But Sill Have to Deliver It. Season 3 – Episode 027 Ever been stuck delivering a message at work that makes you froth at the mouth like a rabid dog? Welcome to the club. This week on A Job Done Well, Jimmy and James tackle one of the most soul-crushing tasks a manager faces: delivering a decision you know is wrong. From performance management systems designed by third-rate sportsmen to closing sites for arbitrary profitability targets, the hosts dissect the emotional toll, the credibility crisis, and the sheer absurdity of corporate life. They explore why it’s so stressful, and why some battles are just not worth dying in a ditch for. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Jimmy and James also … [Read more...]
Stuck in the Middle: Why Managers Burn Out
Season 3 - Episode 025 Welcome to another episode of A Job Done Well, where Jimmy and James dissect the brutal reality of middle management—a role where you’re accountable for everything and in control of nothing. This week, they expose the absurdity of being the corporate shock absorber: squeezed between bosses who demand miracles and teams who resent you for failing to deliver them. From the horror of “Project Hessian” (a type of sacking) to the farce of forced rankings, Jimmy and James share their war stories: translating mass culls into PowerPoint-friendly language, faking operational maturity scores, and watching as outsourcing contracts backfire spectacularly. They reveal why middle … [Read more...]
Mastering Emotions – Boosting Work Performance and Enjoyment
Season 2 – Episode 4: Advice From Rachael Edmondson-Clarke Following the episode on mood, Rachael Edmondson-Clarke returns to delve into the interconnected topic of emotion. While mood is an internal state, emotions are our responses to external stimuli. They can surprise us and disrupt both performance and relationships. Rachael helps us understand why emotions affect us and how we can manage, select, and alter our natural reactions. We contribute with perspectives on DIY, football, golf, and road rage, but fortunately, Rachael offers more intriguing insights that will help you enhance your performance and enjoyment at work. To find out more, contact Rachael, Jimmy or James. … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence
Season 1 – Episode 23: What Is It and How Can You Develop It? This week, we talked to our resident L&D Guru, Amanda Gilbert, about Emotional Intelligence (EQ). What is it, why should you use it, what are the risks, and how can you develop it? Jimmy was put out by Rishi Sunak's lack of EQ when he trashed the credibility of his favourite trainers. James struggled to see the problem (he still can't spell empathy). If you've ever wondered about EQ and want to learn how to develop yours and improve your relationships, listen on. Sources and extra material are available below. … [Read more...]
Managing Big Egos Without Losing Your Mind
Season 1 – Episode 16: How Big is Yours? 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 explored, so we hope you find this a thoughtful and practical episode. Email jimmy@ajobdonewell.com or james@ajobdonewell.com and let us know what you thought. … [Read more...]