John Tomlinson
@johnrtomlinson.bsky.social
Leadership and Management development person, big on the whole diversity and inclusion thing. I want to help people have a good time at work and reach their potential. #leadership
Certainty is fashionable, it sounds like confidence, which sounds like facts, and it can help us move forward, but certainty is limiting. It stops us exploring and questioning. Doubt is empowering, it keeps us curious and pushes us to learn more, but can stop us acting #leadership
January 24, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Certainty is fashionable, it sounds like confidence, which sounds like facts, and it can help us move forward, but certainty is limiting. It stops us exploring and questioning. Doubt is empowering, it keeps us curious and pushes us to learn more, but can stop us acting #leadership
I still don't know if noon is 12am or 12pm
January 23, 2026 at 5:47 PM
I still don't know if noon is 12am or 12pm
Fun quote "Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters." — Cato The Elder
January 20, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Fun quote "Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters." — Cato The Elder
The leader in the room is not (necessarily) the person with the highest job grade, it's the person with the most influence - influence includes position, but there are other factors like credibility, trust, reputation etc. #leadership
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The leader in the room is not (necessarily) the person with the highest job grade, it's the person with the most influence - influence includes position, but there are other factors like credibility, trust, reputation etc. #leadership
One of my favourite Stephen Fry quotes sums up what I think of as a big part of professional maturity, or maybe maturity more generally, "One of the greatest human failings is to prefer to be right than be effective"
January 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
One of my favourite Stephen Fry quotes sums up what I think of as a big part of professional maturity, or maybe maturity more generally, "One of the greatest human failings is to prefer to be right than be effective"
I remember when I first heard of Twitter, I didn't see its potential at the time, it seemed a bit gimmicky and nerdy, but I have to admit, it's turned into an incredible vehicle to disingenuously misrepresent people you disagree with
January 7, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I remember when I first heard of Twitter, I didn't see its potential at the time, it seemed a bit gimmicky and nerdy, but I have to admit, it's turned into an incredible vehicle to disingenuously misrepresent people you disagree with
I created a new feed for people interested in leadership and working in leadership development - just tag any post with the #leadership hashtag and it will show up. Here is the feed, please pin it if you're into this of thing: bsky.app/profile/did:...
January 6, 2026 at 10:29 AM
I created a new feed for people interested in leadership and working in leadership development - just tag any post with the #leadership hashtag and it will show up. Here is the feed, please pin it if you're into this of thing: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Here's something I don't like: people who abandon chess games when they think they've lost. How fragile (or rude) do you need to be to not be able to face resigning?
January 6, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Here's something I don't like: people who abandon chess games when they think they've lost. How fragile (or rude) do you need to be to not be able to face resigning?
Christmas in Spain is tomorrow (6th of Jan) - well, Christmas is 25th December, but I mean "Kings Day" is the big deal, well, they're both big deals, but it's the more traditional big deal ... anyway, the point being that I am still not back at work ...
January 5, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Christmas in Spain is tomorrow (6th of Jan) - well, Christmas is 25th December, but I mean "Kings Day" is the big deal, well, they're both big deals, but it's the more traditional big deal ... anyway, the point being that I am still not back at work ...
The problem is that there are simply too many books I want to read
January 5, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The problem is that there are simply too many books I want to read
I have realised that I am very bad proof-reading
January 3, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I have realised that I am very bad proof-reading
Fruit news: someone brought me some dates from Abu Dhabi and they have raised the bar on what is possible in the fruit department. Other fruits need to up their game.
January 2, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Fruit news: someone brought me some dates from Abu Dhabi and they have raised the bar on what is possible in the fruit department. Other fruits need to up their game.
If you find yourself responding to somebody else's idea with "yes but, the problem with that is...." just stop talking.
December 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
If you find yourself responding to somebody else's idea with "yes but, the problem with that is...." just stop talking.
Just made a cup of tea but forgot to boil the water, turns out that's an important part of the process #AlwaysLearning
December 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Just made a cup of tea but forgot to boil the water, turns out that's an important part of the process #AlwaysLearning
Clocked off for Christmas yesterday, so today I have been idly checking my work phone for messages, it takes a few days to fully disengage - then there's about 10 days of proper leave before my life feels empty and devoid of purpose and I itch to get back to work
December 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Clocked off for Christmas yesterday, so today I have been idly checking my work phone for messages, it takes a few days to fully disengage - then there's about 10 days of proper leave before my life feels empty and devoid of purpose and I itch to get back to work
Something I use in learning is the idea of "Schrödinger's opinion" whereby you don't really know your own opinion on something until you are forced to articulate it (hence the importance of including space for conversation in learning experiences) #learning
December 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Something I use in learning is the idea of "Schrödinger's opinion" whereby you don't really know your own opinion on something until you are forced to articulate it (hence the importance of including space for conversation in learning experiences) #learning
Learning is not the passive consumption of content, it's a process that happens in your own head when you think, reflect, discuss, write etc. #learning
December 17, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Learning is not the passive consumption of content, it's a process that happens in your own head when you think, reflect, discuss, write etc. #learning
There is something about the action of clicking Send that suddenly endows me with excellent proofreading skills.
December 14, 2025 at 6:29 AM
There is something about the action of clicking Send that suddenly endows me with excellent proofreading skills.
Leadership means your decisions will have a bigger impact, but unfortunately leadership positions don't come with more knowledge & more wisdom. This means it becomes even more important to develop decision-making skills & listen to others - some leaders think the opposite is true #leadership
December 13, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Leadership means your decisions will have a bigger impact, but unfortunately leadership positions don't come with more knowledge & more wisdom. This means it becomes even more important to develop decision-making skills & listen to others - some leaders think the opposite is true #leadership
Most L&D people know this already, but a training course is not the same things as a PPT slide deck.
December 12, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Most L&D people know this already, but a training course is not the same things as a PPT slide deck.
That people think it's okay to watch crap on their phones without using headphones on public transport is a minor point in the grand scheme of things, but it's a tell that civilisation is fracturing - in the end it wasn't an asteroid that finished us off, it was TikTok
December 11, 2025 at 6:08 AM
That people think it's okay to watch crap on their phones without using headphones on public transport is a minor point in the grand scheme of things, but it's a tell that civilisation is fracturing - in the end it wasn't an asteroid that finished us off, it was TikTok
I still think they should remake The A Team
December 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I still think they should remake The A Team
Learning to have good conversations is one of the most important skills we can learn, and one of the most kind and generous acts we can perform. Too many conversations are really just one person broadcasting to a captive audience of one.
December 10, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Learning to have good conversations is one of the most important skills we can learn, and one of the most kind and generous acts we can perform. Too many conversations are really just one person broadcasting to a captive audience of one.
I'm surprised how many training models are still based on the idea that an all-knowing teacher will tell people stuff for a few days in order to give them a certificate.
December 9, 2025 at 6:08 AM
I'm surprised how many training models are still based on the idea that an all-knowing teacher will tell people stuff for a few days in order to give them a certificate.
I have the day off today! I plan to make the most of it by spending the day feeling guilty for not working.
December 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I have the day off today! I plan to make the most of it by spending the day feeling guilty for not working.