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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How to overcome leadership inaction in your business……
Have you ever experienced a critical moment where immediate action was required, yet hesitation or procrastination prevailed?
Empowering your team: Proven methods to fuel engagement and growth
In today’s dynamic business landscape, employee engagement emerges as a pivotal factor in driving key business outcomes, notably in areas of employee retention and productivity.
How leadership must evolve as you scale
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, leadership transcends traditional definitions and embraces a more purpose-driven, authentic approach.
Unlocking Productivity: The Surprising Impact of After-Hours Work on Efficiency
In an era where workplace messaging applications like Slack are ubiquitous, the delineation between work and personal time has become increasingly obscure.
How to better support mental wellness in the workplace
As we turn our calendars to 2024, business leaders are called to deepen their commitment to employee well-being, recognising that a healthy workforce is fundamental to sustained business success.
How to master the art of exceptional success
In the realm of business, the pursuit of success often oscillates between the desire for substantial financial gain and the aspiration to create something profoundly impactful.
Steve Jobs’ Legacy: Mastering Success Through Empowerment and High Expectations
The enduring impact of Steve Jobs extends far beyond Apple’s innovative products. His legacy offers invaluable lessons in achieving success, one of which emphasizes faith in your team’s capabilities.
The Art of Recruiting a Manager: Choosing Wisely for Your Team’s Success
When it comes to building a resilient and efficient team the manager at its helm is the compass that guides the ship.
Common mistakes in fast-growing businesses
In rapidly scaling businesses, growth can be exhilarating, but it can also lead to significant mistakes.
Crushing Negativity: Building a Culture of Success in the Workplace
Have you ever crossed paths with the perpetual naysayer? You know, the one who thrives on saying “It won’t work,” “That’s impossible,” or worse?
Transformative Leadership: The Power of Serving Others
In business, the term “leadership” often conjures images of boardrooms, power suits, corner offices, and meticulously crafted strategic plans.
Empowering Leadership: Breaking Free from Micromanagement to Build Trust
In the world of leadership, one of the most common pitfalls is the temptation to micromanage. It’s a problem that I encounter all too often when coaching leaders, and its consequences are far-reaching.
How to master difficult conversations…
In the dynamic world of business, conflict is an all-too-common occurrence. Shockingly, a staggering 85 percent of teams face workplace conflict, and the consequences are far-reaching, with nearly 30 percent of these conflicts resulting in reduced productivity.
How to empower your team – the three levels of delegation and ownership
As a seasoned business coach with over 20 years of experience, I’ve seen one of the biggest challenges that business owners face is effectively delegating tasks and ownership to their teams.
7 Ways to improve your leadership in a hybrid workplace
The recent pandemic has undoubtedly brought about a permanent shift in the way we work in office environments.
7 Questions Emotionally Intelligent People Ask Themselves
Providing valuable advice is not simply about imparting your wisdom; it involves delving into the depths of understanding the situation at hand.
How to grow your confidence as a leader….
Having coached numerous exceptional leaders, business owners, and executives for over 15 years, I have gained firsthand knowledge that confidence is a universal struggle for most individuals, regardless of their achievements or success.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Empowering Your Team for Growth
Imposter Syndrome is a common phenomenon that many of us fall prey to at some point in our lives. It’s that nagging voice inside our heads that makes us doubt our abilities and feel unworthy of our accomplishments.
Don’t let meetings sabotage your success
Working with a client recently, I observed that their solution to address burned-out leaders was to offer more training in the form of meetings.
How to empower your team to make decisions
The concept of autonomy within an organisation is one of the hallmarks of an innovative culture.
The essential skills to build an effective team in 2023….
In 2023, the concept of a high-functioning team looks a lot different than it did in 2010.
Why Scale up leaders must master storytelling….
Studies have shown that human brains are naturally wired to respond to stories, and individuals who possess exceptional storytelling abilities are often perceived as more attractive.
Strategies to deal with frustrating team members
Throughout my coaching career, I have rarely come across a team with feedback that every member was equally productive and never annoying.
How to deliver success through the 80/20 rule
The Pareto principle or the 80/20 Rule – the fact that 20% of efforts cause 80% of the results across many areas of our life – is a critical mental model that has driven Warren Buffett’s success.