On 12th June 2025, Squadify, University Academy 92 and Alate Business Growth hosted a Think Tank to give leaders concrete actions that they can take to accelerate performance and shift a 17-year stagnation in UK productivity. These are the results of the workshops with specific action that leaders can take to make a difference.
Summary of Findings and Proposals
The session surfaced a strong desire for greater coherence, humanity, and intentionality in how organisations operate — particularly in how they communicate, engage, and execute. Across all three themes recurring tensions emerged between clarity and complexity, intention and perception, and action versus impact.
Clarity
Participants highlighted that while operational processes often exist, the “why” behind them is rarely understood or shared. There’s a critical need for a common, values-based vision that connects organisational intent to individual roles. A lack of clarity—especially under pressure—leads to misalignment and misattributed causes. Practical proposals for action included:
Engagement
Engagement is being reshaped by generational change, information transparency, and shifting expectations. Many employees struggle to connect personal purpose with organisational values, and there’s a missing layer of communication that should bridge leadership and frontline teams. Practical proposals for action included:
Execution / Busyness
The traditional “badge of busy” is wearing thin. There’s an appetite to shift from presenteeism to purpose, from hours worked to outcomes delivered. Participants discussed reframing productivity narratives, protecting personal red lines (like family time or coaching conversations), and using tools like AI to work more intelligently. Practical proposals for action included:
