The Inner Shift Behind Self-Management: A Conversation with Lisa Gill

As the world of work continues to evolve, many organisations are waking up to the limitations of traditional hierarchies and exploring more human-centric, self-managed approaches. But what does it really take to adopt new ways of working?

In this episode of Make It Thrive: The Company Culture Podcast, I sat down with Lisa Gill—self-management coach, Tuff Leadership trainer, and host of the Leadermorphosis podcast—to explore just that.

Lisa has spent years working with organisations around the world to implement self-managing structures. What makes her perspective so powerful is her deep understanding that transformation isn’t just structural—it’s personal. The shift to more progressive ways of working begins with an inner shift in mindset, behaviour, and identity.

Lisa reflected on the early days of founding her company, Reimaginaire, when self-management felt like a fringe idea. Fast-forward to today, and while it’s still not mainstream, the pandemic was a catalyst for a massive re-evaluation of work norms. Organisations that previously dismissed flexibility or autonomy as “unrealistic” were suddenly forced to adapt—and found new possibilities in doing so.

Interestingly, Lisa noted that it’s often resource-constrained sectors like health and social care that are now embracing self-management out of necessity, proving it’s not just a luxury for tech startups or creative industries.

Despite growing interest, many teams struggle to sustain change. Lisa highlighted two recurring challenges:

1. The fear of the unknown – Conditioned by decades of top-down leadership, many struggle to imagine alternative ways of working.

2. Impatience with messiness – Organisations often expect immediate results from cultural change initiatives and revert when discomfort arises.

Adopting self-management isn’t just about implementing new structures—it involves unlearning ingrained behaviours. Managers used to solving problems or being the “expert” may find it deeply unsettling to take on a coaching role instead.

Lisa opened up about her own journey, sharing how hard it was to break free from the need to be liked, avoid conflict, and delegate effectively. This personal growth work, she says, is central to making new ways of working stick.

We also explored the idea that many people unconsciously “role play” at work, adopting formal or managerial personas that block authentic connection. Becoming aware of these patterns—and inviting feedback to illuminate blind spots—can be transformational.

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was about feedback. Lisa is passionate about redefining feedback as a mutual learning tool—not a top-down performance critique. She shared tips from Tuff Leadership Training, including:

• Always ask for consent before giving feedback.

• Create space for dialogue, not monologue.

• Shift from evaluation to curiosity.

Feedback, when offered with care, helps us understand our impact on others and grow in ways we can’t see alone.

isa described listening as a “generous act” and shared practical tools for becoming a better listener, from Otto Scharmer’s levels of listening to FBI-inspired conversational techniques (yes, really). True listening, she argued, creates space for deeper understanding and meaningful change.

“Listening isn’t just about hearing—it’s about creating an experience where the other person feels deeply understood.”

Final Takeaways

Lisa left us with some inspiring, practical reminders:

• Embrace the discomfort—change is supposed to feel messy.

• Feedback and listening are superpowers, not soft skills.

• Don’t expect overnight transformation—this is a lifelong practice.

Resources Mentioned:

• Moose Heads on the Table by Karin Tenelius and Lisa Gill

• No More Feedback by Carol Sanford

• The Highest Common Denominator by Miki Kashtan

• Otto Scharmer’s Theory U

• Corporate Rebels’ Bucket List of progressive companies

If this conversation inspired you to explore new ways of working—or simply become a better listener—check out Lisa’s podcast Leadermorphosis.

✨ Let’s keep making work more human—one brave conversation at a time.