How much damage can a lack of alignment do to a workplace without anyone even realising it?

In this episode of Sparks, Milly, Jonna, and Emily get under the surface of a hidden saboteur that’s holding back countless teams — and it’s not what you think. Alignment isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a key ingredient for collaboration, creativity, and productivity.

We explore what alignment really means, who’s responsible for creating it, and how team size, roles, and responsibilities all affect it. From surprising lessons at BMW to discovering the difference between healthy and harmful challenge, we lift the lid on a workplace issue that’s often ignored.

Whether you lead a team or you’re a team member experiencing confusion first-hand, this episode is a must-listen if you want to spot, resolve, and avoid the hidden saboteur that’s slowing you down.

--

See what we do best:

https://www.cegos.co.uk/

Want to spark something with us?sparks@interactiveworkshops.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

Jonna Sercombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnasercombe/

Emily Larson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larson-emily/

00:00 Welcome to Sparks

00:37 Who’s on the podcast today?

02:38 What is alignment?

08:52 How do we get alignment?

12:20 Who’s responsible for creating alignment?

14:09 When is challenge good and for how long?

18:26 How does team size affect alignment?

20:38 Does alignment have a place amongst creative teams?23:18 Jonna’s drawing again!

26:26 Lessons from BMW

30:23 How to handle misalignment

34:18 What causes misalignment

39:50 Is it ever ok not to be aligned?

46:00 Why is L&D like a midwife?

47:30 Is there a better word for alignment?

Ever wonder how to lead without losing your warmth? In this episode of Sparks, part of our Leadership and Management mini-series, Milly talks with Rachel and Sharon about the real challenges of being a manager—especially when the lines between personal and professional start to blur. From giving tough feedback to staying friendly on the rough days, we’re diving into what it means to lead with empathy and authority.

0:00 Intro

0:21 Welcome to Sparks

3:40 How would you describe your management style?

6:04 How did you develop your style?

7:53 How do we stay friendly on a bad day?

10:31 Handling difficult conversations

16:32 Does the organisation shape your management style?

18:52 Handling challenging people

29:10 How to move on after difficult conversations

30:57 Dealing with being promoted ahead of friends

36:50 Giving feedback

41:57 One piece of advice to new managers

In this episode of Sparks, Milly, Blair, and Reuben dive into the world of management - specifically, what great management looks like from the team’s perspective. From navigating high-pressure environments to managing up, we’re flipping the script and looking at leadership through the lens of those being led. Whether you’re a manager, an aspiring one, or just trying to get the best out of your working relationships, this one’s full of honest opinions and practical insight.

--

See what we do best:

https://www.cegos.co.uk/

Want to spark something with us?

sparks@interactiveworkshops.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

Blair Wagner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairrwagner/

Reuben Fletcher-Louis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-fletcher-louis/

00:00 - When did a manager help you succeed?

00:48 - Welcome to Sparks

03:05 - How can a manager get the best out of you?

08:26 - What is over-communication?

12:38 - Communicating our strengths to our manager

15:23 - When has a manager really helped you?

18:14 - Managing upwards

23:29 - Management in high-pressure environments

26:45 - Managing as an Individual Contributor