Send a text

Why do some people push harder at work while others just do the minimum?

In this episode of The Reality of Business, Bob and Jeremy look at how incentives, rewards and recognition really affect employee motivation. They talk about the difference between incentives and perks, why some bonus and commission schemes work while others backfire, and how things like fairness, culture and recognition shape workplace performance.

Using examples from real sales environments, they explore the psychology behind incentives, employee engagement and productivity.

If you manage a team, design incentive schemes, or care about workplace motivation, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

We’ve all sat in meetings where a lot of word are used, and nothing really gets said.

In this episode, Bob and Jeremy talk about the language that’s crept into politics and management over the years. The phrases that sound confident and purposeful but often dodge the issue or leave everyone none the wiser.

Why do we accept that certain areas of work and public life are packed with oddly chosen terms that make our skin crawl or test our patience? And at what point did we lose the habit of just saying what we mean, simply and directly?

From political staples like “tough decisions” and “the national interest” to workplace favourites such “let’s take this offline” or “have you got the bandwidth?”, we look at what these phrases are really doing. Not just how annoying they are but how they affect leadership, trust, decision-making and everyday communication at work.

We also talk about standards. What comes as standard in the way your organisation communicates? Could your people explain what those phrases actually mean? And would things improve if clearer language became the norm rather than the exception?

If you’ve ever left a conversation feeling confused, irritated, or quietly switched off, this episode will strike a chord.

This podcast comes from Reality Training. For the last 25 years, we’ve transformed the customer interactions of many leading UK businesses and developed thousands of managers to be better at what they do.

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

Standards are essential for successful, growing brands.

But here’s the real question: what are your standards?

Can your people clearly explain them?

Do they know what ‘good’ looks like day to day?

And are those standards actually being maintained or quietly ignored?

In this episode of The Reality of Business, Bob and Jeremy talk honestly about why standards have slipped across sales, service and leadership and why this is a leadership issue, not a people problem.

They explore how ‘expectations’ have replaced standards, why remote and hybrid working has made things harder to spot and enforce and how flexible management can drift into avoiding accountability altogether.

You’ll also hear why:

• Standards need to be visible, not just written down
• Leaders must enforce them, not hope for the best
• Metrics without behaviour attached can do more harm than good
• Customers now expect more than many organisations are delivering

Most importantly, they ask the question many businesses avoid: where do we start?

If you care about quality, consistency and protecting your brand as you grow, this episode will give you plenty to think about and act on.

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

If you’re always busy but nothing really seems to move forward, this episode is for you.

In part two of our Team Leaders series, we take a closer look at what gets in the way of consistent leadership and how to get back on track. It’s a practical conversation about replacing firefighting with focus and giving your team (and yourself) a clearer sense of direction.

From endless meetings to shifting priorities, we explore what’s actually worth your time and how to make it count.

We cover:

• Spotting the difference between busy and making progress
• Using 3 daily non-negotiables to take control of your day
• Building a 90-day plan and creating a proper leader’s playbook
• Making sure your metrics match your values and culture
• Letting your calendar speak for your leadership
• Quietly fixing one small thing each week
• Seeing why remote accompaniment matters more than ever

Whether you’re new to leading a team or you’ve been doing it for years, this episode offers honest, realistic ways to manage your time, your work and your team.

Haven’t listened to Part 1 yet? That one’s all about managing people – worth going back for.

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

If you lead a team, or have just started, this is part 1 of two episodes all about making that role easier and more effective.

We talk about the stuff that’s hard:

• What to do when someone says the rules don’t apply to them
• How to respond without backing down or starting a row
• Dealing with likeable people who still aren’t performing
• Helping quiet team members feel confident to speak
• Getting two people to work together when they clearly don’t want to

You’ll also hear how to open a meeting with purpose, give useful feedback, and create the kind of team environment where expectations are clear and people know what good looks like.

This episode is all about managing people – the day-to-day conversations, nudges, and challenges that come with the job.

Part 2 is coming soon, where we’ll look at managing time, workload, and getting out of firefighting mode.

Listen in and take one idea into your week!

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

Are your days full of meetings, messages, and madness? Feel like you’re reacting instead of creating?

In this episode, Bob and Jeremy take on the chaos of modern working life – hybrid schedules, constant pings, and the illusion of being ‘back-to-back’ busy – and show you how to get a real grip on your time.

From Stephen Covey’s time matrix to Ivy Lee’s brilliantly simple ‘Success Six’, they share practical tools to help you prioritise what matters, reclaim your focus, and feel accomplished – not just exhausted. You’ll also hear why Friday has quietly become the new Saturday, how retirement is being totally redefined, and why your energy peaks (not just your schedule) should shape your day.

Expect laughs, real-life examples, and five powerful tactics you can try today – from time blocking and batching comms, to deleting, delegating, and finally saying no.

You’ve got 24 hours a day… but are you flying the plane or clinging to the wing?

Tune in now and discover how to make time work for you.

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

What does it take to build a successful sales training business - and still be laughing 25 years on?

In this special anniversary episode, Bob and Jeremy reflect on the lessons, surprises, and stories they’ve collected over a quarter of a century of running a training company.

One of the biggest revelations? Learning to take business a little less personally. As Bob admits, “Every knockback felt like a blow to the heart” in those early days. Over time, they learned to separate self-worth from outcomes - building resilience, perspective, and a clearer sense of what drives long-term business success.

From standout leadership moments to spontaneous karaoke, the stories span cities, countries, and conference rooms. You’ll hear tales from Dublin to Delhi, and Amsterdam to Atlanta - all reinforcing a simple truth: business growth often comes from the unexpected. Whether it’s a three-hour wine-fuelled lunch in France, or a client mix-up that sparks a brand-new idea, there’s wisdom in the unplanned.

There’s practical insight here too - around investing in personal development, taking time to reset, and remembering that culture, connection, and not taking yourself too seriously are all part of a sustainable leadership journey.

Whether you’re leading a business, growing a team, or reflecting on your own path, this one’s for you.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your own business journey? We'd love to hear your stories and questions!

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty

Send us a text

Sales managers & salespeople: Be honest - have you ever assumed a customer wouldn’t go for the higher-priced option so you left it out altogether?

You might be losing more sales than you think. It’s easy to filter choices for customers based on your own biases or assumptions, often without realising you’re doing it. But when you take the decision away from the buyer, you limit their options – and potentially their satisfaction.

From choosing the “cheap” option on a customer’s behalf to skipping over premium choices because “they won’t go for that”, this mindset is surprisingly common. In this episode, we share real stories (think chocolates, shoe shops, and scruffy car buyers) and explore the seven key psychological biases that influence how salespeople present – or don’t present - choice.

You’ll hear how things like time pressure, financial worries, stereotyping, and disloyal bonding can all affect how we sell, often working against the very outcome we’re aiming for.

Most importantly, we’ll share practical ways overcome these habits – helping you build trust, offer the full picture, and give your customers the confidence to choose what’s right for them.

Listen now for a fresh take on an old problem, and ask yourself, when was the last time you made a decision for your customer?

For more info, free resources, useful content & our blog posts, please visit realitytraining.com.

Reality Training - Selling Certainty