Tech World Human Skills

This episode is the second of two conversations with Ron Whitson, and it picks up where part one left off. Ron returns to walk through the remaining four of his seven timeless behaviors for presales and solutions consulting professionals: show empathy, have a conversation, practice humility, and tell a story. Each behavior sounds intuitive on paper. Ron's job, and he does it well, is to show exactly how technical people get each one wrong in practice.   The empathy conversation goes further than the standard put-yourself-in-the-customer's-shoes framing. Ron draws a clear distinction between being in service to your audience and being focused on your own performance, and flags a specific mistake that catches a lot of experienced practitioners: when someone shares something and you jump in with "the same thing happened to me," you think you're building rapport. You're actually discounting them. The humility section is one of the most candid stretches of either episode. Ron talks openly about the early-career arrogance that came with knowing every piece of software on the market, and the slower realisation that telling an audience "I don't know, let me find out" can do more for your credibility than pretending you have every answer.   On storytelling, the conversation gets concrete. Ron argues for plain language over technical vocabulary, and makes the point with a tight example: one company presented storage capacity as 300 gigabytes an hour. Another described the same capability as 40 hours of content. Only one of those stays in the room after you leave. Ben adds his own angle on the Aristotle trifecta of credibility, logic, and emotional connection, and there is a brief, genuinely useful argument about English mustard.   Ron Whitson is Senior Director of Solutions Consulting at Thomson Reuters and author of A Friendly Human in Presales, a practical guide built from 28 years in the field. A signed copy and free audiobook codes are available at timelessbehaviors.com. Connect with Ron on LinkedIn. Show notes footer: Listen and subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yU6AcoCLySqE1wGn80HOT?si=649d8f8c3d8b47a3  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tech-world-human-skills/id1674003078  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@techworldhumanskills/podcasts    Newsletter and archive: https://www.techworldhumanskills.com  Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts  Technical Storytelling for Individuals: https://www.elevatedyou.live/individuals  Technical Storytelling for Organisations: https://www.elevatedyou.live/organisations      Ron Links https://timelessbehaviors.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronwhitsonse/ 

In this episode we talk about leadership core skills.  Specifically building trust.  How do you build trust with a team?  We talk through the 5 Ways of Being that help you build trust with a team.   Ben Caird is a seasoned professional leader.  He's led teams of all sizes in a variety of tech companies and has years of experience.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Ben Caird Linked In -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bcaird/     Keywords Trust, Authentic, Vulnerable, Accepting, Present, Useful, Leadership, Coaching, Results, Team   Takeaways Be Authentic: Work in line with your values, own your feedback directly, be the same person at work and outside Be Vulnerable: Lead with your mistakes, make it safe for others to fail, encourage challenge even publicly Be Accepting: Delegate outcomes not activities, coach people to improve in their style not yours, accept different approaches Be Present: Put your phone away, give full attention, show up physically when possible, consider if you give or drain energy Be Useful: Stop doing the work, coach and open doors instead, pass the pen and let others own the plan Ask "What do you think?": It's powerfully empowering and helps people feel heard Efficiency vs Effectiveness: The fastest way (just telling people what to do) is often the least effective Build diverse teams: Don't hire clones of yourself - different approaches strengthen the team Leadership isn't looseness: Know what's going on, stay close enough to coach and drive results Results through people: You can be a nice human AND achieve great results - it's not either/or

In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast, Ben Pearce and John Coyle explore the concept of becoming more memorable and the science behind how to do it. John shares insights from his experiences as an Olympic athlete and how understanding the nature of time can enhance our lives.   John is an Olympic silver medallist, best-selling author,  keynote speaker and expert in Chronoception.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com John Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnkcoyle1/ John's Website - https://johnkcoyle.com/     Takeaways Memories are the currency of time. The nature of time is not linear; we experience human time, not clock time. Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Tiny moments often determine the trajectory of your future. Routine is the enemy of time; break it to create memories. To be memorable, recognize heightened circumstances as opportunities. Design experiences that leverage risk, uniqueness, and emotional intensity. Emotions drive human behavior; engage them to influence others. When you have trouble, you might be solving the wrong problem. Time and money are fungible; invest in creating memorable experiences.   Keywords chronoception, memorable experiences, time perception, emotional engagement, storytelling, influence, personal growth, professional development, memory creation, human connection

In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills podcast, Ben Pearce speaks with Radhika Dutt, a product leader and author of 'Radical Product Thinking.' They discuss the limitations of traditional goal setting and the negative impact of performance metrics on collaboration and motivation. Radhika introduces a new approach.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/  Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com  Radhika Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ OHL Toolkit - https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit   Takeaways Goals create a burden and hinder curiosity. Traditional goal setting is outdated and ineffective. Puzzle setting and solving can drive better results. Performance metrics can lead to 'performance theater.' A clear vision is essential for effective goal setting. OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) provide a framework for problem-solving. Collaboration is eroded by competitive goal setting. Feedback should focus on learning and adaptation. Real-world examples demonstrate the effectiveness of puzzle solving. Accountability should be based on problem-solving, not just metrics.   Keywords goals, productivity, radical product thinking, performance management, puzzle solving, business results, vision, OKRs, objectives, hypotheses, learnings

In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast Ben Pearce and Renuka Jhalli discuss the importance of speaking at events, and how to get chosen as a speaker. Renuka shares insights from working with high-profile speakers and offers tips for delivering engaging sessions.   Renuka is  a Senior Content Manager for Tech Show London.  She has produced shows for years and has some amazing insight to share.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Renuka Jhalli Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/renuka-jhalli-28a9a846/ Tech Show London - https://www.techshowlondon.co.uk/   Takeaways   Big tech conferences are valuable for learning and networking. Tech Show London is a large, inclusive event showcasing various tech disciplines. Speaking at events allows individuals to share knowledge and support their community. Authenticity and vulnerability are key to engaging presentations. Unique perspectives and real-world experiences resonate with audiences. The call for papers is open to anyone with a compelling idea. AI can assist in writing, but authenticity is crucial. Main stage speakers often share their passion and stories. Engaging with the audience creates a memorable experience. New speakers bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the stage.   Keywords   Tech Show London, conference speaking, technology events, networking, speaker tips, career development, storytelling, audience engagement, professional growth, community support

In this episode we discuss the reasons behind the failure of digital projects.  James shares his insights from his extensive experience in the NHS and emphasizes the root causes of success and failure. James Freed is the Deputy Director of NHS Digital Academy.  The team he leads exists to help as many health and care teams as possible deliver more value tomorrow than they did today.  Before that he was CIO for Health Education England.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com James Freed Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-freed-digital/ Future Dot Now - https://futuredotnow.uk/   Takeaways   70% of digital transformations fail to achieve expected benefits. One hour of training can significantly improve staff satisfaction. Focus on outcomes rather than outputs for project success. Staff satisfaction is directly linked to patient safety and wellbeing. Digital champions can provide immediate support to staff. Cows (computers on wheels) illustrate the challenges in NHS tech. Bad digital experiences contribute to staff burnout and turnover. Training is essential to prevent burnout and improve job performance. 60% of digital project failures are due to cultural and skills deficits. Digital literacy varies significantly across different industries.   Keywords digital projects, NHS, project failures, healthcare technology, digital transformation, staff experience, training, project success, human skills, technology implementation

In this episode of the Tech World Human Skills Podcast we discuss the essential elements of creating a thriving team. Leigh shares his extensive background in engineering, sales, and product development, emphasizing the importance of purpose, communication, and structured processes in fostering team success.    Leigh Smith is a former CTO and now founder of Vantage Effect.  He has years of industry in a variety of varied tech companies.   Show Links Ben Pearce LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/ Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com Leigh Smith LinkedIn-  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighivansmith/     Takeaways Every team has the potential to thrive. A thriving team is characterized by open communication and challenge. Confidence within the team is crucial for success. Purpose and vision guide team direction and decision-making. Structured communication enhances focus and productivity. Realistic expectations lead to accountability and pride in work. Collaboration requires balancing individual productivity with team support. Leaders must foster an environment of trust and openness. Understanding the problem is key to effective solutions. Regular reflection and improvement are essential for team growth. Communication impacts team dynamics significantly. Intra-team communication is often more effective than inter-team communication. Leaders must avoid dominating discussions to empower their teams. Roles and responsibilities should include both individual and team accountabilities. Respectful challenge fosters a culture of innovation and improvement. Breaking down projects into smaller tasks enhances manageability. Investing in personal development is crucial for team success. Effective storytelling is a vital skill for all team members. The collective knowledge of a team is greater than individual expertise. Accountability leads to confidence and quality in team outputs.   Keywords thriving teams, team dynamics, leadership, communication, team success, team collaboration, team purpose, agile methodology, team roles, accountability, team dynamics, communication, roles and responsibilities, respectful challenge, personal development, thriving teams, engineering teams, accountability, effective leadership, team success