When I first started managing a team I was about 25 and working in a fast-growing start-up. Most of the team were hardly a year younger than me - some were older. It was daunting!

I wanted the team to exceed expectations but I also wanted to be liked. It was hard to balance.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve led teams through challenging times, and built relationships that have stood the test of time. The difference? I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about growth, self-awareness, and effective communication. And, most importantly, it's about emotional intelligence.

Many years ago, I found myself in a business where the culture of the team I was working with was slowly deteriorating. We were delivering our projects and clients were satisfied, but the energy and motivation were low and getting lower.

That’s when it hit me that if you don’t intentionally shape your culture, it will form by accident—and often not in the way you want.

As leaders, we set the tone for everything in our organizations. Culture, engagement, feedback, and conflict resolution don’t just happen—they need to be nurtured and intentionally built...

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Stress is inevitable, the world is full of change and uncertainty, and it’s a challenge we all face. As leaders your people’s wellbeing and helping them to manage stress and build resilience, or inner strength, is no longer a tick box exercise, it’s essential.

Read our guide for leaders to support your people and create healthier individuals and also to a stronger, more resilient team.

In today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving workplace, leaders are expected to do more than just technical experts, they are required to understand, inspire, and connect with their teams on a human level. This is why emotional intelligence (EQ) and empathy are essential skills. Empathy fosters trust, collaboration, and resilience, and enabling leaders to navigate the complexities of human behaviour.

Confidence isn’t an innate trait—it’s built through experience, action, and persistence. Whether you’re overcoming imposter syndrome, facing new challenges, or navigating uncertainty, these strategies will help you build and sustain the confidence needed to lead effectively.

Your brand isn’t your logo. It's your people that bring it to life.

Why making sure your people are happy is key to a successful brand and tips for building a people-centric brand.

Employee Engagement matters because happy staff equal happy customers. It drives higher productivity and ultimately a more successful business. It boosts retention and reduces stress. Paying someone a competitive salary is not enough to ensure that they are engaged, loyal and committed to their job. So what can you do to build an engaged team?

New research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has highlighted the impact that managers have on employee’s motivation, job satisfaction, and their desire to stay with an organisation. The report also found a strong link between managers who had received management training and more effective and successful organisations - so why is Management and Leadership Training Important.

Inspiring words from Dame Karen Jones, chair of both the Hawksmoor and Mowgli restaurant chains. At the Propel Hospitality Talent and Training Conference she spoke about how Hospitality is the lynch pin of society. We realised how much we missed it during lock down and that the holy grail of hospitality is: The power of the moment of human connection that keeps your customers coming back again and again.