LOUISE GILBERT
Founder & Director

MAKE WORK WORK FOR YOU – NEW BOOK AVAILABLE NOW
Work-life boundaries, workplace stress, and team alignment aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the foundations of a healthier, more productive workplace. I recently had the chance to dive into these topics with Forbes, sharing insights from my book Make Work Work for You. We talked about everything from setting boundaries that protect your personal life to identifying your “stress language” and tackling systemic challenges in the workplace.
Go Big or Go Home, Right?
Forbes interviewed me about my new book, Make Work Work for You!
With over 150 million visitors globally every month, Forbes is one of the world’s leading business publications. When they reached out after reading my book, I was stoked. I quickly messaged Josh, my husband, and Dad to share the news – it’s not every day that Forbes comes knocking!
Writing Make Work Work for You wasn’t easy. It required deep reflection on nearly two decades of experience working with hundreds of organisations and thousands of people. My goal was to make the book engaging, practical, and grounded in research.
So, to have Forbes recognise the importance of my call for leaders to adopt contemporary practices that drive performance, growth, and wellbeing? That’s a big moment. It confirms what I’ve felt for a while – there’s a global appetite for meaningful change in how we approach work, and I’m here to help lead that shift.
Here’s a little of what I shared with them.
Work often spills into our personal lives—like a slow leak that quietly damages relationships, health, and meaning. During my Forbes interview, I talked about this challenge and the importance of setting boundaries to stop work from contaminating life. I introduced three types of boundaries that can help:
One story that sticks with me is of an executive who thought working from home three days a week would mean more quality time with his kids. Instead, he found himself constantly pacing poolside on work calls during their swimming lessons. His kids didn’t just want him physically present—they wanted his full attention.
Boundaries like these are essential to protect what matters most. Are yours strong enough?
Stress affects everyone differently, and recognising your unique “stress language” is a critical step in managing it. For some, stress shows up as snappiness or withdrawal. Others struggle with sleepless nights or find themselves turning to comfort food. In some cases, stress can amplify sensory responses, making noise or smells unbearable.
One of my favourite moments during my Forbes interview was discussing how small, genuine workplace interactions can make a big impact. I shared the story of a 45-second elevator conversation with a CEO who asked me, “How are you?”—and truly meant it. His presence and care were so authentic that it brought me to tears (the good kind!).
Recognising stress and fostering meaningful connections go hand in hand. What’s your stress language, and how do you connect with others to create moments of care?
In my Forbes interview, we explored the difference between “noise” and “need” in workplace challenges. A great example is the STEM company that thought cupcakes for International Women’s Day would solve their female retention problem. The noise was obvious—women were leaving. But the real need? Systemic change. Retention issues can’t be fixed with bakery treats.
Leaders need to dig deeper and ask: What’s the root cause of the challenge we’re facing? Surface-level solutions might feel satisfying in the moment, but they rarely address the deeper issues holding teams and organisations back.
Have you seen quick fixes replace real solutions in your workplace? Let’s discuss what it takes to tackle the need instead of just the noise.
One of the biggest challenges for today’s leaders is letting go of outdated, industrial-age practices. These old methods weren’t designed for the complexity of the modern workplace. To create meaningful change, leaders need to embrace contemporary approaches and step into system leadership roles—roles where they can address the interconnected challenges of performance, growth, and wellbeing.
The fact that Forbes spotlighted these ideas signals something important: the world is ready for a shift in how we think about work. Leaders have an opportunity to meet this moment and guide the transformation that so many organisations and teams are calling for.
Are you ready to rethink how work gets done in your organisation? Let’s have that conversation. I’d love nothing more than to explore how these ideas could create meaningful change in your workplace.
You can read the full Forbes interview here.
Founder & Director