Leading in the Future

What does the future of Leadership look like?

What are the essentials skill that current and aspiring leaders need to sharpen, hone and focus on?

Empathy has to be one of the top three, if not the top one. There is research that agrees, but how does this land when these ideas collides with the leaders of today.

Here’s one conversation I had recently:

Few people need reminding of the importance of supporting mental health in the workplace and yet there is still much to be learned and much much more that can be done. The UK Government stats show that poor mental health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year.

It happens far more than we probably all realise. Some of us show signs of it, some us seek to deal with it silently, some of us meet it head-on. The one truth is that it’s all around us - whether in us or in our team.

Some simple truths I’ve learned along the way which you can use to help you and those around you - even if you or they haven’t said there’s a problem.

In a recent survey published by ATD (Association for Talent Development), 44% of people said their trust in their employer had decreased over the past year.

Given recent debate over the great resignation and the notion that no-one leaves a ship in a storm, this should be something that leaders are paying attention to.

When was the last time you and your team explored the area of trust?

It reminded me of powerful truths I once used to action and had somehow forgotten from being front of mind along the way. Perhaps they had always stayed there unconsciously, but reminding ourselves of important truths is a good thing.

I’m fine

Easiest two words any of us can say. They trip off the tongue. It’s such a British thing isn’t it. Few people want to draw attention to themselves. Stiff upper lip. The stoic approach.

Only it so often isn’t true.

I was reminded of this when I happened across this simple picture:

Ideas for the Younger You

I started my first business at 14. I found an abandoned fishing boat, repaired it and starting catching and selling crabs and lobsters from a beach in South Devon.

My son’s now 14 and I’ve been back on that beach with him this week with him repairing my old boat with him. As I spend time talking with him, I’ve shared the things that I know now that I wish I’d known then:

At age 84, what do you imagine you’ll be doing?

Last week, I went with my wife to see the latest Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy. It was inspiring on several levels.

Culture is the Game

“Culture isn’t just one aspect of the game – it is the game” - Lou Gerstner

What is it that defines the highest performing organisations from their competitors? Whilst products, strategies and individuals may come and go, the single most enduring aspect of companies over the long term is their culture.

I often think that the role of a leader is like that of a farmer. Plant seeds, apply sunshine and water and nurture them. It can be hard to see immediate impact, but the green shoots will appear. If I plant a seed today and expect an oak tree to appear tomorrow, the only person being deluded is me.