In this episode of Work’s Not Working… Let’s Fix It!, Siân Harrington sits down with Farley Thomas, former global MD at HSBC, CEO coach and co-founder of leadership edtech firm Manageable, to flip the script on leadership.

What if the biggest lever for performance isn’t the CEO’s vision but the team manager’s next conversation?

Farley argues that while organisations obsess over strategy, status and C-suite charisma, they’re missing what really drives culture, engagement and results: everyday conversations. intentional, human dialogue.

In this refreshingly honest and practical episode Farley shares:

• Why “fetishising” top leaders blinds us to where the real action happens
• How undertrained managers quietly shape, or sabotage, engagement
• Why conversations are culture and how to make them count
• And how his five-part CLICK framework helps turn accidental managers into confident conversation leaders

Whether you’re a burned-out middle manager, a CEO wondering why change isn’t sticking or an HR leader tired of empty engagement plans this one will shift your lens and spark some powerful new thinking.

Key Takeaways

• Most performance doesn’t come from the top. It comes from how line managers lead daily conversations.
• The “fetishisation” of the C-suite is part of the problem. Status isn’t the same as influence.
• 80% of first-time managers get no training. This is not just a gap but a performance risk.
• Culture is just a series of conversations. It’s all about how people talk at work.
• The CLICK model is a simple but powerful tool: Connect, Landscape, Insight, Challenge, Key points.
• Exploration and curiosity are the missing muscles. Most managers jump to answers rather than better questions.
• Blanket mandates don’t fix hybrid work. The fix lies in team-level agency and better conversations.
• Conversations are becoming harder and more vital. In a world of Slack, AI and burnout the human touch matters more than ever.
• Packed with stories, practical tools and research-backed insights. A must-listen for people leaders at every level.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile or thinking of becoming an independent consultant? I can help!
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In this episode of Work’s Not Working… Let’s Fix It!, Siân Harrington sits down with Prithwiraj Choudhury, professor at the London School of Economics and bestselling author of The World is Your Office, to challenge our most stubborn assumption: that work must happen in the office.

Raj has spent the past decade studying ‘work from anywhere”’ and the myths that stop companies from unlocking its full potential. And his research is clear: innovation doesn’t require water coolers, culture isn’t confined to cubicles and productivity doesn’t improve with proximity.

From the myth of hybrid to the rise of digital twins and personal AI bots, Raj offers bold ideas and practical tools for designing work around people, not places.

Whether you’re an HR leader making the case for flexibility, a manager grappling with hybrid or a CEO still clinging to office mandates, this episode will challenge your assumptions and expand your thinking.

Key Takeaways

• The return to office is often a disguised layoff strategy – with no proven productivity gains and high attrition costs.
• Hybrid isn’t a strategy, it’s often a lazy compromise. Most models ignore the power of monthly or quarterly in-person time.
• Water cooler myths are wrong. Real innovation needs diverse collisions, not just random chats in the office.
• Work from anywhere boosts inclusion. Smaller towns, caregivers and introverts all benefit – when systems are well designed.
• Digital twins and AI bots are expanding the meaning of remote work. From hospitals to factories, even frontline roles can now be more flexible.
• Managers must evolve from monitors to leaders. Surveillance kills trust. Outcomes, not hours, are the real measure of performance.
• HR’s role is critical. From business case to experimentation, work from anywhere needs intentional design and not default settings.
• Packed with research, real-world case studies and practical tips – this episode is essential listening for anyone rethinking how work works.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile or thinking of becoming an independent consultant? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this episode of Work’s Not Working… Let’s Fix It! Siân Harrington sits down with Harvard Business Review editor Kevin Evers, author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, to explore what Taylor Swift can teach us about leadership, reinvention and making work actually work.

At first glance it might seem unlikely but Kevin argues that Swift is one of the most strategic thinkers in modern business. She’s mastered brand control, long-term trust and antifragile thinking in a way most organisations only talk about.

In an era where people feel disempowered, stuck in rigid systems and burnt out by constant change Swift’s playbook offers something rare: clarity, conviction and control.

From re-recording her music catalogue to turning setbacks into strategy, Swift’s approach holds powerful lessons for leaders navigating transformation, employee experience and brand loyalty.

Whether you’re a CEO, a people leader or someone questioning how to take back agency in your own career, this conversation will shift how you think about power, trust and the long game in work.

Key Takeaways:

• Reinvention only works if you protect the trust. Swift has changed her genre, aesthetic and tone – without losing her audience. Leaders should take note.
• Owning your story is the new power move. Swift didn’t fight for control – she built her own. That mindset shift applies far beyond the music industry.
• Employee experience needs obsession, not just intention. Swift’s fan loyalty is built through care, consistency and surprise. Most organisations are still stuck at comms plans and pulse surveys.
• Data can’t replace instinct. Swift’s biggest decisions weren’t based on algorithms – they were grounded in clear values and audience understanding.
• Resilience is overrated. Try antifragility. Swift doesn’t just survive hits – she grows stronger from them. That’s a model more leaders need to adopt.
• You can’t build long-term loyalty if you panic every quarter. Swift plays the long game. Business should too.

This episode is about more than Taylor Swift. It’s about taking bold, strategic ownership in a world of broken work models – and reminding ourselves that reinvention is a skill, not a risk.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile or thinking of becoming an independent consultant? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders
• Follow The People Space on Facebook