Wellbeing & Mental Health
Boundaries, not burnout: Building a culture of leadership kindness that lasts
In this candid piece, Maureen O’Callaghan shows why kindness at work starts with self-kindness. From silencing the inner critic that shouldn’t be your coach, to setting boundaries and building support, she argues sustainable leadership means staying present and protecting capacity. Kindness is not a performative tool, it is what endures. I used to stand at networking event doors, turn around three times, and leave. The voice in my head would say, ‘You’re boring. Nobody will be interested. Look how clever…
How can culture gaps in the workplace be turned into strengths?
Anna Flynn explains why commercial and technical teams often pull in different directions, and how growing tech businesses can build shared purpose without flattening diversity. She explores culture, structured communication and meaningful recognition, showing how better alignment reduces friction, improves retention and strengthens delivery, efficiency and employer brand over time. “Variety is the spice of life” may be a cliché, but it rings true in the modern workplace. Organisations are powered by individuals with varied personalities, experiences, and areas of…
Does reaching the top of the corporate ladder really bring happiness in 2026?
Rochelle Trow argues that today’s senior roles sit at the centre of global turbulence, where pressure rarely eases and success no longer guarantees fulfilment. Drawing on research from WEF, Gallup and Deloitte, she explores cognitive load, organisational strain and why leadership development must build inner steadiness, not just outward skills. For decades, the message was simple: work hard, climb high, and life will feel better when you get there. Influence, control, reward. Success was expected to bring happiness. But in…
Top 5 trends shaping the future of career coaching
Jenny Booth shares insights from over two decades in careers guidance and calls for a shift toward much more inclusive, flexible, and strengths-based support for neurodivergent young people. She explores the growing role of families, digital tools, and purpose-led planning in shaping credible, compassionate career paths for the next generation. After more than two decades working in careers advice and guidance with young people, I have seen the landscape change dramatically. What once centred on information giving and career matching…
Generation numb: Why today’s workforce feels nothing at all
Today’s workforce is emotionally checked out, overwhelmed by constant change and digital saturation. In this compelling call to action, Josh Cardoz urges organisations to break the cycle of disconnection and cynicism. Through purpose, friction and human connection, we can reignite meaning and reshape work for a generation on the brink. Today’s workforce is going through a profound and fundamental shift. Faced with relentless economic uncertainty, the after-effects of a global pandemic, and perpetual digital overload, this generation of workers is…
Redundancy isn’t just business, it’s personal
Andy Evans shares the deeply personal story of being made redundant and the emotional and professional aftermath. Drawing on lived experience and learning theory, he explores how leaders can handle redundancy with humanity, and reflects on how moments of loss can spark growth, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. It was 8:45 on a September morning when the meeting invite appeared in my inbox. No context, no agenda, just a 3:00pm slot with my CPO and HR. I didn’t…
The human side of AI: Why wellbeing is the next core capability
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping work at speed, but human wellbeing is struggling. TJ Conference speaker Tom Bryant explores how L&D can take the lead in building wellbeing as a skill, designing more human-centric workplaces and using AI with intention to support emotional intelligence, resilience and adaptability in the modern workplace. Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace faster than most of us imagined, taking on administrative, analytical and repetitive tasks with astonishing speed. Yet while AI is supposed to lighten the…
The wellbeing effect: why smart L&D strategies go beyond skills
Craig Fearn explores the basics of how L&D, when strategically focused on wellbeing, transforms both individuals and organisations. This integrated approach builds resilience, reduces burnout and boosts performance, creating a workplace where people can thrive personally and professionally, all while driving long-term business growth and engagement from the inside out. When L&D is applied strategically it is a catalyst for systemic change; this is particularly apparent when applied to employee health and wellbeing initiatives. By investing in L&D with a…
Too busy to think: Why clarity, influence and inspiration begin with intention
Sue Stockdale explores why thinking time is so critical for effective leadership. When leaders slow down, clarity returns, influence grows, and energy builds. This insightful piece shares practical ways to reclaim space for reflection, helping leaders shift from reactive to intentional, and inspiring others through purpose-driven presence, not constant motion. If there’s one symptom I see time and time again in my coaching work with leaders, it’s this: thinking time is in critically short supply. The people I work with…
Rewriting the leadership playbook: Why burnout is a system failure
Burnout isn’t a flaw in individuals; it’s a warning light for broken systems. Mia Serra and Claudie Plen-McCormack argue that leadership and culture must evolve to prioritise inclusion, psychological safety and sustainable performance. Without structural change, well-being initiatives remain surface-level fixes in complex environments that continue to overstretch and exclude. Burnout isn’t a personal failure. It’s a system failure. Yet in many organisations, burnout is still treated as an individual shortcoming, something to be “fixed” with a mindfulness session, an…
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