What business leaders can learn from F-16 pilots.
Image Aral Tascher | Unsplash.com Michelle Curran caught my attention straight away. ‘Mace’, as she is affectionately known, flies as lead solo F-16 pilot for the U.S. Air Force’s prestigious Air Demonstration Squadron. What’s so special about Mace? Well, the fact that she pulls 9G’s in her F-16 jet when most ordinary people, as you’ll see in the video that inspired this […]
When the going gets tough don’t let stress sabotage relationships at work.
Photo by Max van den Oetelaar (Unsplash) The same four walls, back-to-back zoom calls, home-schooling, no exotic holidays, dinner parties with friends or even a simple trip to the hairdresser. These are trying times. Our resilience is worn and tempers are starting to fray. No surprise then, that conversations with colleagues can sometimes be a […]
Seven crucial skills in times of business transformation
picture by Joshua Earle (unsplash.com) The fact that the world of work is changing radically and irreversibly since the outbreak of COVID-19 has been repeated ad infinitum. Every company is going digital and the revolution is reaching even the most traditional sectors, forcing organizations to rethink everything from their business models to organizational structures. But […]
Five questions leaders need to ask themselves to become champions of change.
Do you still remember learning to ride a bike as a kid? I do. I remember my dad taking the training wheels off my bike, which was – as your first bike usually is – too big for me. I remember the thrill of launching myself full steam down the road. In hindsight, I wonder […]
Toxic Leadership: the CEO as barometer of culture
In my job, not a day goes by that the topic of culture doesn’t enter the conversation. Inevitably, it also turns to the impact leaders have on culture. Interestingly, I’ve noticed that this comes up a lot more frequently at companies where leaders display destructive behaviours than at companies with inspirational, empowering leaders. What if there are suspicions of toxic leadership at the top – and […]
Leading change in turbulent times: does your leadership team have what it takes?
(This article is co-authored with Shannon Stucky Pritchett) Many business leaders are steering their organizations through the stormy seas of 2023: from economic uncertainty and political instability to seismic shifts in everything from technology to regulation. Whether it is implementing a strategic shift, updating and incorporating more technology or a pivot aimed at efficiency gains […]
A real leadership superpower? Welcoming those who disagree with you.
Last week’s explosive meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is a stark reminder of the importance of a leader’s ability to constructively engage with diverse and opposing opinions. And this capacity isn’t just a political necessity—it is also crucial in business. Most organizations today operate across geographical and cultural boundaries—with […]
Leading through the storm: protecting culture in turbulent times
Battered by economic uncertainty and global political instability, many companies are forced to make rapid decisions to safeguard their business. Decisions that test their values, put strain on their people and reshape their cultures—often in ways they don’t fully see until it’s too late. The visible changes are usually strategic and structural: revised budgets, different […]