AI and automation are changing what organisations expect from their leaders, but the advantage they create may not be where most people are looking. Deloitte's 2026 Global Human Capital Trends report found that organisations taking a technology-first approach to AI are around 60% more likely to fail to see the returns they expected, compared with those that put people at the centre of transformation. Deloitte argues that this human edge, built on adaptability, creativity and judgement, is what actually creates competitive advantage. In this episode of ClarityMatters, Louise Everett is joined by Dr Hanns-Christian Mahler, Chief Enablement Officer and co-founder of ten23 health, for a conversation about what changes when leaders focus on enabling people rather than directing them. Hanns-Christian has built his entire leadership philosophy around a human-centred approach, and here he sets out what real organisational clarity looks like, and why psychological safety and accountability need to sit side by side rather than in competition. Louise and Hanns-Christian discuss: Why he defines his role as chief enablement officer rather than chief executive, and what that means day to dayWhy building on people's strengths creates more value than correcting their weaknessesHow the concept of "tension" gives everyone ownership of their own questions and concernsThe meeting structures and communication habits that build psychological safety without losing accountabilityThe leadership behaviours that build trust, and the ones that quietly create disengagement Jump straight to your favourite parts: [00:02:41] - Why he calls himself a chief enablement officer rather than a chief executive [00:08:46] - Building roles around people's strengths, rather than punishing their weaknesses in a review [00:09:44] - The personal loss that shaped his mission, and why ten23 stands for patients, people and planet [00:16:19] - Radical transparency in practice, including open meeting minutes across the organisation [00:17:31] - "Tension": why no one can read your mind, and why every question is yours to own [00:20:30] - Using nonviolent communication to separate a genuine question from a complaint [00:25:27] - The meeting structure built to stop leaders dominating the conversation [00:29:27] - The sailing boat analogy: why clear direction still matters in a crisis [00:33:05] - Why command without a "why" leads to disengagement [00:35:47] - Building self-awareness in leadership through Profile Dynamics and Myers-Briggs [00:39:53] - Career advice to his 20-year-old self: life is a marathon, not a sprint [00:41:45] - The one idea he'd leave in a 20-year time capsule: more "we" than "I" Claritas Managing Director Louise Everett is the host of ClarityMatters, a limited-edition podcast series bringing together carefully selected industry leaders for short, focused conversations on the issues shaping B2B communications today. Claritas is a corporate communications agency that helps organisations communicate with clarity, confidence and impact. From a strategic approach, we craft, design and deliver B2B communications that are rooted in clarity, designed for impact and focused on outcomes. Whether it's employee engagement, change, external communications, reputation, or the ambition to build and evolve a brand, we help organisations say the right thing — clearly, consistently and credibly. Get in touch: info@claritascomms.com https://claritascomms.com
