Ever-So-Lean Podcast

Ever been involved in a change initiative that started with the best intentions but quickly turned into an absolute nightmare? We've all seen it. Change programmes that promise so much but deliver so little. Leaders who announce big changes without involving the very people affected by them. Teams left confused, frustrated and wondering what on earth is going on! In this Halloween special of UKNCI Live, Matt Sims and Stuart Robertson come together to explore the horror stories of leading change, and believe us, there's plenty to talk about! Drawing on our experiences of leadership, continuous improvement and organisational transformation, we explore what happens when change goes wrong, why even the best intentions aren't always enough, and how organisations can avoid making the same mistakes. From poor communication and resistance to change, to a lack of engagement, leadership behaviours and initiatives that simply fail to deliver, we discuss the challenges that can turn a promising transformation into something rather frightening. But this isn't just about sharing horror stories. It's about understanding what we can learn from them. Why do people resist change? What happens when leaders fail to bring people along on the journey? And perhaps most importantly, what can we do differently to make change something people want to be part of rather than something they fear? Expect an open, honest and engaging conversation, with a few laughs along the way, as Matt and Stuart explore the realities of leading change and the importance of putting people at the heart of it. Because successful change isn't simply about introducing new processes, systems or ways of working. It's about people, leadership, trust and engagement. So, grab a cuppa, settle in and join us for a Halloween special that might just have you recognising a few horror stories of your own! The question is, have you ever been part of a change initiative that turned into a nightmare? Your Voice | Your Experience | Our Community Join the Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/42461005/ Learn more about UKNCI: https://uknci.uk/ UKNCI LIVE is broadcast in partnership with the Ever-So-Lean Podcast. https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/

What would your team say about your leadership if they knew you’d never hear it? You might see yourself as supportive, approachable and fair. But do your people experience you that way, especially when the pressure is on? In this episode of UKNCI Live, Matt Sims joined by Maxine, Nikki and Iolanda for an honest conversation about the shadow we cast as leaders. With personal stories, humour and lessons learned the hard way, they explore how everyday behaviour shapes trust, confidence and what people say when we leave the room. From emails that land badly to jokes that go too far, the conversation covers: Adapting your leadership without losing yourself. Managing your emotions when your team needs calm. Being approachable and helping people feel safe to challenge you. Knowing when to leave the work social. The loneliness of leadership and the pressure to have all the answers. Earning respect without trying to be everyone’s friend. An episode that invites you to reflect on your own leadership, ask for honest feedback and be prepared to listen to the answer. When you leave the room, do your people feel more confident, or just relieved? Your Voice | Your Experience | Our Community Join the Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/42461005/ Learn more about UKNCI: https://uknci.uk/ UKNCI LIVE is broadcast in partnership with the Ever-So-Lean Podcast. https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/

Why would people get behind a change they’ve had no say in? In this episode of UKNCI Live, Matt Sims, Stuart Robertson and Nikki Libera explore what it really takes to engage people in change, sharing honest stories of getting it wrong and the lessons that followed. From rearranging a workplace without asking the people who use it, to rebuilding trust when previous promises have gone nowhere, we discuss why good intentions can still create frustration. We explore how listening to everyday frustrations, making small improvements that matter to people and giving quieter voices space to contribute can build confidence and ownership. We also discuss difficult conversations, the fears surrounding automation and AI, and why developing people needs to be part of the change. A practical, open conversation for anyone leading change who wants their people involved from the start. Have an experience to share or a topic you’d like us to cover? Join the UK Network for Continuous Improvement on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going. Join the Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/42461005/ Learn more about UKNCI: https://uknci.uk/ UKNCI LIVE is broadcast in partnership with the Ever-So-Lean Podcast. https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/

UKNCI Live: When can we say a CI benefit has been delivered? If you work in Continuous Improvement, you’ll probably recognise the feeling of having to justify your role again and again. People want to know what’s been saved, what’s improved and when they’ll see the return. But meaningful change doesn’t always show up in the numbers straight away. In this episode, Matt Sims, Maxine Wood and Stuart Robertson are joined by Nikki Libera to tackle a question Nikki brought to the UKNCI community: When should a CI benefit be counted as delivered? They talk about the pressure to claim results early, how to show progress while building capability, and why value goes beyond money saved. They also get into the role leaders and frontline teams play in making sure an improvement lasts. It’s an honest conversation for anyone who has had to explain the value of CI while still doing the work to make it stick. Your Voice | Your Experience | Our Community Join the Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/42461005/ Learn more about UKNCI: https://uknci.uk/ UKNCI LIVE is broadcast in partnership with the Ever-So-Lean Podcast. https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/

What’s the biggest challenge facing Continuous Improvement in UK organisations right now? In this episode of the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, we bring you the first ever UKNCI LIVE, originally broadcast live across the UK Continuous Improvement community. Joining the conversation are UKNCI Founders Matt Sims, Maxine Wood and Stuart Robertson, bringing different experiences and perspectives to a question that affects CI professionals across every sector. There are no slides, no presentations and no suggestion that anyone has all the answers. This is an open and honest conversation about what’s really happening in organisations right now. We explore leadership buy in, engagement, culture, sustaining improvements, making CI relevant and the challenges of working in that space between leadership expectations and the people experiencing change on the frontline. Different organisations. Different industries. Different levels of maturity. Yet many of the challenges are remarkably similar. So what is holding Continuous Improvement back? What are organisations getting right? And what could we be doing differently? Whether you work in CI, lead it, support it or simply have a passion for making organisations better, this conversation is for you. Your Voice | Your Experience | Our Community Join the Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/42461005/ Learn more about UKNCI: https://uknci.uk/ UKNCI LIVE is broadcast in partnership with the Ever-So-Lean Podcast. https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/