In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world, organizations are under constant pressure to innovate, adapt, and improve. As the complexity of systems—whether technological, organizational, or social—increases, two critical capabilities stand out: curiosity and systems thinking. When combined, these two mindsets form a powerful duo that can unlock deeper insights and drive sustainable improvement. The Role of … Read more
A curious article appeared in the September–October 2018 issue of Harvard Business Review, “The Business Case for Curiosity”, being the lead article in HBR’s Spotlight package on Curiousity. “Curiosity, we all know, is the spark that can lead to breakthrough innovation. And it turns out that it helps produce more than new ideas. Recent research … Read more
For change activists in organizations, pushing past the status quo can feel like an uphill battle. It’s easy for teams and individuals to fall into the comfort of routine, relying on the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset. Challenging this inertia can be intimidating, and yes, frustrating. But meaningful change doesn’t come from … Read more
When it comes to enacting sustainable change, systems thinking is a powerful yet often underutilized tool. (I’ve successfully employed it in a recent role, where I took on an unfamiliar challenge, the transformation of a social care service. Introduced it in order to alleviate six years of change fatigue and bias). Instead of focusing on … Read more
This is how I approach decision-making in business, sports, and life. 30-years ago, I made a bold decision to drop out of starting a degree and accepted a role with a UK bank. Many people told me I was making a mistake. They said it was crazy, irresponsible, and the wrong move. I doubted myself. … Read more
In the quest for personal and professional growth, we often seek the “secret sauce” that sets high achievers apart. What enables some people to excel, adapt, and continuously deliver greater value over time? The answer isn’t magic—it’s a deliberate combination of curiosity, learning, improvement, and real-world application. Over the years, I’ve distilled this into a … Read more