London, UK — Nov 29, 2025 — As workplaces grapple with burnout, disconnection, and disengagement, veteran leadership consultant Graham Stickland issues a timely wake-up call with his debut book, Contact: Timeless Stories and Strategies for Management, a field guide for managers who must evolve from controllers to enablers in today’s Employee-Centric Era.
“We’ve entered a new era of work where power has shifted from the organization to the individual. Managers must evolve from controllers to enablers if they want to inspire loyalty and performance,” writes Stickland.
Drawing on more than three decades of work with global leaders, Stickland blends research, storytelling, and practical strategy to redefine the manager’s role for a post-pandemic world. He argues that great management begins not with control, but with connection, and that cultivating trust, purpose, and clarity is the only way to lead teams who demand flexibility, empathy, and meaning in their work.
At a time when 82 percent of UK managers step into their roles with no formal training and global employee engagement sits at just 21 percent, Contact makes the case for nothing less than a management revolution. Stickland shows readers how to “let go and enable,” design environments that create opportunity rather than threat, and build cultures where high standards and humanity coexist.
Organized in four parts — It Really Is All About Others; Connect and Build Strong Relationships; Team Up, Level Up; and Simplify, Don’t Complexify — the book replaces command-and-control with repeatable rhythms that build trust and results without burnout.
“Managers who can build trust, align purpose, and simplify complexity will shape the future of work. Those who cling to control will be left behind,” says Stickland, whose London-based firm, Contact Consulting, has coached leaders across industries from luxury and retail to public service.
Advance Praise for Contact
“Contact replaces ‘measurement mania’ with meaningful contribution. It’s a reset for leaders who want engagement, not just dashboards.”
— Maureen Lippe, Media Powerhouse and author of Radical Reinvention
“Stickland replaces control with connection, offering practical strategies — clear agreements, courageous conversations, and outcome-focused autonomy — that lift performance across cultures and time zones.”
— Brendan Hall, author of Team Spirit and winning captain, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
“Finally, there’s a book that recognizes employment as a give-and-take relationship with the emphasis on give. Contact translates that reality into real expectations for the modern workplace.”
— Chris Olshan, CEO, The Luxury Council
“Contact is the essential handbook for modern leaders who want to build a high-performance culture rooted in trust and engagement.”
— Clare Wright, Chief People Officer
About the Author
Graham Stickland is the founder and director of Contact Consulting (UK), an international management consultancy specializing in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational culture. A graduate of the University of Durham and trained at the London Gestalt Centre, he has spent more than thirty years helping organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas cultivate capable, human-centered leaders. Contact is his debut book.
Why Management Needs a Makeover—Graham Stickland’s Contact Redefines
Leadership for the Employee-Centric Era