156 - Why do we sometimes make up the facts?
The question is
As we continue our series of podcasts on common thinking errors, in this podcast, Ricky and Richard make up stuff. Well, to be honest, I just made that up because this is a great podcast and I was not part of it! This is emotional reasoning, and if you listen to this podcast, they will introduce you to this common thinking error that we can all make from time to time. Emotional Reasoning is where our mind mixes up who we feel about something (or someone) and the supporting facts about that situation or person. If you have ever had a bad meeting and started to think that...
info_outline
155 - Why do we jump to conclusions?
The question is
As we continue our series on common Thinking Errors, this episode considers the way that sometimes we jump to conclusions with minimal evidence and no facts. Ricky and Paul explore the different ways we see this playing out, taking examples from sport where commentators take stats from 20 years ago to tell us who is going to win, without anyone pointing out that there are very few sportspeople who were playing 20 years ago playing today, so it is not the same team! If you are prone to making leaps in your logic, jumping to conclusions that don't help you or move you forward, ask yourself when...
info_outline
154 - Why do we filter out all the good stuff?
The question is
If you have ever had one bad thing happen, and suddenly cannot remember everything good that happened before, then this podcast is for you. In this episode, Graham asks Paul about he common thinking error, Mental Filtering. Our brains are designed to sort through all of the information presented to us quickly and then focus on the areas that present danger or risk. It is doing its primary job of keeping us alive long enough to pass on our genes! Yet, in a modern world, we are not really at risk, so occasionally this amazing trick backfires and makes us...
info_outline
153 - Why do we often assume the worst case scenario?
The question is
In our series on thinking errors, this podcast explores catastrophising, with Richard and Graham sharing their own personal experience of this cognitive trick our mind can play, as well as examining why it happens and how to deal with it. If you have ever turned a paper cut into a medical emergency, or a problem at work starts to feel like the first step toward unemployability, then this podcast will help you understand how this simple mental defensive mechanism can easily shift from our best friend to an unhelpful foe.
info_outline
152 - What is the risk when we overgeneralise?
The question is
Now, I don't know about you, but based just on the first 30 seconds of this podcast, this is going to be the best podcast you have ever heard... As we continue our series on Thinking Errors, this episode explores overgeneralisation. Richard talks Ricky through the risks associated with over-generalising, making broad-brush connections about events, people and situations based on the specifics of a single or a small number of instances. What happens to our performance when we overgeneralise, making assumptions and decisions based on flawed information?
info_outline
151 - Why do we sometimes think it has to be everything or nothing at all?
The question is
Over the next few months, we will be running a new mini-series within 'The Question Is...' that explores the most common Thinking Errors. Thinking Errors are cognitive distortions that alter our thinking, distorting the way we see the world and can impact performance and mood. In this first episode, Ricky talks to Paul about 'All-or-Nothing' thinking. This way of seeing situations as simple, Black or White, Right or Wrong, Good or Bad. This tricks our thoughts into seeing situations as absolute, ignoring the complexity and nuance that typically exists. From ignoring our own...
info_outline
150 - How do you keep going when the team know bigger changes are coming?
The question is
Wouldn't it be nice if change just happened, all at once, and then things went back to being stable for a while? The reality is that change in the workplace is rarely a simple one-off event, more often change is delivered in waves, often iterated to allow the change to best reflect the environment. It is easy to imagine the worst when change happens, assuming job losses, less rewards and more work, over expansion and growth, and when our teams start to imagine these things, it will quickly start to impact productivity, motivation and sometimes even well-being. How we communicate change...
info_outline
149 - How do leaders help their teams to adopt new ways of working?
The question is
When we change how we work, however much planning and training we put in place up front, we still need to allow a period when things will get worse before they get better. We may need time to adapt to new processes, systems, or unlearn old ways of doing things. Who wants to get worse at their job? Instead of embracing the discomfort of change, most of us cling to the old ways we understand, hoping to stay within our comfort zone. In this podcast, Richard and Graham explore why this happens, and what leaders and managers can do to help people through this transition, live with the...
info_outline
148 - What should you do to help your teams deal with constant change?
The question is
In this episode of The Question, Ricky and Graham continue from episode 147, exploring the impact of constant change on teams. The modern world of work is one of constant evolution, which, for some, can be a great opportunity. Still, for many, it feels relentless, risking creating change fatigue in the people you rely on to make the change work. Change is a mixture of practical and people outcomes, and leaders can easily focus on the practical deliverables, leaving the people to transition to the change on their own. Graham and Ricky explore the practical things that managers and...
info_outline
147 - How do leaders help their teams embrace new ways of working?
The question is
Sometimes, it feels like the workplace has become a place of constant change, with technology, economics and societal changes driving the need for teams to adapt how they work to meet changing needs constantly. Leaders who can help their teams embrace new ideas and working practices can drive the performance of their teams while at the same time protecting those they work with from the stress we feel when change is imposed on us. In this episode of The Question Is, Ricky and Graham explore the leader's role in preparing their team in advance, creating a culture where change is embraced,...
info_outlineWhen different opinions appear in the decision, the easy answer is to push the decision up. Let the boss decide.
There are two issues with this strategy. Firstly, while the boss will probably engage with the process, they will also hate it. They have enough to do without having to make decisions for warring teams. Plus, it never reflects well on those asking.
The bigger issue is when the team is in a matrix, and there is no obvious boss to pass the buck to. Then, the team has to find a way or risk the consequences of no (or late) decision!
In this episode of the podcast, Richard and Paul explore strategies that will help teams that disagree find solutions. From agreeing on where you agree to reciprocal behaviours, this podcast outlines strategies that you can use to create consensus and momentum.