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Aunty Treacle

Aunty Treacle

Auteur(s): Anna Keen and Stuart Hughes
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 Feeling Stuck in Your Career or Impact Journey? Ask Aunty Treacle…





Welcome to Aunty Treacle, the go-to resource for professionals looking to make an impact in their careers. Whether you’re facing a career crossroads, navigating workplace challenges, or striving to lead with purpose, Aunty Treacle is here to help you get unstuck. By crowdsourcing advice from a diverse network of impact-driven professionals, we aim to provide you with a wealth of perspectives and ideas to help you move forward in your career and create meaningful change.

We believe there’s no single right answer. Every individual and situation is unique, and by offering multiple insights, we encourage you to explore different approaches to unlock your potential and make a difference in your work.



Copyright Anna Keen and Stuart Hughes Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • Getting Control Back When Feeling Overwhelmed

    Getting Control Back When Feeling Overwhelmed
    Sep 24 2025
    Welcome back to Aunty Treacle after the summer break!This episode tackles a universal challenge: feeling constantly overwhelmed by work coming at you at pace, feeling reactive rather than proactive, and struggling to focus on what truly matters and makes an impact.The Listener Question"Dear Aunty Treacle, I feel constantly overwhelmed as there is so much work coming at me at pace. As a result, I feel like I am constantly reacting and I don't feel like I am getting to the stuff that actually matters, makes a difference and makes an impact. Can you please help me get some control back and feel effective in my work?"Key Insights & StrategiesTake a Breath and Step BackThe Foundation: While feeling overwhelmed is normal, we must question how long we allow this to be "normal." The first step is recognizing when daily churn becomes ever-encroaching.The Balcony vs. Dance Floor Approach (Andrew Barrett's insight):Remove yourself from the situation to gain perspectiveLike a chess grandmaster observing the board rather than just making the next moveBrief pauses for reflection (alone or with colleagues) can reset clarity and prioritiesSometimes doing something isn't the solution—it can reinforce the overwhelm cyclePersonal Foundations FirstBefore tackling organizational issues, address your individual resilience:Maintain energy-giving activities: Don't stop going to the gym, reading, or other activities that help you perform"An empty vessel serves no one": Prioritize self-care to have the resilience for difficult conversationsEnergy management: Protect your energy, especially before busy seasonsSleep, exercise, nutrition: These become critical during high-demand periodsThe Art of Saying NoHell Yes or Hell No Framework (Derek Shivers):Instead of learning to say no, define what makes something a "yes"When you know your "yes" criteria, saying no becomes easier and less awkwardPowerful reframe: "If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?"Subtraction over Addition:Focus on what to stop or pause, not just what to startTest approach: Don't do something for a month—if nobody notices, it's not a priorityPausing is less confrontational than stoppingPrioritization StrategiesThe Eisenhower Matrix & Beyond:Map tasks on urgent vs. important axesFocus on high health and safety impact, low effort activities where possibleTools mentioned: PARA method, Eisenhower Matrix, Dichotomy of ControlStrategic Questioning:What's the value? Is it actually making work safer or just making us feel better?What's the intended output and impact?If it doesn't fit within your organizational strategy, question why you're doing itDon't Chase Every Email:Some things resolve themselves if left aloneCreate space between stimulus and responseUse rules to manage inbox (filter "for info" emails into folders)Managing Perfectionism"Perfect is the enemy of good": Don't let perfection get in the way of better"Done is better than perfect": Sometimes action and progress matter more than a perfect finished productExperiment, fail fast, iterate, learn, evolveAsk: "Is it good enough?" Then get it out and test itTime and Energy ManagementTime Blocking Strategies:Block thinking time in your calendar (others just see "meetings")Be proactive about organizational cadences (monthly/quarterly reporting)Block out predictable busy periods in advanceEven if you don't finish everything, you make progressAnalyze Your Time Usage:Study how you actually spend time—it's your rarest resourceLook back at tasks and assess how they help achieve long-term goalsReflect daily: How did I use my time? How did this compare to my plan?Fact vs. Story: Video camera facts vs. stories we tell ourselvesTeam and Organizational StrategiesKnow Your Team's Strengths:Map activities to people's strengths and preferencesDon't carry people or make up for deficiencies elsewhereBe honest about whether you're being given more work because you're effectiveCommunication is Key:"You can't fix a secret": If nobody knows you're overwhelmed, nothing will changeHave honest conversations with managers about capacity and prioritiesAsk for help with reframing prioritiesSample approach: "I need to prioritize X, Y, Z, so I'm suggesting changing timescales for other deliverables"Sprint vs. Marathon Approach:Sometimes work like a lion—put intense energy where it's really neededKnow when you can take your foot off the gasShort bursts of focus on specific areas can create momentumReflection and CelebrationStop and celebrate wins: Look back over 6 months and acknowledge achievementsSafety professionals are humble—don't be afraid to wave your flagCommunicate successes to stakeholdersCounter the hamster wheel: We often don't pause to see how much we've actually accomplishedCommunity Insights SummaryJason Catterson - Frameworks & Reset Moments:Use practical tools: PARA method, Eisenhower Matrix, Dichotomy of ControlDon't chase every email—sometimes things resolve themselvesStep away to reset; even a few ...
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    49 min
  • The Sticky Middle – Part 2

    The Sticky Middle – Part 2
    Aug 13 2025
    From Peer to Leader: Turning Thinking into Action

    In this follow-up to Episode 6, Anna, Stuart, and guest Oli Sanandres return to help a listener take their first steps into people leadership. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there as it lays the essential mindset groundwork. In Part 2, we move from thinking like a leader to acting like one. The listener asks:

    “Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.” Together, the team dive into the tools, habits, and conversations that make this transition work in real life.

    Key Topics Covered
    • Starting with connection and recontracting relationships
    • Setting expectations clearly and early
    • Giving and receiving feedback with care and clarity
    • Creating psychologically safe spaces for team input
    • Balancing kindness with accountability
    • Using routines and rituals that work for you
    • Managing up, down and across the system
    • Leading without being the hero or having all the answers
    • Holding reflection time to stay grounded and grow
    • Building a leadership identity that stays true to you
    Practical Tools & Tips
    • Time to Think (TTT) – schedule regular time to pause and plan
    • T-Up Play – Oli’s team expectations framework
    • Recontracting – reset team dynamics with intention
    • Yes, If – a reframing tool to support possibility and safety
    • Reflection Rituals – stack feedback and learning with something enjoyable
    • Coaching Mindset – support others to solve problems, don’t rescue them
    Reflection Prompts
    • What’s one thing I can let go of to lead better?
    • Am I empowering or heroing?
    • How am I showing up for my team and for myself?
    Resources Mentioned
    • Episode 6 – The Sticky Middle: Part 1
    • Episode 4 – Setting Up for Success with Gareth Evans
    • How to Lead with Purpose by Liam Black
    • Leadership principles and journaling practices
    We’d Love Your Feedback

    Just stepped into leadership? Got a sticky situation of your own?

    Email us at ask@auntytreacle.com or tag us on socials. Next Episode: Time, Energy & the Myth of ‘Enough’

    We tackle the leadership tension of limited time, endless demands and making space for what really matters.
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    50 min
  • The Sticky Middle – Part 1

    The Sticky Middle – Part 1
    Jul 23 2025
    The Sticky Middle – Part 1

    From Peer to Leader: Shifting Your Thinking

    In this episode, Anna, Stuart, and special guest Oli Sanandres respond to a classic sticky career moment from a listener taking their first steps into people leadership:

    “Dear Aunty Treacle, I’ve recently accepted a promotion at work that will see me move from individual contributor to line manager. This is my first step into people management, and I’m determined for it to be successful. How do I step out of my peer group and into this leadership position—without putting noses out of joint, losing friendships, and while still delivering for the organisation and the employees? Wisdom from those who’ve done this before would be appreciated.”

    Oli brings thoughtful insights from a varied career across local government, aviation, Amazon, and the military, where he went from rifleman to officer. Together, the team explore what it really takes to think like a leader before you start acting like one.

    Spoiler: This isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about stepping into a new mental model, letting go of old success markers, and learning how to lead without losing yourself.

    Key Topics Covered:
    • Why leadership is about thinking, not just doing
    • The mindset shift from personal delivery to enabling others
    • How to stay authentic (and humble) as you move from peer to leader
    • Letting go of your “hero cape” and redefining what success looks like
    • The importance of time to think and why it’s not a luxury
    • The awkward art of managing former peers (without becoming a stranger)
    • What the military taught Oli about influence, optics and staying grounded
    • Leadership as a system: managing up, down, and across
    • Paying it forward and using your role to grow others
    • Sitting in discomfort and trusting others to solve problems their way

    Resources to Explore:
    • Episode 2 – Am I Enough? – for anyone struggling with imposter feelings
    • Leadership Development Tip: Audit how you spend your time - are you thinking or just doing?
    • Reframing Question: What do I need to let go of to lead well?
    • Coaching Prompt: What kind of leader do I want to be and why?

    We’d Love Your Feedback!
    Stepping into leadership? Navigating your own sticky middle?
    Email us at ask@auntytreacle.com or tag us on socials.

    We’d love to hear what resonated and what you’re still wrestling with.

    Next Episode: The Sticky Middle – Part 2
    We’ve done the mindset shift - next, we move into action. In Episode 7, we bring Oli back to explore how to lead with clarity, care, and confidence.

    How do you set expectations, have tough conversations, and take people with you?

    Join us as we turn the thinking into doing.
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    41 min
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