What if CEOs Don't Matter? - Farley Thomas

In this episode of Work’s Not Working… Let’s Fix It!, Siân Harrington sits down with Farley Thomas, former global MD at HSBC, CEO coach and co-founder of leadership edtech firm Manageable, to flip the script on leadership.

What if the biggest lever for performance isn’t the CEO’s vision but the team manager’s next conversation?

Farley argues that while organisations obsess over strategy, status and C-suite charisma, they’re missing what really drives culture, engagement and results: everyday conversations. intentional, human dialogue.

In this refreshingly honest and practical episode Farley shares:

• Why “fetishising” top leaders blinds us to where the real action happens
• How undertrained managers quietly shape, or sabotage, engagement
• Why conversations are culture and how to make them count
• And how his five-part CLICK framework helps turn accidental managers into confident conversation leaders

Whether you’re a burned-out middle manager, a CEO wondering why change isn’t sticking or an HR leader tired of empty engagement plans this one will shift your lens and spark some powerful new thinking.

Key Takeaways

• Most performance doesn’t come from the top. It comes from how line managers lead daily conversations.
• The “fetishisation” of the C-suite is part of the problem. Status isn’t the same as influence.
• 80% of first-time managers get no training. This is not just a gap but a performance risk.
• Culture is just a series of conversations. It’s all about how people talk at work.
• The CLICK model is a simple but powerful tool: Connect, Landscape, Insight, Challenge, Key points.
• Exploration and curiosity are the missing muscles. Most managers jump to answers rather than better questions.
• Blanket mandates don’t fix hybrid work. The fix lies in team-level agency and better conversations.
• Conversations are becoming harder and more vital. In a world of Slack, AI and burnout the human touch matters more than ever.
• Packed with stories, practical tools and research-backed insights. A must-listen for people leaders at every level.

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