blog articles
How networking builds leadership skills
As a business owner dedicated to helping leaders grow, I've seen first-hand the immense value that networking events bring to leadership development. Whether through my Future Leaders Breakfast® events or my latest initiative, the Acumen Supper Club, networking is a...
The “Accidentals” are here!
I don't know about you, but it really feels like people are shouting "The Accidentals are here!" when I read articles about leadership development at the moment. Suddenly, we're all talking about accidental leaders as if it's a new phenomenon. I hate to be a...
Celebrating Facilitation Week 2024
This is “Facilitation Week”, the 11th time it has been celebrated by facilitators around the globe. Professional facilitation helps meetings maximise efficiency and inclusive decision-making. As business environments become more complex, effective communication and...
The balancing act of Charity leadership
One of the great privileges of my work is supporting a range of organisations in the UK’s charitable and community sector. All of them have leaders who frequently describe their roles as “a balancing act”. This is because they have to manage a delicate balance...
Leadership – a smokescreen for polemics?
In the run-up to the recent UK General Election, I conducted a poll asking people their thoughts on using "leadership" as a smokescreen for polemics written on LinkedIn. The results were revealing: 29% supported it as fair game, another 29% felt it depended on the...
Measuring Impact
Measuring the impact of initiatives that aim at improving social outcomes is crucial. Yet despite the fact that it is what most funders require, it is not always easy to do. That is because alarmingly few organisations know of The Generic Learning Outcomes (GLO)...
Integrity … a given?
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash “Integrity is doing the decent thing, even when no-one is watching” (CS Lewis) Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles (Oxford online references) Both of these definitions give us a clear picture...
Ethics, Sustainability … and the blame game
The intersection of ethics, sustainability, and leadership has become a focal point for organizations aiming to thrive in the long term. It has always been my company’s focus. However, what should ideally be a collaborative effort toward a brighter future often...
Values-based leadership
Leadership is a massive topic, but I would argue there's a crucial trait that sets apart the truly remarkable leaders from the merely adequate ones: values-based leadership. It's not just about making decisions; it's about making the right decisions, grounded in...