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  • The Sticky Middle – Part 1

    The Sticky Middle – Part 1
    2025/07/23
    The Sticky Middle – Part 1

    From Peer to Leader: Shifting Your Thinking

    In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Oli Sanandres respond to a classic sticky career moment from a listener taking their first steps into people leadership:

    “Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position—without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.”

    Oli brings thoughtful insights from a varied career across local government, aviation, Amazon, and the military, where he went from rifleman to officer. Together, the team explore what it really takes to think like a leader before you start acting like one.

    Spoiler: This isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about stepping into a new mental model, letting go of old success markers, and learning how to lead without losing yourself.

    Key Topics Covered:
    • Why leadership is about thinking, not just doing
    • The mindset shift from personal delivery to enabling others
    • How to stay authentic (and humble) as you move from peer to leader
    • Letting go of your “hero cape” and redefining what success looks like
    • The importance of time to think and why it’s not a luxury
    • The awkward art of managing former peers (without becoming a stranger)
    • What the military taught Oli about influence, optics and staying grounded
    • Leadership as a system: managing up, down, and across
    • Paying it forward and using your role to grow others
    • Sitting in discomfort and trusting others to solve problems their way

    Resources to Explore:
    • Episode 2 – Am I Enough? – for anyone struggling with imposter feelings
    • Leadership Development Tip: Audit how you spend your time - are you thinking or just doing?
    • Reframing Question: What do I need to let go of to lead well?
    • Coaching Prompt: What kind of leader do I want to be and why?

    We’d Love Your Feedback!
    Stepping into leadership? Navigating your own sticky middle?
    Email us at ask@auntytreacle.com or tag us on socials.

    We’d love to hear what resonated and what you’re still wrestling with.

    Next Episode: The Sticky Middle – Part 2
    We’ve done the mindset shift - next, we move into action. In Episode 7, we bring Oli back to explore how to lead with clarity, care, and confidence.

    How do you set expectations, have tough conversations, and take people with you?

    Join us as we turn the thinking into doing.
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    41 分
  • Is safety still for me?

    Is safety still for me?
    2025/07/02
    🎙️ Aunty Treacle - Episode 5: Is Safety Still for Me?

    In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest Steph Camm respond to a deeply relatable listener challenge from someone feeling disillusioned with their career in safety:

    “Dear Aunty Treacle, I’m six years into my safety career and starting to wonder if it’s for me. I got into this work because I care about people and want to make a difference but all anyone seems to care about is compliance. I’m losing hope that I’ll ever find a role where I can do things differently. Is there a future for me in safety?”

    Steph brings honesty, warmth, and wisdom as she shares her own journey through different sectors including hotels, student accommodation, facilities, and engineering and reflects on the moments she questioned her own path. Together, the team explore what it really means to be at a career crossroads, and how to navigate through uncertainty with clarity, courage, and care. Spoiler: It’s not just about safety, it’s about rediscovering purpose, getting unstuck, and giving yourself permission to pivot.

    Key Topics Covered:
    • The compliance-care tension: how to hold both without losing your soul
    • Reframing audits, checklists and inspections as opportunities for curiosity
    • Spotting green flags in interviews and why language matters
    • Navigating gut instinct, red flags, and the emotional signals we ignore
    • Exploring the “career equation” aligning values, strengths, impact and environment
    • When to stay, when to go, and how to make bold but grounded moves
    • Career as a relationship: why your job should meet your needs too
    • Coaching, reflection, and finding clarity without waiting for permission
    • Courage as a core leadership skill—especially when saying “this isn’t right for me”
    Resources to Explore:
    • The Career Equation – The Career Equation®
    • Risk Savvy by Gerd Gigerenzer – on gut instinct and smart decision-making
    • Four Qualities of a Great Career (reverse your way in!):
      1. I’m around fascinating people
      2. I make good money
      3. I’m good at it
      4. I enjoy it
    • Reframing tip: Audit your current job for learning and experimentation, not just output
    • Interview reflection question: “How does this organisation align with who I am and what I value?”
    We’d Love Your Feedback!

    Have you hit a career crossroads? Are you feeling stuck or second-guessing your profession?
    Drop us a line at ask@auntytreacle.com or tag us on socials. Your questions help others get unstuck too.

    Next Episode: 🌟 The Sticky Middle – Part 1 & 2
    We’re doubling up for the next release as we dig into one of the most challenging transitions in any career: moving from individual contributor to people leader.
    What changes, what stays the same and how do you lead others without losing yourself?

    See you soon, Treacle fans. And yes, we still have Blazing Squad stuck in our heads too.
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    54 分
  • Setting Up for Success

    Setting Up for Success
    2025/06/11
    In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest Gareth Evans tackle a challenge that will resonate with anyone stepping into a big new role, especially those leading change:

    “Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a Health and Safety Director role in a new company, and I’m a mix of excited and terrified. The mission is to move health and safety from compliance to care. Any advice on what I should be focusing on to make a real difference?”

    Gareth shares lessons from his own experience leading in global, fast-moving organisations, offering insight into what really matters in those first few months. Spoiler: it’s less about action and more about connection, curiosity, and courage.

    Together, they explore how to lead with intention, manage the pressure to perform, and move from compliance to care in a way that’s meaningful and sustainable.

    Key Topics Covered:
    • Why your first priority isn’t action, it’s listening
    • “Connect before you direct”- how relationships build results
    • The bathtub analogy - building stock with your allies before making withdrawals
    • Mapping your stakeholders: power, influence, and the unexpected allies
    • The myth of the perfect plan - why failure is part of learning
    • Adding less, subtracting more - cutting the clutter to focus your energy
    • Becoming the conductor - making the shift from doer to strategic leader
    • Trust, adaptation, and building a team that can run without you
    • Reconnecting with your why - care and compassion at the heart of leadership
    🔗 Resources to Explore:
    • Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows – essential reading on complexity and change
    • The “Nando’s Scale” – a relatable model to gauge and warm up stakeholder relationships
    • Stakeholder mapping frameworks to identify influence beyond job titles
    • 4D Site Engagement Tool – Done, Different, Difficult, Dangerous
    • Subtraction as a strategy – why doing less can achieve more
    • Reflection questions for new leaders:
      • What am I assuming?
      • Who do I need to build trust with?
      • What does this business really need from me right now?
    💬 We'd Love Your Feedback!

    Are you in a new role or planning a big step? What resonated with you from this episode?
    Share your stories, reflections, or future questions at ask@auntytreacle.com or tag us on socials. We’d love to hear how you're getting unstuck.

    Next Episode Teaser:
    🌟 Is Safety Still For Me?

    Join us and guest Steph Camm as we explore what it means to face a career crossroad. Whether you're working in health and safety or questioning your broader professional path, this is a compassionate, clear-eyed look at how to move forward when purpose feels out of reach.
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    50 分
  • Credit Without Arrogance

    Credit Without Arrogance
    2025/05/21
    In this episode, Anna and Stuart are joined by special guest Ruth Denyer to unpack a listener’s powerful question:

    "Dear Aunty Treacle, over the last 12 months I have been working on a project to bring efficiency to the way we do safety on my site. In an ideal world, I would now see this rolled out over all our projects, but I am struggling with getting the balance right between promoting it as my idea and not wanting to come across as arrogant or like I’m craving recognition. Ultimately, I think this work could make a difference, so I want to be successful – but as a woman in a male-dominated environment, I want to make sure I don’t undersell myself. Can you give me some advice please?" Together, they get into the messy middle of visibility and humility, and why promoting your work doesn’t have to mean promoting yourself in a way that feels uncomfortable. Expect reflections on confidence, ego, gender dynamics, and how to let your work speak for you, without letting it get lost. There’s also practical advice on handling trust dynamics in organisations, building allyship, and speaking about team efforts with honesty and clarity.

    Key Topics Covered:

    • Why the ick around self-promotion is real and common
    • The difference between confidence and ego
    • How to speak about your work with integrity
    • Building visibility without losing humility
    • The power of team language: using “we” over “I”
    • Socialising your ideas through others
    • How gender and environment can shape how we show up
    • Creating a “success folder” to boost self-belief
    • Why trust and intent are the foundations of influence

    This episode also features crowdsourced advice from our community, because when it comes to sticky situations like this, there’s never just one right answer.

    Special guest: Ruth Denyer – Safety and risk leader in the creative industries, with a long track record of speaking up, sharing insight, and helping others lead with purpose and perspective.

    Want to get involved?

    Got a sticky situation you'd love us to unpack?

    Drop us a note at ask@auntytreacle.com – you might hear it featured in a future episode.

    Next Episode Teaser:

    Setting Up for Success – with Gareth Evans. What are the small things you can do early on to build confidence, credibility and momentum in a new role or challenge?

    Aunty Treacle is proudly supported by HSE Global Series – a platform committed to advancing global conversations in health, safety and environment. Learn more at HSEGlobalSeries.com
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    46 分
  • Am I enough?

    Am I enough?
    2025/04/30
    🎙️ Aunty Treacle - Episode 2: Am I Enough? Tackling Imposter Syndrome

    In this heartfelt episode, Anna, Stuart, and guest David Filshie take on a listener’s powerful question:

    "Even though I’ve been working in my profession for a while, I’m often crippled by imposter syndrome. How do I move forward?"

    Together they explore what imposter syndrome really is, why it's so common, and how it can actually signal that you care deeply about your work. They share practical tools to reflect, reframe, and take action, even when self-doubt creeps in. This conversation offers a supportive, practical path for anyone wrestling with the question: Am I enough? (Spoiler: You are.) Key Topics Covered:
    • What imposter syndrome really is and what it isn’t
    • Why feelings of "not enough" often arise when we’re visible, different, or doing something new
    • The myth of being "ready" and why confidence follows action
    • The power of reflection, feedback, and building self-awareness
    • How to find your people and create a supportive tribe
    • Strategies for navigating discomfort and reframing failure
    • How to bring your authentic self into every space, from shop floor to boardroom
    🔗 Resources and Mentions:
    • Emma Reed Turrell - Best Friend Therapy podcast – Episodes on Imposters Syndrome and Transactional Analysis
    • Jessamy Hibbard - The Imposter Cure book
    • Simple self-reflection frameworks ("What went well, what didn’t, what next?")
    • Building confidence through feedback and small wins
    💬 We'd Love Your Feedback!

    Share what resonated, what you'd like more of, and how we can keep helping people get unstuck.
    Got a story to share or a question for a future episode? Drop us a line at ask@auntytreacle.com!

    Next Episode Teaser:

    🌟 Credit Without Arrogance — how to own your achievements without losing your humility.
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    52 分
  • How do I get heard?

    How do I get heard?
    2025/04/08
    🎙️ Aunty Treacle — Episode 1: How Do I Get Heard? (Especially As an Introvert)

    Welcome to the first episode of Aunty Treacle!

    In this debut episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Zoe Hayes dive into an important listener question:

    "As an introvert, I often feel overlooked and undervalued. How can I get my voice heard?" They explore the hidden strengths of introverts, how to prepare and position yourself in meetings, and why confidence is built through action, not before it. You’ll hear practical advice on speaking up, handling interruptions, reframing your self-image, and why sometimes a quiet, powerful voice is exactly what the room needs. Whether you're introverted yourself, work alongside quieter colleagues, or want to build inclusive conversations, this episode offers a smorgasbord of strategies to help you (or others) thrive. Key Topics Covered:
    • The hidden superpowers of introverts
    • Preparation, presence, and how to "engineer" your voice into the room
    • The value (and limits) of labels like "introvert" and "extrovert"
    • How to handle being spoken over (in the moment and afterward)
    • Building influence through "warm-ups" and side conversations
    • Why small acts of bravery build long-term confidence
    • The power of observation and great questions
    • Practical tips on positioning yourself physically and digitally
    💬 Want to Get Involved?

    Got a sticky situation you need help with? Email us at ask@auntytreacle.com - we’d love to feature your question in a future episode! Next Episode Teaser:

    🌟 Am I Enough? - how to tackle imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and find your confidence.
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    59 分