Effective People Leadership Needs to Connect Head, Heart and Hands

Our ‘Leading Through Uncertainty’ series explores how senior leaders manage continual complexity and ambiguity. In a world where change is the only constant, we spotlight inspirational stories of leadership in uncertain times. 

Michelle joined Croda International Plc as President Human Resources in January 2023, introduced by Odgers’ Áine Hurley. After three years in the role, Michelle discussed ‘business first and HR second’, the critical behaviors now needed from people leaders, and her three key tips for success. 

 
What does ‘Leading Through Uncertainty’ mean to you? 

Because great change is the norm, what matters is how you show up, lead with clarity, create alignment and build trust. Ultimately, effective leadership is about the “we,” not the “I.” And for me, trust starts with safety as a value: creating an environment where people look out for one another, feel able to speak up, and enable safe operations and safe decisions.

What are the biggest challenges or disruptions currently facing your sector? 

We’re facing constant challenges. From fast-moving geopolitical shifts to rapidly and continuously changing customer expectations. Our industry has become more competitive and more commoditised and the market has fundamentally changed. To navigate this, we need clarity, setting the right context, being clear on what we are and what we’re not, and focusing our attention on what truly matters while cutting out the noise.

That means deeply understanding our customers’ diverse needs, staying close to our people, and creating real connection in terms of head, heart and hands. Our “Your Voice” listening approach is helping us with continuous insights so we can act on feedback, empower teams and close the loop so we’re always improving.

Ultimately, it’s about delivering on what we say we’ll deliver. When the context is clear and everyone is aligned, we can drive change with confidence and take our people with us. 

How are leadership expectations evolving in response to these challenges? 

On top of these challenges, and with the huge disruption of AI and rapid digital change, we need resilience, clarity, and sometimes the vulnerability to admit we don’t have all the answers and need to work through it together. Above all, we need curiosity to stay open-minded, look ahead and see change as an enabler rather than a threat. 

In HR, that means actively learning from those leading in AI and digital, getting our data foundations right, and embracing these new capabilities with curiosity and a real desire to learn fast. 

What leadership traits, attributes and behaviors are proving most valuable and critical right now? 

For me, it starts with understanding the business first and HR second; and that’s not a disservice to our function but recognizing the broader context we operate in as executive leaders. With today’s uncertainty, talent, culture and organizational development matter more than ever and HR has a real opportunity to bring that voice to the table. 

It’s about understanding the business environment – macro trends, geopolitical shifts, risks and opportunities – and then translating that into plans that can truly enable the organization to move at pace. Culture plays a huge role in this, especially in a company like Croda, where long tenured employees and newer joiners bring different experiences. The challenge is blending these into a culture that is aligned with our purpose and values. 

That’s the heart of the CPO role: using our unique lens, grounded in business understanding, to help drive value and make a meaningful impact. 

What are your top three tips for success in leadership?  

1. Lead with clarity. Understand the context you're in, set clear priorities and have the best team aligned around you to deliver those outcomes. 
2. Build trust through accountability and authenticity. You're not going to have the foundations for success if you can't build that trust with all your key stakeholders. Be real, be authentic, be your true self, bring your whole self to the situation and show your vulnerability. 
3. Coach and stay curious. Keep looking around the corner, using data as much as you can to help build the stories that will engage people to listen and understand where you want to go. 

To discover more about Michelle’s strategy for Croda and her journey with Odgers, read her individual success story below.  

Michelle Lydon Success Story

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