The Restructure That Changes Nothing
I was at a dinner recently with a group of senior leaders. The conversation moved, as it always does, to what was keeping people up at night. Within ten minutes, three of them mentioned restructures either underway or about to be announced. I asked each of them the same question: what’s the problem you’re trying […]
The Most Important Leadership Skill: Making Sense When Nothing Makes Sense
There is an ancient Greek paradox that feels increasingly relevant for our times. If a ship has every plank replaced over time, is it still the same ship? This is the Ship of Theseus. At first glance, this may sound abstract and removed from the everyday reality of quarterly targets and transformation agendas. But this […]
The Freedom of Having Nothing Left to Lose
I just finished reading the most wonderful book. A friend insisted I read The Wedding People by Alison Espach, and I’m so glad she did. Without giving too much away, the story follows Phoebe, a woman who arrives at a grand hotel having lost everything that once defined her. Her marriage, her career trajectory, her […]
The Necessary Death Before the Rise
As we head into the Easter long weekend, I’ve been reflecting on the symbolism of Easter and how it relates to leadership right now. There is a moment in most leadership stories where something has to die before something new can emerge. We may dress it up in corporate language, calling it ‘transformation’ or ‘a […]
What Would You Stand For?
I went to the theatre on the weekend. At the conclusion, someone near the front stood up, and within seconds, half the audience was on its feet. Standing ovations are one of those rituals we do without thinking, and the emotion behind them is anything but automatic. It’s that rare feeling of having witnessed something […]
The Quiet Power of Community in the Second Half of Leadership
I spent the weekend with a group of friends, some old and some new, all connected by shared career DNA at one point or another, and by a love of good food, good wine, and long walks that leave our legs aching and our mind strangely clear. Over the course of 48 hours, we talked […]
We Can’t Lead the Future in Yesterday’s Skin
In the final hours of the Year of the Snake, there’s a leadership metaphor worth considering. When the snake sheds, it’s because its old skin no longer fits, and because it’s necessary for the next stage of growth. So as we prepare to embrace our inner Fire Horse, it’s worth considering: have we sloughed that […]
Closing Out 2025, Opening the Door to 2026
As I wrap up my working year and get ready for a much needed break, I’ve found myself reflecting on the year that was 2025—what it asked of us, and what it quietly changed. When I try to describe 2025, I don’t get a neat image, I get a mix. Long hours, too warm laptops, […]
The Fit of Work: Why Great Leaders Think Like Designers
I remember going clothes shopping with my daughter when she was a teen. We’d gone into one of the ‘cool’ stores and filled her arms with clothes she was excited to try. It wasn’t long before she was distressed because nothing looked good. This is the problem with poor design – we can feel that […]
Lessons in Leadership from a Music Festival
Last weekend, I went to a summer outdoor music festival for the first time in many years. It was a scorching hot day and the vast number of attendees were in a great mood. Over the course of the next nine hours, we were hit with two separate thunderstorms that forced everyone off the green […]