I remember once having a really heated debate with one of my team members. We held strongly divergent views on how to proceed with some of the Intellectual Property we were creating. A fellow board member was there, and tried to shut the debate down. Afterwards, he asked me why I put up with a […]
Culture
Numbers aren’t always the answer
My background is in data analysis, so I do and love numbers. I’m all for KPIs / MBOs / OKRs / BRBs / ROFLs etc. Except when they don’t work. Business leaders need to accept that there are many desirably outcomes for their companies and teams that can’t be easily measured. Leadership. Teamwork. Even customer […]
Supporting the next generation of female founders
Lovely to chat with Margaret-Ann Splawn today, sage and advisor on climate finance investment. One thing she raised that I hadn’t considered was how climate change will also exacerbate the gender divide. For instance, much of the work that is done in developing countries, such as walking to wells for water, is done by girls […]
Great People or Great Processes?
Turn it into a process. Most businesses I work with are either doing this, or live in shame because they’re not! But can be an unhealthy obsession. I enjoyed Sam Carpenter’s Work the System. Along with The E-myth, it creates a compelling case for proceduralising what your business does. Rightly so. But the key justification […]
Dissent in the board / leadership room
Leaders should debate vigorously, then STFU and unify behind their decision. I’ve written elsewhere about what a company loses when its leaders shut down debate. This is more pronounced in those boards where dissent is viewed as treachery. People paid as decision-shapers effectively become an overpaid board of one. But I’ve also seen leadership teams […]