Insights for Curious Leaders
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(4 minute read) What can leaders learn in these troubled times from the Maori phrase ” Kia Kaha”, meaning “Stay Strong. Stay Steadfast” I planned to write this post a few weeks ago. Since then the appalling death of George Floyd brought home to me that the meaning of “Kia Kaha” rings truer than ever.…
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I’ve been thinking recently about business, asking what is its place now in society, what priority should it have? I was concerned that the government, initially, when confronted by the pandemic threat, prioritised the economy over people’s lives. Yet as I reflect on many businesses’ contributions to society over recent decades, it’s remarkable how they…
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Read Time: 4 minutes Have you written your goals for the year? Have you received a stream of emails and newsletters, advising you of the 6 best ways or 5 key tips for doing that? It’s that time of year, when we are exhorted to decide what we aim to accomplish and so shape our…
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Read Time: 5 Minutes The recent Men’s World Cup Final has been described as the greatest cricket match ever. It is certainly the closest. I prefer a game that is also played by two teams of eleven players but with a round inflatable ball and I don’t know a lot about cricket. So why…
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It’s 6.30 p.m. on a chilly Monday evening and I am huddled on a crowded railway station in central London waiting to get the train home. A man in his early 40s walks towards me and asks: “John . Do you remember me?” Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I reply: “Your face is familiar” He rescues…
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Over the holiday my son persuaded me to watch a film with him about rock climbing, his new hobby. I expected a worthy portrayal of the technical aspects of an ascent up some steep rocks . I didn’t expect a compelling human drama about emotional vulnerability, compassion and prioritising others over self. The film,…
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GE, Sears, TSB, House of Fraser have recently attracted the sort of publicity that no business leaders want. Their failures, caused by flawed decision making, headlined across global business and mainstream media. Making decisions is a major part of what you do as a leader. So how can you avoid the pitfalls of poor decisions? Even…
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As a leader, from time to time, you are going to face resistance from colleagues when you are trying to bring about change. When this happens, you may feel an impulse to stand in their shoes and ask “What’s in it for me”? You’re seeking to understand, to find a way to respond to your colleagues’…
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New year, a time to look back and to look forward. When I look back on 2017, a highlight was a visit to Venice to celebrate my partner’s birthday. Like millions of others, we were attracted by the beauty, romance and splendour of this city of marble palaces, built on a lagoon. Its growth was…
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Businesses need to look beyond dazzling winning performances to find the real gold at the Olympics At the London 2012 Olympics, Mo Farah enthralled us on consecutive Saturday evenings with two golds on the track. Jessica Ennis inspired us with her heroic winning performances in the Heptathlon. The GB cyclists day after day dazzled on…
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