My Library
People are my library, my writing inspired by what I learn: ideas, inspiration, wisdom, and sometimes some eclectic whimsy for good measure, all centred around #OpenLeadership. At the heart of all of this is that I write to share learnings and to discover my thoughts. Over the years i have written (mostly) daily, over 2000 posts and 1,000,000 words (that last part blows my mind, tbh!). Enjoy browsing.
Build a Quality Foundation
Some thoughts on the value of investing in your foundational strengths before working on what is visible to others, then a reflection on how I like to support others in building their businesses, ie by building strong foundations first. Building a house with a strong...
Build a Quality Foundation
Some thoughts on the value of investing in your foundational strengths before working on what is visible to others, then a reflection on how I…
Reputation Hygiene
Recently I was about to have a first meeting with someone. They were late. When they arrived, they gave no reason. Thought of the term "reputation hygiene", as with only a little focus and attention our reputation is maintained and built upon, yet if we allow it to be...
Doing what is right – Timpson (part two)
An adage I follow in working with leaders is: "when you are totally bored of repeating your message, you are probably half way there". Another one is, "repetition, repetition, then some more repetition". So, in the last week I got on a roll talking about "Doing what...
Always fire A**holes
Last week on Twitter in a discussion around leadership someone mentioned the "no a**hole rule". Hadn't specifically heard of it, but will now add this book by Robert Sutton to my reading list. As someone who lead businesses for years and, over the last decade,...
Put People First and Do What is Right
Recently I wrote "Doing what is right - Timpson", about a company in the UK I have admired from afar. Today a story about the corporate purpose and values of a company that I have got to know first-hand and that continues to hugely impress me with the way they live...
Toilets and out of date thinking
The photo above is of the beautiful concourse at Kings Cross Railway Station, opened in 2012 as an exquisite redevelopment and enhancement of a railway station originally opened in 1851. I visit this station relatively frequently to both journey to Scotland and to...
When a blacklist is, unfortunately, just that
In a post last year: "Diversity of Thought – how much is too much?" I remarked upon a panellist at an event choosing to be present, to listen, then to respond calmly. Within that post I wrote: "..brings to mind to me a quote from 1770 from the Irish statesman and...
Economics is for everyone
I'm not an Economist...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Ok, so that one may be lost on many readers, but see the brilliant ad video further down and you may laugh at me, as well as other Economists and other experts! Meanwhile, today a simple...
Doing what is right – Timpson
Today am feeling inspired by James Timpson of Timpson and his leadership. By doing what is right, he has also found that this has driven both loyalty in his colleagues and making using Timpson a conscious choice for more and more customers. So, what was it he has...
Always be learning and growing
Last week Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void published this image with a blog that simply said: When looking for a career, consider this: What is going to make you happy long-term isn’t the salary, isn’t the perks, isn’t the social status. What is going to make you happy is...
It’s not what you look at that matters
What do you see first in the picture above? In looking at it, did you notice yourself slowing down and focussing closely on the image? In my most recent three daily posts, I have focussed on a theme of reducing and simplifying. When we do this, we are able to bring...
Simplicity and Complexity
Image by Imaginary Foundation, thanks to Jason Silva for sharing. This week I met with a client who has a role that sometimes feels overwhelming to them in term of scope, complexity and more. We spoke of the Da Vinci phrase I have written of, "Simplicity is the...
Give no advice
Yesterday's post was called "Give less advice". My friend Bruce Peters read it, then emailed me: "Have you considered "no advice" Or advice is prohibited approach? Wisdom Circles in the Quaker tradition set an example, perhaps?" Sage man, that Bruce. If, as I often...