There is a line in a song that keeps going round in my head.

‘glittering prizes, and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity’

One interpretation of the line is that it reflects the glitz and glamour of the music industry getting in the way of good song writing or music (I may have paraphrased that slightly!).

It’s been buzzing around in my head. For me it reflects the challenges that people face in the world of work at the moment. The compromises individuals are being asked to make and the impact that has on them and the people around them.

Phrases like ‘do more with less’ — ‘work smarter’ — ‘agile working’ — ‘deliver the same quality, but for less and quicker’ ...

And yet, in the same breath, people are encouraged to be true to themselves and focus on their wellbeing.

It’s hard to navigate your way through sometimes - easy to get lost in the overload of ‘noise’ from social media, organisational demands, and the pressure placed upon us to be everything to everyone. When you are leader in an organisation it can feel particularly challenging - you need to balance getting the job done, managing your team, and looking after yourself. Sometimes the thing that gets the least attention is you … and usually why things start to unravel.

Some of the leaders Interaction work with get a bit lost - feel like they are surviving rather than thriving.

What I feel proud about is knowing that we have helped individuals to find their way again, and feel equipped to have those tricky conversations, or provide that bit of feedback that needs to be given. We do that by taking time to explore the challenges, offer coaching and support to help individuals find their own ‘best’ way forward. We are mindful about what is happening within organisations and keep any learning intervention pragmatic and grounded.

When I am feeling a bit lost as a leader, reading feedback about our programmes and facilitators helps me remember that whilst we will always need to compromise, we will always stay true to our values.

‘I absolutely loved the programme, it has been transformational for me. Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate.’

‘The training from Interaction has been wonderful and something I will cherish and refer back to along my career journey.’

Happy to share more of what we do if you want to find out how we can help your leaders in your organisation.

No prizes for knowing the song … it is a good song! 😊