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Why Managers Matter To Me

How People Managers Can Save The World

Almost ten years ago I wrote an article called ‘How People Managers Can Save the World’. Perhaps a little idealistic, but this idea has shaped my career. ​

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I thrived under a coach-style manager—progressing quickly, feeling valued and doing my best work. Then I moved into a very different organisational culture. I brought the same skills, experience and motivation but I struggled to apply them.

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I started to disengage and doubt myself. The culture I was trying to build with my new team was at odds with the wider organisation and it crushed me.

 

That experience underlined how important managers were for organisational performance. The way we are managed at work impacts everything from our innovation, our engagement, even our sense of self.​

Jade Allan, Founder Managers Matter Coaching for Managers

Jade Allan, Founder and Lead Coach

The Science of Thriving at Work
 

I left that job and went looking for answers.​ I studied Positive Psychology—the science of human thriving—to learn more about what drives happiness and performance at work. I set up Well Work Yoga to connect with more human-centred organisations, while spending the next decade leading commercial and go-to-market teams in scale-ups dedicated to improving the workplace. I then trained as an Executive Coach, focusing on behaviour change, because I wanted to go deeper on what prevents good intentions leading to action. What I didn't expect was to be completely transformed by the coaching process itself. 

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Throughout my 20-year career building, growing and leading teams, while partnering with the most forward-thinking organisations, I witnessed countless efforts to create exceptional workplace cultures. Many failed to have the impact they hoped, rarely due to a lack of intention or effort, but because the most powerful lever for change was consistently overlooked: the manager.. ​​

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I believe that when we elevate managers, we can transform organisations.​ 

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At a time when resources are stretched, change is constant and expectations have never been higher, our managers matter more than ever.

Experience and Credentials

I blend real-world leadership experience with rigorous academic training. Below are some of the organisations I've directly impacted—either through hands-on leadership roles, building and coaching teams from within, through one-to-one coaching engagements or one-to-many workshops with individual employees and leaders.

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​Academic foundations:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology, University of East London.

  • Undergraduate degree in Business and Management, Strathclyde Business School and The University of North Carolina at Greenboro.​
     

Professional training:

  • Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching, Henley Business School (triple-accredited: ICF, EMCC, AC)

  • Advanced training underway at Henley towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching for Behaviour Change.
     

Ethical practice and continuous growth:

  • Coaching aligns with EMCC global code of ethics.

  • Preparing for formal EMCC accreditation.

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