“The Ask” and How It Will Transform Your Organisation

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organisations face numerous challenges, from declining employee engagement to ineffective leadership. Traditional management approaches often fall short, leaving organisations searching for effective solutions. In this blog, we delve into the power of an Ask environment as a transformative approach that empowers employees and drives organisational success. If you’re looking to achieve operational excellence for leaders, enhance productivity, improve customer experience, and boost employee engagement, keep reading.

The Pitfalls of Telling: Why Directing and Commanding Fall Short

In many organisations, leaders rely on a command-and-control management style, where they tell employees what to do without fostering problem-solving skills or independence. However, this approach creates dependency, stifles creativity, and fails to tap into the collective knowledge and insights of the workforce. If you’re seeking to improve productivity and achieve operational excellence, consider alternatives that unlock the true potential of your people.

The Illusion of Short-Term Fixes: Unpacking Failed Strategies

In the pursuit of improving employee engagement and leadership development, organisations often resort to short-term fixes. Campaigns, target-setting, and training courses are commonly employed but ultimately prove temporary and ineffective. These approaches neglect the underlying causes, drive unhelpful behaviors, and fail to provide the practical knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable change. To achieve lasting improvements in customer experience, employee engagement, and operational excellence, it’s essential to address the root causes.

Enter the Ask Environment: Empowering Employees and Fostering Engagement

Imagine a workplace where leaders shift from telling to asking and listening more. This is the essence of an Ask environment—a transformative approach that empowers employees, fosters engagement, and unlocks the collective intelligence within your organisation. By recognising the expertise of your workforce, encouraging problem-solving, and building a culture of trust and collaboration, you can improve customer satisfaction, enhance productivity, and drive operational excellence.

The Benefits of an Ask Environment: Driving Transformation and Results

When organisations embrace an Ask environment, remarkable things happen. Employee engagement soars as individuals feel empowered and valued for their contributions. Decision-making improves, as leaders tap into the collective wisdom of their teams. Problem-solving capabilities thrive, as diverse perspectives are embraced and innovative solutions emerge. By nurturing an Ask environment, you create a sense of ownership, foster innovation, and drive transformative results, leading to business excellence and operational optimisation.

Unlock the Power of an Ask Environment with Leadership Training and Consulting

The time has come to shift the paradigm of traditional management. Embracing an Ask environment is not only about transforming your organisation—it’s about empowering your people to reach new heights of success. At QBS, we are consultants specialising in operational excellence, offering high-impact practical management and leadership training. We provide training in systems thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and operations management. Our expertise in business improvement, process optimisation, and culture change will help you improve productivity, enhance customer experience, and boost employee engagement.

Conclusion:

In a world where employee engagement and effective leadership are vital for organisational success, the power of an Ask environment cannot be overstated. By moving away from telling and embracing a culture of asking and listening, you empower your people, unlock their potential, and drive transformative results. The journey towards an Ask environment begins with a mindset shift.    Speak with QBS about how we sustainably change mindsets in our leadership programs.   Together, let’s empower your people and transform your organisation into a thriving, engaged, and innovative force in the business world.

When Leadership Meets Pop Culture: Unlikely Icons of Operational Excellence

In our mission to glean wisdom, leadership lessons aren’t confined to the realm of boardrooms, management handbooks, or corporate seminars. They surround us, pervade our daily lives, and occasionally emerge from the most unexpected sources – pop culture icons. From superheroes saving the world to flawed anti-heroes navigating complex realities, pop culture offers a treasure trove of lessons for leaders striving for operational excellence.

Mufasa, The Lion King – The Importance of Legacy and Mentorship

First on our list is the majestic Mufasa from Disney’s “The Lion King.” Despite his untimely demise, Mufasa’s legacy lives on through his son, Simba, teaching us about the importance of legacy and mentorship. As leaders, our influence goes beyond our tenure. By instilling a strong sense of purpose and fostering a nurturing environment, we can ensure our legacy of operational excellence continues, inspiring future generations of leaders.

Yoda, Star Wars – The Power of Wisdom and Humility

Yoda, the legendary Jedi Master from Star Wars, may stand at a diminutive height, but his leadership lessons are larger than life. Known for his wisdom, Yoda teaches us that true leadership isn’t about physical strength or showmanship. It’s about humility, perseverance, and drawing strength from within. Remember his iconic line, “Do or do not, there is no try.” It’s a lesson in commitment and resolute determination – two essential qualities for any leader aspiring for operational excellence.

Tony Stark, Iron Man – The Art of Adaptation and Innovation

Tony Stark, the genius inventor behind the Iron Man suit, embodies the spirit of innovation and adaptation. Despite his brash persona, Stark’s knack for quick-thinking, improvisation, and creative problem-solving during crises offers an invaluable lesson in leadership agility. In an ever-evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt, innovate, and pivot is crucial to maintaining operational excellence.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek – The Significance of Empathy and Diplomacy

Star Trek’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard exemplifies diplomacy and empathy. Whether dealing with interstellar disputes or crew disagreements, Picard’s approach always leans towards dialogue, understanding, and compromise. This reminds us that successful leaders foster a culture of open communication and mutual respect, nurturing healthier relationships and more productive, collaborative teams.

Walter White, Breaking Bad – A Cautionary Tale of Power and Corruption

Our last example isn’t a beacon of good leadership, but rather, a cautionary tale. Breaking Bad’s Walter White starts as an empathetic character, but his gradual descent into darkness reminds us of the corruption absolute power can bring. It’s a stark reminder that unchecked ambition and power, devoid of ethical considerations, can lead to destructive outcomes, damaging operational excellence.

In these icons, we find the reflection of our strengths and weaknesses, ambitions and fears, success and failures. They offer a mirror, sometimes flattering, often discomforting, but always enlightening. And through their stories, we learn more about our own journey towards leadership and operational excellence.

Whether you find yourself identifying with Mufasa’s nurturing leadership, Yoda’s wise tenacity, Stark’s innovative brilliance, Picard’s empathetic diplomacy, or are wary of following White’s corrupt path, there’s always room for growth and improvement.

This is where QBS comes in. We invite you to download our free Leadership Skills Audit. This valuable tool will help you identify any roadblocks that might be hindering your path to operational excellence and fast-track your leadership success. Learn from pop culture, learn from QBS, and let’s write your leadership story together.

Productivity – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on ‘productivity’.

Maybe your organisation is due for a health check? Have you downloaded our Leadership Skills Audit yet? Unlock the path to operational excellence. Check out our program page for insights and information.

Frameworks – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on QBS’ frameworks and the importance in getting leadership results.

We talk about the QBS frameworks we engage to get your leaders the best results in the training but also why frameworks and not theory!

Take the first step towards operational excellence by visiting our program page. Learn more now.

Busy Busy – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on how the epidemic of ‘busy-ness’ and the truth lurking beneath!

Maybe your organisation is due for a health check? Have you downloaded our Leadership Skills Audit yet? It will give you some insights on why YOU are so busy! 

Check it out here!

Variation – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on what can be quite a dry subject “variation” – but listen in as Anita addresses just how much her participants LOVE it in the end!

Ready to discover the power of operational excellence. Visit our program page for your own organisational transformation.

70/20/10 – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on their 70/20/10 learning approach.

We talk about the 70/20/10 model, why QBS use it, and how it can benefit your leadership growth strategy.

Discover the power of operational excellence. Visit our program page for your own organisational transformation.

Who Is QBS & How Did We Start – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on

who QBS is, and how they got started!

Propel your leadership journey to new heights – listen closely.

Join Anita as she discusses:

  • How QBS got started
  • How are they are different to
    • external consultants
    • internal consulting teams
    • typical modularised training

Ready to take the leap towards operational excellence – head to our programs page to learn more.

Who IOE is for – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on the IOE Program. 

So if you are ready to take your leadership to new heights then take a listen.

Join Anita as she discusses:

  • Who the program is for
  • the problems it addresses
  • What’s included in the program
  • How it works
  • and the life-changing impact for graduates

Ready to take the leap towards operational excellence – head to our program page to learn more.

Who COE is for – Leadership Insider Interview Series

In this week’s Leadership Insider Interview Series,

Kath Clarke interviews Anita Cunningham on the COE Program. 

So if you are ready to take your leadership to new heights then take a listen.

Join Anita as she discusses:

  • Who the program is for
  • the problems it addresses
  • What’s included in the program
  • How it works
  • and the life-changing impact for graduates

Ready to take the leap towards operational excellence – head to our program page to learn more.