Simon Pickles
@sipickles.bsky.social
Progressive politics, pizza, cycling, net zero, Reluctant Leadership blog: https://reluctantleadership.substack.com/
Pinned
Simon Pickles
@sipickles.bsky.social
· Jul 16
Reluctant Leadership | Simon Pickles | Substack
The hardest part of tech is people. Click to read Reluctant Leadership, by Simon Pickles, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.
reluctantleadership.substack.com
My blog, Reluctant Leadership, is for engineers who accidentally became managers. Honest reflections, mildly unhinged ramblings, and practical advice on leading humans without losing your mind or credibility. The hardest part of tech is people.
reluctantleadership.substack.com
reluctantleadership.substack.com
It's taken a while but I'm writing again. Perhaps its a barometer for some sort of internal weather.
A new window opens: "AI Notetaker". There are now three of you in this 1:1.
My new article explores where AI works and where it doesn't.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/living-in-...
My new article explores where AI works and where it doesn't.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/living-in-...
Living in the invisible
The one meeting I keep AI-free
reluctantleadership.substack.com
August 5, 2026 at 8:19 PM
It's taken a while but I'm writing again. Perhaps its a barometer for some sort of internal weather.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Interesting day for Blair to launch his advice to 'abandon net zero'.
Today is now the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1°C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9°C 🌡️
May 27, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Interesting day for Blair to launch his advice to 'abandon net zero'.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Blimey. This petition is now is now at almost 98,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 today and have that debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
May 27, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Blimey. This petition is now is now at almost 98,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 today and have that debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Stunned, appalled, shocked etc to see actual tax reform from a politician. This from Wes Streeting today.
A thread on why capital gains tax is broken. It's too low AND too high. & why this is a good proposal.
A thread on why capital gains tax is broken. It's too low AND too high. & why this is a good proposal.
May 21, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Stunned, appalled, shocked etc to see actual tax reform from a politician. This from Wes Streeting today.
A thread on why capital gains tax is broken. It's too low AND too high. & why this is a good proposal.
A thread on why capital gains tax is broken. It's too low AND too high. & why this is a good proposal.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
For one, brief, shining moment, it looked like economic literacy, security and sanity were all coming back into fashion.
May 18, 2026 at 5:41 PM
For one, brief, shining moment, it looked like economic literacy, security and sanity were all coming back into fashion.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
@iandunt.bsky.social on our brand new report 🇪🇺
"Customs union is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future."
"Rejoining the EU is the cleanest political argument and the strongest economic argument but it has a weakness."
"Customs union is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future."
"Rejoining the EU is the cleanest political argument and the strongest economic argument but it has a weakness."
Rejoin is coming
Customs union is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future.
iandunt.substack.com
April 17, 2026 at 1:10 PM
@iandunt.bsky.social on our brand new report 🇪🇺
"Customs union is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future."
"Rejoining the EU is the cleanest political argument and the strongest economic argument but it has a weakness."
"Customs union is a distraction. Only full membership offers a compelling vision of Britain's future."
"Rejoining the EU is the cleanest political argument and the strongest economic argument but it has a weakness."
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Christian Nationalism is a Cult of Convenience
April 17, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Christian Nationalism is a Cult of Convenience
Reposted by Simon Pickles
In the 1930s, Oswald Mosley claimed to be a patriot, while his British Union of Fascists was secretly funded by the Italian government. We are just beginning to grasp how much of the far right in the UK today has been funded by Viktor Orbán and Russian oil money.
Their "patriotism" is always a con.
Their "patriotism" is always a con.
April 14, 2026 at 9:09 AM
In the 1930s, Oswald Mosley claimed to be a patriot, while his British Union of Fascists was secretly funded by the Italian government. We are just beginning to grasp how much of the far right in the UK today has been funded by Viktor Orbán and Russian oil money.
Their "patriotism" is always a con.
Their "patriotism" is always a con.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
The Mail poll in the article is now showing 69% for rejoining the EU, 23% for staying out. I'm sure the Mail and is owners are very excited about that result. 😂
Feel free to add your vote.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Feel free to add your vote.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Hungary's new PM urges Starmer to rejoin EU amid push to unwind Brexit
Péter Magyar, who defeated Viktor Orbán in a stunning result overnight, said he 'hoped' the UK would become a member state again.
www.dailymail.co.uk
April 15, 2026 at 4:25 AM
The Mail poll in the article is now showing 69% for rejoining the EU, 23% for staying out. I'm sure the Mail and is owners are very excited about that result. 😂
Feel free to add your vote.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Feel free to add your vote.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Vance says that stopping funding for Ukraine is one of his proudest achievements in this administration.
I’m watching this stunningly cruel speech from Ukraine, as Russia continues to kills us every day. Just today, they killed 8-year-old boy in Cherkasy and five people in Dnipro.
I’m watching this stunningly cruel speech from Ukraine, as Russia continues to kills us every day. Just today, they killed 8-year-old boy in Cherkasy and five people in Dnipro.
April 15, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Vance says that stopping funding for Ukraine is one of his proudest achievements in this administration.
I’m watching this stunningly cruel speech from Ukraine, as Russia continues to kills us every day. Just today, they killed 8-year-old boy in Cherkasy and five people in Dnipro.
I’m watching this stunningly cruel speech from Ukraine, as Russia continues to kills us every day. Just today, they killed 8-year-old boy in Cherkasy and five people in Dnipro.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
on a scale of 1 to 100, my support for democracy and protecting everyone's right to vote is 99. but i admit it used to be 100 before reading some of your tweets
April 10, 2026 at 4:52 PM
on a scale of 1 to 100, my support for democracy and protecting everyone's right to vote is 99. but i admit it used to be 100 before reading some of your tweets
Reposted by Simon Pickles
i hope the white house sends vance to campaign for Reform in britain
April 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM
i hope the white house sends vance to campaign for Reform in britain
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Good. The wreckers have been setting the agenda for too long.
Britain could adopt single market rules without MPs’ vote as part of UK-EU reset
Exclusive: Ministers planning new legislation for alignment without full parliamentary scrutiny if in national interest
www.theguardian.com
April 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Good. The wreckers have been setting the agenda for too long.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Given the huge early turnout in Hungary odds seem very high that Magyar wil defeat Orbán very decisively; the question in that case would be whether Orbán goes with the Ukrainian electoral interference lie he has been preparing and whether foreign actors support him.
April 12, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Given the huge early turnout in Hungary odds seem very high that Magyar wil defeat Orbán very decisively; the question in that case would be whether Orbán goes with the Ukrainian electoral interference lie he has been preparing and whether foreign actors support him.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Farage has called for NHS privatization three times.
Under that system:
• Cancer treatment bankrupts you
• Heart surgery costs your home
• Lifetime prescriptions drain your savings
Under that system:
• Cancer treatment bankrupts you
• Heart surgery costs your home
• Lifetime prescriptions drain your savings
April 12, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Farage has called for NHS privatization three times.
Under that system:
• Cancer treatment bankrupts you
• Heart surgery costs your home
• Lifetime prescriptions drain your savings
Under that system:
• Cancer treatment bankrupts you
• Heart surgery costs your home
• Lifetime prescriptions drain your savings
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Oil price is spiking this morning. Three major implications:
1) Makes life less affordable here. Bad news for democracy.
2) Russia will get more revenue from oil sales
3) Time for us to get off these fossil fuels
1) Makes life less affordable here. Bad news for democracy.
2) Russia will get more revenue from oil sales
3) Time for us to get off these fossil fuels
March 2, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Oil price is spiking this morning. Three major implications:
1) Makes life less affordable here. Bad news for democracy.
2) Russia will get more revenue from oil sales
3) Time for us to get off these fossil fuels
1) Makes life less affordable here. Bad news for democracy.
2) Russia will get more revenue from oil sales
3) Time for us to get off these fossil fuels
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Nigel Farage claims that he's fighting the Greens.
But for weeks now he's refused to debate me.
Reform know Gorton & Denton are ready to vote for the Green Party.
But for weeks now he's refused to debate me.
Reform know Gorton & Denton are ready to vote for the Green Party.
January 31, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Nigel Farage claims that he's fighting the Greens.
But for weeks now he's refused to debate me.
Reform know Gorton & Denton are ready to vote for the Green Party.
But for weeks now he's refused to debate me.
Reform know Gorton & Denton are ready to vote for the Green Party.
Managers are legacy systems with zero documentation. They run on caffeine and anxiety.
I wrote a guide on how to reverse engineer the 5 most common configurations (including the Polling Loop and the Random Number Generator).
Build the interface: reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/your-manag...
I wrote a guide on how to reverse engineer the 5 most common configurations (including the Polling Loop and the Random Number Generator).
Build the interface: reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/your-manag...
Your Manager is a System. They Need an API
A systems-thinking guide to navigating human bottlenecks
reluctantleadership.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Managers are legacy systems with zero documentation. They run on caffeine and anxiety.
I wrote a guide on how to reverse engineer the 5 most common configurations (including the Polling Loop and the Random Number Generator).
Build the interface: reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/your-manag...
I wrote a guide on how to reverse engineer the 5 most common configurations (including the Polling Loop and the Random Number Generator).
Build the interface: reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/your-manag...
Reposted by Simon Pickles
Trump has told the UK that if we want to revive a failing UK-US tech pact, we need to start buying chlorinated chicken from the US!
Say no, please sign the petition!
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/chlorine...
Say no, please sign the petition!
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/chlorine...
Sign the petition to keep chlorine-washed chicken off our shelves
Here we go again. Trump has told the UK that if we want a UK-US tech deal, we need to buy chlorinated chicken from the US! 🤢🐔 How dare he try to impose poor food standards in Britain. Sign the petitio...
act.38degrees.org.uk
January 4, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Trump has told the UK that if we want to revive a failing UK-US tech pact, we need to start buying chlorinated chicken from the US!
Say no, please sign the petition!
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/chlorine...
Say no, please sign the petition!
act.38degrees.org.uk/act/chlorine...
Reposted by Simon Pickles
It is December 31st. You are tired. You are probably mostly cheese.
Do not make a New Year's resolution to do more.
Here is the gentle art of doing less in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/reluctan...
Do not make a New Year's resolution to do more.
Here is the gentle art of doing less in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/reluctan...
The "Stop Doing" List (and why you need one)
The Gentle Art of Doing Less in 2026
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:41 AM
It is December 31st. You are tired. You are probably mostly cheese.
Do not make a New Year's resolution to do more.
Here is the gentle art of doing less in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/reluctan...
Do not make a New Year's resolution to do more.
Here is the gentle art of doing less in 2026.
open.substack.com/pub/reluctan...
This was a lot of fun to write. The cathartic ones are the best.
Doomed startups always rhyme:
• Panic pivots
• Imaginary customers
• CEO manifesting cashflow
• DevOps sensing doom first
I pulled the highlights into one guide, for anyone who’s ever thought “that’s odd…” before it imploded.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
• Panic pivots
• Imaginary customers
• CEO manifesting cashflow
• DevOps sensing doom first
I pulled the highlights into one guide, for anyone who’s ever thought “that’s odd…” before it imploded.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
The Canary in the S3 Bucket
A slightly traumatised guide to startup oblivion
reluctantleadership.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This was a lot of fun to write. The cathartic ones are the best.
Reposted by Simon Pickles
New post: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
A field guide to spotting when your startup is… not fine.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
A field guide to spotting when your startup is… not fine.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
New post: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
A field guide to spotting when your startup is… not fine.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
A field guide to spotting when your startup is… not fine.
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
I finally wrote up all the startup red flags I’ve collected over the years.
Some funny. Some painful.
It’s live: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
Some funny. Some painful.
It’s live: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
November 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I finally wrote up all the startup red flags I’ve collected over the years.
Some funny. Some painful.
It’s live: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
Some funny. Some painful.
It’s live: The Canary in the S3 Bucket
reluctantleadership.substack.com/p/the-canary...
You can get my Engineering Manager OS from the Notion marketplace now. I'd love to hear how it helps you.
Lead with confidence.
The Reluctant Leadership Engineering Manager OS is now available as a Notion template, making it easier than ever to use.
www.notion.com/en-gb/templa...
The Reluctant Leadership Engineering Manager OS is now available as a Notion template, making it easier than ever to use.
www.notion.com/en-gb/templa...
Reluctant Leadership Engineering Manager OS Template | Notion Marketplace
A Notion operating system to help you transition seamlessly into effective leadership while staying true to your technical roots. With practical insights and relatable experiences, you will lead teams...
www.notion.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM
You can get my Engineering Manager OS from the Notion marketplace now. I'd love to hear how it helps you.