In Your Corner: How Influential Leaders Build Momentum for Organisational Change
Publication: Building Coalitions | Influential Leaders | Mapping Corners | Organisational Change
Change is rarely a polite visitor. It arrives uninvited, rearranges the furniture, and forces you to reconsider what you thought was certain. Anton Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard, first performed in 1904, is a masterclass in the quiet tragedy of resisting change. The play follows a once-wealthy Russian family who return to their estate, only […]
From Then to Now: Redefining Influence for a Complex World
Publication: Complex world | Influence strategies | Influential Leaders | Redefining Influence
Ten years ago, I wrote an article about the traits that distinguish truly influential people. Back then, I wrote about the importance of long-term thinking, listening well, and showing respect. And while those qualities still matter, influence today has morphed into something more nuanced, more systemic, and, when used wisely, more powerful than ever. Today, […]
Too Fast or Too Slow? Why Influential Leaders Know How to Set the Right Pace
Publication: Drawback | Influential Leaders | Opportunities | Right Pacing
The starting gun has fired, but are you sprinting, pacing, pausing or going too slow? In elite athletics, there is a specialist role called the pacer; a runner who sets the rhythm so others can achieve their best. Erik Sowinski, one of the world’s most accomplished pacers, has helped hundreds of athletes break personal and world records by […]
How Influential Leaders Navigate Contentious Workplace Issues
Publication: Contentious issues | Influential Leaders | Leadership habit | Workplace Issues
The modern workplace is constantly in flux. From AI integration and pay transparency to flexible work debates and evolving rights to disconnect, today’s leaders must navigate a minefield of contentious issues with clarity, courage, and influence. Success isn’t about reactive firefighting. It’s about stepping up as an influential leader who inspires confidence, guides through uncertainty, […]
Beyond the Single Cause: Why Influential Leaders Embrace Complexity
Publication: Critical Thinking | Embracing Complexity | Influential Leaders | Overcoming bias
You’re in the middle of a crisis or confronting a complex issue. What do you do? Go for the quick solution, or take the time to solve the underlying problem? Many leaders feel pressure to act swiftly, identify the problem, and offer a clear solution in moments of crisis or complexity. Stakeholders demand explanations, while […]
The Devil is in the Details: Why Influential Leaders Sweat the Small Stuff
Publication: Elevating Details | Influential Impact | Influential Leaders | Small Details
Tactical to strategic. Small picture to big picture. Balcony to the dancefloor. Zoom in to zoom out. There are numerous ways we classify whether someone is focused on details or takes a broad view. We even classify ourselves according to such terminology. In conversations (particularly recruitment processes), leaders often get asked, ‘Are you the […]