Category: Blog

The Apprentice – Our Leading Light

I confess sometimes I watch mindless reality TV programmes such as the Apprentice.  When I read that two apprentices rivals traded insults after cat fights, were at each other’s throats, had a ‘screaming’ row during filming and continued to trade insults on social media, I asked whether programmes such as these display leadership in a […]

Steps to Achieving Effective Governance

  Effective governance is achieved by taking a long term view – this can be quite challenging in the face of uncertainty about the future. The temptation can be to make choices based on limited perspectives rather than on the larger picture that would emerge if you seek more information and evidence. There are four […]

When is Conflict Good ?

African Saying “You have to take your head to the barber in order to get your hair cut.”Insight: There are certain tasks you simply cannot delegate. You identify and prioritise the ones that you (and only you) can get done and take responsibility for those if you want the results you are aiming to get.

Six Golden Guidelines for Effective Governance

I love the line in Pirates of the Caribbean where one of the actors alluded to policies that needed to be adhered to by the Pirates. The other Pirate retorted, ‘they are not so much policies; they are more like guidelines’. With this in mind, I usually find it helpful to reflect on rules of […]

Sharing What you Think can Really Impact on How you Do Business

Governance is not just about regulation, policies and procedures: it has a human face too. Board agendas are often cramped, meaning that more personal, sometimes difficult and uncomfortable matters do not get discussed. Sometimes there is a sense of uneasy compromise. But creating an environment where trustees can discuss matters of real personal concern can […]

Time to Think For More Effective Decision Making

In today’s fast moving environment we hardly have time to think or even breathe!  Decisions can be made quickly with very little discussion, deliberation or debate.  However decisions that have a big impact and long term consequences need more space for consideration, intentionality and purposefulness.   Mindfulness demonstrates the importance, in fact the necessity of slowing […]

Servant Leadership a Platform for Effective Leadership

Servant leadership is so impactful, yet many people think of leadership as a means of control and exercising power, sometimes in inappropriate ways.   Power used in the wrong way is very destructive, people are bullied, there is a culture of fear and guilt.   In the short term,  things may appear to be working, but over […]

Lessons on Leadership – learning from the Ebola Crisis

When the Ebola epidemic broke out in West Africa, a man tried to enter Nigeria for  treatment. He was held at the International airport by a leading doctor and her colleague. The gentleman was never allowed into Lagos. Their action saved millions of lives. In densely populated Lagos, millions of people could have died. The […]

Nudges in Board Codes of Conduct – How can They Help?

When standards are unclear or unenforced; it is easy for individuals to feel emboldened to engage in questionable behaviours that are readily rationalised. Environments, cultural expectations, processes and procedures that nudge individuals in the right direction, and leaders who immediately identify and address problems can stop breaches and encourage good, healthy behaviours. Nudges can offer […]