Truth, Lies and Work

What do you do when a brilliant, Oxford- or Cambridge-educated graduate walks into your office, chronically late, completely uncommitted to the business, but undeniably sharp? If you’re Mike Harle, you don’t fire them—you tell them to follow their heart and join the circus.

This week, we sit down for an exclusive, world-first public interview with Mike Harle, the former UK Chief Marketing Officer of Shell. In a legendary two-minute conversation around the year 2000, Mike looked past the corporate KPI metrics of a young, nervous junior executive named Jimmy Carr and gave him the ultimate piece of career advice: Do give up your day job.

In this episode, Mike shares the fascinating backstory behind one of comedy’s most famous career pivots, why he turned down an exclusive UK deal with a struggling new startup called Red Bull, and what it truly means to manage potential over performance.

🎧 What We Cover in This Episode:


The "Event" That Changed British Comedy: The real story behind Mike's office chat with a 24-year-old Jimmy Carr, who was torn between a high-octane job offer at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and performing stand-up in local pubs.


The Fine Line Between Managing and Leading: Why management is about resources and objectives, but true leadership is about helping people find deep, individual meaning in their work.


Managing Vulnerability and Breaking Corporate Boundaries: How personal tragedy and a shared love for the entertainment world fostered an unconventional mentorship between a top-tier CMO and a junior exec.


Saying Yes to Jimmy, Saying No to Red Bull: Mike openly shares his corporate "bad decision"—turning down exclusive UK distribution rights for Red Bull back when the energy drink category didn't even exist.


Life Beyond the Corner Office: Mike's incredible pivot from Shell executive to serving as a Church of England priest for 10 years, supporting asylum seekers, and starting a fresh career lecturing in the Czech Republic.

"If you can't take a chance at 24 or 25 on your future, you're sunk. My job wasn't just to manage a pipeline; it was to do the best by a human being." — Mike Harle

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠
– Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠
– Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠
Global helplines: ⁠https://findahelpline.com⁠

Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.

In this episode of This Week in Work, Al is joined by guest co-host Dr Jake Tuber as they dig into a landmark report on youth unemployment, a blockbuster NYT piece on remote work and loneliness, and whether you should ever trust your gut over the data.

Connect with Dr Jake Tuber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaketuber

Subscribe to his newsletter: https://workwise.substack.com

📰 The News Round-Up

One Million Young People Locked Out of Work — The UK's NEET Crisis
A major government-commissioned report from former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn lays bare a structural failure in the UK's approach to youth employment. Around one million 16–24 year-olds are currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) — roughly one in eight — and that figure could hit 1.25 million by the early 2030s. Perhaps most striking: six in ten young NEETs have never held a single job, up from four in ten twenty years ago. The report also reveals that for every £25 spent on benefits for young people, just £1 is spent helping them back into work.

Read the Milburn report coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/28/a-record-of-failure-whats-in-the-first-part-of-alan-milburns-neet-report

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/27/neets-could-hit-125m-by-early-2030s-milburn-review-young-people-employment-uk

Is Remote Work Making Us Lonelier? A NYT Deep Dive
A new study published in Science tracked workers in remote-eligible roles — finance, software engineering and the like — and found they're working from home three times more than five years ago, and reporting significantly higher loneliness. But Stanford remote work researcher Nick Bloom urges caution: does remote work cause distress, or do people already under stress seek out remote work to cope? Dr Jake unpacks why the headline conclusions may be overstated.

Read the NYT piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/remote-work-depression.html

Read the original study: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aec7671

🧠 Truth or Lie: Is Gut Instinct Better Than Data?

Dr Jake takes on one of the oldest debates in decision-making — and delivers a verdict with a twist.


The case for data: Decades of research, including a seminal 1954 study by Meehl and two major meta-analyses (Grove et al., 2000; Ægisdóttir et al., 2006), consistently show that analytical, statistical approaches outperform gut instinct on important decisions.


The case for gut: When someone is a genuine expert in a stable, predictable environment with good feedback loops, intuition can reflect deep tacit knowledge — not guesswork.


The verdict: It's a false binary. Your gut is partly made of data — years of pattern recognition your brain has processed unconsciously. The best decisions let intuition generate hypotheses and evidence test them.

🏥 The Workplace Surgery


"My star player has become my biggest headache" — A brilliant employee has started missing deadlines, pushing back on everything, and dismissing feedback. She says she's been carrying the team for years. Do you owe her more patience, or have you already been too patient?


"Why does returning to work feel harder than the work itself?" — Every time this listener takes time off, re-entry feels brutal — even though they actually enjoy their job. Is this psychological, or just a "them" problem?


"Why is my team working hours I never asked for?" — Fully flexible, no core hours, work gets done. So why are people sending emails at 7am and Slack messages on weekends — and should their manager be more worried than they are?

🎙️ Coming Thursday

We're joined by Mike Harle — the man who told Jimmy Carr to quit his corporate job and pursue comedy. He managed Jimmy at Shell, had the conversation that changed everything, and has some brilliant management stories to share. Don't miss it.

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠
– Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠
– Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠
Global helplines
⁠https://findahelpline.com⁠

Most of us have sat through an inclusion training program that didn't change much—maybe a workshop, a follow-up email, and then it's back to normal. But what happens when an organization moves past the standard checkboxes and actually puts Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to work?

In this special LinkedIn Live episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we dive deep into the framework of CQ—an evidence-based, academically validated skill that measures your ability to relate to and work effectively alongside people from different cultural backgrounds.

We look at a remarkable real-world case study at Barts Health NHS Trust. By training thousands of staff members across their workforce, they achieved measurable improvements in staff engagement, team dynamics, and patient care in one of the most pressurized environments imaginable. Following the structural approach seen in our Show notes example, this episode breaks down how leaders of any size organization can use CQ to reduce toxic conflict, improve retention, and build a workplace where everyone belongs.

🔥 Key Takeaways From This Episode


What CQ Actually Is (and Isn't): Cultural Intelligence is not a rigid rulebook on how to behave, nor is it just basic cultural awareness. It is a distinct, measurable capability divided into four core pillars: Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, and Action.


The 10 Behavioral Preferences: Workplace misunderstandings often stem from deep-seated preferences rather than malice. We explore dimensions like expressive vs. non-expressive communication styles and how mapping these helps teams collaborate seamlessly.


The Real Cost of Poor Culture: High employee turnover, costly legal tribunals, and skyrocketing absenteeism aren't just HR headaches—they are massive financial drains. From tribunal payouts to bank and agency staff costs, investing in culture is always the more cost-effective option.


Baking CQ into the Employee Lifecycle: To prevent training momentum from fading into the background, leaders must systematically embed it into operational processes—from recruitment checklists to pre-disciplinary reviews.


The Hybrid & AI Twist: Why distributed hybrid environments and the rise of cognitive offloading to AI make human-to-human cultural intelligence more critical today than ever before.

👥 Meet Our Guests

Polly Collingridge

Polly is the UK General Manager at the Cultural Intelligence Centre. As a CQ-certified facilitator with a rich background in global mobility, intercultural training, and employee well-being, she has been partnering with organizations since 2022 to build sustainable, long-term cultural frameworks.


Connect with Polly on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pollycollingridge

Cultural Intelligence Centre UK LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/cultural-intelligence-centre-uk⁠

Bernadette Thompson OBE

Bernadette is the Director of People and Culture at North Middlesex University Hospital and Community Services, and an associate facilitator at the Cultural Intelligence Centre. She spearheaded the operational rollout of CQ at Barts Health and has spent her award-winning career figuring out exactly what it takes to make people truly belong at work.


Bernadette Thompson OBE Website: bernadettethompsonobe.co.uk


Bernadette Thompson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bernadettethompson



📬 Connect with Al & Leanne

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support

UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com

🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Why Are Middle Managers Being Set Up to Fail? (And How to Fix It) with Kristien Turner

Are middle managers facing an absolute existential crisis? According to today’s guest, the answer is a resounding, 100% yes.

In this episode of Truth, Lies and Work, Al and Leanne sit down with Kristien Turner, founder and CEO of TK Talent Group, who works with global brands across the Americas and Europe to solve the modern talent crisis. Together, they pull back the curtain on why middle managers are drowning under the weight of AI disruption, corporate layoffs, and a severe lack of actual leadership training.

If you are a middle manager who feels like they are drowning, or an executive wondering why engagement numbers are plummeting, this episode offers a raw, practical roadmap to reclaiming control of your career and leadership strategy.

🔥 Key Takeaways From This Episode


The "Sally" Problem: Companies consistently reward top-performing individual contributors by promoting them into management without giving them a toolkit, a coach, or proper support mechanisms.


The AI Illusion: Many organizations are cutting headcount assuming AI can fully replace human roles, failing to realize that technology cannot navigate tricky performance reviews, handle workforce drama, or look a struggling employee in the eye.


The 8x8 Structural Trap: Middle managers are stuck acting as an emotional buffer for massive teams (sometimes up to 64 people deep) while running on an empty battery themselves.


The Gen Z Shift: A massive shift is occurring where younger generations do not aspire to traditional corporate management roles and prefer gig or portfolio careers, paving the way for a severe leadership skills gap by 2030.


The Power of Volunteering: How stepping outside your day job to give back can radically boost your mental health, redefine your core purpose, and expand your executive network.

🎒 Your 3-Step "Kit Bag" Strategy to Protect Your Career

If you’re a manager struggling to stay afloat right now, Kristien outlines three immediate actions you must take this week:


Have the Honest Conversation: Be vulnerable with your senior leader. Show them what is broken, present the data on why it isn't working, and ask for support. Give your organization one last chance to show up for you.


Stop Trying to Be Everyone's Everything: You are not a workplace therapist, a buffer, or a corporate savior. Share the load by implementing peer mentoring programs and opening up communication access to the senior leadership layer above you.


Build Your Kit Bag Now: Don't wait for a corporate restructuring call. Keep your CV polished, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and get out to in-person networking events to build real-world connections.

🔗 Connect with Kristien Turner & TK Talent Group


Website: https://tktalentgroup.com/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristienturner/

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne

– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🧠 Mental Health Support

UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com

🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome to Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.

In this episode of This Week in Work, Al and Leanne dive into a massive career longevity study, a leaked corporate memo from Microsoft, the sudden collapse of a 50-year-old hiring ritual, and the surprising psychological impact of the "good old days."

📰 The News Round-Up

The Rise of "Stalling Out" in Mid-CareerInside

New research from the Burning Glass Institute and NYU reveals a hidden crisis: stalling out. This happens when a professional goes five or more years without a meaningful promotion and experiences little to no wage growth. The study analyzed over 1.3 million career histories and found that nearly 1 in 4 mid-career professionals (24.2%) are completely stuck.


Read the full study in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/white-collar-workers-career-nyu-study-a81a7d9c

Microsoft’s Leaked Employee Engagement Survey

Thanks to an internal memo leaked to Business Insider, we get a rare sneak peek into employee sentiment at Microsoft. While their overall "Thriving" score hit a healthy 79%, critical management metrics took a significant hit. The score for managers coaching employees fell five points to 76%, and giving clear feedback fell four points to 79%.


Read the leaked memo details on Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-surveys-employees-sentiment-memo-2026-6

The Death of the Technical Interview

For 35 years, tech giants like Google and Amazon have relied on grueling, whiteboard-based technical interviews. Now, Steve Yegge—the legendary senior engineer who helped build these systems—declares them completely broken. Internal data showed interview scores had almost zero correlation with actual on-the-job performance.

🧠 Truth or Lie: Can Nostalgia Make Teams Stronger?

Is looking back holding your company back, or is it a secret leadership superpower? Leanne puts "organisational nostalgia" under the psychological microscope.


The Case For: Peer-reviewed research from 2024 tracking over 3,800 employees found that during massive organizational change, employees who felt higher workplace nostalgia became better colleagues.


The Case Against: When nostalgia occurs naturally during the workday, it can make employees distracted, reduce daily task performance, and trigger lower daily well-being.


The Verdict: It's a conditional truth. Nostalgia is a powerful tool for resilience during major organisational shakeups, but leaders must use it intentionally.

🏥 The Workplace Surgery


Question 1 (Introverted Recognition): Most of my team are introverted. If I praise them publicly, they look like they want the ground to swallow them up. How do you make people feel valued without making it awkward?


Question 2 (Financial Anxiety): I get the feeling my team are carrying a lot of anxiety about the economy and layoffs. Should managers acknowledge that sort of thing, or is it better not to open a conversation you can't really solve?


Question 3 (Handling Unpopular Corporate Mandates): Our company has just mandated more days in the office and my team are not happy. How do you handle that as a manager when you end up being the face of a decision you had no say in?

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com