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 success when it does not quite live up to our expectations, to feeling like we are worthless when one part goes wrong, all-or-nothing thinking adds pressure to situations, making anything that is amazing feel like a disaster. If you have ever felt like that, then this podcast is for you.

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 as leaders can either help people navigate the change, keep focused and drive the work forward, or can be the catalyst of rumour, worry and concern. In this podcast, Graham and Richard explore the techniques that leaders can use to ensure they get the best for their people and from their people when change happens.

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 discomfort long enough to embed the new skills, processes and approaches that will allow them to benefit from the improved productivity that was always envisaged when the new way of working was first dreamed up.

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 leaders can do that will help people move from surviving change to embracing the opportunities that change presents.

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, not fought. They offer simple, practical steps, from explaining the change's purpose to creating a clear vision of how the new ways of working will actually work. If you have teams that are experiencing change, this podcast will help you help them.

In this podcast, Richard and Ricky explore some practical things you can do to build the culture in your organisation.

Org Culture is a big topic, and often you can get lost in the plethora of models and ideas. Culture feels big and something the most senior people have to take action on. Yet there are some simple, practical steps that any of us can take to improve the culture, even if it is just for our team.

From establishing the group's purpose, discovering the values, and aligning the business practices around measurement, reward and processes, manager have much more control over the culture of their team than they might believe.

What can I do to build rapport quickly? Rapport is a key skill when building relationships, when influencing others, and when collaborating, in fact, any time you want or need to engage with someone.

Ricky asks our resident psychologist, Paul, about practical ways to instantly build rapport. Together, they explore crucial elements to make rapport-building easy and impactful and get your connection off on the right foot.

If you want to avoid friction and get stuff done more easily, you almost always need to form a connection with your team, coworkers, suppliers and customers. Tune in for practical takeaways you can put into action immediately.

We like to think that all the teams in our organisation are aligned, collaborating effectively, and working in harmony. In an ideal world, all of our teams' passion and energy would be combined against the external world, beating competitors and solving problems that get in the way.

In reality, under pressure, we often turn on the groups closest to us. Not because they are the problem but because they are visible and identifiable. It is hard to blame people we can't identify, so we find an 'enemy' we can name, which can be as simple as the team down the corridor. Sales get frustrated with Service, Manufacturing with Supply Chain, and the front line with Leadership.

When the in-fighting bubbles over from noise to frustration, you need to deal with it before all the energy (time and talent) of your team is focused on internal battles and not directed towards delivering the outcomes you require. In this podcast, Ricky and Paul explore how teams get themselves into this position, and when you find yourself dealing with this, what steps bring alignment and harmony back to your world?

Frances Frei - How to build (and rebuild) trust. TED.com

https://www.ted.com/talks/frances_frei_how_to_build_and_rebuild_trust