A Job Done Well - For Managers Caught in the Middle

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 expl...

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 ince...

Welcome to the second episode of our monthly series on leadership.    Our learning and development guru, Amanda Gilbert, joins us again, bringing much-needed sense and insights to the discussion.    We explore what authentic leadership is in its different aspects and share stories and experiences we have of being authentic or not in some cases! Then, we discuss the value and impact authentic leade...

The Post Office Scandal is one of the biggest miscarriages of justice the UK has seen. It has had tragic consequences for its many victims, and the fight for compensation is ongoing. Could it have happened where you work? Jimmy and James discuss what caused the scandal and what should happen next.    The incident highlights the importance of understanding what's happening around us. So join u...

This week, we discuss the trend for transformation.  What do we mean when we talk about 'Transformation'?    Whilst we agree that the need to 'transform' is a given in the ever-changing world, does this need to be done via large-scale IT projects? We bring to life some of the pitfalls and lessons we've learned from past experiences and discuss alternative approaches that m...

This week, we discuss the 'silver bullet' or ‘management magic’, which is a reorganisation or a restructuring. Some of the highlights/lowlights are:   Many organisations create constant flux and uncertainty as they overuse this tool.   They can help solve problems in the short term (and they certainly look like progress) but are rarely a long-term panacea for all issues.  They can be a d...

This week, we are joined by a special guest - Learning and Development guru Amanda Gilbert, to start a series of podcasts discussing the topic of leadership. It will have practical and insightful leadership tips (thanks to Amanda), delivered with a slice of humour and always aiming to help you improve your performance and enjoyment at work.  When we talk "leadership", we mean leaders at...

This week, we tackle the challenge of how to get the balance between delivering cost and service. Organisations and teams often struggle with this challenge, so we explore why that is, then how you can have your cake and eat it too.    If you enjoy this episode, please check out our other episodes, follow, like and review the show. If you have any questions, comments or thoughts on what we discuss...

In our second festive episode, we focus on 'setting you up for success' in 2024 by exploring the subject of goals. We discuss the value of goals and the risks they create, then talk through the 'how to' so you can set goals personally or professionally... for both you and your teams and maximise your chances of achieving them. Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

This podcast is the first of two festive episodes aimed at helping you plan for a bumper 2024. In this episode,  we discuss the value of playing to your strengths and why we tend to focus on developing the things we're not good at rather than further developing the things we are good at. We explore what this means to individuals and leaders and how this can help unlock outstanding results. We...

This week Jimmy and James talk about Workplace Politics - an often ignored subject that impacts most of us daily and often not positively! They explore - What is it? How can you minimise, understand, and manage it to become more effective and less frustrated with life at work? It doesn't need to be warfare once you've listened to this. Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

This week we mix things up a little - Jimmy will be interviewing James about his best selling and highly rated book 'Managed by Morons' - everything from what inspired him to write the book, what impact he wants it to have through to his favourite film and most importantly - who are the morons! Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

This week on A Job Done Well , Jimmy Barber and James Lawther dismantle the myth that continuous improvement is just for process geeks. Using examples from British Cycling’s marginal gains to the chaos of NHS operating theatres, they reveal how small, strategic tweaks—backed by data, observation, and a willingness to challenge convention—can transform performance. No buzzwords, no grand transforma...

This week, Jimmy and James discuss the impact of measures and how to use them. They discuss the power and pitfalls of measuring performance and progress. Ever experienced targets at work? Unintelligible coloured graphs? A metrics storm of measures and wondered why things aren't getting better. This is the podcast for you..... Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Are corporate mission statements essential or are they just so much hot air? That genuinely depends on what they say.  We all need a purpose in life, so it might as well be a good one. Got a question - get in touch. Click here.

Welcome to A Job Done Well. The podcast that provides insights, advice, analysis and humour to help you transform your working life by improving performance and engagement - guaranteeing everyone's a winner!  Each week, Jimmy and James will bring you entertaining and informative thoughts on subjects that will help transform how you work. Their backgrounds – they have done everything from runn...