The Vital Role of Executive Coaching in Private Equity
Introduction In the fast-paced world of private equity, the significance of exemplary leadership cannot be overstated. As firms navigate complex investment landscapes and strive for sustainable growth, the role of leadership becomes pivotal in determining success. This article explores the transformative impact of executive coaching in driving value creation within private equity firms. By enhancing…
The Cobra Effect; Incentives and Unintended Consequences.
In the annals of governance and public policy, few stories illustrate the law of unintended consequences better than the infamous “Cobra Effect” in India. This cautionary tale offers profound lessons for leaders, especially those at the helm of private equity-backed portfolio companies, where the alignment of incentives is paramount. The story begins with a well-intentioned…
Mental Models: Choosing your Reaction
On the weekend, I was witness to an argument in a park in South London. A group of teenagers somehow got into an argument with a woman that was sat adjacent to them on a picnic table. I don’t know what was said initially and only realised that an argument was starting as people’s voices…
The OODA Loop: From the Battlefield to Business Success
The OODA Loop is one of the most valuable – yet poorly understood – theories that exists. This article is my attempt to explain what the ooda loop is by using examples from business, the military and sport to demonstrate how universally applicable it is. History has proven that favourites don’t always come out on…
The Principles behind a Great Career Conversation
You can’t lead people if you don’t know where they want to go. Career conversations are a crucial part of line management. Helping people to clarify what they want to do and where they want to go is one of the most important tasks you need to complete as a leader. This is not something…
The Art of Delegation: How to Win with a Delegating Leadership Style
Delegation is a core leadership skill and key to the ‘Delegating Leadership Style’ If you can’t effectively delegate, you will hit a point where you are become totally overloaded and you’ll become ineffective. But few companies teach people how to effectively delegate. It’s one of those things that everyone assumes you pick up as you…
Do you plan using your energy levels?
Time is the most valuable resource because you cannot get more of it. Learning how to use our time effectively is not a lesson that we learn. It is a lesson that we have to keep relearning because how we use our time changes as we grow and develop. As a young father, I am…
Why Perseverance is important but might not be such a good thing…
Why is Perseverance Important? Perseverance is a good thing. It is a value that drives us towards success and achievement helping us to overcome challenges along the way. Many great achievements have been the result of the quality of perseverance. Is Perseverance a quality? There is no doubt that perseverance is a quality, but it…
The Theory of Winning – Part Three
Last week, I expanded on mental models and explained how you implement decentralised decision-making. This week, I want to concentrate on focus so that your resources have the greatest possible impact. I also want to explain some simple tools that you can implement immediately to help you get more bang for your buck. Surfaces and…
The Theory of Winning – Part Two
If you’re reading this, you probably read last week’s epic on the OODA Loop – thank you – and I appreciate you coming back to find out how you can best implement this philosophy into your organisation. Last week, I explained how the OODA Loop works. I talked about the impact of mental models on…
The Theory of Winning – Part One
Is there a theory of winning? Is there a way in which you can consistently stack the deck in your favour and win under any circumstances? History has proven that favourites don’t always come out on top – why not? Is this simply a question of luck or is there a strategy to winning that can…
How do you solve the Accountability Problem?
It doesn’t matter how good the strategy is. If you have an accountability problem, the wheels are spinning. You’re making lots of noise and expending lots of energy but you aren’t going anywhere. I have written about accountability before. The accountability ladder is a tool that leaders can use to get their teams to reflect…
How to recruit a High Performance Team?
Ask any business leader, ‘What makes a top performer in your industry?’ Chances are you will get an answer that focuses on soft skills as opposed to the individual’s hard skills and experience. The ability to create an inspiring vision, communicate it to their team and focus people’s attention on the relentless pursuit of that…
Professor Richard Holme’s 10 Diseases of Leadership
Professor Richard Holmes identified ten diseases of leadership. These are common bad behaviours that leaders can slip into. The good news is that if you’re self-aware, these issues can easily be corrected with some minor adjustments in behaviour. However, if left unchecked, they can cause significant damage in the long-term. Leadership disease #1: Lack of…
