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.

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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.

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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

In this episode of Sparks, we dive into the realities of management with Emily Link and Ken Govan, both Directors at Cegos UK. From navigating bad management outside of work to finding your own management style, Emily and Ken share personal experiences, practical advice, and reflections on the ongoing journey of leadership. We discuss the evolution of a manager’s role, how to balance managing others while delivering on your own responsibilities, and how Cegos supports clients in building strong management capabilities. Whether you’re new to management or looking to refine your style, this conversation offers valuable insights you can apply straight away.--

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/

Emily Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-link-b576a246/

Ken Govan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-govan-b03a35b/

00:00 A controversial question?

00:42 Welcome to Sparks

04:14 How do we continue to grow as managers?

06:57 How can we handle bad management in an out of work context?

11:02 How can we find our management style?

16:12 Formational moment or gradual evolution?

19:07 Key advice to new managers

25:47 Balancing management responsibilities with getting our job done?

28:07 How are we helping clients in the management space?

In this episode of Sparks, we dive into the world of generative AI—what it is, how it’s changing the way we work, and what it means for the future of learning and development. From overcoming our initial fears of new tech to unlocking the true potential of great prompts, we explore practical ways Gen AI can enhance how we think, learn, and grow.Neil shares his hands-on experience, we discuss the ethics and realities of AI, and we unpack the new Cegos Whitepaper on the different AI personas—from explorers to transformers. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to dive in, this episode offers a grounded look at where Gen AI fits in and how Cegos can help you make the most of it.Discover more about how AI can empower you in our whitepaper: https://www.cegos.com/en/news-and-resources/blog-global-learning-and-development/learning-trends/the-power-of-generative-ai-in-learning-development--See what we do best:https://www.cegos.co.uk/Want to spark something with us?sparks@interactiveworkshops.comConnect with us on LinkedIn:Chris Lissaman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman/Neil Rabbetts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-rabbetts-39b386149/

00:00 We fear new technology

00:48 Welcome to Sparks

02:07 Neil’s experience

05:45 How do we get the most out of Gen AI?

06:44 What makes a good prompt?

10:16 Benefits of spending time on our prompts

13:16 The ethics of AI

17:11 How can we use Gen AI in L&D?

23:30 Is AI overhyped?

25:22 Should we fear AI?

30:01 What is your AI persona?

30:55 The explorer

33:11 The adopter

33:53 The transformer

35:03 How can Cegos help?

Are traditional classrooms failing us? In this episode of Sparks, we explore the evolving world of learning with special guest Andy Jones. From the most common asked questions to the ones we really should be asking instead, we dive into how to build comfort, confidence, and competence through more effective learning experiences.We discuss where learning interventions should start, the role of AI in education, and whether we are anywhere close to competence in its use or whether we're still very much incompetent (whether we know it or not!) Along the way, we examine AI failures, good learning design, and even unexpected lessons from HMRC.00:00 Classrooms don't work00:32 Welcome to Sparks and welcome Andy Jones02:02 What do you get asked most?08:28 What should be people asking you?11:24 Comfort, confidence, and competence15:59 What should the starting point for a learning intervention be?19:11 A.I. - are we consciously or unconsciously incompetent?22:06 A.I. fails28:50 Good learning design36:35 We can learn from HMRC!

Chris and Jonna have some big news to announce! Watch the video to find out about the history of the Interactive Workshops, how brands and branding works, why we’re so excited about the Cegos brand and what it means for the future. Read Jonna’s article to find out more: https://www.cegos.co.uk/insights/blog/team/whats-in-a-name-the-story-behind-our-cegos-rebrandSee what we do best:https://www.cegos.co.uk/Want to spark something with us?sparks@interactiveworkshops.comConnect with us on LinkedIn:Jonna Sercombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnasercombe/Chris Lissaman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislissaman/00:00 Times are changing00:27 Welcome to Sparks01:13 Big news!03:00 What is a brand?07:43 How important is a name?10:20 How do you feel about the change?14:10 Why rebrand fully?18:05 The importance of shared values19:08 What does it mean for the future? (The Big Reveal!)24:00 What's it like as the CEO of a company that’s been acquired?26:14 Change management

In this episode of Sparks, Milly and Jonna return to explore what it really takes to drive performance improvement. From effective feedback to the power of data, we break down practical strategies for leaders looking to elevate their teams. Is a skills matrix the right tool? How can leaders create a culture of growth? And is comparison really the thief of joy?--// Brought to you by Interactive Workshops x Cegoshttps://interactiveworkshops.com/podcast/// See what we do bestwww.interactiveworkshops.com// Want to spark something with us?sparks@interactiveworkshops.com// Connect with us on LinkedInJonna Sercombe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnasercombe/Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/00:00 We are concerned00:42 Welcome to Sparks02:32 Improvement is a serious business05:49 Tips for leaders who want to improve their team07:26 How to give feedback12:16 The importance of data17:38 Milly takes over!22:39 Should we use a skills matrix?28:32 Find them on LinkedIn!28:54 Did they know we were still recording?!