Last week I wrote about Lessons from Intent-Based Leadership, the shift from being the “answer man” to an empowered leader, a transformative but not easy journey. It requires a mindset change, self-awareness, and a willingness to let go of habits that once felt productive. Here’s a deeper reflection on this transition: Why Being the Answer … Read more
For much of my career, I prided myself on being the “answer man.” I’d spent tens of thousands of hours developing expertise in a range of specialisms. People came to me with problems, and I responded with solutions, drawing on my knowledge and experience. It felt like leadership—being the go-to person who could fix anything. … Read more
Leadership is often the deciding factor in whether an organization succeeds or struggles in its agility journey. Yet, many organizations cling to command-and-control leadership styles, believing that tighter oversight leads to better outcomes. It doesn’t. If you want to derail your agility initiative, keep using command-and-control leadership. To thrive in an agile environment, leadership must … 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
One of my all-time favorite reads on business agility and leadership is “Turn the Ship Around!” by L. David Marquet. This book brilliantly chronicles the true story of how Marquet, a former nuclear submarine commander, transformed the USS Santa Fe from one of the worst-performing submarines in the fleet to one of the best. Thankfully, … Read more
I’ve been catching up on some of the conference sessions I have added to my personal Kanban over the year. One of the sessions from the recent Lean Kanban Central Europe 2015, truly caught my eye. “Turn Your Organisation Into A Laboratory with Strategy Deployment” by the excellent Karl Scotland. During his talk, he raises … Read more