<div class="gn-article"><div class="gn-hero gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-hero__image"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fa71015e74b2911dc1c9d9_james-p-whats-the-one-thing-banner-68dd195e90403284023197.jpeg" alt=""></div> <div class="gn-hero__head"> <span class="gn-kicker"><span class="dot"></span>Expression</span> <h1 class="gn-title">What&#39;s the One Thing? ... with James Peacock - Strategic Media &amp; Communications Expert</h1> <div class="gn-meta"> <strong>The GO Network</strong> <span class="pip"></span> <span>1 October 2025</span> <span class="pip"></span> <span>3 min read</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gn-body"> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb006589cfd288fcf8e45_69fcb0015d8bf15349813e71_picture62-68dd0bb77c576428551782.png" alt="James Peacock - Strategic Media & Communications Expert"></div> <figcaption>James Peacock, Strategic Media &amp; Communications Expert</figcaption> </figure> <p class="gn-lede gn-reveal"><em>James Peacock is a strategic business leader with over 20 years' experience spanning editorial, production, communications, and content strategy across sport, media, and publishing.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>He began his career as a journalist before moving into senior editorial and production roles at the BBC, where he led content across high-profile projects in both London and Manchester. He went on to hold leadership roles at BBC 5Live, Super League, and leading podcast agency Folding Pocket/Platform Media, where he oversaw commercial growth, content operations, and strategic media development.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>Now working as an independent consultant, James advises senior figures across sport and business on how to use media to build visibility, engagement, and long-term value.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>With a Master's in Sport Directorship and a proven track record building high-performing teams, James brings a rare blend of creative thinking and commercial clarity to every challenge, helping brands and leaders unlock their voice in a crowded landscape.</em></p> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">Who is the one person from your early career that shaped how you work today, and how?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Twenty-five years ago, I left a job in the city to start a journalism career. People thought I was mad.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">The person who gave me my first job at a local newspaper was a news editor called Peter Ormerod. His writing was (and is) more beautiful and more interesting than anyone else's, but he also understood the power of storytelling like no one I had ever met at that stage of my career. He saw the world differently, and he could explain why, and I thought that was a magical skill. A great teacher and mentor, even now I seek his advice and opinion on lots of the things I work on.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">The other important thing it showed me is that the greatest potential can be found anywhere, and I think that has really helped me with the people I have gone to hire and trust.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb006589cfd288fcf8e3d_69fcb0031f08efe9336ccfe6_screenshot-2025-10-01-114645-68dd0bb6eae45665425855.png" alt="James Peacock interview"></div> <figcaption>James Peacock on the people who shaped his career.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one thing you do when you're stuck or need clarity?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Easy, I swim. That is my Blue Room theory.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Working in a creative industry, it is very important to have a space away from the chaos to order things out in your own mind. A combination of exercise, controlled, almost meditative breathing, and the methodical, monotonous nature of swimming helps almost everything make sense to me.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb005589cfd288fcf8e39_69fcb0030cc43485006f2a78_bluemindtheory-01-68dd0bb700c8a404371360.jpeg" alt="Blue Room theory"></div> <figcaption>The Blue Room theory: swimming as a creative reset.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one thing outside of work that's influenced your career most, and why?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Sport generally, rugby specifically.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">I have been lucky that a lot of my professional life has been spent in sport, but sometimes in business you are only as good as the network around you, and I have rugby to thank for a strong network of people to support, advise, network, and socialise with.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">I have also spent most of the past 15 years in coaching roles, which has helped my understanding of team dynamics and has been instrumental in guiding my coaching approach to leadership.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb006589cfd288fcf8e41_69fcb004fda8211fa387cac6_screenshot-2025-10-01-115656-68dd0bb7344f2799102094.png" alt="Rugby and leadership"></div> <figcaption>Rugby: the network and coaching experience that shaped James Peacock's leadership style.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one skill or mindset the next generation will need that we're not teaching enough?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Great question. And not sure I have the answer.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">With AI advancing faster than most people can process, it's already reshaping our jobs, laws, relationships, and politics, the need for people to understand that people are still the best thing in any workplace, team, pub, or society is a mindset shift that I would like to see happen.</p> <aside class="gn-quote gn-reveal"><q>The art of conversation. Get people talking, young people I come across are not always great at that.</q><cite>James Peacock · Strategic Media &amp; Communications Expert</cite></aside> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one thing you secretly judge people for in a meeting, and why?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Jargonistas (the circle back, move forward, high level, take offline crew etc).</p> <p class="gn-reveal">You know immediately if you are in a room with a serious operator/decision maker by the language they use.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">And, yes, I judge them for it. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb8b83577f227cab60355_69fcb8b66062c2e0459b9e10_d437c1b8694cfb91314dd09afabac61629-02-14-corporate-speak-lede-2-2x-rsocial-w600-.webp" alt="Corporate speak"></div> <figcaption>Corporate jargon: a tell-tale sign, according to James Peacock.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">And finally: what's the one "What's the one thing" question you would like to see us ask future guests?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">What is the one professional shocker that you can't let go?</p> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <p class="gn-reveal">From local newsrooms to boardrooms, coaching pitches to production sets, his answers are a reminder that great leadership isn't about making the most noise, it's about clarity, empathy, and knowing when to take a step back to move things forward.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">If you'd like to take part in <em>What's the One Thing?</em>, we'd love to hear from you. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thegonetwork.fillout.com/whats-the-one-thing"><strong>Submit your thoughts here.</strong></a></p> <p class="gn-reveal">Thanks for reading <em>What's the One Thing?</em></p> </div></div>