Episode
Bonus Episode: Creating Impact and Value at Work
- Published
- Jul 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 736
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-podcast
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Summary
In this bonus episode, Aoife gives her key takeaways from her conversation with Dr. Shirley Kavanagh, executive coach, team facilitator, and PhD researcher, on how individuals and organisations can create genuine impact and value at work, especially in a world of constant change and distraction. Key Takeaways 1. Know what drives your business Whether you're in HR, a support function, or any other role, understanding the commercial drivers, KPIs, and performance metrics of your organisation is how you earn credibility and a seat at the table. You can't demonstrate value if you don't know what the business is measuring. 2. Always ask: where's the value here? Before diving into any new initiative, tool, or project, pause and ask: what are we actually trying to achieve? Who benefits? What is the impact? This discipline applies whether you're an individual contributor, a team leader, or a senior executive. 3. Give yourself permission to pause In a world of relentless busyness, the pause is a superpower. Stepping back, even briefly, to reassess direction, priorities, and purpose is not a sign of weakness. It's a mark of strong leadership. 4. AI is a tool, not a friend Generative AI can save time, but it requires significant human input, review, and judgement. As Shirley puts it: AI doesn't care about you. Be aware of its limitations, particularly around nuance, emotional intelligence, and context. 5. Course correction is a strength Just because a decision was made doesn't mean you have to stick with it. Revisiting priorities as circumstances change, and being honest when something isn't working, takes courage, but it's essential for effective leadership today. 6. After action reviews still matter Taking time after a project or initiative to honestly assess what worked, what…