byDiffusion

Why does #OneForTheCity exist? 💭 As a group of individuals connected to #Leeds in different ways, we saw a societal shift and the need for a more #InclusiveEconomy. As part of the powerful #BusinessCommunity we wanted to regenerate opportunity for the people of Leeds, powered by the businesses of Leeds - with consistency. It was founders Mike Quate and Sat Mann who brought us together, with byDiffusion being the first business member to commit 1% to the shared vision, now the One for the City fund. Since then we've really taken shape with the team working hard to drive us forward, engage more business members and champion business as a force for good Caroline Broad, Guy Utley, Anna Ashford, Katherine Megson, Rachel Smith FCA Here's a little on how you can achieve both profit and purpose from the ByDiffusion team.

What do Pixar, skiing kids, and smart businesses have in common? They fail—on purpose. Pixar’s Ed Catmull said: “Early on, all of our movies suck.” Films like Up became what they are because the early versions failed. They didn’t pretend to get it right first time. They rewrote, reworked, and in doing so, created something great. Because failure isn’t a flaw in the creative process—it is the process. Rewriting. Rebuilding. Getting better by getting it wrong first. This week, I’m with our client Max Ski - they run school trips. Watching kids on a ski tour fall over, laugh, get back up, try again—and love every second of it. That’s resilience. That’s progress. That’s learning. And honestly? That’s business. Small steps. Safe stumbles. Honest reflection. That’s how we reduce risk and build resilience. Falling isn’t the problem. Staying down is. ------------------------------------------------------ I’m Mike, a cofounder of byDiffusion and One for the City. We help businesses change and grow, evolve and transform — with people at the heart. We're your partner for what’s next, unlocking value for your teams and your customers. Let’s connect. If you’re navigating change or planning for growth, we’d love to explore how we can help.

When Sat and I set up byDiffusion we had a clear goal: make consultancy more accessible. We wanted to support the leaders who need it most — the ones in the thick of it, growing and running brilliant small and medium-sized businesses. They don’t have endless budgets. They can’t drop five-figure retainers with big consultancies. But they do have ambition, drive, and a need for trusted support to help them scale. SMEs make up 99.9% of UK businesses, employing millions and generating over half of private sector turnover. They truly are the lifeblood of the economy — and yet too often, they’re priced out of the help they need. The reality is, finding the cash to invest is hard — especially when you’re juggling everything that comes with running a business. But the leaders we work with get it. They know that to grow, you have to invest. And we’re here to make sure that investment delivers — not just in the long term, but from day one. Because from day one, we said we’d build this differently. We’re not here to fill seats. We’re not chasing billable hours. We’re here to build your business — and that’s how we grow ours. Two years on, that mission still drives everything. And today, I’m boarding a flight to meet one of those clients — a brilliant team whose business is flying. We started with just a few hours a month. Now I’m meeting them on the slopes for one of their last trips of the season. I absolutely love what we do. And I’m proud — deeply proud — of what we’ve helped our clients achieve. ---------------------------------------------- I’m Mike, a cofounder of byDiffusion and One for the City. We help businesses change and grow, evolve and transform — with people at the heart. We're your partner for what’s next, unlocking value for your teams and your customers. Let’s connect. If you’re navigating change or planning for growth, we’d love to explore how we can help.

We've had a busy start to 2025 with lots more to come. We'd love for you to join us at one of our upcoming Change Leadership events. Drop us a DM if you'd like to find out more.

We're looking forward to being part of this conversation with the Skipton Group at this months Leeds Digital event! Grab a ticket using the link below 👇

A couple of weeks ago I was part of a discussion on the art and science of change. It was a brilliant conversation where we got to the heart of the most important advice for leaders of organisational change. There's no getting away from it. Change affects us all, every day. But there's a big shift at play, here are some of the macro factors that we're all getting our heads around: 🌍 Net zero 👩🦳 Aging population 🚊 Need for infrastructure investment 🦿 AI and technological development So what does this mean for organisations, leaders and every one of us? 👉 We need different skills for this next phase of the evolution of work. Specifically human skills, to coach the social and emotional interactions that enable critical thinking, problem solving and complex processing (alongside the Tech skills). Us humans need an upgrade so we can live with change as a constant. In the past we've focused on developing the IQ and EQ of leaders. But now is the time to focus on our Physical Intelligence. We need leaders who are skilled in understanding their own PI and their team's PI to give us a better chance of landing essential changes. Here's why: 🧪 If we understand the chemicals, hormones and neurotransmitters at play in our bodies, we can manage change in a sequence that humans are more receptive to 🧪 It all starts with change that is grounded in trust through building oxytocin. This fosters a team who are connected and psychologically safe. 🧪 By actively boosting serotonin, teams engage with changes, think creatively and can adapt to shifts. This is where an organisation and their people evolve together. 🧪 Action is then fueled by dopamine. Consciously building motivation and energy to sustain change is where things come together and can be maintained. If you'd like to understand the science of how to drive and motivate change in our body and mind, I'd love to hear from you. It's given me a handbook for my own body that I wish I had years ago! Thankyou Claire Dale for sharing your science backed knowledge. Now I know why a walk in the spring sunshine makes me feel so alive. 😃 #change #transformation #physicalintelligence #coaching #coachingculture

I was reminded this week of the importance of energy and how we show up. Because how we show up is the work. That’s the energy. Not the hustle kind. Not the toxic positivity kind. But the kind of energy that changes the room. The energy you bring when you walk into a meeting and people feel seen. When you listen deeply, challenge with care, and make complexity feel a little lighter. When your presence helps others find their voice, their clarity, their own momentum. At byDiffusion our strapline is: We bring the energy. And it’s not just a tagline — it’s a principle. We bring energy to change, through people. To help leaders show up with purpose. To help teams reconnect with what matters. To help transformation feel less like a process, and more like a movement. Because energy is contagious. And when you use it with intention — it unlocks possibility. __________________________________________ I'm Mike, a cofounder of byDiffusion and One for the City. We help businesses change and grow, evolve and transform—with people at the heart. We're your partner for what’s next, unlocking value for your teams and your customers. Let’s connect. If you’re navigating change or planning for growth, we’d love to explore how we can help.

Last week in Leeds we held a Change Leadership Breakfast on 'The Art and Science of Change' where we explored some big themes: - The role of leadership in change, EQ vs. IQ - Overcoming resistance to change - Innovation, disruption and AI - The role of data vs. intuition - How to sustain change over time We heard great insights from our panel who shared their ongoing experience of leading change. Their advice on 'how' to lead and deliver covered: - Inspiring vision: Telling a compelling story to drive aspiration - Adaptive culture: Embrace change as a constant - People-centric growth: Support growth, even with discomfort - Customer & colleague focus: Use feedback to shape the future - Sustainable, agile pace: Measure progress effectively - Outcome-driven ROI: Emphasising results over mere outputs We heard this with a strong does of reality about change and all of the nuance and challenge it brings. Following the event I read an article by John Kotter about the power of adaptive culture and it anchored our discussion even more. It is clear the pace and complexity of change is growing at an exponential rate and it is incumbent on companies and leaders to embrace it. Summarised in the article: 'An adaptive culture, intentionally shaped through action and consistent behaviour, is a game-changer. It's not just about surviving change; it's about thriving in it.' Thanks to Kate Rodi Macs Dickinson Stephanie Rix for inspiring such a energising discussion and sharing some real nuggets for action. Thanks Mike Quate and Catherine Boddington PCC for helping to glue the session together and of course to all our attendees, without whom it would have been a lot less fun! Change is our passion at byDiffusion and we love hearing about your experience and challenges. The coffee is always on us so make it an action to get in touch and we will listen 😊

Another fantastic event yesterday in Leeds. It was great to welcome some new faces too! For those of you who don't know Elastic Minds is a monthly running group focused on movement, connection, and men's mental health. We meet on the last Thursday of each month for an inclusive run, followed by a brew and open conversation in a safe, supportive space. Here's a glimpse into what Elastic Minds is all about—real people, real chats, and the power of getting out for a run together. Whether you’re struggling, thriving, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome here. 🧠 Run. Connect. Reflect. 📍 Based in Leeds 📅 Last Thursday of every month ☕ Coffee & conversation after every run #ElasticMinds #MensMentalHealth #RunAndTalk #CommunityRunning Sign up For April here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ejKNKaBh

So, how do we, at byDiffusion help companies with transformation? We believe in: - Action, not just plans - Real-world impact, not just theory - Empowering your team to be self-sufficient We underpin our work using modern approaches such as Agile, Service Design, and Product Management. We cut through the noise and deliver actionable insights. We're about building sustainable change, not creating more presentations full of jargon and fluff. Change is constant, it happens without us knowing. I was reminded of that this morning when I stopped in the park to admire the morning sun, a new day to be embraced. Enjoy the weekend people 😊