When we talk about people thriving at work, the conversation must go well beyond policies and perks. In this final episode of season 11, I’m wrapping up with my high-level reflections on what truly matters when it comes to leadership, management, and fostering a work culture where employees are not only high performing, but actually want to show up and contribute. From working with organisations of all sizes and across many industries, a pattern has emerged – five consistent challenges surface t...
Jul 17, 2025•20 min•Season 11Ep. 102
Do you know the difference between strategy, tactics, and operations? This conversation with Gareth Tennant , Director of Decision Advantage , brings clarity. And he should know, having two decades’ experience as a Royal Marines officer. His insights into intelligence, decision-making and organisational learning are invaluable. Gareth helps us understand why muddling strategy, tactics and ops can leave us feeling exhausted and directionless. Most of us go through our days making decisions on aut...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 11Ep. 101
We’ve officially reached the 100th episode of Beyond the Water Cooler! It’s a perfect moment to pause and reflect on not just how far we’ve come, but where we’re headed when it comes to the future of work. To celebrate this milestone, I’ve brought together three brilliant guests, each an industry leader from a different sector: Sarah Foster from law (Freeths Oxford), Jamie Purcell from hospitality (Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons), and Crissie Gizzi from construction (Morgan Sindall). Together, we op...
May 08, 2025•56 min•Season 11Ep. 100
Ever wondered what it truly takes to build a thriving workplace culture—one where employees are not only high performing but genuinely engaged and supported? I’m excited to share something a little different for this episode of Beyond the Water Cooler. This time, the tables are turned, and I’m the guest, joining Theran Knighton-Fitt on Mygrow 's Organisational Effectiveness Webinar for a deep dive into organisational effectiveness, leadership, management, and what really helps employees and bus...
Apr 24, 2025•57 min•Season 11Ep. 99
Many companies are cancelling programmes and changing language about DE&I following Trump's messaging. Where do you stand on this topic? Angela Prentner-Smith , Managing Director of This is Milk brings her rich knowledge and experience of neurodiversity to the podcast, which is especially timely as yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day. She reminds us why it remains an important driver of business success. If you're still working out where you stand or how to plan for the future of DE&...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 10Ep. 98
Happy International Day of Happiness! 🎉 There’s no better way to celebrate than exploring how happiness can make or break our workplace with insights from expert, Matt Phelan , co-founder of The Happiness Index. In this enlightening episode of the Beyond the Water Cooler podcast, I chat with Matt about the intricate relationship between happiness and organisational growth. Here's what we explore: Happiness and Growth : Understand why Matt believes organisations cannot grow without happy employe...
Mar 20, 2025•46 min•Season 10Ep. 97
With Trump's very problematic attitude to women and DEI, is progress that's been made over the last 50 years about to do a massive U-turn? In case you've somehow managed to avoid his comments, here is just one example (there are sooooo many)... Talking about Kamala Harris during a Fox News appearance in September 2024, Trump said, "They put her in, and she somehow — a woman — somehow she's doing better than [President Joe Biden] did." With comments like this from an 'authority' figure, just what...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 10Ep. 96
Rosie Hawes is a business risk consultant who has worked in Russia, China and South Korea. In this conversation she brings a really interesting perspective to the challenges of managing people in different cultures. Her experience really shines a light on the range of pressures facing different cultures, from misogyny and gossip, to the 'entitlement' of gen Z. We explore the whether we need to accept or challenge practices that don't align with our values, particularly when they are perceived as...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 10Ep. 95
On average someone is diagnosed with cancer at least every 90 seconds in the UK. That's a hard-hitting statistic. What is also alarming is a finding by a Cancer@Work study that found 50% of people undergoing cancer treatment are too scared to tell their bosses they have cancer. Fear gets in the way. When you add to that the discomfort many line managers have about talking to employees about their cancer, we realise we have a BIG problem. But it shouldn't be. Like everything I talk about when adv...
Jan 30, 2025•57 min•Season 10Ep. 94
Ever wondered how playfulness and authentic communication could revolutionise workplace culture and accelerate outstanding leadership? In this episode I joined Chris Marshall , Behavioural Scientist and Founder of The Playfulness Institute, as a guest on his ' The Being Playful Podcast '. We talked about how creating the right environment enables both people and businesses to flourish. I shared my perspective on workplace dynamics, revealing how understanding and responding to human needs create...
Jan 16, 2025•49 min•Season 10Ep. 93
This is a first! Recording in front of a live audience at Google HQ for part of the fantastic Alliance of Independent Agencies ' Festival of Happiness was exciting if not slightly daunting. But my guest, Jaye Cowle of award-winning company Launch , was an absolute delight to talk with. Why listen? You get to hear about why Launch won the 'Independent Agency Purpose Award' recently. And that's not something to be sniffed at. Spoiler alert... it was about creating a happy performance agency, havin...
Dec 19, 2024•57 min•Season 9Ep. 92
Did you know that the Social Metrics Commission found the current rate of poverty in the UK to be higher than at any other point in the 21st Century? A staggering 24% (nearly one in four) people in the UK are now judged to be in poverty. That statistic means the impact of the financial crisis is likely to be closer to home than you may originally have thought. And with personal finances being an uncomfortable subject to talk about, the consequences can be significant. Distraction, anxiety and de...
Dec 05, 2024•54 min•Season 9Ep. 91
Ever been accused of being a bully? Or of being terrifying? Maybe not. But maybe you have experienced feedback that has shocked you because it was not what you intended. The void between what we want to communicate and how our communication lands can be enormous. Most of us haven't had the opportunity to learn about how we feedback and challenge. And when this vital part of developing communication skills is missing, it's left to chance that our ability to engage with others matches what we want...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 9Ep. 90
Fear. Fatigue. Are you stuck in a rut that is littered with surveys? It's often the go-to channel for getting to know what employees think, but there also barriers that can get in the way of these being effective. Fatigue is just one of them. Fear is another. The brave face doesn't simply disappear when presented with written questions to provide our opinions. And that can be a BIG problem, especially for men. November is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and that prompted Kieran Innes of Str...
Nov 07, 2024•59 min•Season 9Ep. 89
I love Tammy's phrase about wellbeing running through the veins of an organisation. When you achieve that, you are equipped to deal with any conversation that arises. And all because you start by putting people first. That means being vulnerable and stepping into their space to learn about what someone else is experiencing and what they need. 18th October is menopause awareness day. It's a great time to remind you about the impact of menopause on women in leadership positions in your organisatio...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 9Ep. 88
"We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy." I love that quote by Shawn Achor. So how are you working at that? The Alliance of Independent Agencies have teamed up with Google to host an event that is dedicated to culture and high performance. They recognise that leaders are navigating a rapid pace of change; the way people work has fundamentally changed. That's not just about where and when we work, but the types of activities that are ultimately draining our energy and sens...
Oct 03, 2024•44 min•Season 9Ep. 87
This was a first and it was hilarious (just watch the outtake next week!). Susan Ní Chríodáin and I got to record this episode of the podcast outside in the beautiful gardens at Lady Margaret Hall at the University of Oxford , courtesy of Andrew Dickinson . After some shenanigans we got to dive into her recently-published book, Leading Beyond the Numbers, which is all about how accounting for emotions tips the balance at work. Who would have thought that my explanation of how imagination is our ...
Sep 19, 2024•58 min•Season 9Ep. 86
Gregg Brown doesn't hold back!! We took a different approach on this episode of the podcast. Instead of the where-the-conversation-goes-nobody-knows conversation I usually have with guests, Gregg and I discussed a number of statements. ⚠️ Everyone wants to know what the future of work is. ⚠️ Disruption is necessary for work to evolve. ⚠️ Taking action requires the right mindset. ⚠️ We need to get out of our comfort zone. ⚠️ Leadership is something that we can measure. ⚠️ Psychological safety is ...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 9Ep. 85
Purpose-driven businesses have become much more the norm in terms of what people seek. Companies know that to attract employees they need to provide opportunities that are meaningful and engaging. However, retaining your workforce over time is a different challenge. In this episode of the podcast, Rachel Steele of Huddle joins me to discuss how to engage a workforce so that they stay. That means getting some key factors right, including: ⭐ personal brand ⭐ promotion, progression and recognition ...
Jul 25, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 84
Are you looking to develop tomorrow's leaders to be able to take the business into a different place from where it is today? Or, are you looking for future leaders who most closely resemble those in leadership positions now? That's a great question that Duncan Targett , my guest on this episode of the podcast, asks when we discuss talent. And who can resist talking with someone whose surname lends itself so brilliantly to the name of his company, On Targett Consulting ?!! The conversation is spo...
Jul 11, 2024•56 min•Season 8Ep. 83
Martin Drake ripped up the rule book and invited the "dynamic duo" that is Gemma Ellison and myself onto his podcast, Is This Room Free? We're not HR. But we are all about people. In particular, we're focused on enabling people to be and experience their best self. And enabling them to develop in a way that provides most value to the organisation. All this whilst creating the most engaging experience that means we feel good about what we do. So in this conversation, we unpick leadership developm...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 82
Man up. Does that phrase make you squirm or is it acceptable to you? We've all been brought up with a set of beliefs and thoughts about how we should behave. But that puts pressure on people to show up in a certain way. It may no longer be considered acceptable or helpful. And it may mean we're covering up what's really going on. So, what about permission to be authentic? My guest, Daniel Glyde , Life Coach & Founder of Positive Masculinity , explores a different approach to mental health. W...
Jun 13, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 81
Nick O'Neill of Oriel Chambers outlines a modern approach for mental health in a traditional industry that is the legal sector. He explains that law is known for being a male dominated culture, attracting alpha characters. And that presents a challenge for addressing a very human need, particularly when you consider that many men of the generation that struggle to engage with mental health, are managers. Their perceptions and behaviours have a far-reaching impact. Add to that Nick's view that mo...
Jun 06, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 80
I'm talking about compassionate leadership because it is mental health awareness week. How are those linked, I hear some of you ponder? Well, as those of you who know me well, I'm not really about initiatives or individual-level intervention without thinking about the wider context. You wouldn't put a flourishing seedling in a dark room without water. And, I've been doing quite a lot of work lately working with leadership teams to create space to stop and check in with themselves, each other and...
May 16, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 79
➡️ Sick notes are on they way out, according to Sunak. What does that mean for people needing support to get themselves into a place where they feel ok enough to re-engage with work? ➡️ Employees are more aware of their rights and expect more in terms of 'care', with access to services that aren't about making them 'better' but about enhancing their lifestyle. How do companies know which specialists are credible, who work as a team, and that provide data to leaders to inform them about their wor...
May 02, 2024•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 78
From dodging bullets to becoming an executive senior leader of Defence, Phil Holdcroft knows a thing or two about leadership and teamwork. Phil is a decorated combat pilot with a 20-year military career that culminated in designing and delivering the senior leadership programme at the UK Defence Academy. Drawing on life-lessons and experience, he created the ultimate playbook for leadership, resilience and high performance. And that’s what we discuss on the podcast today. Now officially a vetera...
Apr 18, 2024•59 min•Season 8Ep. 77
Two psychotherapists in conversation... This episode of the podcast is an interesting one. James Elliott , of the Sarena Clinic , explains what needs to be done now to shape a healthier workforce for the future. And it's simple stuff. We need to equip employees with the knowledge and tools to empower themselves and their children to experience meaning and fulfilment, and that supports good mental wellbeing. And we need to demonstrate empathy, based on knowing our teams well, so that we enable hu...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 76
Luckily for us, Dr Jill McGarry is "a geek!"... her words, not mine! The good news about that is she has a real love for actionable solutions to improve sleep. 💤 And who doesn't need a bit of that in their lives? 😴 In this episode of the podcast we hear, very clearly, why we need to banish beliefs such as... "YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE!" And we get to grips with practical advice for individuals and employers, including: ✔️ coffee as a recommendation (yes... from a sleep expert!) ✔️ what to do when y...
Mar 07, 2024•57 min•Season 7Ep. 75
What is self-harm? Possibly not something you associate with yourself. And not a behaviour that you attribute to your colleagues, friends or family members. But the reality could be very different and that is why this episode of the podcast and the free resource is so important. Self-harm is not uncommon and therefore you need to know about it. Yaj Buljeean is a trainer and clinician at Harmless , the national leader in this field. She joins me to explore what we mean by self-harm, the stigma ar...
Feb 22, 2024•58 min•Season 7Ep. 74
My LinkedIn post in January that asked the question, 'Do soft skills need a rebrand?' attracted over 40 comments. Clearly people are interested in this topic. So it seemed only natural to continue the conversation with someone who shared his view on that post, Andrew Bardsley , Founder of JackHR . As someone who focuses on helping tech companies stand out and keep good people, Andrew has some great insights into a world of both hard and soft skills. 💻 We unpick how soft skills sit alongside tec...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 73
