A Matter of Choice Launch Ground-Breaking Research into Leadership During and Post-Pandemic

National consultancy A Matter of Choice launched its ground-breaking leadership report on 8 April at a digital conference hosted by state-of-the-art provider Talking Slides.

The online event saw founders of A Matter of Choice Karen Powell and Lesley Heath unveil the powerful research that they have been undertaking throughout the course of the pandemic in a bid to capture the thought and decision-making process from senior leaders across a number of sectors.

What has Covid-19 meant for leaders? Leaders have had to get used to restrictions, juggling child and elder care, working from the kitchen table, having to make quick decisions in circumstances never experienced before, rolling out technology in a matter of weeks instead of years, and above all, making sure teams are safe and looked after. The implications for leaders in this new era have been huge.

With a combined 50 years of experience in senior HR, Safety and Exec roles in complex organisations such as Asda, Royal Mail, and railway franchises such as Merseyrail and West Midlands Trains, A Matter of Choice saw this opportunity to gain real-time insight from senior leaders during such an uncertain time.

Joining them on their research project were a number of senior leaders representing industries such as transport, support services, emergency services, healthcare and PR and marketing to name just a few. Participants captured their insights from the last 12 months, supported and guided by the team at A Matter of Choice, and this data was then analysed and used to inform a Leadership Report – the first of its kind to be produced in this current climate.

From conversations, anecdotes and interviews, Karen and Lesley were able to identify 10 key mindsets needed for leaders to thrive in times of such uncertainty. These mindsets and values have not only been able to carry leadership throughout the pandemic but will be critical when it comes to transitioning back to the workplace in this new post-covid reality.

Mindsets include:

  1. Self-awareness

  2. Vulnerability

  3. Conscious leadership

  4. Ethical leadership

  5. Growth mindset

  6. Learning mindset

  7. Opportunistic

  8. Mental toughness

  9. Optimism

  10. Can do

On April 8, to an audience of leaders from across the UK, A Matter of Choice revealed these findings for the first time with those senior leaders involved in the report talking candidly about their personal experiences, development and learnings from the current global crisis. A panel of leaders also discussed audience questions around these clear and identifiable mindsets and provided insight into how workplaces and work culture will change going forward.

To give leaders and organisations an opportunity to explore the findings of the report and these key mindsets in more detail with Karen and Lesley, A Matter of Choice have integrated this research into a series of upcoming workshops which include:

  • Understanding Self

  • Understanding our Impact on Others

  • Understanding our Strengths (for Women in the Workplace)


A Matter of Choice would like to thank the following people for their involvement and contribution into the Leadership Report and conference.

Sonya Byers, CEO at Women in Transport

Michelle Butler, COO at Spider PR and Digital

Martin Woollam, Commercial Director (Security & Events North) at Carlisle Support Services

Aoife Whycherley, Head of Supply Chain & Data Governance and Head of Food Procurement at Sodexo

John Harper, MD at Complesso

Elaine DE Klerk, Organisational Development Consultant at Avanti West Coast

Adrian White, MD (Security & Events South) at Carlisle Support Services

Helen Webb, Chief People & Services Officer at Co-op

Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute

Ian McLaren, CFO at Govia Thameslink Railway

Paul Evans, Chief Executive Officer at Carlisle Support Services

Gerald Taylor, Area Manager, Head of Response & Partnerships at Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service

Kate Goodman, MD at The Good Comms Company and Author of the Leadership Report

For more information or to purchase the Leadership Report visit www.amatterofchoice.co.uk


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