Root Issue Radio!

[EP9] A Finale of EOS Resources

In this final episode of the season, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes share some of their favorite resources for becoming a stronger issue solver and a more effective leader. They highlight the richness of the Issues book itself, including the frequently asked questions, references, checklists, templates, and tools woven throughout the appendix and supporting materials. Jill also points listeners to her Courage Advantage series, especially the relevance of courage in EOS work: the courage to be disciplined, the courage to experiment, and the courage to lighten up. Together, she and Sue emphasize that great leadership is not just about using the tools, but about becoming more courageous, more curious, and more willing to think and act differently. The conversation also spotlights Sue’s Decoder Deck, a set of 80 questions designed to create trust when truth is present but unspoken. Jill explains why question cards are so powerful: they do the heavy lifting by opening the brain and prompting better conversation. Sue then introduces the Issues Gym, a space designed to help teams build their IDS muscle by practicing identification and discussion more effectively. The episode also mentions additional EOS resources like The Rollout Book, Rocket Fuel, Great Boss, and other workshops and master classes that help leaders and teams embody the system more fully. The season closes with a reminder that the goal is not just to solve issues faster, but to remove friction, fast-track growth, and ignite greatness in people and organizations. Get your copy of the Issues Book here [https://www.amazon.com/Issues-Remove-Friction-Greatness-Mastery/dp/1637748671]!

[EP8] Speed, Trust, and Permanent Issue Solving

In this episode of Root Issue Radio, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes explore the relationship between speed, trust, and permanent issue-solving. They open by naming a paradox many teams feel: leaders want to go fast, but the best path to speed often requires slowing down long enough to address the real issue. Sue connects the conversation to the idea of the speed of trust, explaining that when trust is high, people are more open, more direct, and less defensive. When trust is low, teams become more cautious, more calculated, and more likely to wrap issues in hesitation instead of addressing them clearly. Jill and Sue also dig into the difference between apologizing and saying sorry, using that distinction to show how leaders can repair interactions without turning every misstep into wrongdoing. They emphasize that trust grows when people are willing to go first, speak honestly, and repair quickly when something lands poorly. The episode closes with a warning against solving too quickly. Jill and Sue describe what happens when teams jump straight to the solve or the to-do list without fully identifying the root issue, and they offer a reminder that faster is only better when the solve is also permanent. Listener Takeaway Speed only matters when the solve lasts. The fastest teams are the ones with enough trust to speak honestly, repair quickly, and stay with the root until the issue is solved permanently. Get your copy of the Issues Book here [https://www.amazon.com/Issues-Remove-Friction-Greatness-Mastery/dp/1637748671]!

[EP7] EOS Deeper than the Toolbox

In this episode of Root Issue Radio, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes explore the idea that EOS is more than a toolbox — it is a system designed to build leaders. They discuss how self-implementers often become strong at using individual tools, but the real power comes from understanding how those tools work together across the full system. The conversation digs into the danger of turning EOS into a prescription instead of an adaptable algorithm. Jill and Sue talk about how teams can get robotic, default to the same approach, or rely too quickly on the first answer instead of fully engaging the team in discussion. They close by emphasizing that if a team feels stuck, slow down, pause, and bring the whole team into the conversation. The goal is not just to solve one issue faster — it is to build stronger leaders who can think more broadly, participate more fully, and help the organization grow. Listener Takeaway: EOS works best when it is used as a system, not a checklist. When teams stop relying on the same default approach and start using the tools together, they build stronger leaders and solve issues more effectively Get your copy of the Issues Book here [https://www.amazon.com/Issues-Remove-Friction-Greatness-Mastery/dp/1637748671]!

[EP5] What are you Pretending not to Know?

In this episode of Root Issue Radio, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes unpack the powerful question: what are you pretending not to know? They explore why this question gets to the root of what’s really happening in teams, how ego and habit can keep people from naming the truth, and why safety matters when hard things need to be said. Jill and Sue discuss how unspoken cues, silence, and “the meeting after the meeting” often reveal more than what is said out loud. They explain how leaders can create space for honest conversation, move issues into the open, and help teams build the trust needed for stronger results. The conversation also covers the difference between withholding and protecting, why confidentiality has to go both ways, and how permission-based coaching can help people speak into what they already know. Jill and Sue close by noting that not every issue is friction; some are hunches, ideas, and opportunities that deserve a place on the issues list too. Listener Takeaway:  Sometimes the thing blocking progress is not what’s being said, but what everyone is pretending not to know. Notice the unspoken, get curious about the root issue, and create enough safety for honest conversation to happen. Get your copy of the Issues Book here [https://www.amazon.com/Issues-Remove-Friction-Greatness-Mastery/dp/1637748671]!

[EP6] The Power of the P-A-U-S-E

In this episode of Root Issue Radio, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes explore what happens when leaders stop focusing only on problems and start paying attention to hunches, glimmers, and possibilities. They talk about the “issue under the issue,” the difference between a trigger and a glimmer, and why good leaders need to create space for ideas before rushing to solutions. Jill and Sue discuss how teams can open up the discussion phase of IDS by asking better questions like “What else?” “What if?” and “What would great look like?” They explain why the first answer is not always the best answer, and how slowing down can help teams see more options, more creativity, and better long-term outcomes. Jill also introduces the idea of calibrating intuition, describing intuition as pattern recognition outside conscious awareness. Together, they encourage leaders to trust their hunches, ask the harder questions, and give voice to ideas that might otherwise get dismissed too early Listener takeaway:  When a team feels stuck, it may be time to PAUSE — Perhaps Another Unseen Solution Exists. Slowing down long enough to create space can open up better ideas, deeper thinking, and the kind of team conversation that leads to real breakthroughs. Get your copy of the Issues Book here [https://www.amazon.com/Issues-Remove-Friction-Greatness-Mastery/dp/1637748671]!