What’s one small shift that could change everything?
Hosted by strategy, leadership and creative facilitation experts Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker of Better Strategic Consultancy, One Thing Better delivers short, sharp sparks of inspiration for work that really works - especially in the charity, not-for-profit and purpose-led space.
Each episode shares an idea, insight or practical tool to help you move from stuck to strategic.
This podcast promises no flipcharts. Minimal waffle. Just better.
Find more Claire and Siobhan at www.betterconsult.co.uk
We're back! One Thing Better returns for Series 3.
Join Siobhan and Claire, founders of Better Strategic Consultancy, for five new episodes of honest conversations, fresh perspectives and practical ideas for people working in charities and purpose-led organisations.
We're talking leadership, income, culture and change, challenging a few assumptions and exploring what happens when we look at familiar problems a little differently.
Expect plenty of insight, a healthy dose of humour and, as ever, something useful to take away and try.
New episodes every Monday from 2 November 2026.
Give us a follow, have a listen and come and think a little better with us.
17 Nov 2025
The art of being easy to manage
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 play.
Claire and Siobhan are the team behind Better Strategic Consultancy - helping charities and purpose-led organisations find clarity, confidence and joy in how they lead and work.
If you’re a CEO or senior leader who wants to strengthen the culture and communication around you, Claire’s leadership mentoring could help.
Find out more at betterconsult.co.uk (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/) or drop them a line at info@betterconsult.co.uk (mailto:info@betterconsult.co.uk)
10 Nov 2025
The invisible work of holding space in leadership
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 Cynthia Erivo on Strictly to boardrooms in flux, they explore how reflection, boundaries and empathy keep leaders (and teams) steady.
It’s a gentle listen with a lot of truth and a reminder that leadership isn’t about holding it all, it’s about holding it well.
If you’re a CEO or senior leader navigating change, Claire offers one-to-one mentoring to help you lead with humanity and keep something left in the tank.
Find out more at betterconsult.co.uk (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/).
3 Nov 2025
The joy of responsible marketing
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 respect can turn everyday comms into something that genuinely connects.
And there’s a One Thing Better challenge at the end to help you shift your own marketing mindset - and it might surprise you.
Want to dive deeper? Read Siobhan’s blog (aka Should I retrain in plumbing? ) (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/post/should-i-retrain-in-plumbing-some-joyful-truths-about-responsible-marketing) for more on joyful, human-centred marketing, or reach out via betterconsult.co.uk (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/) to chat about how Better can help your organisation find its spark.
27 Oct 2025
Everyone's talking about Impact
‘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 your work.
And as it's season two there are two very special One Thing Better challenges which will help you see your own impact in a whole new light.
Find out more about Better Impact (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/better-impact) - a people-first approach to understanding, showing and living your impact without drowning in data.
One Thing Better - the podcast of small shifts that make a big difference.
www.betterconsult.co.uk (http://www.betterconsult.co.uk/)
Contact the hosts at - info@betterconsult.co.uk (mailto:info@betterconsult.co.uk)
20 Oct 2025
One Thing Better - Season 2 coming soon!
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
14 Jul 2025
Leading when life's a lot
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 the emotional weight that leaders carry.
This episode shares:
How to lead when you’re stretched, soul-tired, or struggling
What “gentle leadership” really looks like
Ways to navigate honesty, boundaries, and self-compassion
This one’s for anyone trying to do good work when life is messy. Because showing up softly and imperfectly is leadership.
And if you are really struggling with your mental health, please reach out to support services and take the time you need to get well. This episode is just a gentle way to try to navigate the day to day from lived experiences.
Hosted by Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving, the duo behind Better Strategic Consultancy - helping charity and public sector leaders make values-led decisions that actually stick.
Grab their free Clarity Guide at betterconsult.co.uk (https://www.betterconsult.co.uk/)
Get in touch: info@betterconsult.co.uk
Thanks for listening to Season One. The show returns in autumn 2025.
Until then, here’s to doing One Thing Better. Even when life’s a lot.
7 Jul 2025
PIVOT! How to check mission creep
Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving discuss how organizations can recognize and address mission creep, providing tools to refocus leadership and maintain clarity.
30 Jun 2025
Making tough calls without losing your way
Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving, co-founders of Better Strategic Consultancy, examine leading through uncertainty while maintaining your mission, team, and self, in this interview.
23 Jun 2025
Why creativity needs psychological safety
Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker explore how psychological safety fuels workplace innovation by encouraging brave thinking and open idea-sharing, making safety a key strategic element in organizations; this is an interview.
16 Jun 2025
I got the power!
Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker, strategy, leadership and facilitation experts, discuss using power purposefully in leadership to make brave decisions and carry a team with clarity and confidence.
8 Jun 2025
The Secret Loneliness of Leading
Claire Irving and Siobhan Meaker explore the often unspoken loneliness experienced by leaders, emphasizing the power of connection to combat isolation, in this interview.
2 Jun 2025
Cut through the Chaos - 5 Steps to Strategic Clarity
Siobhan and Claire present five steps to regain strategic clarity, enabling leaders to reconnect with their purpose and confidently refocus their plans.
26 May 2025
Be a Certainty
Siobhan and Claire explore how leaders can provide stability and guidance to their teams during uncertain times, emphasizing clarity and values-driven leadership.
19 May 2025
The Pilot Episode - Joy
Siobhan Meaker and Claire Irving explore the essential role of joy in the workplace, highlighting its impact on management, leadership, and team support in this inaugural episode.
2 May 2025
Get ready...
The podcast "One Thing Better" prepares to launch, promising strategic insights for individuals dedicated to enhancing their impactful work.
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