Our Leadership Forum: Bringing leaders together for change

On Wednesday 24 June, More than 120 leaders from across health, social care, the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, and independent providers joined us at Windmill Farm in Lincoln for our Leadership Forum 2026: Conversation for Change event.

Martyn Parker, Assistant Director, Community Protection and Commissioning, Lincolnshire County Council, introduces the Leadership Forum.

The power of language

The heatwave tried to throw us off course. With melting train lines, our keynote speakers Tricia Nicoll and Bryony Shannon of Gloriously Ordinary Lives / Gloriously Ordinary Language couldn’t make it to Lincolnshire in person. But thanks to the power of technology, we were still able to see and hear them on the big screen, and their messages landed just as powerfully.

They challenged us to think differently. What does a “gloriously ordinary life” really mean? It’s not just about big moments, it’s about the everyday, the routines, the “mundane”, and the things that make your heart sing.

And then there was the “kitchen table test” - a simple but powerful idea:

Would you use this language around your kitchen table? Would you talk to your friends like this in the pub? If not, why do we use it at work?

That question really stayed with people.

Throughout the day, colleagues were encouraged to reflect on the language they use - in conversations, in letters, in reports.

Is it meaningful? Do people understand it? And most importantly, does it make people feel part of the conversation, or outside it?

The energy in the room was palpable - lots of discussion, plenty of networking, and really strong connections being made.

Moving from thinking to doing

In the afternoon, we turned our focus to co-production and what it really means to work with people, not just for them.

Again, Tricia and Bryony challenged us, this time to not overcomplicate things. If something adds value, just do it.

For many, that’s still a shift. There’s a growing appetite for co-production, but also a recognition that people may need more confidence, support, and guidance to fully embrace it. That’s where the It's All About People team can help - so, we’re always open to conversations or signposting to the right support.

We also highlighted the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System Co-production Framework, a practical guide that’s there to support this work in a meaningful way.

What really counts?

The final session of the day brought everything together with a simple but important reminder:

What is countable doesn’t always count.

We explored the importance of people’s stories, and how experiences, both good and bad, help us understand what’s really working.

Tony and Janet’s story of complex cancer care brought this to life powerfully. It highlighted not only what worked well, but also what absolutely didn’t, and from that, we were able to draw out themes that demonstrate real impact from the person’s perspective.

Because while it’s important to know how many people access a service, we always come back to the same question:

So what? What difference did it make?

Ending on a high (and a cool) note!

That brought us to the end of a long and very warm day (thank goodness for air conditioning!).

The feedback we received during and since the event has been really encouraging, highlighting the progress we’re making as leaders in putting people at the heart of everything we do.

What people are telling us

One of the most encouraging parts of the day has been hearing what people are going to do differently as a result of the conversations:

• Sharing the principles of Gloriously Ordinary Lives with their teams
• Keeping people’s words as they are, without translating them into “system language”
• Embedding co-production in every service, every time
• Being bolder and braver in championing co-production
• Making sure people’s stories are heard and valued
• Spreading the message that language really matters
• Leading with curiosity, kindness, and humanity

And perhaps most simply (and powerfully):

Be curious. Be kind. Be human. Be brave.

Key takeaways

Some really powerful reflections came through:

• People’s stories are far more powerful than our systems often recognise.
• The 'mundane' moments matter just as much as the ones that make our hearts sing.
• Language is more than words. And co-production starts before we even begin.
• We need to keep asking: "Is what we’re offering actually making a difference?"

And one reflection that really stayed with us:

• “We are the system.”

A simple sentence, but one that’s prompted real determination to keep challenging what doesn’t work - and to think differently about the part each of us can play in making things better.