Manage What Matters

Jackie Handy
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business

If you’re managing people and wondering why motivation is dropping, conversations feel harder, or your best people are exhausted, you’re not alone. Manage What Matters is a practical, human podcast for people leaders who want to improve performance without losing people (or themselves) along the way. Each week, host Jackie Handy explores real leadership challenges - from feedback and burnout to conflict, belonging, and purpose - through a lens that focuses on what actually drives behaviour at work. With years of experience in leadership, inclusion, and culture change - and plenty of lessons learned the hard way - Jackie brings clarity, warmth, and honesty to conversations many people leaders are having privately, but rarely out loud. This isn’t a podcast about being nicer or doing more just for the sake of it. It’s about leading better - without needing more time, more budget, or burning out on the journey. Because when people know they matter, and the work matters too, everything changes. Welcome aboard!

  1. 22h ago

    29: The Alchemy Of Playful Curiosity In Leadership

    Suzy Sanders, founder of Alchemy Virtual Assistance UK, shares her journey from employee to entrepreneur, the challenges faced by leaders, and the importance of appropriate vulnerability and playful curiosity. The conversation explores the transition from employee to entrepreneur, the challenges faced by leaders, the significance of appropriate vulnerability and playful curiosity, and reframing leadership and personal growth. Making the brave decision after the birth of her son to leave her corporate job at a global recruitment firm, Suzy embarked on a journey to entrepreneurship. Her business – Alchemy Virtual Assistance (VA) – began from a (then) makeshift home office in Northamptonshire in 2016 with the purpose of providing remote administration, practical marketing and flexible PA support to independent business owners and entrepreneurs.   With her own strong core values; integrity, honesty, family, kindness and adventure at the heart of all business activities, Suzy’s collaborative approach has been built around building connections with the right people to make the most impact.   Quickly realising the power and strength in collaboration and community, Suzy set about fostering meaningful relationships – actively seeking to work with likeminded businesses who shared a similar ethos, exploring local, regional and global speaking opportunities at relevant events, chairing a well-known networking group, and supporting upcoming businesses and charities in her spare time.   She had recognised that success was not always about making money. Instead, it was these nurturing and compassionate business activities that truly boosted Alchemy VA's reputation – Suzy has won awards for her noticeably different approach and has been featured on radio, TV and in leading industry publications. The company’s loyal client-base and team rapidly grew and thrived as a result. Continuing to receive a steady and increasing influx of enquiries from curious and aspiring virtual assistants who had been inspired by Suzy’s journey, she saw an opportunity to launch a franchise model where carefully selected individuals – only those with the same commitment, skills, mindset, personal objectives and values – could be trained, empowered and supported to build their own VA enterprises under the trusted Alchemy brand. Suzy has since self-published a book, ‘The Alchemy of Virtual Assistance: creating a successful virtual assistant business around your family’ and continues to explore and advocate the importance and value in developing meaningful relationships in business. Suzy holds the belief that this focus will enable her to amplify her business success, create more meaningful impact and value to her team and achieve her ultimate ambitious vision – for Alchemy to become the VA company of choice in the UK. Connect with Suzy here Tae the FREE VA readiness test here Takeaways Transition from employee to entrepreneurChallenges faced by leadersAppropriate vulnerability and playful curiosity Chapters 00:00 Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur07:41 Appropriate Vulnerability and Playful Curiosity17:21 Reframing Leadership and Personal Growth

    29: The Alchemy Of Playful Curiosity In Leadership

  2. Sep 15

    28: Leading Under Pressure

    In this solo episode, host Jackie Handy discusses the impact of pressure in the workplace and how it shapes leadership and team dynamics. She shares the importance of clarity, attention, and respect under pressure, and provides insights on how to navigate pressure effectively as a leader or individual contributor. Want to connect? Find Jackie on LinkedIn here Or check out her website here Take the FREE FlowFinder assessment here Takeaways Pressure reveals true characterClarity, attention, and respect are crucial under pressure Chapters 00:00 The Nature of Pressure08:54 Navigating Pressure Effectively

  3. Sep 8

    27: Speaking The Same Language - Why Cultural Awareness Matters

    In this episode of Manage What Matters, Marina Ibrahim explores one of the most overlooked leadership challenges in today’s workplaces: not a lack of motivation, but a lack of understanding. Drawing on her experience working with multicultural teams, Marina shares how accents, assumptions, and cultural differences shape the way we interpret behaviour – and how misinterpretation can quietly impact trust, performance, and belonging. Together, we explore: • Why leaders often misread behaviour in diverse teams • Where leaders unintentionally make communication harder • What helps people feel they truly matter at work • A simple shift leaders can make this week to improve understanding • The advice Marina challenges – and what to do instead Marina also reflects on how her own thinking has evolved, and why leaders don’t need to “sound the same” to be effective – but do need to be understood. This is a practical and human conversation for leaders who want to improve performance without losing their people – or themselves. Connect with Marina on LinkedIn here Or visit her website: www.globility-insights.com Chapters 00:00 Challenges of Multicultural Organizations08:34 Accent Anxiety and Communication Challenges14:09 Understanding and Curiosity in Leadership22:38 Language Barriers and Cultural Understanding

    27: Speaking The Same Language - Why Cultural Awareness Matters

  4. Sep 1

    26: Creating Resilience In High Pressured Team Environments

    In this solo episode, Jackie Handy discusses the topic of resilience and its importance in the workplace. She explores the concept of resilience, its connection to the Matter Model, factors affecting resilience, creating resilient environments, and the role of leadership in building resilience. Takeaways Resilience is shaped by the environment and is influenced by factors such as support, clarity, connection, and a sense of control.Leaders play a crucial role in creating conditions where resilience can exist, and it is important to acknowledge and support the efforts of team members during times of pressure. Chapters 00:00 Navigating Change and Resilience08:00 Creating Resilient Environments

  5. Aug 25

    25: Why Motivation Matters In Business And In Life

    Sarah Stones is a Motivation Specialist, speaker, and founder of Plain Sailing Motivation. With over 20 years’ experience in HR, she helps people understand what drives their energy so they can think clearly, perform at their best, and protect their wellbeing. Her work brings practical insight into motivation, helping people move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose. The conversation with Sarah Stones dives deeper into the critical aspects of motivation, its impact on mental health and engagement, and the importance of understanding individual motivation styles. Sarah shares personal experiences and insights, emphasising the need for leaders to take action and create conditions for self-motivation. The discussion highlights the significance of motivation in both work and personal life, ultimately showing the value of pursuing what one loves. Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn here And check out the 9 motivating factors at Sarah's website here Takeaways Understanding individual motivation is keyMotivation impacts mental health and engagement Chapters 00:00 The Leadership Challenge Around Motivation05:51 Understanding Motivation Styles11:01 Impact of Motivation on Engagement21:06 Taking Action on Motivation

    25: Why Motivation Matters In Business And In Life

  6. Aug 18

    24: Navigating Change In Business

    In this solo episode, host Jackie Handy discusses the nature of change and the human experience of change. She shares the importance of leaders supporting their teams through change and provides practical tips for doing so. Takeaways Change is unsettling and constantLeaders need to support their teams through change Chapters 00:00 Supporting Teams Through Change

  7. Aug 11

    23: Storytelling And Speaking That Matters

    Ian Hawkins, a speaking and storytelling coach, joins host Jackie Handy to share insights on the impact of fear on speaking and storytelling, the importance of speaking in leadership, the role of storytelling in corporate presenting, finding stories in everyday decision-making, the power of stories in changing perspectives, and key principles of speaking and storytelling. Takeaways Fear is a significant factor that affects speaking and storytelling.Authenticity and understanding the audience are key principles of effective speaking.Stories play a crucial role in changing perspectives and driving change. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background06:05 The Importance of Speaking in Leadership12:38 Finding Stories in Everyday Decision-Making17:38 The Power of Stories in Changing Perspectives23:20 Key Principles of Speaking and Storytelling

    23: Storytelling And Speaking That Matters

  8. Aug 4

    22: Where Leadership Communication Breaks Down And How To Fix It

    In this solo episode, host Jackie Handy discusses the importance of good leadership communication, common mistakes made in leadership communication, factors affecting communication, and strategies for improving leadership communication. The key takeaways include the importance of effective communication in leadership and the tendency to over-communicate information while under-communicating its meaning. Takeaways Good communication in leadership is measured by what people hear, understand, and feel able to act on.Leaders often over-communicate information but under-communicate the meaning behind that communication. Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn here Or visit her website at www.jackiehandy.com You might want to revisit Episode 8 - Why Listening Feels So Difficult And How To Do It Better Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Good Leadership Communication06:41 Factors Affecting Communication

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About

If you’re managing people and wondering why motivation is dropping, conversations feel harder, or your best people are exhausted, you’re not alone. Manage What Matters is a practical, human podcast for people leaders who want to improve performance without losing people (or themselves) along the way. Each week, host Jackie Handy explores real leadership challenges - from feedback and burnout to conflict, belonging, and purpose - through a lens that focuses on what actually drives behaviour at work. With years of experience in leadership, inclusion, and culture change - and plenty of lessons learned the hard way - Jackie brings clarity, warmth, and honesty to conversations many people leaders are having privately, but rarely out loud. This isn’t a podcast about being nicer or doing more just for the sake of it. It’s about leading better - without needing more time, more budget, or burning out on the journey. Because when people know they matter, and the work matters too, everything changes. Welcome aboard!

Information

  • Creator
    Jackie Handy
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jackie Handy