Published inThe Startup·Oct 28, 2020The 3 Most Common Reasons Most CEOs Struggle to ScaleWhat I know from working with hundreds of execs who try to grow through culture — “I don’t understand — why can’t people just get in line and get shit done?” Finally — the words he’d been wanting to say came blurting out of his mouth. Tim had asked me to help him develop his skills as a leader, and had been playing the “good client”…Leadership7 min readLeadership7 min read
Published inThe Startup·Apr 29, 2020Member-onlyCorona Social Responsibility — the new CSRWhat role does marketing your brand play in a time of crisis? It’s tough out there for marketers. In a “challenging and unprecedented” world, how do you capture the hearts and minds of consumers, while at the same time show sensitivity to a global crisis? …Leadership8 min readLeadership8 min read
Published inThe Startup·Aug 19, 2019Member-onlyIs it time for your “start up” to grow up?You’re on a mission to win. To get that next funding round in, beat the competition, be huge. You’re a start up — and you’re in a hurry to take over the world. The way tech companies see growth has created a norm that is extending far beyond their own…Startup9 min readStartup9 min read
Published inThe Startup·Aug 9, 2019Member-onlyYour people aren’t working fast enough? Here’s what you’re doing wrongAs competition heats up and the race is on to “win”, I’m finding my clients are trying to demand more from their teams. They believe that their people should deliver more, faster — go the extra mile and give 110%. The problem they face is that their business doesn’t seem…Leadership9 min readLeadership9 min read
Published inThe Startup·Jun 5, 2019Member-onlyWant a winning team? Stop spending on perks and start investing in cultureWe’ve been in a 20 year struggle to attract and retain the best people. And it has been a constant, costly battle. The war for talent was prophesied by McKinsey in 1998. Over this two decade period it was expected that business would experience a heightened demand for experienced employees…Startup6 min readStartup6 min read
Published inThe Startup·May 16, 2019Member-onlyHave you really created a fun place to work?It’s not cool to introduce yourself as a “fun guy” — even comedians cringe at that label. We know that when you start with “here’s a fun story” — the tale tends to lack a punchline. Telling people it’s “time to have fun” has eyes rolling. …Culture7 min readCulture7 min read
Published inThe Startup·May 9, 2019Member-onlyHaving a ‘social purpose’ isn’t just wrong — it’s bad for businessBeing Canadian, I don’t lose my temper often. We are polite folk, more likely to apologise for saying sorry than to find ourselves criticising others. But I’ve been in California for three weeks, and perhaps that’s influenced my mood. The scourge of the business world has hit the West Coast…Leadership9 min readLeadership9 min read
Published inAscent Publication·Feb 21, 2019Where does confidence go when it is lost?How our unconscious thoughts about ourselves determine our success Tiger Woods was an athlete at the top of his game. Today he is still considered one of the most successful golfers of all time. But his career is tarnished by one night when everything changed. In 2009, controversy surrounding Woods’…Leadership7 min readLeadership7 min read
Published inWithin People·Jan 20, 2019What will you unlearn to lead this year?There are plenty of signs around us that we are living in a leadership vacuum. From presidential tantrums to parliamentary squabbling, we don’t seem to have a lot to learn from the people who should be our leading role models. Luckily there’s nothing you need to learn from our current…Leadership6 min readLeadership6 min read
Published inThoughts And Ideas·Jan 1, 2019New year, new NOTapping in to a powerful two-letter word I’ve noticed that people can’t stop saying “yes” to things they really don’t want to do. In fact, we’re all trapping ourselves in situations where we feel compelled to say yes. …Life Lessons6 min readLife Lessons6 min read