Communication

Puppeteer manipulates the doll. The conference is unfair. Fake person at conference or meeting. Fake news

Influence or manipulation? Why mindful manoeuvring is a leadership skill no one’s teaching

Caitlin Collins

Influence happens—intentionally or not and it’s the engine of modern leadership. Caitlin Collins unpacks the line between guiding and manipulating at work, revealing why leaders need more than authority to truly move people. This is the leadership skill hiding in plain sight—and it’s time we made it teachable. When a former tech executive recently shared that she had used “manipulation” to pivot her career, the reaction online was swift—equal parts shock and curiosity. The word “manipulation” triggered something. And rightly…

Business budget cut. Inflation economics, recession, crisis, budgeting and management.

How to stretch your budget to achieve high-impact L&D

Steve Macaulay

Tight budgets don’t have to mean low impact. Steve Macaulay shares smart, strategic ways to do more with less in your L&D department, so you can look at boosting learning, increasing performance, and sparking innovation – without breaking the bank. From internal expertise to open-source tools, it’s all about working smarter! Many L&D professionals struggle to stretch their budgets to meet growing organisational demands. Surveys consistently highlight budget constraints as a top concern for HR and L&D professionals worldwide. Underfunded…

Zooming in on pretty woman with casual clothes working at computer in office. Distracted by camera from work and joyfully smiling. In background people sitting at their workplaces. Job concept.

How to create a deaf-friendly workplace (it’s easier than you think)

Anna Park

To mark Deaf Awareness Week (5 to 11 May), Anna Park reveals just how easy it is to create a deaf-friendly workplace. From clear communication tips to clever office layout tweaks, small steps can make a huge impact. Inclusion doesn’t have to be hard, and it starts with awareness. #DeafAwarenessWeek2025 One in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. This striking statistic underscores a crucial need that businesses and organisations cannot ignore. With this in mind, it…

Concept of facilitation. Business and finance facilitating.

TJ podcast: From talk to transformation – the art of effective facilitation – episode 327

Jo Cook

In this episode, we explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between teaching, training, and facilitation—and why they matter more than you might think. From accidental facilitators to seasoned pros, our guests share honest reflections, practical approaches, and cautionary tales about what makes learning stick. We dive into the skills that set great facilitators apart, the common mistakes that derail engagement and impact, and why designing for learning transfer is non-negotiable. Whether you’re delivering in person or online, this is a…

Palm hand blocking and divide between Man and woman wooden figure for resolving conflict and mediate management concept.

5 practical strategies for effective conflict resolution in the workplace

Simon Phillips

Conflict is part of working life, but unresolved tensions can derail even the best teams and impact working life. Simon Phillips shares a practical, people-first approach to transforming conflict into progress, grounded in leadership insights, lived experience and proven impact. Clear, calm and collaborative – this is culture work that sticks Conflict at work is inevitable. Having worked with CEOs and leadership teams across many sectors, dealing with some of the toughest challenges they’ve ever faced, I’ve witnessed how unresolved…

Creating effective business strategies planning for success in a dynamic environment

Build a learning strategy the business can’t ignore

Ryan Austin

🚀 Only 32% of L&D leaders have a strategy aligned with business goals—but that needs to change. Ryan Austin shares a practical five-step plan to transform your learning strategy from reactive to indispensable. Are you ready to speak the language of the business and really make a difference? 🧠📈 Only 32% of Talent and Learning leaders say they have a strategic planning process that fully aligns with their organisation’s broader business strategy. Yet in today’s rapidly evolving world of work—where…

Golden brain light up on chalkboard background with stool.

Beyond the brainstorm: Ensuring ideas lead to real change in organisations

Steve Macaulay

💡 Innovation is essential, but without execution, great ideas go nowhere. HR and L&D play a crucial role in bridging the gap between creativity and implementation. We can ensure all parties collaborate effectively to make a difference. ✍️ Steve Macaulay shares how to build teams that turn ideas into action In today’s fast-paced environment, organisations must effectively turn innovation into tangible results or risk the consequences of being left behind. Cultivating a proactive and practical approach is essential, enabling teams…

Pretty girl with red cape on blue sky background. ADHD can create its own challenges, but it has advantages too.

ADHD isn’t the problem—being misunderstood is

Steve Ollington

🧠✨ Steve Ollington explores how misunderstanding shapes the lives of people with ADHD—from school to retirement. 🚀 Despite their strengths, many face barriers at work, in relationships, and beyond. The solution? Greater awareness, training, and willingness to learn as people with ADHD need your help to be better understood From childhood to retirement, one of the biggest challenges faced by people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the feeling of being misunderstood. This isn’t a minor inconvenience; it’s a…

Culture of empowerment concept. Winning, success  and life goals. Ways to foster employee empowerment; goal, growth, moral, power, learning, access and positive thinking.Giving team members authority.

Leadership at every level: How trust sparks transformation

Allison Maslan

🔓 Unlock the true potential of your workforce 💡 Too often, rigid structures stifle creativity and initiative. When you empower employees with trust, autonomy, and ownership, they step up as proactive leaders. 🚀 Self-accountability, collaboration, and innovation flourish—driving growth for both individuals and the organisation. Allison Maslan explains more! Having trouble unlocking the true potential of your organisation? Too often, traditional structures limit the flow of energy, creativity, and initiative. Stop treating your employees as parts of a machine. When…

Colorful speech bubbles in various shapes and sizes create a lively, playful atmosphere against a vibrant background

L&D marcomms: How integrated Marketing Communications helps L&D

Hayley Maisey

📢 Feeling bombarded by messages? You are not alone. In a noisy world, how do you make your communications stick? 💡 Hayley Maisey shares how L&D, HR, and internal comms can use integrated marketing strategies to cut through the clutter, boost engagement, and drive action. 🚀 Make your messages count! Raise a hand if you feel bombarded – most days – with different information from all angles. I’m with you! Let me break this down. In our personal lives, messaging…