On how organisations are built, changed, and quietly undone by their own structure.
130 essays
Data does not persuade; trust does. Kahneman, Haidt, and Wittgenstein explain why credibility carries claims that evidence alone cannot—and why 'data-driven' decision-making is often the fiction organisations tell themselves to avoid naming who they actually trust.
Many charities hire from big-name firms expecting transformation, only to find prestige doesn’t equal performance. The real divide isn’t charity versus business—it’s creators versus passengers. Creators build momentum from scarcity; passengers coast on brand halo. Recruitment must look for scars, no
Titles often serve as tools of exclusion rather than accurate barometers of capability. Skills-based approaches expand opportunity and strengthen outcomes. By rethinking hiring signals, leadership speech, and development pathways, organisations can unlock talent, foster fairness, promote moral agenc
Managing People Isnt a Side Hustle Time to Re Professionalise Management0:00/618.6721× A while back I mentored a gifted software engineer—let's call her Priya. Priya
Assuming others see you as ethical because you believe yourself to be is a critical leadership error. Ethical leadership requires visible modelling, intentional communication, and alignment between actions and values. Without this, leaders appear ethically neutral—creating distrust, disengagement, a
When CEOs and Chief People Officers become the source of misconduct, who guards the guardians? The Astronomer scandal reveals how those entrusted with culture and ethics often shield power instead. HR curates the truth, boards hear only what’s filtered, and employees withdraw into defensive silence.
Japanese shinise firms reveal that lasting organisations don't preserve the past—they renew it. Leaders build endurance by developing talent, stewarding identity, and sustaining purpose across generations. Forget agility theatre and hype cycles. Longevity demands structure, not slogans. When leaders
Most organisations obsess over 10-year business strategies but forget to plan for the people who'll deliver them. Strategic people architecture fixes that. It institutionalises structured chance-giving, succession scaffolding, and developmental stretch—ensuring talent is grown, not guessed at. Done
Manipulative managers reframe harm as humour and deflect accountability by focusing on employee reactions. The dynamics of bullying, silence, and moral complicity can be unpacked and counteracted through a lens of wit and discernment, challenging leadership cultures that reward performance over inte
In a world of automated hiring, human discernment is vanishing. Part III of the Talent Aperture Series explores how over-reliance on algorithms compromises diversity, adaptability, and ethics. Yet through a three step process we can restore judgement as a core capability in hiring—and outlines how o
Hiring systems still favour credentials over capability, filtering out adaptable generalists in favour of narrow signals. Yet, organisations can reverse this trend by investing in potential, re-skilling, and internal talent pipelines. By prioritise substance over signals managers don't just hire bet
Hiring systems today favour rigidity over potential, filtering out adaptable generalists in favour of narrow checklists. This misalignment undermines resilience and equity. A shift from filters to formation—assessing learning agility and investing in development—offers a more ethical, strategic path
The Scribbler The Empire of Euphemism Strikes Back0:00/505.5361× Hello, and welcome to this edition of The Scribbler. This month I peer beneath the polished surface of organisational
Shared language enables teams to align, decide, and act with clarity. Without it, confusion deepens and performance falters. Executive coaching insights and the lived experience of Mayan migrants reveal how ethical speech—noble rather than base—can transform organisational life. Language doesn’t jus
Toxic leaders flourish not from malice alone but organisational complicity. Their actions breed employee burnout, counterproductive behaviour, and pervasive cynicism, eroding psychological safety and innovation. Addressing toxicity demands ethical leadership development, genuine psychological safety