Today I spent time with a group of relatively new directors in a manufacturing company, exploring what it means to take a seat at the board table. We discussed directors’ duties, how they should contribute to board meetings, and the consequences of their decisions for employees, customers, suppliers and the wider community. Throughout the session, I wanted to convey a sense of opportunity alongside the weight of responsibility. Becoming a director can be an exciting step. It

When I work with a business on its strategy, I want to understand the destination before we start discussing the route. Two questions usually sit at the beginning of that conversation: Why do we exist? And what is our end game? They sound straightforward. Answering them properly can be surprisingly difficult. Businesses can become very good at keeping themselves busy. Orders arrive, customers need attention, production schedules change and problems demand solutions. The diary

I spent some very creative time with a client developing their Brand Bible. It was an opportunity to explore how they wanted people to understand, experience and remember the business. The conversation went well beyond colours, fonts and the placement of a logo. We discussed the story behind the company, the values it wanted to uphold and the tone it wanted to use. We considered how those qualities should come through when someone visits the website, speaks to a salesperson o

During a discussion about team development at an away day, I sketched a diagram to capture how leadership changes as a team becomes more capable and confident. Looking at it again, the question behind it still feels relevant: how do we help a team reach the point where it can perform well without waiting for the leader to make every decision? For me, one of the most demanding transitions in leadership is learning to let go of work and decisions that other people are ready to

Every business has a history. Behind its buildings, products and reputation are people whose efforts made today possible. Some founded the business. Others brought the skills, ideas and sheer determination that helped it survive difficult times and seize opportunities. Many made their contribution quietly, without expecting recognition. Without them, we would have a very different present, and fewer opportunities for the future. It is worth pausing to acknowledge that. In the

One of the most useful things a business leader can discover is how much they still have to learn. Experience gives us confidence. We become familiar with our customers, our products and the daily demands of running the business. Over time, it is easy to assume that this familiarity gives us a complete understanding of what the business needs. Sometimes the gaps only become apparent when someone asks a question we have never considered. I have mentored a number of business le