In this week's episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss strategies for dealing with difficult people at work. We all know them – those you dread interacting with – maybe they don't listen, or they snipe from the sidelines. Perhaps they ignore you, or nothing ever sticks to them when things go wrong.

Regardless of who they are, James and Jimmy discuss how to deal with them effectively – both in the moment and over the long term, if their behaviour is systemic.

James and Jimmy also challenge their own behaviour and yours, so that you do not become someone else's 'difficult person'

If that isn’t enough, they also discuss the perils of children flying the nest and how the adage 'it's the hope that kills you' is apt if you're a football fan!

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Season 3 - we're back with a muddle of James's!

To kick the season off, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber explore how we can all use artificial intelligence at work with special guest James Crawford. Unless you're living under a rock, you'll be aware of the promise of AI revolutionising the workplace. This tends to focus on how organisations, governments, or public services will utilise AI and automate various jobs.

Today, we explore how we as individuals can use AI to help us get ahead and revolutionise how we work. AI expert James Crawford shares his 5P's model and also explains which AI systems work best for specific jobs. He then discusses some of the uses and best practices he has experienced during his travels.

Plus, you'll hear 'what we did last summer', but somewhat less dramatic than the films or songs!

So if you're worried about getting left behind in the AI revolution, check this episode out!

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We're back! Contrary to popular rumour we didn't get divorced over the summer. This season expect more insights, thought provoking experts, practical tips and hopefully a few laughs. All aimed at helping you improve your performance and enjoyment at work.

So if you're frustrated about how things work, want to get better results, want to make your colleagues/team's work lives better and have some fun on the way - we spend a third of our lives at work, so this is the least we should expect - then this is the podcast for you!

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This week marks the end of the second season, so James Lawther and Jimmy Barber have an extravaganza for you - well, it should at least be mildly entertaining! They share some of the highs and lows from the series, things that they've learned and a few of their vast catalogue of outtakes.

They'll be back for season 3 in September, so if you have any special requests on topics, questions or guests you'd like to hear from, then please get in touch with us. In the interim, they'll share some excerpts from their most popular episodes that you may have missed, so keep an eye out on LinkedIn, YouTube or TikTok for those.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through Season 2.

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In this episode, James Lawther and Jimmy Barber delve into the topic of innovation, dispelling common misconceptions and emphasising its true value in enhancing performance and enjoyment at work.

They share personal experiences and discuss both successful and failed innovations, highlighting the importance of involving all employees in the innovation process. They then also discuss the necessary cultural and procedural changes required to create a genuinely innovative environment. Tune in for practical tips on generating ideas, testing them, and scaling successful innovations.

Don't just leave it to the 'Innovation Team', everyone has a role to play!

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Nearly a quarter of us are impacted by grief every year - so why aren't we talking about it more at work?

In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Baber explore the crucial topic of grief in the workplace with special guest Lou Hynes, 'The Grief Guru'. Lou shares her personal story, in which, through devastating personal loss, she has found her calling - helping us become a more grief-literate society. The discussion covers how grief affects employees, the importance of organisational support, and practical ways managers and colleagues can offer real help.

Lou emphasises the need for companies to support their employees, or risk attrition (51% of people who feel they're not supported through a period of grief leave within a year) and provides actionable insights for making workplaces more compassionate and supportive environments.

Whether you're someone dealing with grief, a manager or an HR director, this episode offers valuable perspectives and advice.

To find out more about Lou and how she can help you Lou Hynes Coaching

On a lighter note, James shares details of his favourite pastime.

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In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the impact of AI on contact centres and back-office jobs.

This follows a question from Rob, a member of the audience, who asked about the potential for AI to reduce contact centre jobs by a claimed 80-90% in the next year or two. The hosts share insights from a former guest, Alex Alexander's AI team, and James interviews Google's Gemini to discover if the AI themselves believe they will put us all out of a job.

This is all balanced with a bit of real-world experience of tech transformations.

Check out the episode and see what they conclude - Are the robots taking over the world? You might be surprised by the answer.

XOOTS – Your digital transformation co-pilot

Callcenters in the Age of AI

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In this episode, hosts James Lawther and Jimmy Barber discuss the importance of networking with special guest Andy Warren - the best-connected person we know! They talk about the nuances of networking, what makes it effective, and how to overcome common barriers. Andy shares invaluable insights, including key strategies such as the significance of personal branding, overcoming the fear of rejection, and the 80/20 rule in listening versus speaking.

Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your networking skills, this episode offers practical advice to enhance your professional and social connections.

They also face the challenges of playing Eamonn Andrews (look him up if you're under 40!) at a friend's milestone birthday, and that teenagers think they can drive to the moon and back in a Fiat 500.

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