Name: Neil milton

Title: Founder

Organisation: The Table Talk Project

Leader, speaker, social entrepreneur and fighter for justice.

Over 20 years leading organisations in the not for profit world

Passionate about building teams and supporting colleagues to achieve their dreams.

Never short of an idea!

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Neil's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

bureaucracy in organisations

Different personalities of those I have lead

Time for myself too

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Naturally felt that eveytime I was in a group that I needed to guide them. Often I was the one called upon to read something or lead a team or speak up for those who couldn’t. It was obvious to me that this is what I needed to do.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I use a diary.

I try to exercise three times a week in the morning before breakfast. I don’t always get there.

After dropping kids off at school it’s onto work from home.

Admin first

Meetings

Projects

Then non use of brain stuff, like social media etc

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

You don’t have to be in leadership to have your voice heard. I always believed that my voice was only valid if I was in leadership but that’s not true. You have a voice no matter who hears it, leadership provides the platform to use that voice. It was profound for me.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Honestly there have been many. But the one that comes to mind is a book called the body keeps the score. Basically the premise of the book is that if you don’t walk towards healing from trauma it will come out in other areas of your life including your body. True Leadership is when we are vulnerable and we need to look inward for that. This book doesn’t necessary talk about leadership but it is profound for how we live without allowing trauma to rule everything.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

One day at a time. Not that you don’t plan for the future and prepare. But the future is not really something you can control. Just take one day at a time, appreciate that day embrace your breath in that day. Let the future come to you.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

I have been leading a team for a while now and have been investing in them a lot by way of educating that about the importance of looking after mental health and wellbeing etc. Last year I was sick and needed time off and I had to speak with my team about why and I needed them to hold the fort.

I was blown away at their response “ take the time you need and come back stronger, we have got this, rest up.” I believe that being vulnerable and real showed them that I was Willing to practice what i preached and so were they in support of me.