Truth, Lies and Work

HubSpot Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (38)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Truth, Lies & Work is the UK's #1 Management Podcast. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, this award-winning podcast is where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, the show has reached #2 in the UK Business Podcast Charts and consistently ranks as a Top 10 trending business podcast globally. With a unique blend of evidence-based insight and lived experience, Leanne and Al simplify the science of people and culture to help leaders attract, engage, and retain great talent. Episodes drop twice a week. Tuesdays feature a global people and culture news round-up, a hot take from an emerging or established voice, and the world-famous Workplace Surgery—where Leanne answers real listener questions with practical advice. Thursdays dive deeper with expert guests from across the business and psychology worlds, sharing fresh perspectives and actionable strategies. Whether you're scaling a startup or leading a large team, Truth, Lies & Work delivers the tools, thinking, and inspiration to build thriving, toxic-free workplaces that prioritise well-being and drive sustainable growth. Also, the hosts are married—so expect unfiltered honesty, occasional banter, and a real-life lens on work and life.

  1. 2D AGO

    LIVE! Is A.I. changing the way we think? With Charli Nordone, Gabrielle Dolan and Paul Spiers

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. We are part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. In this special LinkedIn Live edition, hosts Al Elliott and Leanne Elliott are joined by three world-class experts to tackle one of the most pressing questions of the modern era: If machines are increasingly doing the thinking for us, what happens to our own ability to think? 🔥 Discussion Highlights 1. The Irony of Automation We dive into the "irony of automation," a theory from the 1980s stating that as we automate complex tasks, humans shift from "operators" to "supervisors." Over time, the critical skills needed to intervene or judge quality begin to weaken. We explore how this is playing out in today’s knowledge work. 2. Writing as a Thinking Tool Charli Nordone explains why writing isn’t just communication—it’s how we process and structure our thoughts. When we outsource the first draft to AI, are we accidentally outsourcing the very thinking that makes our work valuable? 3. The Case for Human Authenticity Gabrielle Dolan highlights the "AI vs. AI" loop, where machines write resumes and machines screen them. She argues that in a world of machine-generated content, authentic, personal storytelling is the only way to build genuine trust and connection. 4. Leadership & Curiosity Paul Spiers discusses why leaders must move beyond seeing AI as a "productivity plug-in" and instead treat it as a foundational change. He shares how to foster "curiosity with context" to ensure employees feel empowered rather than replaced. 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🎙️ Connect with our Guests Charli Nordone Website: www.thebetterwritingstore.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlinordone/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/betterwritingstore Gabrielle Dolan Website: gabrielledolan.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/ Instagram: @gabrielledolan.1 Paul Spiers Website: paulspiers.com | principlesandleadership.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulspiers/ 🆘 Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au Global helplines: findahelpline.com

    1h 18m

  2. 3D AGO

    Why Everything You Know About Sales Is Wrong, with Thomas Waites

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. If you’re a founder who has built something brilliant but finds the idea of 'selling' it a little bit icky, this episode is for you. Today, we’re joined by Thomas Waites, a fractional Chief Revenue Officer and startup advisor who has scaled multiple companies from seed stage to successful acquisition. Thomas takes a refreshingly contrarian view of sales. He argues that the very traits many founders think disqualify them from sales—honesty, empathy, and a hatred for pushiness—are actually their greatest competitive advantages. 🔥 What we cover in this episode: The "Rainmaker" Reimagined: Why a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is about more than just closing deals—it’s about owning the entire customer revenue journey. The Tattoo Bet: The incredible story of how a team culture of "tattoo bets" led Thomas to ink a bull on his shoulder after closing a massive deal with 40,000 Warner Brothers employees. Sales for STEM Founders: How highly analytical, introverted founders can become world-class at sales by treating it like an engineering problem. The 75/25 Rule: Why the best salespeople speak only 25% of the time and how "negative reverse selling" can turn a 'no' into a 'yes' by simply respecting the prospect's boundaries. Building Your Sales Team: Why your first hire should NOT be a VP of Sales or a CRO, and the specific progression founders should follow to scale their revenue. 🧠 Key Takeaways Honesty is a Competitive Advantage: Most prospects expect to be lied to. When you are transparent about what your product can’t do, you build instant, unshakeable trust. Sell to Emotions, Not Just Logic: While logic supports a purchase, emotions drive it. Avoid "information overload" and focus on the pain you are solving. Hire Junior First: Start with a Business Development Representative (BDR) to fill the pipeline while you, the founder, continue to close. Only bring in a senior sales leader once the process is proven. 🔗 Connect with Thomas Waites – Website: https://twsales.com – Live Call-In Show: https://twsales.com/live-call-in-show/ – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswaites/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

    52 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Why has $5 Trillion NVIDIA scrapped performance reviews? PLUS! Microsoft’s voluntary retirement, well-being hacks and the truth about the change curve, with Matt Furness

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we explore Microsoft’s new retirement strategy, NVIDIA’s radical management secrets, and the one wellbeing investment most businesses are overlooking. Plus, we debunk a legendary psychological model and answer your burning questions about toxic top performers and small business culture. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. Is Microsoft Quietly Microsoft has launched a first-of-its-kind voluntary retirement program for U.S. employees whose age plus years of service equals 70 or more. The Targeted Group: Open to staff at senior director level and below. The Strategic Shift: While framed as giving employees choice, it comes as Microsoft pivots heavily toward AI infrastructure, potentially reshaping its traditional software workforce. Reward Changes: The company is also decoupling stock awards from cash bonuses to give managers more flexibility in rewarding high performers. Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/microsoft-plans-first-voluntary-retirement-program-for-us-employees.html 2. The $5 Trillion CEO: Jensen Huang’s Radical Rules NVIDIA recently crossed the $5 trillion mark, and CEO Jensen Huang did it by breaking every rule in the management handbook. Flat Structure: Huang has 55 direct reports—nearly 10x the corporate average. Equal Pay: He pays all 55 top executives the exact same cash bonus, removing internal "status games." No 1:1s: Information is shared with everyone at once to eliminate power asymmetry and speed up decision-making. Source: https://x.com/i/web/status/2048559374499778778 3. The Wellbeing Investment You’re Overlooking While most companies spend on gym memberships and apps, the data suggests that employee development is the real driver of wellbeing. The Progress Problem: Research suggests low engagement is often a "progress problem," not a "perks problem." Retention Secret: 73% of employees would stay longer if their company invested more in learning and development. Science-Backed: Competence is a core human need in Self-Determination Theory, directly linked to lower burnout. Source: https://wellbeingmagazine.com/why-employee-development-is-the-wellbeing-investment-most-businesses-overlook/ 🧠 Truth or Lie: The Kübler-Ross Change Curve We’ve all seen the "Stages of Grief" applied to corporate change. Business Psychologist Matt Furness joins us to reveal whether research actually supports using a model designed for terminally ill patients as a roadmap for office restructuring. Connect with Matt: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewfurness/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BpQVxZf%2FySxyM5bnSu94bNQ%3D%3D Click Culture: https://www.clickculture.co.uk/ 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we tackle three tough listener dilemmas: The "Checked Out" Employee: Is "quiet quitting" the inevitable result of mandated return-to-office policies? The Toxic High Performer: Can you ever justify keeping a salesperson who hits their targets but destroys your culture? Culture vs. Cash: At what point does a "small business family" culture lose out to a £15k pay rise elsewhere? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

    59 min

  4. APR 23

    $30M to $2M in 18 Months: How to Lead When Everything Falls Apart

    What does it actually feel like when the company you built starts falling apart? In 2021, Aedan Fida’s company, Blade Air, was on top of the world. They had a $20 million school board contract, 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and revenue hitting $30 million. Then, the pandemic ended, and revenue dropped off a cliff—falling to just $2 million by 2024. In this episode, Aedan (a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and EY Entrepreneur of the Year) gives one of the most candid accounts of founder life we’ve ever hosted. From sleeping in cars to build prototypes to the brutal reality of a 93% revenue drop, Aedan shares the "deep learning" that comes when you stop chasing goalposts and start leading with purpose. 🔥 What we cover in this episode: The Pivot that Paid Off (and then didn't): How Aedan went from building carbon filters for cannabis growers in a Toronto basement to massive government contracts. The "Deep Learning" Period: The truth about managing a $30M company with a management structure that wasn't ready for it. Slow Down to Speed Up: Why the instinct to "go harder" during a collapse is often wrong, and how coaching, therapy, and systems actually turned the tide. The "Right" Team: The remarkable story of Aedan’s brother, Kieran, who recognized he was becoming a bottleneck and went out to find his own replacement. Purpose Balance over Work-Life Balance: The heart-wrenching lesson Aedan learned after losing his father about being present for the life you’re already living. 👤 About Aedan Fida Aedan is the CEO of Blade Air, a Canadian clean air technology company. He is focused on the "triple bottom line" of people, planet, and profit, driving energy efficiency in HVAC systems through disruptive technology. Connect with Aedan: – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aedanfidastriplebottomline/ – Website: https://www.bladeair.com/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

    52 min

  5. APR 21

    Are Extroverts Better Leaders? PLUS! 5 A.I. proof skills, Zuckerberg’s digital clone and new job red flags

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re unpacking the "human" skills needed for an AI-driven future, a bizarre experiment in digital leadership at Meta, and whether the "loudest" person in the room is actually the best person to lead it. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. 5 Skills LinkedIn Says Will AI-Proof Your Career LinkedIn’s CEO Ryan Roslansky argues that while AI will reshape work, it won’t replace it—if you lean into the "5 Cs". Leanne breaks down why curiosity, courage, creativity, compassion, and communication are the traits hardest to automate. We also compare these to the evidence-based "Great Eight" model to see if these skills are truly new or just "repackaged" for the AI era. https://www.inc.com/amaya-nichole/5-skills-linkedin-says-will-ai-proof-your-career-in-2026/91325413 2. The Digital Mark Zuckerberg: Efficiency or Madness? Meta is reportedly training an AI clone of its CEO on his mannerisms and tone so employees can query him directly—essentially a digital boss on demand. While Zuckerberg uses a "CEO agent" to flatten the organisation, Meta is simultaneously navigating massive legal penalties. Is this a genius move for scale or a jarring corporate misstep? https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/13/meta-ai-mark-zuckerberg-staff-talk-to-the-boss 3. Why the DoorDash CEO Reads 2,000-Word Complaint Emails Tony Xu reveals why he hunts for "gold" in long, detailed messages from customers and Dashers. While many leaders shy away from negative feedback, Xu personally "debugs" system failures by tracking orders in the backend to understand where the app fails the real world. https://www.businessinsider.com/doordash-ceo-tony-xu-2000-word-emails-customers-dashers-2026-3 🧠 Truth or Lie: Extroverts Make More Effective Leaders We often celebrate magnetic, commanding figures as the gold standard for leadership. But Leanne dives into the research to distinguish between leader emergence (who looks the part) and leader effectiveness (who actually delivers results). The Verdict: It’s a Lie—or at least a dangerous half-truth. While extroversion accounts for about 10% of who gets promoted, it doesn't guarantee results. In fact, research shows that quieter leaders often outperform extroverts when managing proactive, high-performing teams. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we answer three listener dilemmas: Should I Bother with Engagement Surveys? Are you just measuring problems or actually fixing them? Managing Generational Friction: Is the tension between Gen Z’s boundaries and "earned authority" something a manager should fix? Leanne explains why this is a clash of unspoken norms, not age. New Job Red Flags: What are the signs in your first few weeks that you’ve joined a genuinely healthy workplace versus an intentional disaster? Resources Mentioned Who is Al Elliott? Hear our co-host’s story from bankruptcy to award-winning business owner: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/16-who-is-al-elliott-award-winning-business-owner-to-bankruptcy-and-back-our-co-host-s-story 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

    54 min

  6. APR 16

    Only Two Job Titles: How to Flatten Your Entire Company (And Why It Works), with GentleForces Founder and CEO, Danni Mohammed

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, Al and Leanne are joined by Danni Mohammed, founder of the creative and innovation practice Gentle Forces. Danni has spent her career at some of the world’s most iconic agencies—including Saatchi & Saatchi and WPP—but she’s now doing something genuinely radical: running a global innovation firm with just two job titles. Danni explores why traditional hierarchies might be holding your team back, how to balance the "chaos" of creativity with the "order" of delivery, and why her team describes their workplace as "calm" despite tackling some of the biggest brand challenges on the planet. 🔥 Inside the Episode 1. The "Two Title" Experiment Danni explains her hatred for traditional job titles, arguing they limit potential and feed egos rather than focusing on the work. At Gentle Forces, you are either a Practice Lead or a Practitioner. We dive into how this structure provides clarity without the restrictive walls of a traditional corporate ladder. 2. Balancing Chaos and Order In the creative world, comfort is the enemy of freshness. Danni discusses her philosophy of "getting comfortable with the uncomfortable" and how she uses a "diverge and converge" process to ensure that big, chaotic ideas eventually turn into tangible, high-scale deliverables for clients. 3. "Night Vision" and Innovation Described by peers as having "night vision"—the ability to see possibilities where others see darkness—Danni shares her experience founding WPP Black Ops. She reveals how this "speedboat" model allowed her to drive massive innovation for brands like SK-II and the Tokyo Olympics by ignoring traditional setups. 4. A Culture of Calm Perhaps the most surprising takeaway is that despite a process built on friction and interrogation, her team consistently describes the culture as "calm." Danni explains how removing unnecessary politics and "ego-feeding" titles creates a safe, open environment where people are proud to build something different. 🧠 Key Lessons for Leaders Structure for Output: Don't inherit your industry's habits. Ask if your current titles are defining roles or just defining limits. Embrace Interdisciplinary Thinking: Move beyond simple collaboration to a space where different disciplines work together to create something entirely new. Practice Over Agency: Why viewing your work as a "practice" encourages continuous learning and keeps the "ceiling" off your team's growth. 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Connect with Danni Mohammed: – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannimohammed – Website: https://gentleforces.com Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

    47 min

  7. APR 14

    Is your A.I. getting 'token anxiety'? PLUS! Sh*tcuts, Sweden’s empty offices and the truth about vulnerable leadership, with Live+Work More Human Podcast hosts, Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week is a very special "cross-over" episode as we are joined by Alexis Zahner and Sally Clarke, hosts of the Live+Work More Human podcast. Together, we tackle the "bums on seats" myth, the stress of AI limits, and why being a "vulnerable" leader is more nuanced than you think. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. The "Sh*tcut": When Speed Kills Quality Leanne introduces a new term from James Hardie: the sh*tcut. While a shortcut is a disciplined way to save time while protecting quality, a shtcut* is moving faster by skipping the essential thinking and checks. We discuss why businesses fall into this trap and how to use the C Method (Clarity, Checks, and Consequences) plus Courage to avoid it. Read more here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/really-shortcut-shtcut-james-hardie-rouye/?trackingId=aTyABh%2F%2BTgCbctmdoTx97w%3D%3D 2. The 4:30 PM Empty Office Sally shares a viral story of an Indian tech professional in Sweden who was stunned to find her office completely vacant by 4:30 PM. In Sweden, the emphasis is on quality of work over "warming a chair." We dive into why the "always-on" badge of honor is a recipe for burnout and why recovery must be treated as a professional norm. Watch the video: https://www.google.com/search?q=viral+video+of+swedish+office&oq=viral+video+of+swedish+office&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRiPAtIBCDQzNDlqMGo5qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d0449930,vid:iMc8VrcsfQs,st:0 Read the story: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/empty-office-at-4-30-pm-indian-techie-highlights-swedens-work-culture-11275625 3. Token Anxiety: The New AI Stress Al reveals a bizarre new workplace stress: Token Anxiety. Whether it's watching your daily AI allowance creep up or feeling guilty that your AI isn't "working" while you sleep, it's a very modern FOMO. Interestingly, research shows that even AI models start to produce "sloppy code" and cut corners when they near their context limits—just like an overworked human on a Friday afternoon. 🧠 Truth or Lie: Does Vulnerability Make You a Better Leader? Alexis puts the "vulnerability" gospel to the test. While popular, the research shows it’s a double-edged sword. The Truth: Sharing critical feedback about your own performance builds psychological safety. The Lie: "Willy-nilly" oversharing without strategy signals incompetence. The Verdict: Leadership vulnerability only works when paired with discernment, humble self-assessment, and a clear plan for growth. 💬 Workplace Surgery Our panel of four experts answers your burning questions: Leading through your own burnout: How do you support a team when you’re running on empty? Sally suggests seeking outside help pronto and putting on your own oxygen mask first. Leading culture "uphill": What to do when the organization rewards speed but you want to protect your team? Lex discusses creating a "micro-culture" and using the language of business to defend boundaries. The "Hiring Like Me" Trap: Why hiring for "culture fit" often leads to groupthink and how to move toward "culture add." 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Connect with our Guests – Alexis Zahner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexiszahner/ – Sally Clarke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyclarkeevolve/ – Website: https://liveandworkmorehuman.com/ Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

    53 min

  8. APR 9

    They Said "One Minute Manager" Would Embarrass Him. It Sold 15 Million Copies, With Martha Lawrence

    Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Ken Blanchard was told in college he couldn't write. His graduate professors said he lacked academic ability. When he finished The One Minute Manager, his colleagues warned him it would embarrass him professionally. It went on to sell 15 million copies and become one of the most influential business books ever written. In this episode, we sit down with Martha Lawrence — editor, novelist, and the woman who spent 22 years working directly alongside Ken Blanchard. Martha recently wrote his biography, Catch People Doing Things Right, and she's here to share what she learned about the man, the philosophy, and why his ideas matter more than ever in today's leadership landscape. 📖 What We Discuss with Martha Lawrence 1. The Book That Broke the Rules In 1982, business books were dense, academic, and hundreds of pages long. Ken Blanchard wrote a 100-page parable — and invented an entirely new category. Martha explains how a chance meeting at a cocktail party led to one of the most counterintuitive publishing decisions in history, and why Ken's colleagues thought it would ruin his reputation. 2. Leading With Love — What It Actually Means "Leading with love" sounds soft. It isn't. Martha unpacks what Ken really meant: getting yourself out of the way so other people can be magnificent. She explains why this philosophy is harder to execute than command-and-control leadership — and why it produces better results. 3. EGO = Edging Good Out In a world of loud, aggressive, title-obsessed leaders, Ken had a different definition of ego. Martha shares how his father's advice on the day he became seventh grade class president shaped his entire leadership philosophy — and why people follow leaders they trust, not leaders with impressive job titles. 4. What He Did With a Tape Recorder Two stories from Martha's biography that stop you in your tracks: what Ken did when an employee's widow visited the office, and what he did the night his own father was dying. Both reveal the difference between someone who talks about values and someone who actually lives them. 5. The 9/11 Test After 9/11, the Blanchard organisation was losing millions. The leadership team discussed layoffs for the first time in company history. What Ken did next is one of the most striking examples of transparent, human leadership you'll hear — and it ended with the whole company in Maui. 🔗 Connect with Martha Lawrence Website: https://www.marthalawrence.com Ken Blanchard's books: https://www.kenblanchardbooks.com Blanchard organisation: https://www.blanchard.com 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

    47 min
See All (300)

5
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Truth, Lies & Work is the UK's #1 Management Podcast. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, this award-winning podcast is where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, the show has reached #2 in the UK Business Podcast Charts and consistently ranks as a Top 10 trending business podcast globally. With a unique blend of evidence-based insight and lived experience, Leanne and Al simplify the science of people and culture to help leaders attract, engage, and retain great talent. Episodes drop twice a week. Tuesdays feature a global people and culture news round-up, a hot take from an emerging or established voice, and the world-famous Workplace Surgery—where Leanne answers real listener questions with practical advice. Thursdays dive deeper with expert guests from across the business and psychology worlds, sharing fresh perspectives and actionable strategies. Whether you're scaling a startup or leading a large team, Truth, Lies & Work delivers the tools, thinking, and inspiration to build thriving, toxic-free workplaces that prioritise well-being and drive sustainable growth. Also, the hosts are married—so expect unfiltered honesty, occasional banter, and a real-life lens on work and life.

Information

  • Creator
    HubSpot Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022-2026
  • Show Website
    Truth, Lies and Work

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