⚡️ LinkedIn Top Voice ⚡️ Be happier and more fulfilled by changing how you work ⚡️ Former People Partner at KPMG

I help teams to improve their performance by changing how they work.

When teams work differently, companies get the performance they want and people get work that feels more fulfilling.

My approach combines behavioural science, leadership psychology, and real-world experience.

That real-world experience comes from over 20 years at KPMG, where I was a Partner, COO, and Head of People for a major division, alongside leading complex client work. I have seen first-hand what actually drives performance in high-pressure, high-accountability environments.

I work with organisations where:

Productivity is falling despite longer hours and bigger teams
High performers and future leaders are leaving
Engagement and discretionary effort are declining
Cognitive overload is driving poor decisions
Burnout and stress-related absence are increasing
Client experience and service quality are slipping
Innovation is squeezed out by constant busyness
Leaders are stuck firefighting instead of leading

The solution is not greater effort.
It is working differently.

Organisations including HSBC, M&G, and Royal London work with me globally on leadership and management development programmes, offsites, and all-company events, both in person and virtually.

“𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
– 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘌𝘖, 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘱𝘭𝘤

If you are a senior leader exploring how to improve the performance of your team through better ways of working, feel free to message me.

Mostyn Wilson

High performers don't waste years trying to fix broken systems... they leave fast.

And it's the most strategic move they'll ever make.
 
Here's what most people get wrong:

Staying in a dysfunctional environment doesn't make you loyal or resilient.

It just makes you exhausted, invisible, and stuck.
 
If your talent is being ignored, your ideas are being shot down, or office politics rewards the wrong people…

That's not your cue to try harder.

That's your sign to find a place that values what you bring.
 
High performers know:

→ You can't outwork a toxic system.

→ You can't "prove" your way into a broken culture.

→ The cost of staying is always higher than the risk of leaving.
 
Leaving isn't quitting.

It's choosing growth over survival.

It's betting on yourself instead of waiting for a system to change.
 
So, if you feel trapped, sidelined, or unappreciated:

Trust your instincts.

And walk away when you have to.
 
It's how top talent stays top.
___

If you want some help deciding on your next move, that’s exactly what we do inside Atomic Ambition.

We start on Monday (26th January).
This is the only live cohort running in 2026.

Click here to grab one of the last spots👇

https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

High-performing teams – Smarter ways of working | ex-KPMG Partner, COO & Head of People

Why Top Talent Leaves Fast

Success has a strange side effect.

You work your way to the top…
and somehow end up feeling empty.

The meetings run smoothly.
The team performs.
The numbers hit.

From the outside, it looks perfect.
But inside?
You’re running on fumes.

You tell yourself you’re just tired.
You tell yourself things will slow down.

They never do.

You skip the gym because “tomorrow.”
You check emails on holiday.
You sit at dinner with your family, but your mind’s still at work.

Somewhere along the way, the job stopped serving your life.
And started consuming it.

Here’s what most people miss:

When your personal life runs dry, your professional life won’t be far behind.

The solution is better clarity.

Clarity about what actually fuels you.
The kind of work that gives more than it takes.
The kind of environment that respects your energy.

Because ambition without this type of clarity burns you out.
But ambition with this type of clarity builds you up.

So ask yourself:
If your work finally fit your life, what would you get back first?

Ready to get your life back?
Click 'Visit my website' to take a look at Atomic Ambition.

We start next week.

Success feels good, until it drains everything else

Your CV won’t get you hired in 2026.

These 7 skills will 👇

1️⃣ Self-awareness
 ↳ Know your strengths, weaknesses, and how you impact others.

Leaders who master this build trust and stronger teams.

2️⃣ Active Listening
 ↳ And more time listening than talking.

Great leaders spend 80% of their time understanding, not broadcasting.

3️⃣ Asking Powerful Questions
 ↳ Answers are easy.

But it's questions that unlock new perspectives.

4️⃣ Emotional Intelligence
 ↳ Reading the room. Managing stress. Building real connections.

You can’t fake this, people feel it instantly.

5️⃣ Recovering from Failure
 ↳ Your bounce-back rate matters more than your success rate.

Quick learners outgrow everyone else.

6️⃣ Disagreeing Professionally
 ↳ Challenge ideas without damaging relationships.

It’s rare. It’s invaluable. It gets you promoted.

7️⃣ Cultural Navigation
 ↳ Adapting to different work styles, personalities, and communication preferences.

The future of work belongs to those who can blend in anywhere.

CVs measure what you’ve done.
These skills show who you are.

And in 2026’s workplace, who you are matters more.

I’ve seen brilliant CVs fail.

I’ve seen unconventional backgrounds soar.

The difference? These seven skills.

– They build trust.
– They drive results.
– They can’t be faked on paper.
– They show up in every interaction.

💬 What skill would you add to this list?

Drop it in the comments 👇

♻️ Share this if you know that who you are matters more than what’s on paper.

🔔 Follow Mostyn Wilson for more evidence-based career strategies.
__

📌 Save this for the next time you’re updating your CV.

Infographic titled “7 skills that matter more than your CV in 2026”. Seven boxed sections list skills with icons and short explanations. 1. Self-awareness: understanding strengths, weaknesses, and how actions land with others. 2. Active listening: listening more than talking; top leaders focus on understanding. 3. Asking powerful questions: progress comes from good questions that unlock new thinking. 4. Emotional intelligence: reading the room, handling stress, and connecting genuinely. 5. Recovering from failure: the ability to bounce back and learn quickly. 6. Disagreeing professionally: challenging ideas with respect while protecting relationships. 7. Cultural navigation: adapting to different styles, personalities, and ways of communicating. A section titled “What sets you apart in 2026?” says these skills cannot be faked, show up in every interaction, and build trust and results. Footer promotes a high-resolution PDF and free resources via mostynwilson.com

I used to say yes to everything because it was easier in the moment. But it was expensive later on.

I learned that I’d be much better off setting boundaries than feeling
resentful that I’d agreed to do something I didn’t have time to do.
 
Here are the top scripts I still use.
Steal them.
Tweak them.
Use them today.
 
A meeting I do not need:

“Thank you for thinking of me. I am heads down on a few other priorities right now and so I won’t be able to attend this. If you send a short note with the goal and one question you need answered, I will reply by Friday.”
 
Pick my brain:

“I appreciate the invite but I’m currently limiting such things so I can focus on something I need to get built over the next couple of months. If you’ve got a specific question, reply here and I will share a quick answer when I can.”
 
Quick favour that is not quick:

“Thanks for asking. I don’t have the capacity to do this well right now, so I am going to pass. Here are two resources that should be able to help you.”
 
Project that I don’t want to be involved with:

“This does look interesting and thanks for thinking of me. However, it doesn’t align with my current focus, so I will decline for now. If that changes, I will reach out.”
 
Time ask during focus hours:

“I’ll be offline for deep work until 2 pm. If it can wait, I can come back to you after that. If it is time sensitive, please proceed without me.”
 
Intro request I cannot make:

“I avoid surprising people with intros. If you send a three sentence blurb I can forward, I am happy to send it on to them and they can reach out if they’re interested.”
 
Scope creep:

“I really like the sound of these additions, however, what you are asking for is outside the scope of our original agreement. Would you like me to price it up as an additional piece of work?”
 
Job offer or opportunity that is not a fit:

“I am grateful for the offer. I am optimising for a different direction right now, so I am going to decline. I wish you the best finding the right person.”
 
Friend or family invitation I cannot accept:

“Thank you for thinking of me. I can’t make it this time but I am sure you’ll all have a great time, and I’ll look forward to hearing all about it!”
 
There are a few principles that make saying no easier:
 
Say no quickly.
Because silence creates false hope.
 
Be brief.
Because explanations invite debate.
 
Offer an option that works for you.
A later date. A different scope. An async option.
 
“No” protects your energy.
Yes should earn its place.
 
Save these scripts for next time you need them.

Like this?

Get 65+ free resources (that have had over 10 million views on LinkedIn) to make you even more successful at work here:

https://lnkd.in/eE287NTG

How to Say no without guilt

Most career decisions aren’t made strategically.

They’re made emotionally.

A layoff.
A shiny title.
A spike of fear dressed up as “opportunity”.

So people chase movement, but not always the right direction.

The result is the same doubts, just at a higher pay band.

A few years ago, I realised I needed a better way to decide.
Not more thinking.
Better filters.

So I built a simple framework I now use for every big decision.

I call it The Decision Grid.

It asks just two questions:

1. Does this increase my freedom or reduce it?
2. Does this expand my impact or shrink it?

If it doesn’t do both, it’s a no.

Not a “maybe”.
Not a “for now”.
A no.

Because every meaningful career is built on the same trade-offs:

Freedom over fear.
Impact over image.
Long-term leverage over short-term relief.

That’s how people stop being busy and start being significant.

You don’t need more clarity.
You need a framework that removes bad options fast.

Use this grid the next time you’re at a crossroads.

If it grows your freedom and your impact, it’s a smart move.
Everything else is noise.

If you want to build a brilliant next phase of your career, that’s exactly what we do inside Atomic Ambition.

We start on Monday (26th January).
This is the only live cohort running in 2026.

If you've been on the fence, now is your time.

👉  https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

DM me if you have questions.

A simple test for better career decisions

There’s something I’ve seen again and again with senior professionals, especially those who’ve outperformed quietly for years.

They become the foundation.

The person others lean on.

The one who makes it all work behind the scenes.

And for a while, that feels like recognition.

But eventually, the appreciation starts to sound the same.

– “Thanks for holding the fort”

– “You’re so dependable”

– “We can always count on you”

There’s nothing wrong with being the safe pair of hands.

But it becomes a problem when that’s all they see.

And if your value has become expected, you’ll wait forever for promotion.

I don’t think most people get stuck because they stop performing.

I think they get stuck because their environment stops imagining them any differently.

And unless you actively reframe how you’re seen, you’ll be respected, thanked… and left right where you are.

That’s not a reflection of your ability.

It’s a reflection of the system you’re operating in.

If that’s resonating – you’re not alone.

I speak with people every week who feel this exact thing.

But there is a way through it.

And it doesn’t start with working harder.

It starts with showing your value more clearly.

And if they don't see it, it's time to move on.

Has anything helped you realise it’s time to rethink the game you’re playing?

Drop it below 👇
__

📌 P.S. In Atomic Ambition from Mostyn Wilson, I help successful people to design a richer, freer, more authentic second half of their career.

Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

We start on 26th January.

Outperformed for Years. But Still Stuck?

"Just work harder" is the most damaging lie told to good people in broken workplaces.
 
And the best workers always hear it most.
 
When companies are a complete mess, have no money, or rubbish bosses, they praise staying late over actually getting things done.
 
So the message becomes:

Try harder.
Stay later.
Push through.
 
But here's what nobody dares say out loud:
 
Working harder in a broken system doesn't fix the system.

It just destroys the people trapped inside it.
 
Top performers react to broken systems by:

- Doing way more than their fair share

- Fixing stuff that isn't their job

- Bottling up all the pressure

- Confusing being a hero with making a real difference
 
They don't whinge.

They just cover for everyone else.
 
And that's exactly why this lie keeps working.
 
"Just work harder" sounds noble.
It sounds fair.
It sounds like you've got control.
 
But it sneakily shifts all the blame away from useless management, terrible planning, and backwards priorities - straight onto the person already giving everything.
 
The real move isn't working more.
 
It's asking the brutal questions:

- What's properly broken here?

- What am I propping up that deserves to collapse?

- Where am I losing my energy?

- What would actual progress look like, not just barely surviving?
 
Being brilliant at your job isn't about grinding yourself to bits.
 
It's about choosing where your effort actually makes a difference.
___

If you want some help deciding on your next move, that’s exactly what we do inside Atomic Ambition.

We start tomorrow (26th January).
This is the only live cohort running in 2026.

Click here to grab one of the last spots👇

https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

Just work harder is toxic advice in broken companies

A small shift in how you think can change everything about how you live.

The biggest barrier between you and your goals isn’t talent or resources.

It’s the way you talk to yourself, especially when things feel hard.

We all slip into the same thoughts:

“My timing isn’t right”
“I don’t know enough to start”
“What if I mess this up?”

If you’re not careful, those thoughts quietly shape your entire life.

But the good news?

Your mindset is the easiest place to create real change.

Shift it even slightly, and the path forward starts to open up.

Here are 5 perspective shifts that have made everything feel more possible for me:

1. “I’m not ready for this” → “I can learn as I go”

Taking the first step teaches you more than waiting ever will.

2. “I need everything planned perfectly" → “Progress starts small”

A rough version in motion beats a flawless plan sitting still.

3. “I don’t have enough time” → “I choose what gets my time”

Your schedule becomes clearer the moment your priorities do.

4. “This problem is too big” → “I can break it down into steps”

Most obstacles shrink the moment you move toward them.

5. “Growth feels overwhelming” → “Growth means I’m stretching”

Feeling uncomfortable is often a sign you’re on the right path.

Your outlook shapes your outcomes.

Choose the perspective that moves you forward.

Which shift hits home for you today?

♻️ Share this to help someone see their situation differently.

🔔 Follow me Mostyn Wilson for more like this.

Small shifts in how you think can change your life

You didn’t come this far, just to feel ‘fine’.

You worked too hard.
Learned too much.
Survived too many storms.

To spend your best years protecting your comfort zone.

Playing it safe looks smart...
until it starts stealing your potential.

You tell yourself it’s stability.

But deep down, you know it’s fear in disguise.

The fear of being seen.

The fear of failing publicly.

The fear of finding out that yes, you are actually meant for more.

Most people don’t fail because they make bad moves.

They fail because they never make the moves that matter.

Every dream you have lives on the other side of discomfort.

And most people never cross that line.

They choose comfort over courage.

Certainty over curiosity.

‘Someday’ over ‘right now’.

But “someday” is a mirage.

It never arrives.

The truth is that you don’t need to burn your life down.

You just need to stop building walls around your potential.

Because safety won’t build your legacy, but it will limit you.

The moment you stop clinging to “secure”, you start unlocking everything you’ve been chasing.

Impact.
Freedom.
Higher pay.

The life you want won’t come from caution.
It will come from conviction.

So, make the move that scares you.

If you want some help building a brilliant next phase of your career, that’s exactly what we do inside Atomic Ambition.

We start on Monday (26th January).
This is the only live cohort running in 2026.

If you've been on the fence, now is your time.

Click here to grab one of the last spots👇

https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

Playing it safe?

The biggest threat to senior careers isn’t burnout.

It's not even a toxic boss... 

It’s career paralysis.

You didn’t get to a senior level by winging it.
You know how to play the game – and win.

But when it comes to your next move...
Something strange happens.

You stall.
You second-guess.
You wait longer than you should.

Because here’s the truth no one talks about:

👉 The higher you go, the harder it is to move.

Not because you’ve lost your ambition.
But because the cost of a wrong move is huge.

You’ve worked way too hard to gamble it away on something you’re not 100% sure about.

So instead of acting, you wait.

You wait for more clarity.
More signs.
More certainty.

But the longer you wait, the more difficult it all feels.

And quietly, your energy drops.
Your mornings feel heavier.
Your confidence starts to wobble.

I speak with senior people all the time who say:

“I know I can’t stay like this… but I don’t know what I want instead.”

Here’s what they eventually realise:

The clarity they’re seeking.
It doesn’t arrive.
It’s built.

And when you start building it, that’s the moment real change begins.

💬 How long is too long to feel uncertain about your next step?

📌 In Atomic Ambition from Mostyn Wilson, I help experienced leaders and professionals to design a richer, freer, more authentic second half of their career.

Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/e739yevD

Your happiness and fulfilment start at the end of January.

Building Atomic Ambition into the world’s best program to get happy and fulfilled in the second half of your career | ex-KPMG Partner, COO & Head of People

The biggest threat to senior careers isn’t burnout

Strategy. Simplified. Connecting the dots in complex international businesses. | Human centered approaches to transformation that sticks | Global Business Advisor | Ethical & Sustainable Practices

I am a global business leader and innovative strategist with nearly 30 years of international experience driving transformational growth for blue-chip companies, private equity-backed ventures, and SMEs. 

I provide expert support, advice & proven frameworks to leaders searching for ways to deliver strong, bold growth, or turnarounds.

With expertise spanning commercial strategy, business transformation, and sustainability, I consistently deliver strategies that unlock superior performance in dynamic and complex global markets.

As EVP of Performance Brands at Calumet Specialty Products, I spearheaded record-breaking results in the Lubricants, Greases, and Alkylate Fuels business. By streamlining operations, appointing high-impact leaders, and championing sustainability initiatives through the ‘Total Calumet’ strategy, I positioned the company as a leader in addressing energy-sector challenges. My creation of a comprehensive roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 exemplifies my ability to balance bold vision with actionable solutions.

Throughout my career, I have a proven track record of driving profitable growth by aligning strategic priorities with market opportunities, launching innovative ventures, and delivering pioneering products that create measurable value. I specialize in turning complexity into opportunity, navigating global and environmental challenges to deliver future-focused, high-impact results while enhancing margins.

A dynamic leader known for uniting diverse, global teams, I excel at building alignment across executive stakeholders and navigating cultural and operational complexities. By rallying teams around shared objectives, I ensure strategies are not only visionary but also executable, enabling sustainable growth and enduring commercial success.

Marc Lawn

What could possibly go wrong?

Answers on a device being built sometime soon.....

Strategy. Simplified. | Human Centred Strategy | Global Business Advisor | Ethical & Sustainable Practices | Performance Delivered

Everyone appears to be trying to sell us something.

The question? 

Can anyone hear through the noise?

Digital advertising now arounts for around ~75% of all advertising spend.

A whopping $0.8 trillion. In fact, about 1% of global GDP.

Total advertising spend would be the 20th largest economy in the world.

Yet, so much is being said, and so little is being heard.

Recent estimates suggest that while we were exposed to ~1600 ads per day in the 1970’s, by 2024 that number was ~10,000. More importantly, though, even when the ad caught our attention it only held it for around 2.2 seconds.

However we are still being sold on total ad impressions - despite there being an estimated ~90% of wasted spend.

Doesn’t that make you wonder about the hard sells we see here on LinkedIn?

No alternative text description for this image

It’s all about the follow through.

Great products don’t cover up for poor service.

Every customer interaction is a journey.

One that starts with high hopes & a promise.

But it can be easily derailed.

And often by the smallest of things.

Incorrect invoice.

Late delivery.

Damaged packaging.

No follow up.

Whatever the promise, we haven’t finished the job until every component is complete.

If we fail to live up to the promise we shouldn’t be surprised if we fail to secure their business the next time round.

What’s interesting is that we often think about this as part of a customer value proposition….

….and we can be guilty of being silent when we consider the employee value proposition.

What does that say about what we truly value?

Like a television show - the story goes to the final frame of the final episode - otherwise we risk falling flat.

What do you think?

One thing changes…

…and it all falls apart.

This weeks Sunday Reflection has me thinking about a few weeks of intense travel.

And how just one changed parameter can literally throw us off course.

For example:

- A UK study suggests drivers slow down by less than 1% in rain.

- A US study suggests that light rain increases accident risk by 50% & heavy rain doubles it.

- This is backed up by a Canadian study suggesting 70% on average.

- And a Chinese study suggests that the longer the rain lasts, the worse our driving becomes.

What I find interesting here is that this is a somewhat universal truth - a human condition, so-to-speak.

And we see it in our business lives too.

We struggle to deal with those infrequent events, but worse still if those conditions last for any extended period of time…

…we normalise them and ‘forget’ that they are there.

Maybe that’s why we just accept market conditions as fate rather than as feedback?

taplio

The Battle

Mostyn Wilson

Marc Lawn

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The Battle

Mostyn Wilson

Marc Lawn

Followers

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Engagements

Likes

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