One Thing Better

In this episode, Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker flip the usual “managing up” conversation on its head. They explore how great leaders make managing up easier, healthier and more productive - through clarity, curiosity and a little self-awareness along the way.It’s about communication that builds trust, boundaries that model balance, and leadership that feels more like partnership than power play.Claire and Siobhan are the team behind Better Strategic Consultancy - helping charities and purpose-led organisations find clarity, confidence and joy in how they lead and work.If you’re a CEO or senior leader who wants to strengthen the culture and communication around you, Claire’s leadership mentoring could help.Find out more at betterconsult.co.uk or drop them a line at [email protected]

Some of the most powerful leadership work never makes it onto a job description.It’s the quiet skill of holding space - staying grounded when the room wobbles, creating calm so others can think, and finding meaning when everything feels uncertain.In this episode, Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker from Better Strategic Consultancy unpack what it really means to hold space as a leader. From Cynthia Erivo on Strictly to boardrooms in flux, they explore how reflection, boundaries and empathy keep leaders (and teams) steady.It’s a gentle listen with a lot of truth and a reminder that leadership isn’t about holding it all, it’s about holding it well. If you’re a CEO or senior leader navigating change, Claire offers one-to-one mentoring to help you lead with humanity and keep something left in the tank.Find out more at betterconsult.co.uk.

Marketing’s evolving faster than you can say “algorithm update” (let alone spell it), but the human bit? That’s timeless.This week, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving from Better Strategic Consultancy dig into what responsible marketing really means in the AI era (and why it’s not as serious or soulless as it sounds). From hospice humour to BookBench bingo, they explore how joy, empathy and respect can turn everyday comms into something that genuinely connects.And there’s a One Thing Better challenge at the end to help you shift your own marketing mindset - and it might surprise you.Want to dive deeper? Read Siobhan’s blog (aka Should I retrain in plumbing? ) for more on joyful, human-centred marketing, or reach out via betterconsult.co.uk to chat about how Better can help your organisation find its spark.

‘Impact’ used to be what you tacked onto the end of a report - now it’s becoming the heartbeat of how organisations think and lead.In this episode, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving from Better Strategic Consultancy explore what happens when you move from proving to improving. They cover purpose-washing, people-first data, and how real impact brings clarity, connection and energy back into your work.And as it's season two there are two very special One Thing Better challenges which will help you see your own impact in a whole new light.Find out more about ⁠Better Impact⁠ - a people-first approach to understanding, showing and living your impact without drowning in data.One Thing Better - the podcast of small shifts that make a big difference.⁠www.betterconsult.co.uk⁠Contact the hosts at  - ⁠[email protected]

It's the return of One Thing Better, where Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker help you work and lead better, with more joy and purpose. Get ready for season 2, coming October 27 2025. Find out more at betterconsult.co.uk

What does leadership look like when you’re not at 100%?When caring responsibilities, grief or the juggles of life are happening behind the scenes - but the meetings, deadlines and expectations keep rolling?In this final episode of Season One, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving , the co-founders of Better Strategic Consultancy and longtime clarity companions for charity leaders, get real about the emotional weight that leaders carry.This episode shares:How to lead when you’re stretched, soul-tired, or strugglingWhat “gentle leadership” really looks likeWays to navigate honesty, boundaries, and self-compassionThis one’s for anyone trying to do good work when life is messy. Because showing up softly and imperfectly is leadership.And if you are really struggling with your mental health, please reach out to support services and take the time you need to get well. This episode is just a gentle way to try to navigate the day to day from lived experiences.Hosted by Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving, the duo behind Better Strategic Consultancy - helping charity and public sector leaders make values-led decisions that actually stick.Grab their free Clarity Guide at betterconsult.co.ukGet in touch: [email protected] for listening to Season One. The show returns in autumn 2025. Until then, here’s to doing One Thing Better. Even when life’s a lot.

You know that scene from Friends - it's the gif that keeps giffing. Ross yelling "PIVOT!" while his poor flatmates try to help him manoeuvre a sofa round a staircase it was never meant to fit...In this episode of One Thing Better, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving - the co-founders and directors of Better Strategic Consultancy and long-time chaos tamers for charity leaders - unpack that slow, sneaky slide into mission creep.That well-meant plan or project that starts pulling your purpose off-course.This episode will help youReveal the subtle signs of mission driftShare how to press pause and realignOffer some simple tool to refocus your leadership energyWhether you’re steering a whole organisation or juggling ten plates in a single role, this six minute wonder will gently guide you back to some clarity.Hosted by Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving – the duo behind Better Strategic Consultancy. They help charity and public sector leaders make values-led decisions that actually stick.Grab their free Clarity Guide at ⁠betterconsult.co.uk⁠Get in touch - [email protected] - the blog - https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/pivot-when-your-plans-mistakenly-start-dragging-your-mission-down-the-stairs

Every charity leader knows the moment. When there’s no perfect option. When everything feels high stakes. When your values are pulling one way and your resources another.In this episode of One Thing Better, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving - co-founders of Better Strategic Consultancy - explore what it means to lead through uncertainty without losing your mission, your team, or yourself.They share practical tools and hard-won wisdom from years supporting third sector leaders navigating strategic change, restructures, and the real human cost of big decisions. This episode's a warm companion for anyone grappling with difficult choices, and trying to do right by the people they serve.For charity and purpose-led leaders who want to lead with clarity, even when it’s messy.Want more? Work with Better, grab a free call with the team at www.betterconsult.co.uk/contactRead the blogs that inspired this episode https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/decision-making-in-times-of-challengehttps://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/tough-decision-made-so-what-s-nextAnd if you're after a guide to help you find strategic clarity - www.betterconsult.co.uk/clarity-guide

It might sound counterintuitive, but creativity doesn’t thrive on risk - it thrives on safety. Specifically, psychological safety.In this episode, Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker unpack how creating a safe culture at work is one of the most powerful ways to spark innovation. From the unseen impact of people holding back ideas, to the leadership habits that invite brave thinking, this episode is a call to make safety a key part of your strategy.Claire and Siobhan are strategy, leadership and facilitation experts, and co-founders of Better Strategic Consultancy. Through their podcast, workshops and creative ideas sessions, they help purpose-led organisations cut through the noise and lead with clarity and confidence.💡 Download Better’s free Clarity Guide or book a spark-bringing ideas session at:www.betterconsult.co.uk/clarity-guideAnd check out Siobhan's companion blog about safety for creativity

Using power to lead with purpose - not pressure...Power in leadership can be thrilling - but it can also be heavy. Especially when you're trying to do good work, make brave decisions, and carry a team with you.In this episode of One thing Better, Claire and Siobhan unpack what power feels like when you're the one holding it - and how to stop it turning into people-pleasing, performance masks, or decision dread.They explore six types of power at play and how to use these more purposefully, with clarity and confidence.One thing Better is hosted by Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker - strategy, leadership and facilitation experts, and the duo behind Better Strategic Consultancy. They help charities cut through the noise, align their people, and lead with heart.Whether you're a CEO, a senior manager, or someone stepping into more influence - this one's for you.Content warning - this episode references soggy bottomsLinks:Read the blog: The thrill and risk of powerGet our free Clarity Guide

Leadership can be brilliant. But it can also be… bone-achingly lonely.In this episode, Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker from charity specialists Better Strategic Consultancy talk about the secret solitude that so many CEOs and leaders whisper about - and why one brave, kind connection could be your not-so-secret superpower.Claire shares her own insight from her time as a charity CEO and there's practical ideas and the regular One Thing Better challenge to get your moving in the right direciton.If you’re nodding along (or blinking back tears), whether you're leading a huge organisation or a small team, download our free strategy clarity guide and help reconnect with what matters most to you betterconsult.co.uk/clarity-guideFor more of Claire's brilliant insights into the CEO role in charities, check out her blog https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/the-secret-loneliness-of-leading-as-a-ceo-and-ways-to-make-it-betterAnd remember - strong doesn’t have to mean solitary.

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant fire-fighting of leading a charity or team? Then this episode is for you. Siobhan and Claire break down 5 steps to get your strategic clarity back on track - helping you reconnect with your purpose, refocus your plans, and move forward with confidence. Here’s what we cover:Why clarity is your rocket fuel in times of crisisHow to sharpen your strategy and ditch the fogPractical steps to turn big priorities into real actionDownload your free guide, “5 Steps to Strategic Clarity for Charity Leaders” -  www.betterconsult.co.uk/clarity-guideIt's the ideal companion to the episode and has everything you need to take confident next steps.Tune in now and start getting clear.

One Thing Better: In uncertain times, be a CertaintyThe world’s a bit of a shaken snow globe in a tumble dryer right now - and when everything feels uncertain, your team doesn’t need perfection. They need you - steady, clear, and values-led.In this episode of One Thing Better, Siobhan and Claire explore how to show up with clarity and calm even when chaos is swirling. Because being a certainty doesn’t mean having all the answers, it means being someone your team can count on.You’ll learn:Why pausing is your secret weaponWhat "being a certainty" actually looks like in actionThree powerful ways to lead with presence, not panicTune in now and bring a little calm to the chaos. And if you've left your headphones at home, have a read of the companion blog: https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/do-one-thing-better-leading-through-volatile-times

Join Better Strategic Consultancy’s co-founders, Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving (and a chorus of delightfully chattering birds) as they explore why joy isn’t just a nice-to-have but rather an essential for work improving how we manage, lead and support our teams.Find a companion blog exploring some of the themes in this episode here Don't forget to like, follow, share and tell your favourites - and try to do one thing better this week.

One Thing Better is coming soon. Strategic sparks for people doing good work, better.And it turns out the name was in front of us all along...f35pG5fiJNc7PAbiEnbQ