How do you lead very clever people?

How to lead smart people at Signature Discovery – James Edgar

How to lead smart people.

This became the topic of my conversation with James Edgar, Chief People Officer at Signature Discovery an outsourced provider of early-stage drug discovery services for biotech and pharma companies. Roughly 80% of his thousand colleagues have a PhD.

You can hear the conversation here:

According to James leading very clever people is both a “privilege and a challenge.” When you’re leading people who are experts in their field – brilliant minds in their own right – he says, “The pressure can feel different.”

This is because you aren’t just responsible for getting the job done. You’re responsible for creating an environment where their intelligence can truly shine.

Women in professional services

Redefining success for women in law and leadership – Jane Ayaduray

Workplace Confidence Podcast – From accidental D&I leader to global change-maker with Jane Ayaduray.

In this episode, Penny Haslam is joined by Jane Ayaduray, Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion at a leading global law firm. Jane shares her unconventional journey into the world of diversity and inclusion, a path she stumbled upon by accident when she mistakenly applied for a job she didn’t realise was in D&I. From this unexpected start, Jane has forged a successful career championing diversity, equity and inclusion across multiple industries and continents.

Jane reflects on her diverse roles, from working in Singapore and Dubai with Standard Chartered to leading D&I at BNP Paribas and now in her current role, where she’s focused on fostering an inclusive culture and supporting senior women lawyers globally.

Workplace Confidence Podcast

People centric business at P3 People Management – Charlotte Dean

Workplace Confidence Podcast – Building people centric businesses at P3 People Management with Charlotte Dean.

In this episode, Penny Haslam talks with Charlotte Dean, founder of P3 People Management, about her journey from the corporate world to supporting small and medium-sized businesses with their people strategies. Charlotte shares how she started P3 with a passion for working with companies that truly value their people and how her approach has evolved to focus on those who see their employees as more than just resources but as integral to their brand and success.

Charlotte discusses the importance of understanding a company’s culture and values and how she helps organisations become more people-centric by asking the right questions and encouraging curiosity. She emphasises the need for businesses to invest in self-awareness and personal development, not just for leaders but for all team members, to foster a workplace environment where everyone can thrive.

Workplace Confidence Podcast

What is ESG? People, planet, purpose at Davies – Gillie Fairbrother

Workplace Confidence Podcast – What is ESG? People, planet, purpose at Davies with Gillie Fairbrother.

In this episode, Penny Haslam chats with Gillie Fairbrother, Global Responsible Business Officer at Davies a professional services and technology company. Gillie shares her unconventional journey from media and wellness into the corporate world, now leading ESG initiatives with a focus on making businesses more viable and sustainable.

Gillie describes her role as being an “air traffic controller” for responsible business practices across Davies and explains how she reframes ESG – often seen as a corporate buzzword – into something more tangible and relatable: People, Planet, and Purpose. She believes that this approach not only covers environmental sustainability but also addresses the financial and operational viability of the business.

Workplace Confidence Podcast

Disrupting higher education and empowering people at UA92 – Ian Turner

Episode 1: Workplace Confidence Podcast – Disrupting higher education and empowering people at UA92 with Ian Turner.

In this episode, Penny Haslam speaks with Ian Turner, Chief of People and Place at UA92 (University Academy 92). Ian shares how UA92, co-founded by Gary Neville and the Class of 92 footballers alongside Lancaster University, is revolutionising higher education by focusing on social mobility and accessibility. With initiatives like the Make It For Real campaign, UA92 helps remove financial and logistical barriers, offering bursaries, tech support and even meals to students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ian reflects on the rapid growth of UA92, from just 80 students in 2019 to around 1,400 today, driven by its mission to make education accessible for all. He discusses the challenges of scaling up in a traditional sector and how UA92’s culture of being “fired up,” deliberately different and inclusive guides their approach.

Penny and Ian delve into Ian’s career journey from sales to HR, highlighting his passion for developing people and fostering a culture where everyone is empowered to lead. Ian shares his approach to making HR more than just a transactional function, emphasising the importance of visibility, human connection, and embedding himself within the organisation.

Throughout the conversation, Ian offers insights on leading with empathy, overcoming imposter syndrome and creating a workplace where people feel valued and fired up. Tune in to hear how Ian is driving UA92’s mission forward, fostering a culture of inclusivity and passion and what it takes to be a visible, authentic leader in today’s evolving world of work.

The power of reflective practice

The power of reflective practice

Do your people think, reflect and succeed? The power of reflective practice.
I’d like to introduce you to another free and straightforward idea that will supercharge professional life for you and your colleagues.
It’s called ‘reflective practice’ – also known as journaling or, in super simple terms, writing down your thoughts and writing down what you think about your thoughts.
It can have a surprisingly powerful impact.
The practice is commonly used by healthcare, education and social work professionals, but trust me, its’ benefits can transform any workplace.

Make listening your organisation's superpower

Make listening your organisation’s superpower

What do meetings look like in your organisation? Is it just a few people speaking while most stay silent? Do people interrupt, talk over each other, pinch ideas, or mansplain?
Perhaps the culture is that the leaders or the most experienced have all the best ideas, and it’s everyone else’s job just to shut up and listen.
Create a thinking environment in your meetings
I’ve got some great tips and advice about listening for you to share with your colleagues. It’s all about consistently putting listening into practice to create more sustainably successful and productive meetings, where:
You tap into genuine creativity and fantastic ideas by making listening a priority.
People feel heard and positive about themselves because they’ve made genuine contributions and solved problems together.
As a leader, you’re seen as more coach-like, empathetic, and approachable.
So, as ever in the Workplace Confidence newsletter, it’s about the HOW. How do you create a culture of meetings where listening is a priority? I suggest these three ground rules, which you should explain to everyone at the beginning of each meeting.

Workplace Confidence Podcast

Coming up on the Workplace Confidence Podcast

Coming up on the Workplace Confidence PodcastBonus episodeComing up on the Workplace Confidence Podcast. In this special bonus episode, I’m giving you a sneak peek at the incredible conversations we’ve lined up. Think of it as your first taste of the engaging and insightful discussions that are coming your way.Listen nowWorkplace Confidence PodcastListen to all episodesComing up on the Workplace …

Can you just say a few words?

Could you just say a few words please?
Ever been asked that, or had to ask it of someone else?
It’s for that moment in an office, when there’s a ‘leaving do’ – a team member is retiring, going on maternity leave, moving on to another department or a new job somewhere else – and it’s someone senior’s job to mark the occasion with a small speech-ette.
But it can fall a bit flat, can’t it? We’ve all witnessed it. The departing person feels unappreciated, the team are embarrassed. And you’ve missed an opportunity to communicate culture and to show how valuable your people actually are.
So let’s get on top of these moments as leaders, make the most of the chance to be visible and ultimately make them more meaningful.

Visible leadership: The coffee strategy

Being visible as a leader is hugely important. Visible leaders can engage others, share key messages, values, and behaviours – making your job a bit easier, perhaps?
It’s a huge topic, so today I’m giving you just one thing that you and your colleagues can adopt to be more visible and more confident. The challenge of networking
I regularly hear frustrations from my clients about leaders and emerging talent sticking to their silos, not sharing their worth, and failing to build a network.
I wasn’t proactive in making connections when I was an employee, which slowed down my career progress and made me feel cut off from the ‘big picture’ at work.
Most people aren’t strategic network builders, which is a shame because nothing beats getting support, know-how, and a chance to be visible in front of a wider group.
When we hear ‘network’, we often think of ‘networking’ – not instantly appealing, I have to say.