Leadership
Leadership is the first constraint on growth. A business cannot scale beyond the capability, energy and self-awareness of the people running it, which is why so much of our coaching work starts with the leader rather than the plan. In our experience of working with ambitious UK scale-ups, the point at which a company stalls is rarely a market problem. It is usually the point at which the founder's way of leading stops working at the new size.
This section brings together everything we have written about leading a high growth business. The articles are practical rather than theoretical, drawn from what we see in leadership teams week after week, and they fall into a handful of recurring themes.
Focus and priorities. Most leaders are not short of ideas; they are short of focus. Defining your needle movers explains how to pick the few activities that move the business forward, and how to avoid shiny toy syndrome deals with the constant distraction that kills them.
Energy and mindset. Energy is contagious, and a leadership team takes its cue from the top. Your role as chief energy officer sets out why managing your own energy matters more than managing your time, and what's your primary question? looks at the habitual question that quietly shapes every decision you make.
Letting go. Founder-led businesses hit a ceiling when everything still routes through one person. The three levels of delegation and ownership gives you a simple model for handing over real responsibility, and breaking free from micromanagement covers the trust that has to come with it.
Communication and feedback. Why feedback is the key communication skill argues that giving and receiving feedback well is the single most valuable habit a leader can build, and how to run an effective weekly leadership team meeting shows where that habit lives in the calendar.
Where leadership goes wrong. What causes poor leadership? names the four failures we see most often, and four hidden leadership bottlenecks explains how to clear them before you try to scale.
Developing yourself. The leaders who scale well keep working on themselves. High growth leadership starts with self-discovery explains why, five underrated leadership habits picks out the quiet routines that compound over time, and the servant leadership mindset makes the case for putting your people first.
The newest articles are listed first below. If you prefer to browse by theme, our strategy, team and implementation sections cover the other three disciplines of a high growth business. And if you would rather work on your own leadership with someone alongside you, that is exactly what our one-to-one business coaching and non-executive support are for.
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The Monkey Mind
A man was presented with a very attractive business opportunity.
A Desert Tale
There was a man who had developed the capacity to achieve whatever he put his mind to, whether material or spiritual aspirations.
An Old Chinese Proverb
“In your mind there are two Tigers that are continuously fighting – one is the Tiger of success, positive results and bright futures, the other is the Tiger of failure, negativity, fear and loss – which one wins…?”
Success=Speed
I’ve written before about the importance of acting sooner rather than later, without waiting to figure out everything in advance.
Three keys to Success in 2012
No matter what else you do in 2012 there are three things that can guarantee increased sales, profits and improved employee performance and effectiveness.
What’s your purpose?
Far too many entrepreneurs don’t keep their eye on the prize.
The Niagra Syndrome
Over the Christmas period, as you reflect on 2011and plan for 2012 make sure you avoid the ‘Niagra syndrome’:
Effective Time Management Starts with Clear Vision
As we begin our look at time management, it only makes sense to start with the end in mind. Why is that important?
Your Constant Companion….
You have a companion. One that never, ever leaves you.
Daily Inspiration
This is the beginning of a new day.
What You Don’t Need To Succeed…..
I’m always talking about the attributes of successful people:
Secrets of Apple
PC World recently reported that Apple’s app store has over 100,000 apps to choose from.
How to achieve true wealth…..
It all starts with the true nature of wealth.
Are you distracted, deluded and short of time?
Many of the Business Owners I meet tell me that given more time they could develop their businesses to make them perform better.
What’s holding you back?
The starting point of great success has always been the same.
Pay the Price
If you want to be successful—as a leader, as a parent, as a member of society—you have to pay the price.
Are you a Leader Manager or Manager Leader
I was thumbing through John Adairs book ‘100 Greatest Ideas For Effective Leadership and Management’ and on reaching page 33 I reflected on how fundamentally important it is that you know the difference between a Leader and a Manager.
3 Minute Management Course
Lesson One:
Are you a have or have not?
I was asked recently how some Business Owners seem to do very little and prosper greatly while others work their tail off for very small results.
Challenges are normal….
A true motivational “hero,” the late Norman Vincent Peale once said, “there is only one group of people that don’t have problems…and they are all dead.
A Chinese Proverb
I would like to share the meaning of the Chinese proverb that when translated goes like this:
Summer Reading
Off on holidays next week.
WOW!
Last April I was walking in a park.
Your Most Powerful Sales Tool
Did you enjoy what you had for dinner last night?