In today’s episode of Unlocking Aliveness in Leadership Podcast Frances Armes and Andy Rogers are in conversation with Rachel Evans, HR Director Sodexo Government, Co-Chair of Gold Award Association, Women Empowering Defence Board Member, and Fair Chance Business Alliance Advisory Board Member.

Having started her time in Retail and she has spent 18 years in various HR roles within Sodexo UK and Ireland. She says that she loves the energy and pace of both the retail and service sectors, this is a place where she feels at home.

Rachel says that through observing others she decided quite early on about the kind of leader that she didn’t want to be. She’s changed roles every 3 to 4 years and kept moving forward in shaping her leadership style as she’s developed. Whatever role that she’s been, authenticity has been at the heart of it.

Rachel describes leadership as “the ability to simplify things, and giving clear direction in difficult circumstances”, as well as “getting to know each individual, the skills sets that they bring and how they best work in relationship with me and others”. There are times when she leads from the front, middle and back. Leadership isn’t static, it needs to flex and change. Rachel describes herself as an “enabler”.

Rachel talks passionately about her purpose as being driven by her leadership commitment, “Enabling and contributing to the world that I live in”. She was able to come home to this purpose through coaching and taking time out for herself.

The things that she’s most proud of isn’t an individual achievement, it’s about the way that she has been able to open herself up, and challenge herself she has been able to be more deliberate about where she focusses her time, She’s become a board member for various organisations that are important to her, and on top of her day job, this is her measure of success.

Rachel talks about regretting spending too many years and too much time trying to be a perfectionist and wished that she’d started her personal growth story sooner and allowed herself to fail by trying different things at different times.

Rachel shares that she needs challenge, loves being curious and pushing herself as well as being an observer of the world around her. When these are all lined up, that’s when she comes alive in her role.

Rachel says that her top tips for leaders: -

1.       Find out what works for you as a leader to keep your own balance, stay grounded and on purpose.

2.       Remain curious and keep observing the world around you

3.       Know you watch outs in situations of pressure and stress, be on to yourself.

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