Questions are the answer As leaders, we often feel the pressure to provide answers, but I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!) that …
Read MoreHow to get unstuck — Harness the brilliance in your head (and the room)
The power of a culture of candour Which reality are you seeing? Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, put it this way: …
Read MoreWhat if speaking more candidly was the difference between success and failure?
Yes, there’s a difference Strategic planning is an oxymoron. A strategy and a plan are two totally different concepts, and you need …
Disagreeing agreeably is a learned skill One of the most useful skills I learned during my time at Morgan Stanley was how …
How to increase your chances of survival In 2024, 45% of CEOs believe their business will not be viable in ten years’ …
Read MoreWill your organisation still be here ten years from now?
Hint: You have no idea ‘Every leader needs a fool’, says management thinker Manfred Kets de Vries. De Vries’s fool is someone …
Learn to improve your emotional regulation… My personality type is definitely attracted to ‘shiny new’ things and initiatives. Thankfully, I believe personality …
One of the most positive and constructive Stakeholder Insight reports I’ve compiled was also one of the worst received. My client, N, …
In my work, I see many leaders getting sucked into ‘doing’ tasks when their real job is to ‘define’ the work and …
When a leader aims to become a more effective communicator, it is music to my ears. Why? Because they will usually achieve …
Effective delegation comes up again and again as a stumbling block for leaders. When done right, delegation makes your life a whole …
Anyone who isn’t embarrassed by who they were last year probably isn’t learning enough. So says philosopher Alain De Botton. But how …
When you are faced with difficult decisions, a simple and effective approach is to separate the decision from the implementation. This allows you to catch …
Read MoreFinding it hard to make difficult and painful decisions?
Many of us feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. We struggle to make time for all the competing demands …
Well-intended leaders being ‘too responsible’ is something I frequently come across. This is when the positive leadership trait of responsibility is overplayed, and …
Most of my clients are fortunate enough to earn enviable salaries, yet simultaneously, they often feel burned out, stuck, or practise multi-year …
In my view, the most interesting insights are found at the intersection of disciplines. Take behavioural science and high performance and, specifically, the concept …
In my work, I meet superbly talented individuals who do a great job limiting their own progress, and I meet people who would …
Leadership is a verb (not a position) – it is a doing word. Every action a leader takes has the potential to inspire and …
Read MoreWhat Type of Leader Are You? A Multiplier or a Diminisher?
‘Drama’ within teams and between colleagues is inevitable. I see my fair share in my role as a coach and studies suggest that …
Leadership is often glamorised, but the hard truth is that the rewards and joy of leadership go hand-in-hand with uncomfortable demands and …
You have heard of IQ and EQ, but what about RQ? RQ – or Relational Intelligence – helps you to adjust your …
The task of culture-building is never done. It is always work in progress. In my work with founders and leaders on culture and …
Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, would be a strong contender for the ‘#1 CEO’ award. In 2014 he took a company that had …
There is one attribute, in my experience, that separates the best leaders from the rest; they embrace reality. Seeking the unvarnished truth …
We are at a watershed moment when it comes to how people wish to experience work. I speak to C-Suite execs, mid-level …
What do effective leadership and parenting have in common? A lot – they’re both about people management! Praising effort and not results, allowing people …
Working with leaders, I am reminded about the number of important decisions and judgement calls that they have to make every day. The …
Read MoreSharpen Your Decision-Making & Increase Your Productivity
Relationship issues and conflict are frequently tabled by leaders in our coaching sessions. If one looks at best practices from hostage negotiation, …
Welcome to Acumen, your monthly fix of practical, evidence-based insights for leaders. The theory of ‘rational man’ was blown out of the …
Welcome to Acumen, your monthly fix of practical, evidence-based insights for leaders. My 2021 reading list has drawn me deeper into the …
Welcome to the first publication of Acumen – a monthly fix of practical, evidence-based insights for leaders who view themselves more as ‘learn-it-alls’ rather than ‘know-it-alls’! What should you expect? Highly Curated Content: Top …