements.
We move away from what we perceive as threatening situations, either consciously or unconsciously. These are the ones that trigger the fight-or-flight response. By contrast, we are drawn towards situations of potential reward. So, the elements of the SCARF model prompt either toward or away behaviours, depending upon the context.
The Podcast has a fuller explanation of each element and there is further detail in the accompanying article that you can find by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-use-the-scarf-model-to-improve-social-interactions/
How to Spot The Seven Types of Bad Leader
Are you working for a toxic leader?
Marcia Lynn Whicker popularised the term ‘toxic leader’ and the phrase is frequently used to describe bad leaders. But what does it actually mean? Sometimes we implicitly know that we are working for a terrible boss, but it can be hard to explain why.
Fortunately, researchers have developed various models to identify the traits of bad leaders. For example, Barbara Kellerman conducted a study in 2004 to define the characteristics of bad leaders.
Kellerman identified seven traits. These are:
- Incompetent
- Rigid
- Intemperate
- Callous
- Corrupt
- Insular
- Evil
In the podcast we look at each one in more detail.
If you want some more information, particularly on options for what to do if you are working for a bad leader then check out the full article here:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-identify-a-toxic-leader/
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to identify, comprehend, manage, and handle emotions. This ability starts with recognising and managing one’s own emotions and then those of others. Emotional intelligence is also known as Emotional Quotient or EQ. The term has been around since the 1960s but was made popular in 1995 by Daniel Goleman and his best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence.
EQ (or EI) differs from IQ. IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient and IQ is a score of a person's problem-solving ability, measured through standardised psychometric tests. IQ assesses a person’s capacity for reasoning – which is useful – but what IQ does not assess is how a person interacts with others. That is where EQ becomes important.
If you want to find out more about emotional intelligence then please do check out the full article on the website by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/why-emotional-intelligence-is-vital-and-how-to-develop-yours/
If you are interested in the breathing techniques referred to in the podcast then you will find out more here:
https://therightquestions.co/the-best-breathing-techniques-to-reduce-anxiety/
The picture of an iceberg helps us to visualise culture and the link between behaviours and beliefs. An iceberg has less mass above the water (this visible part) as compared to the greater mass that lies below the surface (which is generally unseen).
The main idea behind the iceberg model is that in the same way as a physical iceberg, with any culture, there are obvious things such as behaviours that are visible, but there are lots of things hidden below the surface within a group that drive these behaviours. In this way, the iceberg model is a simple metaphor for describing organisational culture.
For further information on the subject please use the following link:
https://therightquestions.co/the-iceberg-model-of-organisational-culture/
Here is a short introduction to some of the most important leadership theories, trends, and models. These can all be instructive in understanding your own leadership style, broadening your expertise, and giving you tools to improve as a manager.
The models covered in the podcast include:
- Great Man theory
- Control and domination, power, and influence
- Leadership traits and skills
- Action-centred leadership
- Transactional and Transformational leadership theory
- Situational leadership theory (flexible leadership)
- Values-based leadership
- Servant leadership theory
- Toxic or bad leaders
- Authentic leadership theory
The Tuckman Team Development Model
So, what are the stages of team development?
Studies have shown that a group needs to evolve through certain steps to become an effective team. The most well-known (and memorable) theoretical model of this development process is the Tuckman Model.
Bruce Tuckman did research that demonstrated that every team goes through various stages. He first identified four stages and then, upon further research, amended this to five stages of team development.
These five stages of team development are:
1. Forming
2. Storming
3. Norming
4. Performing
5. Adjourning
A manager can do things to speed the process through these steps to the performing stage.
If you would like more detail on the model and real-life examples then click on the link to the accompanying article: https://therightquestions.co/how-to-develop-a-group-of-individuals-into-an-effective-team/
What is an authentic leader?
Authentic leadership is a relatively new leadership theory in the behavioural school of leadership theories. In many ways, it is largely the coming together of other leadership models. But it does put an emphasis on being true to self that differentiates it from other approaches.
Taken at face value authentic leadership could be misleading or even damaging. After all, a toxic leader can be true to himself or herself and still be a bad leader. That is why true authentic leadership is about self-awareness, not just being true to self. It is also why an authentic leader also displays all four of the leadership traits associated with the true authentic leader.
Bill George is the name most associated with this theory after publishing his book Authentic Leadership in 2003. He approached the subject from the practitioner point of view, making the case for responsible leadership as compared to the fake, hubristic, greedy or power-grabbing leadership that he observed in various spheres of management.
The subject has gained traction in academia but if you read the various papers, you will see there is no one agreed definition of authentic leadership. There is however growing consensus around the four key qualities of an authentic leader. These are:
· Self-awareness
· Balance
· Transparency
· Morality
You can find out by following the link to the full article on the website at:
https://therightquestions.co/what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-authentic-leader/
What is transformational leadership?
Transformational leadership is distinct from transactional leadership. Transactional leadership plays to the needs of individuals, using rewards, and where necessary punishments, to ensure performance and the achievement of a goal. The approach plays on our basic needs, as per Maslow’s hierarchy, to ensure compliance.
Transformational leadership, by contrast, goes beyond just self-interest. It seeks to draw people to the highest point on the Maslow triangle — that of self-actualisation. To achieve this the transformational leader needs to inspire their team with a vision. This vision is so compelling that it encourages people to stretch themselves as individuals, to come together as a team, and to work together for long-lasting change.
To find out more follow this link to the full article on the website:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-grow-from-transactional-to-transformational-leadership/
Transactional leadership is a management style linked to behavioural leadership theory. In other words, it focuses on influencing people’s actions.
This method relies on people’s needs and a ‘give and take’ approach to keep the team on track. In this way, it is closely linked to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The rewards and punishments reflect a trade of basic human needs. The manager barters with the team, dangling the carrot of incentives such as wages or recognition while holding the stick of contract, discipline, or expulsion to maintain cohesion.
But, transactional leadership rarely gets the best from anyone. Once people have their basic needs covered — such as enough food to eat, basic shelter and security — just increasing a person’s potential resources does not necessarily lead to a proportional increase in productivity.
Therefore transactional leadership can be used to manage predictable situations but for complex problems, or when you want to develop high performing teams, other approaches are more likely to be successful.
You can find out more by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/what-you-need-to-know-about-transactional-leadership/
The idea of servant leadership was popularized by Robert K Greenleaf in his book by the same name. His phrase, the ‘servant as leader’ has been shortened over time to ‘servant leader’
The servant as a leader is different to the leader who seeks power, fame and fortune. The servant-leader is not driven to acquire power or possessions but motivated instead to serve the community, to serve others.
This episode introduces the key themes of servant leadership and how it is relevant to all of us. If you would like to find out more then visit the website by following this link:
https://therightquestions.co/why-servant-leadership-is-so-powerful/
What is situational leadership?
To be a good leader, you need to know how to vary your leadership style depending upon the circumstances. This is called situational leadership. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard developed the most well-known model for situational leadership. This model helps to show the most appropriate form of leadership, depending upon the nature of the task and the competency and commitment of the team. In simple terms, it breaks down into four key leadership styles: directive, delegating, supporting, and coaching.
This podcast gives an introduction to understanding the situational leadership model and applying the 4 different management styles.
For more information go the The Right Questions website. You can use the following link:
https://therightquestions.co/situational-leadership-how-leaders-can-adapt-their-leadership-style/
The action-centred leadership model is a simple and effective theory that was developed by John Adair. It focusses on balancing the needs of three core management responsibilitiesof task, team and individual.
He also devised a useful mnemonic (PICSIE ) to help with core management functions.
PICSIE stands for:
· Plan
· Initiate
· Control
· Support
· Inform
· Evaluate
As the framework is practical and easy to apply it is a great resource for any leader but particularly those new to management responsibility.
You can find a fuller explanation of the model here:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-be-an-action-centred-leader/
Which Leadership Skills Do You Need to Develop Most?
Being a leader means being a learner, no matter where we are on our leadership journey. Whether we are a CEO leading a multi-national business, an entrepreneur managing a startup, or a freelancer just leading ourselves, we all have areas for development. That is why leaders need a growth mindset.
To work out which skills you need to develop the most you can use the framework, devised by Robert Katz, that groups competencies into technical, human and conceptual skills.
There is a more in-depth article on the website that you can find here:
https://therightquestions.co/which-leadership-skills-do-you-need-to-develop-most/
The World Cafe workshop is a methodology for facilitating good conversations. It encourages the sharing of ideas in a relaxed and creative atmosphere.
When run properly, with the right balance of informality and structure, the World Cafe is a very effective way of facilitating a workshop. It can produce a rich and innovative output for whatever topic you want to explore.
This video is an introduction to the method and etiquette to facilitate a World Cafe event. If you would like more information just go to the website:
https://therightquestions.co/the-world-cafe-workshop-facilitation-method/
The GROW model is a popular problem-solving tool used in coaching. It is a simple and effective way to help people set and achieve goals.
The word ‘GROW’ is an acronym for a four-stage coaching tool, but exactly what the acronym stands for does differ slightly from practitioner to practitioner. Commonly it that stands for:
Goal – The clearly defined endpoint
Reality – The present situation with is challenges and opportunities
Options (or Obstacles) – Having identified challenges and opportunities, various options can be explored to help achieve the goal and overcome obstacles
Will (or Way Forward/Wrap Up) – The Will or Way Forward step is the breaking down of the goal into achievable steps.
This short podcast explains how to use the model but if you want more information then check out this article on the website:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-use-the-grow-model/
Setting SMART goals helps us ensure that goals are actually achieved. It helps take the goal from an idea to a plan that we have committed to.
Equally the SMARTER approach provides a useful checklist and process by which both a manager and employee can agree upon the parameters for a task and be accountable for its outcome. Setting SMARTER tasks helps to build in the reviewing and learning from goals that if often forgotten or neglected.
This video tells use how to set SMART goals and SMARTER tasks. If you want to find out more then just visit the website at:
https://therightquestions.co/setting-goals-smart-way/
The Wheel of Life is a useful coaching tool that is used to examine how balanced we are across different spheres or roles in life. It is a great way to get an overall feel for how content we are and identify key areas for growth. It is particularly helpful for people concerned about achieving a work-life balance.
This podcast is a short introduction to the wheel of life and how to create one of your own. If you would like further details or a free template to use then please do visit the website:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-the-wheel-of-life-in-coaching/
Setting goals helps us to achieve things but if we want to complete our goals we are also going to need a plan. Here are the simple steps to making an action plan and the questions you need to answer in the planning process.
You can find more details about how to make an action plan, along with free templates, on the website at:
https://therightquestions.co/how-to-make-an-action-plan-to-achieve-your-goal/
Creating a plan to achieve success is all about breaking down our overall vision into smaller, measurable goals. From there we can deconstruct the goals to the point where we have a simple activity - a next step - that is achievable and easily actionable.
This podcast gives an introduction into how you can do exactly that, to break your overall aim into an actionable plan. If you want to find out more then please visit the website for further information and free downloadable action-plan templates:
https://therightquestions.co/how-do-you-set-goals-tasks-and-milestones-for-a-plan/
Your personal values are important as they are the things that guide you in life, particularly when you make choices. Therefore, the better you understand your principles, the more effective you should be in decision-making and in leading yourself and others.
Here is an introduction to working out what your personal values are and how you prioritise them. For further information check out this post on the website:
https://therightquestions.co/what-are-your-personal-values/
We all have to make hundreds, if not thousands, of choices everyday, but have you ever stopped to think about how you make decisions?
Each time we make a decision we go through a decision-making process, whether consciously or unconsciously. There are various models that help to break down this process so that we can understand our thinking and make better judgements.
This podcast is a short introduction to decision-making processes. If you would like more information then please go to the website at:
https://therightquestions.co/what-is-decision-making-and-do-we-need-to-use-a-decision-making-process/
This episode is the second half of the introduction to The Right Questions decision-making framework and how to use it.
The Right Questions is a decision-making model that uses interrogative words (what, where, why, when, who, how and which) as prompts in a process for making better choices and plans.
The approach is a simple one as it is based on words we use every day in our language. Once you understand the associations and application of the words then you will be equipped to make better decisions and construct your plans - from the simple to the complex.
To find out more go to https://therightquestions.co/what-are-the-right-questions-for-decision-making-strategic-planning/
This episode is the first half of the introduction to The Right Questions decision-making framework and how to use it.
If you want to understand a situation and make an effective decision you should start by asking good questions. The Right Questions approach uses interrogative words to help structure the questions we need to ask. It is an easy to remember system as it is based on the common question words we use in our everyday language.
You can find out more about The Right Questions framework on the website at:
https://therightquestions.co/the-right-questions-framework-guide/
In this episode, I talk to Toby Walker who is a solicitor, professional mediator and partner at Allan Janes LLP.
We discuss:
- What is mediation?
- What does a mediator do?
- How do you train for mediation?
- Mediation in formal and informal contexts
- The need for leaders to be mediators
- The importance of connecting, creativity and courage in mediation
- The Thinking Environment and how Nancy Kline's work helps in mediation and other decision-making settings
For more information do visit our website: https://therightquestions.co
In this episode, I talk with Edward Brooks, Executive Director of the Oxford Character Project. We discuss:
- The Oxford Character Project - what it is and what it does
- What it means to be a good leader, not just an effective one
- The different ways we can define leadership
- Taking responsibility and helping people flourish
- Having an abundance mindset
- Empowering young leaders
- The importance of mentors and role models
- The difference between values and virtues
- How to engage with human complexities using empathy and good communication
- The journey of learning and self-reflection we are all on as leaders
For more information do visit our website: https://therightquestions.co
Andy Tilsley talks to Simon Ash about:
- The ideas behind The Right Questions decision-making framework
- Learning to be a leader in the military
- Bomb disposal and question technique
- Understanding assumptions
- The biggest challenges in life and how to face them
- Getting through dark times
- Experience of burn-out
- The learning journey
For more information do visit our website: https://therightquestions.co
Nick Chatrath is an entrepreneur, Managing Director and Master Executive Coach. Nick has a DPhil from Oxford University and has co-authored a best-selling leadership book, Musings on Leadership.In this episode we discuss:
- The importance of reflection, particularly for leaders
- Tools to help reflection (the Labyrinth)
- The Healthy Leadership Model
- Helping people flourish
- The Thinking Environment
- Servant leadership
- Defining leadership as impact
- Productivity, time management and priority setting
- Leadership book recommendations
You can find full episode notes at https://therightquestions.co/leadership-reflections-with-master-coach-nick-chatrath/
In this episode, with guest Andy Tilsley, we talk broadly about leadership and explore the questions:
- How do we define leadership?
- Are we facing a crisis of leadership in our culture?
- Are we all leaders?
- How can we make a positive difference in the world?
We also explore:
- Positivity and the power of the team
- The importance of the journey (as well as the destination)
- Achieving balance
- Finding purpose
- Worth and identity
- Habits and discipline
- Stories that inspire leadership
You can read the full episode notes by copying or clicking on this link: https://therightquestions.co/is-there-a-crisis-of-leadership/
A short introduction to The Right Questions Podcast with the host, Simon Ash.
This series explores leadership and asks questions such as:
- How do we define leadership?
- Who qualifies as a leader?
- How do we lead in different contexts?
- Which leadership models and approaches are helpful?
- Which leadership resources are useful?
- What can we learn from the experience of other leaders?
To find out more visit the website: https://therightquestions.co