Lancefield on the Line

David Lancefield
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you looking to taking your leadership to the next level? Perhaps you’re in a new role, in charge of a big initiative, or looking to move roles. You’ve come to the right place for strategies, tips, lessons distilled from the world's leading management thinkers, entrepreneurs, executives and academics. 

  1. Connie Noonan Hadley: How to overcome loneliness at work

    11 HR AGO

    Connie Noonan Hadley: How to overcome loneliness at work

    What if loneliness at work isn’t a personal weakness but a strategic signal? That’s the case my guest, Dr Connie Noonan Hadley, makes in this conversation. She’s an Organisational Psychologist, the founder of the Institute for Life at Work, and one of the world’s leading experts on workplace loneliness and social connection. We explore why loneliness is on the rise even in busy offices and hybrid teams, and why it’s not about being alone, but about the emotional distress that comes from missing the positive connections we need. Connie explains why return to office mandates rarely solve the problem, and how loneliness can quietly drain motivation, creativity and trust, the lifeblood of performance. Connie gives practical guidance for leaders to understand, normalise and address loneliness through small but powerful shifts in conversation, time and reward systems. If you’re leading a team or organisation this episode will help you see loneliness as a core signal of how well your culture enables people to thrive, perform and feel human. “Connection is a performance driver, not a luxury.” - Connie Noonan Hadley You’ll hear about · What loneliness at work really means · Common myths about hybrid work and connection · Signs leaders should look for in their teams · The UNITE framework for reducing loneliness · Why connection drives productivity and creativity · How AI is reshaping human connection at work · Practical steps for leaders and individuals About Connie: Dr Connie Noonan Hadley is a leading organisational psychologist. She is the founder of the Institute for Life at Work and a research associate professor at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. Her focal areas include the impact of Al on interpersonal dynamics at work, loneliness, psychological safety, trust, burnout, mental health, team effectiveness, and the management of human capital. She has been published widely and was named to the Thinkers50Radar List for her rising global influence as a management scholar. Resources: Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-noonan-hadley-7303066/Institute for Life at Work: https://www.institutelifework.org/‘We’re still lonely at work’ HBR article (including loneliness tool): https://tinyurl.com/yc29dr7eWork Loneliness Scale (free tool to measure your loneliness): https://ck5tzycazgv.typeform.com/to/F39lnzno#source_id=LotLMy resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ) Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: · Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. · About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. · Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) · Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) · Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    41 min
  2. Ollie Phillips: How to create world class teams

    4 FEB

    Ollie Phillips: How to create world class teams

    What separates a good team from a world-class one. My guest today has lived that question at the highest levels. Ollie Phillips captained England in rugby sevens, rowed across oceans, and now runs Optimist Performance, helping teams move from great to world class. We explore why most organisations spend 95% of their time playing the game and only 5% practising the hard skills of leadership and teamship. Ollie reveals how elite teams build unshakeable trust, why practising discomfort before big moments matters, and how momentum can be the most contagious force in any environment. You'll hear about Ollie’s transition from being the best in the world to starting again as a beginner, and how infectious energy combined with clarity of purpose creates unstoppable teams. If you're leading a team right now, this conversation will give you fresh tools to unlock world-class performance. “We spent 95% of our time practising for 5% of the delivery” — Ollie Phillips You’ll hear about Why practising discomfort builds world-class performance capabilityCreating communities through shared experiencesTrust as the foundation of high-performing teamsCommunication that considers how messages need to be heardRed flags in team environments and cultures The difference between never losing and loving winningWhy 95% of time goes to playing versus practisingRecognising progress without comparing yourself to othersHow momentum multiplies in both directionsAbout Ollie: Ollie's journey has taken him from international rugby pitches to the boardrooms of global businesses, across oceans, over mountain peaks, and into some of the toughest environments on Earth. What unites it all? A lifelong obsession with unlocking performance — in himself, and in others. He captained England Rugby 7s, was named World 7s Player of the Year, and coached Wales Women and China’s Olympic programme. He's swum the English Channel, circumnavigated the globe, stood at the North Pole, and holds four world records for feats of endurance and teamwork in some of the planet’s most extreme locations. Alongside that, he's held senior leadership roles at PwC, advising global businesses on culture, strategy, and transformation. He now sits on boards across private equity, sport, and exploration, and holds an Executive MBA from Cambridge. Resources: Profile: https://shorturl.at/aY7Ie Optimist Performance: https://shorturl.at/9upbU Insights: https://shorturl.at/k7P4d My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ)  Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation For more details about me: ● Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals ● About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy ● Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ● Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ● Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    55 min
  3. Jennifer Fondrevay: How to navigate organisational grief

    21 JAN

    Jennifer Fondrevay: How to navigate organisational grief

    What if the reason so many mergers, acquisitions and restructurings fail isn’t strategy or execution but grief? That’s the case my guest, Jennifer Fondrevay, makes in this episode. She’s the author of Now What: A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through M&A and an advisor to leaders navigating high-stakes transitions. We explore why unacknowledged grief can quietly drain 25–30% of productivity, and sabotage deal outcomes. Jennifer takes us through the five stages of grief in an organisational context, offering practical strategies leaders can use right away. You’ll hear how to recognise the signals of grief, give people language for what they’re experiencing, and channel that energy into performance and purpose. We also discuss why high performers often struggle the most, and why keeping customers as your North Star helps teams overcome turf battles. If you’re leading change in your organisation right now, this conversation will give you a new lens and actionable tools to turn loss into momentum “They’re mourning the loss of the future that won’t be.” — Jennifer Fondrevay You’ll hear about Why productivity drops 25-30% after M&A announcementsThe five stages of organisational grief explainedPractical leadership scripts for major change announcementsHow to handle anger without dismissing concernsKeeping customers as your North StarThe former rock star phenomenon during transitionsPreparing boards and leaders before deals happenWhy high performers struggle most with changeThe employee engagement and customer relationship linkAbout Jennifer: Jennifer J. Fondrevay is the field-tested Founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Day1 ReadyTM, the M&A whisperer for CEOs and leaders who know "synergies" don't magically happen by themselves. After navigating multibillion-dollar deals, Jennifer wrote the manual everyone wishes they'd had: "NOW WHAT? A Survivor's Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions", helping executives lead when the playbook gets thrown out the window. Crowned #1 M&A Speaker by Research Leadership Institute, Jennifer's the go-to expert when uncertainty strikes. Her wisdom graces Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Inc. Resources: Profile: https://shorturl.at/i1go1 Book: https://shorturl.at/ufZRq Article on employee grief in organisational transitions: https://shorturl.at/gLxsK My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ) Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals.About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy.Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds)Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP)Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    48 min
  4. Julian Birkinshaw: Fighting back in digital transformation

    7 JAN

    Julian Birkinshaw: Fighting back in digital transformation

    Incumbent traditional organisations are doomed to failure. That’s a misleading view that permeates the world of digital transformation. In fact, they can thrive if they develop the right mindsets and capabilities.  Julian Birkinshaw joins me to explore more of the myths and misconceptions surrounding digital transformation, the discipline of balancing today’s pressures with tomorrow’s opportunities, and the art of thoughtful experimentation. Julian draws on his research and his role as Dean of Ivey Business School to show how leaders can navigate profound change without rushing into costly mistakes. We also examine the leadership qualities needed to inspire innovation across large organisations, the realities of tenure in academia, and his personal habits that fuel sustained strategic performance. If you lead a team or organisation wrestling with disruption, this discussion offers practical insights for staying relevant and resilient. “Incumbents have strengths that start-ups can only dream of.” – Julian Birkinshaw You’ll hear about Myths that distort the digital disruption narrativeData revealing incumbent companies’ hidden resilienceBuilding a digital mindset across established organisationsBalancing present performance with future opportunityWhy “fast-second” often beats first-mover advantageInspiring innovation with symbolic leadership actionsLow-cost experiments that signal serious intentManaging change without rushing major decisionsGenerative AI’s real impact on business schoolsAbout Julian: Julian is a world-leading scholar and dynamic academic leader. Appointed Dean of Ivey Business School at Western University in August 2024, he brings a 25-year legacy at London Business School where he was Vice Dean, Deputy Dean Programmes and Deputy Dean Executive Education. An internationally renowned authority on innovation, digital transformation, and the strategic agility of large firms, Birkinshaw has authored 16 books - including Resurgent, Fast/Forward, and Becoming a Better Boss. He has won best paper awards in leading academic journals, and practice-oriented journals. His is a Fellow of the British Academy, Strategic Management Society, American Academy of Management, and Academy of International Business, and holds honorary doctorates from Copenhagen and Stockholm universities. Profile: https://shorturl.at/yMlO9 Book: https://shorturl.at/AD7n2 My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ)  Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: ●      Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ●      About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ●      Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ●      Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ●      Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    45 min
  5. Niko and David: The power of strategy in everyday life

    10/12/2025

    Niko and David: The power of strategy in everyday life

    What if the most powerful strategy you ever create isn’t for a business, but for your own life? In this conversation, I turn the microphone on myself as strategist and author Niko Canner interviews me about how to bring strategic thinking into everyday choices. We explore why busyness can be the enemy of purpose and how small, deliberate moves made moment by moment unlock greater agency and performance. I share how a personal family crisis forced me to reclaim control of my time, energy and focus, and how those lessons now shape the way I coach leaders and design my own days. You’ll hear how to connect long-term aspirations with the micro-moments that define each day, creating a strategy that is both intentional and flexible. Niko and I also examine how individual strategic habits ripple out to transform teams and entire organisations. Listen in if you’re ready to stop living on autopilot and start making wiser choices at work, at home and everywhere in between. “All progress begins with dissonance.” — Niko Canner You’ll hear about ·      Strategy beyond the boardroom ·      Daily choices that drive performance ·      Coaching story of reclaiming the day ·      Mindfulness, agency and coherent moves ·      Setting life-long strategic aspirations ·      Turning crisis into intentional living ·      Five-chapter arc of strategic change ·      Acting strategically in any moment About Niko: Niko founded Incandescent in 2013. He serves as a thought partner to leaders of large enterprises on strategy, organization and innovation; advising founders on the development of their ventures; and partnering with foundations and non-profits engaged in systems change.  Previously Niko co-founded the consulting firm Katzenbach Partners, Senior Partner at Booz & Company following the sale of Katzenbach to Booz in 2009 and a member of the Management Committee of Bridgewater Associates.  Niko chairs the boards of Skreens, a SaaS cloud-based visual engine that enables users to build personalized experiences on any display, and Catchafire, a platform for skills-based volunteering. Resources:  Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikocanner/  Business: https://www.incandescent.com/  Blog: https://www.onhumanenterprise.com/  My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ) Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: ●      Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ●      About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ●      Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ●      Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ●      Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    57 min
  6. Kurt Matzler: How to achieve the impossible

    26/11/2025

    Kurt Matzler: How to achieve the impossible

    What does it take to push yourself to the absolute limit and keep going for a cause bigger than yourself? Imagine you’re cycling 3,000 miles in 12 days on no more than 2 hours sleep a day. You feel exhausted, with nothing left to give, but important decisions need to be made to achieve your goal. This was the reality for my guest in this episode, Kurt Matzler, one of the world’s most cited strategy professors and an elite ultra-endurance cyclist who has completed the Race Across America, often described as the toughest race in the world. We dive into how Kurt blends his expertise in strategy with the demands of ultra-cycling: from meticulous planning and team building to the mental resilience needed to ride for 22 hours a day across deserts and mountain ranges. It’s a conversation that will inspire you to think bigger, plan smarter, and persist longer. And perhaps, to take on a challenge you once thought impossible. “Be willing to do everything that is needed to achieve your big goal” – Kurt Matzler You’ll hear about: Race Across America: the world’s longest bike raceThe role of purpose in endurance challengesBalancing training with work and familyBuilding mental toughness before the raceThe power of delegating decisions to a teamLessons from setbacks and resilienceCreating a high-performance support crewWhy strategy means saying noTurning big goals into smaller milestonesThe impact Kurt wants to have on the worldAbout Kurt Matzler: Kurt is professor of Strategic Management at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. According to Brightline Initiative he is one of the best strategic thinkers in the world. He is academic director of the Executive MBA program at MCI in Innsbruck and partner of IMP, an international consulting firm, the winner of the hidden champions in consulting in the field of disruption in Germany. Kurt is author of more than 300 academic papers and several books. He is co-author of the German edition of the Innovator’s dilemma, one of the six most important management books overall (Economist). He is author of The High Performance Mindset (2023, among the 10 best business books of 2023, Forbes), co-author of "Open Strategy" (MIT Press,  2021, according to the Strategy+Business Magazine the best strategy book of 2021) and "Digital Disruption" (2016).  With more than 35,000 citations in Google Scholar and an H-Index of 82, Kurt belongs to the top 20 strategy researchers in Europe and to the top 50 in the world. He is included in the John Ioannidis Stanford University’s database of the world’s top 2% of scientists in all disciplines. He is a passionate cyclist and a solo finisher of the Race Across America 2022 and 2025, Race Around Austria, Northcape4000 and Ultracycling World Champion 2024 (Master class). With his participation in RAAM, his Rotary team raised more than USD 4,500,000 to eradicate Polio. Resources: Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-matzler-99206b7/ Book: https://shorturl.at/zPdnL My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ)  Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation For more details about me: ● Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ● About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ● Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ● Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ● Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    42 min
  7. Mita Mallick: Learning from a bad boss

    12/11/2025

    Mita Mallick: Learning from a bad boss

    What happens when your boss is the problem? A good boss can inspire you and be a catalyst for your career, whilst bad bosses limit your potential, putting the brakes on your trajectory. In this conversation with Mita Mallick, author of The Devil Emails at Midnight, we explore the behaviours that make bosses bad, and the lessons we can take to become better leaders. Mita shares raw, funny and moving stories from her career, showing how toxic dynamics shape us, and how inclusion and vulnerability can transform workplaces. We discuss why kindness is still seen as weakness, the warning signs that you might be slipping into bad boss territory, and how to handle life’s toughest moments, such as grief, while still leading with integrity. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re bringing out the best in your people, or if you’re stuck with a boss who doesn’t, this episode will give you the tools and courage to flip the script. “Hurt people hurt people.” – Mita Mallick You'll hear about: ·      Personal stories of bad bosses ·      Why kindness is seen as weakness ·      Warning signs you’re a bad boss ·      Nature versus nurture in leadership ·      How grief affects leadership behaviour ·      The myth of bossless organisations ·      Coaching instead of micromanaging ·      Options when stuck with a bad boss About Mita Mallick: Mita Mallick is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She’s on a mission to fix what’s broken in our workplaces. She’s a corporate change maker with a track record of transforming businesses and has had an extensive career as a marketing and human resources executive. Mallick is a highly sought-after speaker who has advised Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice and was named to the Thinkers 50 Radar List. She’s a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Adweek, and Entrepreneur. Mallick has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, Forbes, Axios, Essence, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Business Insider. Resources:  Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/ Services: https://www.mitamallick.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Emails-Midnight-Leaders-Bosses/dp/1394316488/ My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ)  Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me: ●      Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ●      About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ●      Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ●      Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ●      Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    39 min
  8. Neri Karra Sillaman: What immigrant entrepreneurs can teach us

    29/10/2025

    Neri Karra Sillaman: What immigrant entrepreneurs can teach us

    Immigrant entrepreneurs have an outsized impact in business and society. 80% of billion dollar startups have founders or senior executives who are first or second generation immigrants. So, what can we learn from them? In this episode I am joined by Neri Karra Sillaman, author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. Neri’s research shows that immigrant entrepreneurs have a unique ability to reframe failure. Something she has done herself as a refugee turned entrepreneur. Neri shares how constraints can be turned into an advantage for entrepreneurs as they look to blend their home and new cultures in the services and products they create. She underscores the importance of quality, community, and a focus on impact rather than personal gain. Lessons many leaders could learn to improve their organisations. “Immigrant entrepreneurs don’t hear “no” the way that you do” – Neri Karra Sillaman You'll hear about: • How immigrant entrepreneurs reframe failure as fuel for growth. • The role of community in building resilience and drive. • Why a clear, long-term vision sustains entrepreneurial momentum. • Why integrity and quality matter more than rapid scale. • The personal sacrifices behind building a meaningful business. • How cross-cultural identity becomes a strategic advantage. • The mindset shifts needed for true business longevity. About Neri Karra Sillaman: Neri Karra Sillaman is an author, advisor, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on business longevity, innovation, and impact. She is the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, recognized as one of Thinkers50’s Top 10 Best New Management Books in 2025. Neri was also named to the Thinkers50 Radar List as one of the 30 management thinkers shaping the future of work. As the founder of her luxury leather goods brand, a company established more than 25 years ago, she combines entrepreneurial experience with research-driven insight. Neri is an Entrepreneurship Expert at the University of Oxford and holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge. As a child refugee, she draws on her journey of resilience and adaptation to advise leaders on purpose, culture, and long-term success. Resources: Website: www.nerispeaks.com Book: https://amzn.to/45T5p4C Profile: https://tinyurl.com/34rf2rrx Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/3dupup2m My resources: Try my High-stakes meetings toolkit (https://bit.ly/43cnhnQ) Take my Becoming a Strategic Leader course (https://bit.ly/3KJYDTj) Sign up to my Every Day is a Strategy Day newsletter (http://bit.ly/36WRpri) for modern mindsets and practices to help you get ahead. Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation. For more details about me:  ●      Services (https://rb.gy/ahlcuy) to CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals. ●      About me (https://rb.gy/dvmg9n) - my background, experience and philosophy. ●      Examples of my writing https://rb.gy/jlbdds) ●      Follow me and engage with me on LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/2Z2PexP) ●      Follow me and engage with me on Twitter (https://bit.ly/36XavNI)

    40 min
See All (119)

About

Are you looking to taking your leadership to the next level? Perhaps you’re in a new role, in charge of a big initiative, or looking to move roles. You’ve come to the right place for strategies, tips, lessons distilled from the world's leading management thinkers, entrepreneurs, executives and academics. 

Information

  • Creator
    David Lancefield
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Lancefield on the Line
  • Show Website
    Lancefield on the Line