Leading with humanity

#WeeklyNRG – A Snapshot of All Things #NRG

This week’s theme? Leading with humanity — and recognising that good leadership starts with understanding what you bring, while making space for others to do their best work.

The Weekly Debrief

Last week was a busy one: Cardiff on Monday for meetings, then on to Milton Keynes for Leadership Live 26. It was a fantastic conference, with brilliant presentations, inspiring keynote speakers and thoughtful conversations about what it means to be a great leader in 2026 and beyond.

The focus was “Leading with humanity”. There was plenty to think about in how our human qualities can work alongside advances in AI to create better-performing workplaces and offer more support to our most important resource: people.

It made me reflect on the kind of leader I am, and how I want to help the organisations I work with keep moving forward. We spent time getting to know members of the governing body and leadership team better. I wanted everyone to feel included — and, more importantly, valued.

The conference also prompted me to acknowledge something I don’t often say out loud: I am a good leader. I tend to worry that saying so sounds like pride before a fall. But recognising your strengths isn’t the same as believing you’re infallible. It’s about knowing what you bring, so you can use it well.

I know that some of my strengths are moving the thinking forward, building relationships and helping people find their own best answers. The more I reflected, the more my music degree came to mind. (Possible prompted by the front cover of "The Edge" magazine, IOL's leadership magazine) I played clarinet and piano, but my real interest was conducting and orchestration — and the conductor feels like a powerful analogy for leadership.

A conductor does not play every instrument. They help people work together, bring different voices forward at the right time, make the direction clear and restore balance when one part starts to dominate. That takes awareness, judgement and strong relationships. It also means knowing when to lead from the front and when to let others’ contributions carry the music.

After the conference, I travelled back to France for the weekend. Each year, we donate stays at our gîtes to charities to auction. This weekend, four women from Wales came to enjoy the Loire sunshine after winning a stay at the Women in Wales charity event earlier this year. It was great fun sharing the experience with them. I love showing people the beauty of our village — and, more generally, sharing experiences with others. That sense of connection is one of the most human things we do.

The Week Ahead

I’m in France for the first half of the week, closing the gîtes for the season. Then I’m off to see hubby in Cyprus for a month that will be part work and part holiday.

So there will still be meetings, travel and plenty of connecting with people — just in a different setting. I’m also continuing to work on my ILM Level 7 coaching and mentoring qualification. I finally made time to get back to it, which feels like progress in itself. Perhaps that is a story for another week.

Lessons Learnt

Leadership requires both self-awareness and humility. We need to be honest about where we can improve, but we also need to recognise what we do well. If we dismiss our strengths as arrogance, we risk failing to use them where they could make a difference.

The conductor analogy helps me bring those ideas together. Good leaders understand their own role, set direction and create the conditions for people to contribute. They listen for the quieter voices, build relationships and keep the whole organisation in balance — without needing to be the loudest person in the room.

That is not a claim to have all the answers. It is a reminder to know what you bring, stay open to learning and help others make their best contribution too. Pride may come before a fall, but a little confidence — grounded in self-awareness and accountability — can help us lead with greater purpose.

Here’s to knowing our strengths, staying curious about the work still to do, and helping the people around us make beautiful music together. Just the right dose of #NRG.