Our monthly Lunch and Learns are informal, one-hour sessions designed for team leaders and managers who want practical ideas they can apply straight away. Held on the last Tuesday of each month, they bring together people from different organisations to share challenges, compare approaches and learn from each other’s experiences in a relaxed, open conversation.
On 29 September, we welcomed John Walters from Atos to host one of our Leadership Lunch & Learn events.
John shared valuable insights from his own career, reflecting on the challenges of leading when others around him have greater technical expertise. This sparked a great discussion about how leaders can add value without always being the person providing the answers.
Together, we explored how effective leaders create the conditions for success by empowering their teams to find solutions for themselves. Key themes included building trust, asking powerful questions, and taking the time to truly listen.
Participants worked hard throughout the session, reflecting on their own experiences and debating the advantages and challenges of different leadership approaches. One of the highlights was seeing people with very different levels of leadership experience actively sharing their views. Whether drawing on years of experience or exploring these ideas for the first time, every contribution added value to the discussion and learning for the group.
Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed. The success of these events comes from the willingness of participants to share their ideas, experiences, and perspectives, creating an engaging and interactive learning environment.
CforLP’s free monthly Leadership Lunch & Learn sessions are open to anyone interested in developing their leadership and management skills. The events take place on the last Tuesday of every month, and we’d love for you to join us.
Keep an eye on our upcoming CforLP events calendar for details about our upcoming discussions, giving you the opportunity to learn and gain practical skills from fellow managers and team leaders.
Our next Lunch and Learn event is:
Making the most of mentoring
Online
Tuesday 27 October 2026 • 12.30pm to 1.30pm
We will explore how having a mentor can support your current role, accelerate your professional development, and create opportunities for future career growth. We’ll also share practical ways to find and make the most of mentoring relationships.
