How leadership shapes attraction and retention

Attracting and retaining great people has never been more challenging or more critical. In this session, Ian Harrison brings a powerful and practical perspective on how leadership behaviour, self-awareness, and authenticity shape the experience people have at work.

Drawing on over a decade of experience as a coach, author, and business partner to leaders across the UK, Ian explores what it really takes to create workplaces where people feel valued, connected, and able to perform at their best. His approach is grounded in real-world insight, helping leaders move beyond theory to create meaningful, lasting impact.

At the heart of this session is Ian’s work and his book, Turning Up: Taking Your SELF to Work. In a world where many feel unseen, disconnected, or under pressure to be someone they’re not, Ian challenges conventional thinking around authenticity and performance. He offers a practical and compassionate roadmap to help leaders and their teams show up as their true selves, unlocking potential, strengthening connection, and building healthier, more effective organisations.

Ian will also be bringing copies of Turning Up: Taking Your SELF to Work along with him on the day, giving attendees the opportunity to explore his ideas further and continue the conversation beyond the session.

Complementing Ian’s leadership insights, Tina Chander from Weightmans will bring a practical legal perspective, highlighting key considerations and potential risks leaders should be aware of when recruiting and retaining talent. This will help ensure organisations are not only creating engaging workplaces, but are also taking a proactive and informed approach to their people decisions.

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how your leadership influences culture, performance, and retention, along with practical steps to strengthen it.

What Will Be Covered

• How leadership shapes attraction, engagement, and retention
• The role of self-awareness in effective leadership
• What it means to “turn up” authentically at work
• Removing barriers to individual and team performance
• Creating cultures where people feel seen, safe, and significant
• Building stronger connection and belonging within teams

Key Takeaways

• A clearer understanding of your impact as a leader
• Practical ways to strengthen team engagement and belonging
• Tools to help individuals perform at their best
• Insight into creating healthier, more authentic workplace cultures
• Confidence to lead in a way that attracts and retains great people

This session will leave you thinking differently about leadership and equipped with practical ideas you can apply immediately within your organisation.