Synopsis
In this episode of The Smithfield Smackdown, Be chats with Ayse Bouvet, Chief People Officer, executive coach and startup mentor, about a growing leadership challenge she calls “job hugging” - when people stay in roles that no longer stretch or inspire them because the market feels uncertain or the risk of change feels too high.
Ayse explains that while leaders may think they’re being cautious, staying too long can dull performance, lower innovation, and quietly erode motivation in their teams. She shares her four categories of leadership, “stayers”, and the warning signs that suggest you might be in a job-hugging phase — over-delivering from fear, losing curiosity, or passively waiting for the market to improve. Her advice is simple: don’t wait for change to happen to you. Take charge, stay visible, and future-proof your skills.
The conversation also leans into the impact of AI literacy on leadership confidence. With so few professionals feeling supported to upskill in AI, both agree that businesses need to create real learning journeys, not just one-off workshops. For Ayse, the link is clear — the more advanced AI becomes, the greater the need for a human touch in leadership.
By the end, both Be and Ayse highlight a hopeful view of 2026 as a year where business leaders rediscover growth mindsets, invest in capability-building, and replace anxiety with curiosity. It’s a candid, reassuring reminder that proactive leadership — not job hugging — unlocks both personal and organisational growth.
Key Takeaways
- Job hugging keeps leaders stuck and limits business performance.
- Watch for early signs: over-compliance, lost ambition, or passive waiting.
- Take ownership of your next move - “no plan isn’t a plan.”
- Future-proof yourself: AI literacy is now leadership literacy.
- As technology scales, human connection and empathy matter more than ever.
