There’s an interesting idea that has become increasingly popular in larger organisations over recent years: the shadow board. A shadow board is usually made up of younger or more junior employees who work alongside the senior leadership team, discussing strategic...
Leadership
Are you Hooked on Being the Hero in Your Organisation?
Most leaders say they want an empowered team. They want people to take ownership, use initiative, step up and think for themselves. And yet many organisations are still structured in ways that quietly pull power back to the centre. Decisions gravitate upwards. People...
Why being ‘Good with People’ still doesn’t make you a good leader
Most people get promoted because they’re good at what they do. They’re technically strong. Commercially capable. Trusted by clients. Reliable under pressure. In the early stages of your career, that’s usually enough. If you’re a lawyer, accountant, surveyor, recruiter...
Why People don’t just “Do What you Say” anymore (and why dinosaurs are dead)
There’s a moment many leaders reach - often quietly, and usually with some frustration - where they realise something has changed. They’re still the Managing Director, still the founder, still the most experienced person in the room. And yet people don’t simply do...
Being a Leader isn’t All About You (and what it does to your organisation if it is)
If I asked you whether leadership is about serving others or being served, you’d almost certainly give the “right” answer. Of course it’s about serving others - supporting the team, and putting the organisation first. Most leaders I work with genuinely believe that’s...
Why does Everything Always end up on My Desk?
If you lead an informal group, a leadership team, or a growing business, there’s still a good chance you understand your numbers far better than you understand what’s really happening between your people. Not the organisation chart, not the financials, but the messy...
Don’t Buy the Medicine before You’ve Seen the Doctor
Let’s imagine you go to the doctor with a pain across your lower back and down your left leg. Do you say, “No need to examine me, I just need these painkillers, and I’ll be on my way”? Or you call out the TV repair man and say, “both my TVs have lost their picture -...
Job Title Inflation: when fancy labels undermine real organisational growth
What’s in a job title? Quite a lot, as it turns out - especially in smaller companies, where inflated titles are often handed out like party favours. I see it all the time: a long-serving team member becomes “Head of Design” after a particularly good quarter, or...
Why you shouldn’t do it in the back of a taxi, over a pint on a Friday, or three weeks late
Let’s talk about one-to-ones... Not the drive-by chats. Not the quick sync in the lift. Not the "we talk all the time" shrug. I mean proper, structured, intentional one-to-one meetings with your direct reports. The kind that actually enhance performance, trust, and...
The 8 Communication Habits That Undermine Leadership (and what to do instead)
If there’s one thing great leaders have in common, it’s their ability to communicate with clarity, integrity, and presence. They can paint a compelling vision, rally a team around a shared purpose, and make people feel genuinely heard. But some surprisingly common...
Find fresh ideas and approaches to resolve your business issues, make a noticeable difference in your performance, and achieve long-term goals.
Find fresh ideas and approaches to resolve your business issues, make a noticeable difference in your performance, and achieve long-term goals.