Season 2 – Episode 7: Lessons from the NHS and Solutions for Every Workplace In last week's episode, we discussed the issues highlighted in Lord Darzi's report on the current state of the NHS and concluded that many are common to other organisations and teams. This week, we share some of the solutions we've found that can help overcome these challenges, from breaking a backlog to finding the best opportunities for improvement. We also discuss how Jimmy regresses to childhood to stay mentally fit whilst James opts to do what he's told to stay healthy! To find out more, please get in touch with James or Jimmy. Further Information Summary letter from … [Read more...]
Beyond the Backlog
Season 2 – Episode 6: What Can We Learn from the Current State of the NHS? This week, we discuss Lord Darzi's report about the state of the NHS. The NHS is a crucial part of our lives, both in moments of joy and crisis, and it's widely recognised that it faces significant organisational challenges. But are these challenges unique? We delve into similar problems in other organisations, from perpetual restructuring and backlog management to ignoring customer feedback. Additionally, James recounts his experience trading the sophisticated company at the Southwell Ploughing Festival for the thrills of the waltzer at Nottingham's Goose Fair. Next week, we'll focus on some of the solutions … [Read more...]
The Cleaner Who Knew More Than the CEO: The Power of Continuous Improvement
Season 1 – Episode 4: Your People Hold the Answers 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 transformation programmes, just practical, often counterintuitive ways to get better at what you already do. The hosts expose the pitfalls that derail improvement: the HiPPO (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) syndrome, the fear of looking stupid, and the … [Read more...]
What Gets Measured Gets Done
Season 1 – Episode 3: The Power of Numbers 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….. Transcript Episode 3: What Gets Measured Gets Done [00:00:00] James: hello, I'm James. [00:00:04] Jimmy: Hi, I'm Jimmy. [00:00:05] James: Welcome to A Job Done Well, [00:00:08] Jimmy: The podcast about the world of work and how to improve the daily grind. Well, James, how has your … [Read more...]
The Power of Purpose
Season 1 – Episode 2: Making Your Work Meaningful 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 or goal in life, so it might as well be a good one. Transcript Episode 2: Giving Your Work Meaning - Being Clear About its Purpose [00:00:00] James: Hello. I'm James. [00:00:05] Jimmy: Hi, I'm Jimmy. [00:00:07] James: Welcome to A Job Well Done. [00:00:09] Jimmy: to a podcast about the world of work and how to improve the daily grind. Welcome to a job well done podcast. [00:00:18] James: A job done well, not a job well … [Read more...]