Thinking on leadership, culture, and the conversations that matter.
Written by Jo Andrews. No frameworks for the sake of it. No theory without application. Just honest thinking about what it actually takes to lead well, and what gets in the way.
If I had a pound for every time someone’s rolled their eyes at the mention of company values, I’d be running leadership retreats in the Maldives by now. You can almost feel the collective eye roll when you mention values in a workplace. Fluffy. Pointless. A tick-box exercise to keep facilitators in work. After working with a gazillion* leaders, here’s the pattern that’s impossible to ignore: *at the last count ✅ Organisations who take the time to define values that actually reflect the culture they want, not some corporate bingo buzzwords, and then anchor those values to clear, observable behaviours, have higher retention, happier teams, and people whose personal growth fuels the company’s. Because “Respect”, “Honesty”, and “Kindness” sound lovely, … Read more
We need to talk. Literally. I’ve had so many conversations (ok, arguments) with my kids about using their phones to do the most shocking thing of all… Actually call someone. You know, a real, human-to-human, live, in-the-moment conversation. They resist it. I’ve always blamed it on the generational thing, thinking this just affects people whose year of birth starts with a 2. But honestly? It’s not just them. Somewhere along the line, we all decided that typing was safer/easier/quicker/more convenient than talking. Instead of picking up the phone, we fire off an email (or a Teams message, Slack ping, insert-your-platform-here). Written words will always lack the tone, nuance, and connection of an actual conversation. Especially when there’s conflict. You know … Read more
“Oh ignore him, it’s just how he is.” Sound familiar? Translation: “We’ve given up trying to deal with him, so let’s all pretend it’s fine.” Here’s the problem: what you tolerate, you teach. If John talks over women in meetings and nobody calls it out, congrats – you’ve just made “mansplaining” an official part of the culture. If Sarah shuts down people who think differently and everyone stays quiet, you’ve basically given her a VIP pass to keep doing it. 👉 Poor behaviour left unchallenged doesn’t disappear. It multiplies. And let’s be honest – if you don’t call it out, that elephant in the room is only going to get bigger. And if the culprit is senior, the need to … Read more
But they did, because of this. Let’s be honest. The Lionesses didn’t play the best football in the tournament. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you probably watched most of it from behind a cushion, muttering “Just clear the bloody ball!” But they won. Not because they were the most technically perfect team. But because they had something even more powerful: trust, belief, and a leader who actually gives a damn about the humans. Sarina Wiegman is being hailed (rightly) as one of the greatest leaders in sport. But not because of her tactical genius (although she’s pretty damn good at that too…) No one’s raving about her deep knowledge of formations or set pieces. They’re talking about her … Read more
I’ve just come back from holiday. (Sorry? Oh thanks for asking – Portugal.) And for the first time ever… I didn’t take my laptop. Not “didn’t open it much” – I mean, didn’t even pack it. And wow. I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made to my clarity, my energy, and my enthusiasm to get stuck back in. My brain isn’t fried. My motivation isn’t flat. And I’m more excited than ever about the training I’ve got coming up. I was on a retreat with an old school friend – days filled with early morning lake swims, sauna sweats, ice bath screams, gym sessions, and full-on belly laugh snorts during mountain walks. I even played volleyball for … Read more
I was 7 months pregnant when I got made redundant from my lovely, secure, very ‘grown-up’ job at American Express. (And yep, the hormones were raging, belly like a beach ball, crying at dog food ads… it was A LOT.) This was back in 2002. We’re talking low-rise jeans, flip phones, and Destiny’s Child on the radio. It felt like the rug had been yanked out from under me by someone wearing steel-capped boots. I hadn’t planned it. I hadn’t asked for it. And I definitely didn’t feel ready to leave the ‘safety’ of full time employment. But here’s the thing about curveballs: They often knock us straight out of our comfort zone… and into a whole new chapter … Read more
Loads of leaders ask me for leadership development book recommendations. But here’s the thing… There’s zero correlation between how many leadership books you’ve read and how effective a leader you actually are. Nada. Zilch. It’s like stocking your fridge with kale, kimchi, and turmeric shots for peak health—but never actually consuming them. You don’t get fitter by joining a gym. You have to show up and put in the reps. Same goes for leadership. You have to DO the stuff. Theories, frameworks, and inspirational quotes are great… in theory. But when you’re in the thick of it—leading a tough conversation, building a strong culture, or trying to inspire a disengaged team—knowing what to do isn’t enough. You … Read more
Two years of consulting with one company. Two years of training and coaching their leaders. And last week, I told the leadership team, “It’s time for you to fly alone.” Cue the replies: “I wouldn’t still be working here if it weren’t for your training.” “You’ve made this company a better place for everyone; the impact you have had is hard to even put into words” “The lessons you’ve brought into our business, helping us become more self-reflective, take ownership of our people, and build on our coaching skills, will stay with us for a long time” They get it. They’ve seen what happens when leadership development isn’t just a tick-box exercise, but a journey which interrupts unhelpful … Read more
So, here we are again. It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow. I’m sure you’re aware of that (after all, the shops have been filled to the brim with pink and red sentiments of love for weeks now!) #TheresAlwaysAHolidayInRetail So before the clock strikes midnight and the world collectively lines the pockets of big corporations with their Hallmark Cards and Champagne truffles, I want to ask you… Do we have to wait for Valentine’s day to show our nearest and dearest how much we love them? Personally, no. Whether you’re a soppy lovebug or stoic romantic, we should be the best we can be for our partners all year round. Don’t give them the best of you for only one day because a … Read more
I suppose it would be rude of me not to say… HAPPY NEW YEAR! I promise not to bore you with the same ol’ ‘New Year, New Me’ stuff. Would I do that to you?! No. Instead, I want to share just one of many plans for 2025… to continue living by my values. One of those is adventure! And 2024 was one of the most adventurous years for me, by far – both in and out of work. >> Flying upper class to Miami to deliver training to a beer company? #IllNeverSayNoToThat >> Visiting Zim to meet little Agness – the sweet girl I sponsor and am TOTALLY in love with – in the flesh?! #YesPlease >> Delivering a … Read more
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