Do the opposite? Effective leaders don’t follow the crowd
why doing the opposite can help you be a more effective leader
Leading Your Team
Leading with confidence, not perfection
It often starts innocently enough. A promotion. A bigger title. A new mandate. And with it, the quiet weight of expectation that you “should” now have all the answers. Know what to do. Say the right thing. Predict the future. Show up flawless. I see it in the eyes of the executives I partner with. … Read more
It’s not the chaos that defines you. It’s how you lead through it
As leaders, we have always known that uncertainty is part of the job. But let’s be blunt: the world seems a little more uncertain these days. Whether it is shifting political landscapes, volatile economies, or the ever-present pressure of leading teams through global and local challenges, it feels like leadership today continues to require new … Read more
Success is not a solo sport: Why leadership is a team effort
We love a lone genius story. The CEO who “saved” a company. The leader who “single-handedly” changed everything. The visionary who defied the odds. These stories are compelling: clear, dramatic, easy to digest. But they are rarely the full picture. The truth is, no one does it alone. Leadership is not a solo act; it … Read more
Fake it till you make it. Terrible leadership advice.
Fake it till you make it. It is one of the most widely repeated pieces of career advice. Smile with confidence, nod along, and pretend you know what you are doing until you actually do. It might work if you are learning a new skill or trying to overcome self-doubt in a low-stakes situation. But … Read more
It is the nature of nature to change: leadership and change
There is a quote by James Hollis (a prominent Jungian psychoanalyst) that I love and keep coming back to: “It’s the nature of nature to change.” I love it personally, but I also love it because it resonates deeply with the realities of leadership. Whether in life or business, change is not an option, it … Read more
Mastering leadership: “tells” and decoding unspoken signals
If you have ever played a game of poker (not a game I play) or watched a detective show (Detective Columbo is a favourite of mine), you would have probably heard the term “tell.” In poker, a tell is a subtle hint—often unconscious—that reveals what a player is thinking or feeling. It could be a … Read more
Mastering leadership: 5 Lessons from “I know what I am seeing, but I don’t know why”.
Have you ever sat through a training course, listening intently, only to find that one thing truly resonated? That one line—seemingly offhand yet profound—can reshape your approach in ways you did not expect. I have been there. A few years back, during yet another sales methodology course (I have lost count of how many over … Read more
Managing to Connecting: Leadership through the lens of Sonder
When was the last time you were taken by surprise by a simple yet profound realisation about the people around you—a genuine understanding that each person you encounter carries a life as complex and vivid as your own? Their experiences, struggles, and joys create a tapestry as intricate as yours, woven with challenges and triumphs … Read more
AI and leadership
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant dream—it is a reality, already shaping how we work, think, and express creativity. As exciting as this transformation is, it raises some important questions for leaders. I love the potential of AI. I gave a presentation on what I wanted from AI seven years ago (see here … Read more