Shows
Work UnpluggedTrust, Psychological Safety and Values - What's Missing?Organisations work hard to create inclusive environments, where people feel they can express and be themselves. Trust is more important now with so many people working from home, yet managers still walk a tightrope with trust. Then we have all the work organisations do on Values - identifying the right ones, making sure people understand them, and then articulating the behaviours that truly express them for the organisation. Despite all this work, why do scandals such as the Dr who sexually harassed his junior colleagues, or the McDonald's managers who abused their employees, some as young as 17...
2026-02-2411 minWork UnpluggedThe Painful Truth - Is Your Workplace Toxic?Why do people continue to work in toxic environments? Rational, bright and sane individuals endure the daily grind of subjecting themselves to toxic environments, but why? Many people have heard of the 996 culture in tech - 9 am to 9pm, six days a week. These people are celebrated, and we're told they love working the hours, as they love being in states of 'flow'. When you ask those people who hate their work, some will tell you that it's great. They can't seem to face into the fact that their workplace might be toxic, leading to cognitive dissonance...
2026-02-1013 minWork UnpluggedSelf Sabotaging Your Organisation's Growth?This year proves to be anther challenging year. Our teams are expected to do more with less. Geopolitical tensions mean the old maps we relied on to navigate this complex world, have been torn up, leaving us trying to understand where we go from here. We desperately want to drive greater innovation and creativity but cannot seem to get off first base. Could we be unintentionally be holding ourselves back? Rather than looking externally for a magic solution, could the answer to greater performance and productivity be right under own noses? Join Amrit for this week's podcast...
2026-01-2711 minWork UnpluggedA Second look - Authentic Leadership with David HynamAs many of you will have seen, we've been going through our back catalogue of guests, from our previous podcast series. Since then, we've rebranded, and some of our listeners, may never have heard the amazing guests we've had on our podcast.This week, we've decided to save the best. This podcast was the most listened to podcast of all the 100+ episodes we recorded. It has consistently been downloaded hundred of times since. David Hynam at the time of recording this podcast was in charge of Bupa Care Services. He has since gone on to...
2025-12-1733 minWork UnpluggedA Second Look: David Marquet on Transforming a Command CultureL. David Marquet, a US Navy submarine captain, takes command of the USS Santa Fe, the worst-performing sub in the fleet. He’s trained for a different submarine class, so he doesn’t know this sub well. Early on, he gives an order that literally cannot be carried out (because that control doesn’t exist on this type of sub). The officer repeats the order anyway. Marquet realises the problem isn’t “bad people” but a leader–follower culture where everyone is trained to obey, not think. His experience led to his book 'Turn the Ship Around'. This episode i...
2025-12-0138 minWork UnpluggedThe Neuroscience of TrustBack in the middle of lockdown, we had the opportunity to interview Paul Zak, one of the most cited scientists in the world. If you've ever undertaken any leadership development with ourselves, then you will have heard us speaking of the amazing research by Paul Zak and his team into Oxytocin and trust. Trust is, and will always be the foundation of an engaging workplace, and the critical ingredient for stronger relationships. So, since this podcast was first recorded when we were called 'The Engagement Coach', we thought it would be a great idea to bring this...
2025-11-1739 minWork UnpluggedThe Cost of SilenceHow many regular meetings are held across your organisation that are a complete waste of time? What routines are expected of most people but they are a complete nonsense, but everyone does them anyway? There are many practices that go on across organisations that add little value, and in fact probably do more harm, but no one calls them out. Self-silencing has an impact on the organisation, where people don't feel they can call out the 'emperor has no clothes on', but also on the individuals, who cannot express their true feelings.What makes people go quiet...
2025-10-2712 minWork UnpluggedThe Pursuit of a Happier WorkplaceWhen was the last time you heard someone described their workplace as 'happy'? Some people might even question whether we want happiness in the workplace, as they might see happiness as representing frivolity, poor productivity and poor performance. Others might argue that when people are happy, they might do their best work. Happiness could also be labelled as being 'satisfied', and when people are satisfied, are they likely to have the motivation to do more?Happiness it seems is complex. There is no doubt though, that the pursuit of happiness, is what every human being is after...
2025-10-1310 minWork UnpluggedSmall Acts, Strong Bonds - Developing Meaningful Relationships at WorkHow comfortable are you in developing meaningful relationships at work? Do you see people with the gift of charisma and charm, work their magic with people around them, only to reinforce the point that you struggle to connect with people? Building connections with people isn't always easy, especially in new environments, where you're meeting people for the first time. But there are steps you can follow that will help those you interact with, feel good, and walk away delighted they interacted with you. Join Amrit in this week's podcast where he explores how small, simple acts, can create strong...
2025-09-2911 minWork UnpluggedYour Hidden Gems of InnovationWho are the drivers of innovation across your organisation? Is it your leadership team? Maybe it's your board of Directors? What if you're focusing in the wrong area? Across our organisations, we have so many talented people, who work tirelessly to drive the best performance. Many of them are probably unknown to senior leaders. Nameless and faceless, they continue to do their best. What if one of them has the answer to the successful future of your organisation?Often we listen to those who have the loudest voices. But the quietest voices may be the ones you...
2025-09-1511 minWork UnpluggedThe AI Brain Drain - Are We Losing Our Edge When the Machines Take Over?How much AI do you use in your life currently? You may be surprised at how much AI is already pervading our lives. The impact? Well, it's definitely making us more productive. But there is another side effect that we didn't see coming. AI was meant to remove the noise allowing us to focus on the things that really mattered so we could solve complex problems. With recent research article pointing to a very different outcome, do we need to rethink how we use AI? Join Amrit for this week's episode of 'Work Unplugged', focusing on The AI Brain...
2025-09-0110 minWork UnpluggedFrom Managers to Mobilisers - Reimaging Leadership for a Supportive WorkplaceHow many of us really need 'managing' at work? Whilst some managers are amazing, others can make work a difficult place to be. What role does the manager play in the current climate, where long-term strategies seem non-existent, resulting in senior leaders getting more involved in tactical planning. Quite often managers become regulated to being compliance officers, ensuring tasks are complete, and results are achieved.What if there was a better way? What if Managers became Facilitators? What impact could that have on learning, productivity and communication across the organisation? Join Amrit in this this week's podcast...
2025-08-1811 minWork UnpluggedDo Toxic Cultures Have Better Performance?With so much attention on creating better organisational cultures, are we all missing the reality, that some toxic organisations are successful? Is it really critical to have a great workplace culture as a prerequisite to be successful? Join Amrit in this week's podcast as he explores this topic. He uses Amazon as a case study to understand what's driven their performance, and what impact their culture is having on them. Do toxic cultures have better performance? Join us to find out!
2025-08-0413 minWork UnpluggedThe Outlier Advantage - Why Convention is Killing CreativityHow often do leaders across your organisation accept dissenting views? Are we after original thoughts and thinking, or would we prefer compliance? Outliers, mavericks and those on the fringes of thought, are often frowned upon, and even dismissed. We lean towards convention rather than fringe. But what if the very people you hesitate to embrace, could bring the rebel advantage to your organisation? What if they are the key to unlock your organisations potential?How welcoming are we to differing views? Are you someone who thinks differently to others, and how does it feel trying...
2025-07-2112 minWork UnpluggedThe Joy Deficit - How Workplace Pressures Erode ConnectionIt seems more and more organisations are under increasing pressures to achieve seemingly unachievable targets and results. Words such as 'relentless' being used to describe work, tells you how people feel. How can anyone feel joy under such pressures? And without moments of joy, how can employees ever experience happiness in the workplace?CEOs and senior leaders need to drive results, but is there a fine balance to be achieved here, or will employees always complain about higher budgets, whilst seemingly efficient ways of working drives ever decreasing resources?Joy is important, and so is...
2025-07-0712 minWork UnpluggedFrom Clock-in to Buy-inEvery organisation says it listens to its employees. Every organisation says improving engagement is important. Yet, if it's so important, then why aren't we seeing improvements in performance and productivity - why isn't it happening? Is engagement the best measure? What would happen if people began to feel a real sense of ownership to the organisations they work with. Ownership seems a more stable measure than engagement - let's face it, we're less likely to feel transient ownership unlike engagement!Join Amrit for this week's podcast topic where we explore how we move from a...
2025-06-1614 minWork UnpluggedIs Politics Killing Your Culture?It might seem that politics is an inextricable part of the world of work, such is the prevalence of it., across so many organisations, in almost every sector. Politics undermines the very structures set up across organisations, leaving individuals to drive personal agendas for personal gains. We cannot stop human nature from yearning for more, but we can stop that behaviour from become a cancer, slowly killing our organisations from within. Hard working, dedicated and committed employees can quickly become demoralised leading to a drain in talent. so addressing politics is a critical component to improve the...
2025-06-0215 minWork UnpluggedReverse Elevation - Empowering Emerging Leaders to Elevate their ManagersHow many development programmes lead to change across your organisation? Whilst many programmes are looking to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours across a specific level, one question that gets raised consistently by those being developed: "Have our managers been through this?". There seems to be a view that once leaders achieve a certain level/ status, they don't need to experience the same programme their teams are being put on, leading to a skills gap between managers and their teams. And then there's other gap - the gap between what people on development programmes are...
2025-05-1214 minWork UnpluggedRe-engaging the DisengagedHow many people are disengaged across your organisation? Engagement surveys often provide a break down of those who are engaged and disengaged. The focus inevitably goes to those in the middle - those in the 'neutral zone' who have responded with 'I neither agree nor disagree', because they are seen as being the easiest to move to across to the positive side. What then do we do with those who are disengaged? Typically, organisations write them off, seen as internal saboteurs, who have no positive intention for their organisations. Rather than writing them off, how can we...
2025-04-2816 minWork UnpluggedPotentialising PeopleYes, 'Potentialising' is not a verb but it seems like this should be a word to describe the actions of developing the potential within others! With talent being such an important concern for many organisations, one has to question whether we're making the most of the talent currently within our organisations.With so many people having non-linear career paths, it just goes to show the transferable skills many of us have to apply to many different roles. How much focus are leaders and managers bringing to not just identifying potential in those in their teams...
2025-04-1415 minWork UnpluggedForgotten WisdomAs a former Pharmacist, I've always been fascinated with how many new drugs are being developed from nature - herbs and plants, many benefits of which were known about anecdotally by people, but science is now catching up. There seems to be this 'forgotten wisdom' that humanity has which is now being rediscovered. How much 'forgotten wisdom' is present across our organisations that could add so much value, but is being lost? Older employees are often left questioning their value in a world they might be becoming more detached from - a world of AI, exponentially changing...
2025-03-3112 minWork UnpluggedTechnology and Human Centric WorkplacesWhen senior leaders think of AI, it's possible their immediate thoughts are driving efficiencies by embracing AI and reducing head-count. After all, it's all we seem to hear - 'AI is after your jobs!'. But is this the only way? How much AI are senior leaders across organisations embracing? How much AI adoption is going on amongst employees outside of work. to improve their efficiencies at work?AI is here to stay and it's important that organisations adopt AI strategies to ensure they make the most of the efficiencies it provides. Join...
2025-03-1714 minWork UnpluggedEvolve or Get Left BehindThe world is literally changing in front of our eyes, with everything we knew of our geopolitical landscape being turned on its head. Organisations are rightly focused on developing strategies to navigate this increasingly uncertain world. We know organisations need to change to the changing environment. But how much do we as employees consider the need for change? How much have you changed the way you work over the last year? We wait for organisations to drive change, but we don't often look at ourselves to ask whether we are still current and relevant. Join Amrit for episode 2 looking...
2025-03-0312 minWork UnpluggedPower and InfluenceWhy do some people behave differently when they get into positions of power? Is power only governed by those in authority, or can anyone in any position have power? And then how do we use that power? Is it used for the greater good, or to propel individual ambitions? These are the questions we explore in our new podcast 'Work Unplugged' from the &Evolve team!
2025-02-0914 min
Mind, Body, Work PodcastThe Appreciation Equation: Why Valuing Employees is KeyIn this episode of the Mind, Body, Work podcast, host Joanne Swann is joined by Dr. Alexandra Dobra-Kiel, Innovation and Strategy Director at Behave, and Amrit Sandhar, CEO of &Evolve. Together they discuss the psychological advantages of expressing gratitude in the workplace and share effective strategies for employee appreciation. This discussion comes just in time for Employee Appreciation Day on March 1st. Guest 1: Dr Alexandra Dobra-Kiel, Innovation and Strategy Director at Behave Dr. Alexandra Dobra-Kiel is an Innovation & Strategy Director at Behave, specialising in combining corporate strategy and behavioural science. Alexandra holds an award-winning PhD...
2024-02-1236 min
Engaging People, Powering Companies - The Leadership PodcastEpisode 55: The Lionesses Bring it Home - Implications for Women in LeadershipWhere were you when it happened? Will it be etched in your memory? The Lionesses brought football home with an amazing win over Germany to win the Euros 2022. Will this be the defining moment when we start to take women seriously in our society? Will we now open our leadership roles and boardrooms up to women? This has to be a watershed moment that we use to change this mans world that's been holding women back, to propel them to greatness. The topic of this week's podcast with Amrit Sandhar
2022-08-0110 min
Engaging People, Powering Companies - The Leadership PodcastEpisode 54: Creating Moments of Joy at WorkHow often do you create moments of joy at work? You might think this a strange question, after all, could anyone create moments of joy at work? There are times when we manage to immerse ourselves in great work, where we lose track of time, are absorbed in such pleasure, but these moments tend to happen by accident rather than by design. What would work look like if we were to design these moments into our working day? This is the topic of this week's podcast with Amrit Sandhar
2022-07-2510 min
Engaging People, Powering Companies - The Leadership PodcastEpisode 51: Time Management and ProductivityThe UK is about to embark upon an experiment to understand the impact of a four-day working week on business productivity, as well as on the wellbeing of employees. Why has the UK historically had such low productivity versus the rest of the G7 countries? Is there a risk that we are just really poor with time management, in which case could a four-day working week cause more damage than good? We complain about the number of meetings, but are these secretly serving a purpose of procrastination? This is the topic of this week's podcast with Amrit Sandhar
2022-07-0411 min
Engagement ExpressAmrit Sandhar - The Engagement CoachAmrit Sandhar shares his experience in connects with people, and provide mentors and coaches business leaders.Amrit is the CEO and Founder of The Engagement Coach https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrit-sandhar-21913816/https://www.theengagementcoach.co.uk/aboutSponsored by Blink - Use link: https://bit.ly/3DR1J2jCreate trust and dialogue between frontline workers and executive teams in real-time, with one simple mobile app.Connect with Kate Isicheihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kateisichei/https://www.wheretolookcomms.co.uk
2022-01-2432 min
Engaging People, Powering Companies - The Leadership PodcastEpisode 32: Taking Time out to RestWhilst the dictionary definition of rest is to stop doing a certain activity to relax and get back your strength, it's not so easy to stop the mental activity. The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond shares insights from 18000 participants in a survey, from 135 countries who share what helps them rest. She then supplements this with scientific evidence of how these activities help. Resting requires thought and planning. Knowing what helps you rest and building this into our working week, allows us to relax and recharge. Having been back at work after the Christmas and New Year b...
2022-01-0512 min
Power of the ParentAmrit Sandhar - The Engagement CoachWhat a catch up!
Amrit Sandhar is the founder and CEO of The Engagement Coach where the team is all about developing (and challenging) cultures, leaders and colleagues. As well as being a parent, Amrit is one of the most empathetic and compassionate people I've ever met, he's also a data lover and engagement specialist. Amrit is also a qualified pharmacist.
His advice to me in the early days of Power of the Parent was to 'hold your nerve' and we explored how this has come full circle for him too. We talked about navigating the last 18 mo...
2021-11-0228 min
ReThink Productivity PodcastCan we keep up with the change?Send a textAmrit Sandhar, Founder/ CEO of The Engagement Coach shares his thoughts with Simon on how we can keep up with the pace of change, and how leaders need to adapt their style to get the best from their teams #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn
2020-08-2432 min
The TJ Podcast#TJtalks: Amrit Sandhar on employer engagementJon talks to The Engagement Coach founder Amrit Sandhar about employer engagement. Yes, employER engagement.
Find out more about his work here: https://www.theengagementcoach.co.uk/
2020-03-1110 min