Skip to content
Home » Articles

Articles

Hire for attitude. Train for skill.

  • by
  • 2 min read

The hardest people to manage are those with attitude problems, not capability issues. So why do recruitment processes focus so much on technical fit, rather than cultural fit? I think there are two reasons: What’s the answer? Recruit people through the lens of the matrix… Hire for attitude. Train for skill.

Chasing certainty instead of clarity is a classic mistake (and what to do instead)

  • by
  • 3 min read

I make this error all the time (most of us do). You’ll probably recognise this scenario: you’re faced with a choice in (even slightly) unfamiliar territory. And getting it wrong feels like it will have some cost or pain (perhaps only minor). What do we… Chasing certainty instead of clarity is a classic mistake (and what to do instead)

Three ways to be more persuasive

  • by
  • 1 min read

Being influential is a key leadership quality. Making persuasive arguments is critical to leading your team forward. And to managing upwards. What drives influence? There are three things: The first lever takes time. But the better and more consistently we do 2 and 3, the… Three ways to be more persuasive

The firefighting death loop

  • by
  • 3 min read

Are problems on repeat in your organisation? Is it like a game of whack-a-mole, where you fix one problem, only for another to pop up? This happens when organisations are stuck in a firefighting death loop. Gaps between organisational capabilities (in systems of work, people,… The firefighting death loop

If you’re arranging a meeting with someone, don’t say “I’m flexible”

  • by
  • 2 min read

It’s a common thing to say when arranging meetings at work, e.g.: “When works for you? I’m flexible.” But it equally applies to organising things with your friends and family. You probably say “I’m flexible” out of consideration for the other person, allowing them to… If you’re arranging a meeting with someone, don’t say “I’m flexible”

The worst decision is no decision

  • by
  • 2 min read

I used to really struggle with decision making. I was scared of making the wrong choice. Of things going wildly wrong and looking like an idiot. This often led to analysis paralysis. Which, at best, slowed progress and annoyed team members. At worst, it led… The worst decision is no decision

Good leaders don’t make excuses

  • by
  • 1 min read

There are few things more certain than things going wrong. As a leader as it is in life. I’ve made plenty of mistakes. And I’ve regularly been confronted by my own limitations. And – no matter how much I meditate, reflect, talk it out (i.e.… Good leaders don’t make excuses

5 books to level up your leadership

  • by
  • 4 min read

We all want to be leaders who deliver strong results while creating an engaging work environment for our team. But often we just don’t know where to start. Reading can help. Because – as author Ryan Holiday says – “Reading is the only way [we]… 5 books to level up your leadership