Influence & Impact for Leaders Ep 200: Retaining your best people with Helen Beedham
In this episode I’m joined by leadership expert, speaker and author Helen Beedham to explore what really keeps people in organisations.
Helen returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, People Glue, and the research behind it. We dig into how to create a working environment where people feel able to do their best work, stay engaged, and choose to stay — even when other options are available.
In this episode, we explore:
- What People Glue really means
- The paradox at the heart of retention: why giving people more freedom often makes them more likely to stay
- The four freedoms people want at work
- How to tell if your team or organisation is truly “sticky”
- Practical, low-risk ways leaders can offer more freedom while maintaining clarity and accountability
- What leaders can do to protect morale and people glue during restructures and periods of change
- How individuals can reflect on their own experience of freedom at work and take more control of their careers
Helen also shares practical examples from organisations that are getting this right, including simple leadership practices that build trust, psychological safety, and connection - without losing focus on results.
This is Influence & Impact for Leaders, the podcast that helps leaders like you increase your impact and build a happy and high performing team. Each episode delivers focused, actionable insights you can implement immediately, to be better at your job without working harder.
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About Helen Beedham
Helen Beedham, MA Cantab, is an organisational expert, business book author, speaker and host of The Business of Being Brilliant podcast. Her first book 'The Future of Time: How ‘re-working’ time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing' was named People, Culture & Management Book of the Year at the Business Book Awards, and her second book 'People Glue: Hold on to your best people by setting them free' was published in January 2026.
Helen advises business and HR leaders on creating a positive culture that fuels growth; helps teams to deliver more and have more fun; and coaches executives to become their sharpest, brightest best. She speaks publicly about the future of work and is regularly featured in national, business and HR press including the FT, Financial News, Forbes, FastCompany and HR Review.
The Business of Being Brilliant podcast
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