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 pla...

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 Cynth...

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 respe...

‘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 you...

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 th...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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&#3...

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 crisis How to sharpen your strategy and ditc...

One Thing Better: In uncertain times, be a Certainty The 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 certain...

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 favourit...

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