How to resolve AdBlock issue? Andrew Horsfield helps business leaders through ‘the messy middle’
By Leon Gettler, Talking Business >>
MANY BUSINESSES and people are struggling to cope with problems in what consultant Andrew Horsfield calls the “messy middle”.
Andrew Horsfield has set up a special lab – a private community of people from different roles, industries and life stages who come together to connect, interact and be inspired.
Mr Horsfield has spent two decades working with leaders across business, education and elite sport to reveal how high performers navigate what he calls that “messy middle”, the space between where you are and where you want to be, when progress feels out of your control.
“I think there’s a great opportunity in that messy middle because it’s giving us a nice sign that we’re on to something and doing some valuable work aa opposed to it being a hassle, negative or a grind,” Mr Horsfield told Talking Business.
“So the messy middle is an exciting space, it’s a signal that we’re on to something pretty important that we’re trying to create for ourselves.” 
Labs can test plans and outcomes
Mr Horsfield said the lab he develops composed of a community of people who turn up and who want to apply tools and frameworks “and have conversations about how we live, lead and work well so that we’re doing this on an ongoing basis as opposed to a one off training every quarter and go back to business as usual”.
He said one of the keys to the lab has been to give people “good allies”.
“We need people who are supportive of us, we need our truth tellers who can tell us there’s a pattern of behaviour we’re not seeing,” Mr Horsfield said.
“We need to have people who are giving us robust support when we are stepping into challenge or opportunity.
“To make sure we have people around us who have our best interests at heart.
“That’s part of what the lab creates. Really interesting curious people who are there going after their goals and who will support other people going after theirs.”
Mr Horsfield said the lab attracted certain kinds of people.
“A lot of people who are in the lab or who are thinking of joining the lab potentially are in demanding roles,” he said.
“They’re leaders of organisations, they’re under pressure at work. They’re often contributing to the community.
“This is a chance for people to reset once a month, to be able to take stock, re-evaluate what they’re doing and get energy back in the tank for the weeks and months ahead.”
Important to get face-to-face time
Mr Horsfield said people come together in the lab once a month face-to-face. There are also master classes with global experts for 45 minute to one-hour sessions, with advice and Q&As. All of these extra elements are done using Zoom.
Mr Hosfield provides some coaching himself. There are also extras like 12-minute book reviews and audio casts.
“We give people the skills when they need it as opposed to coming for a regular drumbeat once a month,” he said.
“The room is where people are having answers with each other, working with each other. Collaborating is part of where the energy comes, so feedback from the lab is [important],” he said. 
“People leave with nor just ideas but a whole lot of energy for the issue they’re trying to work through or the opportunity they’re trying to take.”
Hear the complete interview and catch up with other topical business news on Leon Gettler’s Talking Business podcast, released every Friday at www.acast.com/talkingbusiness
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