True strategy requires deep analysis, clear choices, alignment, and continuous learning. Leaders must avoid vague goals and instead create actionable, coherent plans that drive real value and competitive advantage in a complex business environment. A case study of IKEA shows how this approached was
In business, not all 'strategies' are true strategies; many are just vague platitudes offering little guidance. True strategies are specific, actionable, and aligned with organisational goals, enabling effective decision-making and success. Avoiding platitudes requires rigorous analysis, clear choic
Leadership is a complex terrain, shaped by the profound intricacies of human nature. While simple models like the "four quadrant" approaches offer a starting point, they miss the
Organisations often prioritise conformity over true innovation. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang challenges this approach by rejecting traditional 1-on-1s, favouring public feedback to promote transparency and collective learning. Modern work environments,
Adopting a custodian mindset in management emphasises responsibility and stewardship over ownership or personal agendas. This approach fosters employee autonomy, ethical leadership, sustainable resource management, and organisational agility. Practical applications
In today's virtue signalling work environment, busyness often masquerades as productivity. Many tasks are non-essential, leading to a sense of being unfulfilled and exhausted. To combat this, strategies
The expression "they don't know what they don't know" reflects the challenge of unawareness and overconfidence in leadership. Managers unaware of their limitations risk
Working among exceptional professionals with great humour is wonderful, and contrasts starkly with colleagues of mind-numbing incompetence. For line-managers, hiring is an ongoing challenge with poor performers often gaming the
In organisational planning, hope often overshadows critical thinking and good ideas, with the allure of the next project always seeming like the 'fix' we should have implemented in
The ability to critically think through problems is invaluable yet challenging to master. Effective thinking saves time, reduces mistakes, and fosters innovation, but it's not a fixed skill.
While anyone can ask questions, effective questioning requires skill and strategic thinking, especially for senior leaders whose role it is to guide their teams through uncharted territories. To foster innovation
The first in a series on learning from history and its value for organisational decision-making. Today, those who draw lessons from the past risk being labelled “on the wrong side of history,” much as dissenters in business face exile for challenging dominant narratives.
