Voices Unleashed

Joanne Lockwood is joined by management development specialist Helen Joy to explore why middle managers often have one of the toughest roles in an organisation: translating decisions made “above” into day-to-day reality, while also trying to feed insights and concerns back up the chain.

Together they unpack what helps managers create teams where people can thrive—especially through psychological safety, better listening, and coaching-style conversations that resist the urge to jump straight into fixing. They discuss the difference between treating people “the same” and leading fairly by tailoring support to individual needs, and the importance of clarity and communication during change.

The conversation also looks at modern working patterns and technology: hybrid work, asynchronous communication, the risks of micromanagement, and how trust and autonomy can improve motivation. Joanne and Helen reflect on self-awareness, feedback, and emotional intelligence under pressure, finishing with a call to better support and develop managers before (and as) they step into leadership roles.