Having fun at work isn’t always top of the agenda for senior leaders. But for Christian Pau, General Manager UK & Ireland at The Lego Group, getting the balance right between enjoyment and business challenges is an essential part of both personal and business success.

“What I realised quite early in my life was that I like to take responsibility and also that people trust me, sometimes even ask me to take responsibility.”

In the first part of our Leadership Unlocked podcast series, Christian speaks to Professor Bernd Vogel, Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership, about his leadership journey to an executive position at The Lego Group and what’s shaped his style and approach.

From making tough calls and navigating tensions in the toy/boardroom, through to the need to be (and show) your authentic self. And painfully learning to let go so your management team can thrive while the senior leader provides the guardrails.

And not forgetting the importance of managing your energy buckets (alongside THE bricks), and the role of family and close relationships.

“I think leadership is very much about empowering your team to be autonomous, to ensure they can deliver – and frankly sometimes to know when you need to get out of the way.”

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