Episode 160: Amy Spillard and John Toon Resources

https://humanisethenumbers.online/episode-160-amy-spillard-and-john-toon-of-hlb/

https://vimeo.com/1165691853?fl=ip&fe=ec

1. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB. They share that, behind every balance sheet or report, there are people, ambitions, and stories that matter.

2. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB as they discuss why technology does not always save time. John points out that, even when time is saved, people rarely use it to slow down.

3. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB as they share why relationships with technology vendors matter more than transactions. Amy explains that simply buying software is no longer enough.

https://humanisethenumbers.online/episode-160-amy-spillard-and-john-toon-of-hlb/

1. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who share why playing safe can actually increase risk in a business. John explains how many firms try to reduce risk by avoiding change, but, in reality, that often creates bigger strategic risk.

They highlight that, by not experimenting, firms can fall behind. The world keeps moving, and staying still is not neutral; it is a decision that carries consequences.

They go further and say innovation should not sit only at the top. It needs to come from across the business, with leaders guiding, rather than controlling, innovation.

The real shift is in mindset. Risk is not about avoiding change; it is about managing change well while staying open to new opportunities.

2. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who discuss what it really means to humanise the numbers. John says that, behind every balance sheet or report, there are people, ambitions, and stories that matter.

They talk about how easy it is to forget this when focusing on data. Numbers alone do not tell the full picture without understanding the humans behind them.

They connect this to technology as well. It is not just about systems working better; it is about reducing frustration and improving how people feel in their work.

When technology supports people instead of slowing them down, that is when it truly adds value. That is when numbers start to feel more human.

3. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who share how the ‘noise’ in technology is affecting firms. Amy describes just how overwhelming the constant stream of tools, updates, and vendors has become.

They explain that this noise is not just about volume; it is about distraction. It makes it difficult to know what really matters and where to focus attention.

John adds that it is not just external noise either. Internally, people are overwhelmed with messages, emails, and competing priorities, which adds to the challenge.

Clarity becomes the real advantage. Knowing where you are, where you want to go, and what to ignore is just as important as the tools you choose.

4. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB. John and Amy discuss why technology does not always save time in reality. John points out that even when time is saved, people rarely use it to slow down.

Instead, that saved time is filled with more work. The cycle continues, and people stay just as busy as before, if not more so.

They highlight that this creates a false promise around efficiency. Technology enables growth and capacity, but it does not automatically create balance.

Without intention, nothing changes. The real question becomes how firms choose to use the time they gain.

5. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who share why relationships with technology vendors matter more than transactions. Amy explains that simply buying software is no longer enough.

They talk about the shift towards deeper partnerships. When firms invest time in those relationships, they get more value from the tools they use.

This includes shaping the product itself. By sharing feedback and real needs, firms help vendors build something that actually fits their way of working.

It becomes a two-way relationship. Both sides learn, improve, and create something better together.

6. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who discuss the limits of ROI when measuring technology success. John challenges how most firms try to use numbers that do not fully reflect reality.

They explain that time savings are often hard to measure accurately. Even when improvements happen, they do not always show up clearly in traditional metrics.

Instead, they suggest something simpler and more human. Ask people what would happen if you took the tool away.

Their reaction tells you everything. If people rely on it, it matters. If they do not, you have your answer.

7. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who share why change management is often misunderstood. They are clear that most technology projects are actually people projects in disguise.

They explain that success depends on how people adopt and use the change. Without engagement, the best systems will not deliver results.

John highlights the importance of leadership support in this. Without buy-in from the top, adoption becomes inconsistent and slow.

It is about bringing people along the journey. When people understand and believe in the change, everything moves faster.

8. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who discuss the role of culture in innovation. They highlight that the best ideas often come from those closest to the work.

They explain that many firms still rely on top-down decisions. But real improvement often comes from the bottom up.

Amy talks about creating space for experimentation. Giving people permission to try things, fail, and learn is where innovation starts.

Culture makes the difference. When people feel safe to contribute, new ideas naturally begin to surface.

9. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who share the importance of a light structure when driving change. They explain that too much structure can slow everything down.

At the same time, having no structure makes it difficult to scale what works. There needs to be a balance between freedom and consistency.

They talk about allowing experimentation early on, then bringing in structure once something shows potential.

This approach keeps things moving while still creating alignment. It allows innovation without losing direction.

10. Listen to this Humanise The Numbers podcast with Amy Spillard and John Toon from HLB, who discuss the need for agility in strategy. John challenges the idea that strategy is something you write once and follow forever.

They explain that many firms create plans that end up sitting in a drawer. Real strategy needs to be lived and constantly revisited.

They highlight the importance of being willing to change direction. Even if you commit to something, you need the flexibility to adapt.

The strongest firms are not the ones with the perfect plan. They are the ones who adjust quickly when things are not working.

https://humanisethenumbers.online/episode-160-amy-spillard-and-john-toon-of-hlb/

<div id="buzzsprout-player-19098750"></div><script src="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1164563/episodes/19098750-amy-spillard-and-john-toon-from-hlb-global.js?container_id=buzzsprout-player-19098750&player=small" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here is a soundbite of the interview with Amy and John