Boards: one of your biggest assets, or a quiet constraint - download your guide Dear Reader Most boards are not broken. But many are not operating as effectively as they could. And because governance issues often build slowly, the impact can be easy to miss: Decisions slow down Important conversations happen too late Challenge becomes inconsistent Accountability blurs Tension builds quietly between governance and management At their best, boards materially improve the quality of decisions,...

Being kind is not the same as being liked Why leadership requires clarity, accountability and difficult conversations Dear Reader One of the hardest leadership skills is learning how to give bad news well. Not avoiding it.Not delaying it because it feels uncomfortable. Actually doing it. Recently, a leader asked me how best to tell a team member they were being let go. But what they were really worried about was this: “Will this break trust within the wider team?” My answer was simple: In my...

Trust, control and the temptation to rescue The leadership tensions no one really prepares you for Dear Reader One of the biggest surprises for me in leadership was realising how many tensions sit beneath the surface of what we often call “good leadership.” Not obvious right or wrong answers. Tensions. Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on two I see repeatedly in CEOs and leadership teams and honestly, in myself too: 🔍 How much visibility is helpful before it becomes control? 🛟...