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September 19, 2020

Leading With Vulnerability – Essential or Desirable Trait?

Leading with vulnerability is a competence I’m aware I must display, in my position. If we don’t lead from the front then we’re following someone else’s agenda. Similarly, we’re adopting their values and their leadership style. Or, at the very least we’re not challenging it. To my mind that’s leaving […]
April 30, 2020

Leadership Style is Critical in Unprecedented Times

Yes, your leadership style in a crisis is paramount to the organisation’s survival. You could argue these are not, in fact, unprecedented times. We could all quote situations that caused a downturn in the business. Some will have spotted the opportunity to come out of that. Others will have found […]
November 11, 2017

When Leadership Traits Derail Business Success

Demonstrating leadership traits is not the prerogative of CEOs and MDs; or their leadership teams. In fact, it is the responsibility of everybody in your employ. In setting the mission, vision and values you decide what’s important, in terms of leadership traits and behaviours. And companies that are successful have […]
September 8, 2017

The Overwhelming Temptation to Micro-Manage!

Business leaders are proactive individuals. So, the need to interfere can be compelling! And yet, to micro-manage is to stifle creativity. More than that, we risk disenfranchising members of our leadership team. And we risk losing the good will of our people. We know that’s not how people learn or […]
August 25, 2017

Why is Humility Such a Challenge for Business Leaders?

When I think of humility I think of people like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. They are larger-than-life personalities. Their humility is surreal; a brand of leadership in its own right. I wouldn’t know where to begin emulating people like that, quite frankly. Feeling congruent comes to mind […]
August 11, 2017

The Invaluable Nature of Executive Coaching

Through Executive Coaching I understand only too well the importance of having clarity about what you want; and an evidence base for success. Armed with that knowledge I’ve still made life hard for myself, on occasion! And I’ve moved on an aspiration without having all the ingredients in place that […]
June 9, 2017

Effective Leaders can Translate Strategy Into Practice!

Research has shown that the biggest continuous challenge faced by CEOs is the ability to keep all plates spinning in the here and now, whilst planning for the future. And effective leaders know how to do that. Typically, leaders are better at one than the other. Those of you who’ve […]
March 21, 2017

When Business Growth Scuppers Exemplary Leadership

Exemplary leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. You’re busy, working flat out and at times meeting yourself coming backwards. I get that. Or maybe you believe you’re best placed to be out on the road. Since closing deals or serving customers brings some satisfaction. And at least you’re acting on […]
March 10, 2017

Executive Development Requires a Flexible Approach

Executive development is the preserve of the top 5% to 10% of the organisation. And that membership has a tendency to morph and change over time; until eventually you end up with a well functioning team – at least that’s the plan! To begin with there has to be (at […]
March 3, 2017

Developing a Leadership Pipeline That Works

There are different ways to nurture the leadership pipeline in your organisation. Your approach may not work for everyone. And yet the only views that matter belong to the people who work for you. Eddie Jones, England rugby union coach, calls the players that come off the bench ‘finishers’ rather […]
February 3, 2017

Transformational Leadership Expected of Women and Appreciated in Men!

The research says we expect women everywhere to do transformational leadership rather than transactional leadership. We assume that women will be nurturing to their teams and be team players. Furthermore we anticipate they’ll bring people on and that they’ll take on all those developmental roles in the organisation. And they […]
January 20, 2017

Underestimate Self-Knowledge at Your Peril!

Executives and senior managers cannot afford to underestimate the importance of self-knowledge. Failure to face reality can destroy your career and your business. Usually, when I ask a company director for their biggest challenge, you tell me that once you reach that new level in the organisation, you stop receiving feedback. […]
January 7, 2017

Succession Planning Fails Without Leadership Development!

Do you and your organisation approach succession planning proactively?Have you identified the person who will take over from you? And do they know?! Professional athletes train hard. That’s a given. Of some we are in awe – take a bow Sir Andy Murray! And yet, putting the most hours in […]
November 19, 2016

Think of Yourself as a Transformational Leader? Forget About the Detail!

Have you ever started out in a position conducive to you being a transformational leader? A role that fitted you perfectly? Only to find somewhere down the line that you had become a square peg in a round hole? It’s happened to me in the past. And I’ve found myself […]
November 12, 2016

Found a Winning Formula? What Worked Yesterday may not Work Tomorrow!

Leadership is not a popularity contest; it’s about our ability to bring out the best in people and there are a myriad of different ways to do that. In fact, there are probably as many permutations as there are people in leadership roles. The danger comes when we adopt an […]