Leading Through Uncertainty

#95 Gillian Bailey from Maintel on hybrid working and stabilising change

• Jude Jennison • Season 5

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Gillian Bailey is the Operations Director for Maintel, a technology organisation. We talk about the backdrop of the pandemic, as well as economic and political uncertainty and how all of these impact employees as well as business. Gillian explains how Maintel is handling hybrid working and the challenge of balancing the needs of a business with the needs of employees. We discuss the complexity of leading an organisation and developing middle managers to create business results in harmony with the physical and emotional well-being of employees.

I’m struck by the courage that it takes for a senior leader like Gillian to put a stop to certain projects in order to focus on the key priorities. Many leaders I talk to at the moment are struggling to prioritise because everything is deemed to be important. We can’t execute as fast as we can create new ideas so it takes awareness, humility and empathy to recognise when to say no and how to make sure the key priorities are aligned all the way through the organisation. Gillian’s humility in recognising that she’s not got it all perfect is refreshing. That humility opens the door for a better quality of conversation.

Where do you need to say no? What would you prioritise if you accepted that you can’t do it all? 

Topics covered:

  • Middle management
  • Hybrid working
  • Connection
  • Stabilising change
  • Prioritisation
  • Saying no 

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