Is it just us, or does it feel like the last few years have been a particularly torrid time for managers? Managers have always been the interface between employees and their organisation. They act as a kind of translator between the two. In recent years there have been extraordinary challenges in both directions of those… Continue reading #49 Manager burnout

Many leadership journeys start with a natural career progression: we get promoted to manager and leadership is viewed as just another work task. Over time this evolves into a broader understanding. It’s a challenging job. We will get tested in all sorts of ways. And it can be an opportunity to learn so much about… Continue reading #48 Developing your leadership style

Following on from episode #44 where we discussed vulnerability and authenticity, today in the café we go deeper on how much of our true character should we show at work. Is it entirely our choice? Are there parts of ourself that shouldn’t be in our workplace? This is such a nuanced topic as we have… Continue reading #47 Can you be “too authentic”?

The pandemic changed workplace awareness of physical and mental wellbeing. So what does it look like in 2023? We discuss what managers can do to pro-actively improve wellbeing for their workers. This can be a challenge for leaders as wellbeing is something we experience at an individual level, but it is influenced by factors inside… Continue reading #46 Proactive Wellbeing

Metrics are very alluring for managers. Our software tools are full of data and reporting… with just a few clicks we might get the magic mix of numbers that will give us control. But for staff it’s a different story. Too often metrics are used as a kind of straight jacket. Work becomes narrowly defined,… Continue reading #45 The dangers of focusing on productivity and metrics

For a long time the dominant narrative of leadership has been of fearless leaders who move from triumph to triumph without serious flaws or doubt. But in recent years there has been a move towards authentic leadership. Leaders who show vulnerability and who share their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Over coffee Pilar and… Continue reading #44 The value of being an authentic leader

We often need to experience some challenge in order to grow. But tension can easily spill over into destructive interactions. As leaders we need to demonstrate that we can challenge and be challenged. In this chat Pilar and Tim learn they have quite different thresholds for conflict. And they explore the difference between being challenged… Continue reading #43 Working with people who challenge us

In today’s coffee Pilar and Tim discuss the concept of Peacetime CEO/Wartime CEO introduced by Ben Horowitz in 2011. Our companies and teams will all face difficult times where there is an existential threat or huge change looming. How do we lead through these challenges? Do we need a different leadership style to match the… Continue reading #42 War time leader vs Peace time leader

Pilar and Tim explore their experiences of being co-founders or co-managers, as well as being solely in charge. The co-founder dynamic is inevitably going to experience some challenges as a business has its ups and downs. The way that founders communicate, collaborate, challenge and complement each other has a huge impact on the culture of… Continue reading #41 Running a business with someone else

This concept comes from Kate Murphy’s excellent book “You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters“. For many of us silence can be challenging, it is often considered a sign that something is wrong. What happens when we approach the quiet ones with curiosity? Inspired by Kate Murphy’s insightful book “You’re Not Listening:… Continue reading #40 A manager’s most important role is to “give the quiet ones a voice”