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As organizations grow, management quality often becomes the biggest constraint on performance. Yet most managers are promoted without training, leaving them to navigate people leadership through trial and error.
In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor speaks with Ashley Herd, former McKinsey HR leader, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and founder of Manager Method, about how organizations can build confident, capable managers at scale. Drawing on her experience across law, HR, and global consulting, Ashley shares a practical perspective on why management capability is frequently overlooked and how that gap impacts culture, performance, and risk.
Ashley explains how HR is often viewed as a compliance function rather than a strategic partner, and why that mindset limits organizational effectiveness. She explores how compliance and culture can work together, not in opposition, when leaders focus on transparency, clarity, and human-centered decision-making. The conversation highlights common breakdowns in feedback, performance reviews, and engagement surveys, and why ongoing manager development matters more than annual processes.
The episode also looks ahead to the future of people leadership, including how AI is changing expectations for managers and why organizations must clearly define what is expected, allowed, and possible. Rather than replacing human leadership, Ashley argues that technology makes confident, well-trained managers more important than ever.
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In this episode, you will learn:
Connect with Ashley Herd
Website: https://www.managermethod.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/
About the Host
Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.
Connect with Anthony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/
About SME Strategy
SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.
Learn more: https://www.smestrategy.net
Podcast produced by: https://www.rednyne.com