Great cultures don’t manage up. They lead down.
There’s a quiet dysfunction that exists in many organisations and most senior leaders don’t even realise they’re contributing to it. Strategies get set, directions get communicated and then somehow, the people responsible for executing them find themselves pushing upward. In pushing upward, they’re seeking clarity, chasing decisions or waiting for permission just to get things moving. If your teams are spending more energy managing up […]
Misalignment breeds underperformance
Lack of accountability, meetings after the meeting, ambiguous strategic direction, these are symptoms of a bigger issue. They are signifiers that the five dysfunctions of a team are quietly eroding your team’s potential. Most executive teams look functional on paper. Smart people. Clear roles. A strategy everyone nodded at in the last offsite. In light of all of the positives; decisions are stalling, accountability is slipping and the same conversations […]
Check in before you jump in: The leadership habit that changes everything
You know it the moment you sit down for a one-on-one. Something’s off. A deadline is at risk, a standard isn’t being met, and every instinct is telling you to step in and sort it out. But before you do, have you actually checked in with your team member? Most leaders skip this step entirely. When leaders jump in without checking in We’ve all been there. Your […]
Training to perform or just performing?
What if the reason your leadership team is underperforming has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with how they spend their time? There’s a striking contrast hidden in plain sight between the world of elite sport and the world of corporate leadership: athletes spend the majority of their time training, while corporate leaders spend the majority of their […]
Humour is the Strategy
Is humour at work really considered just a “nice to have”? Too often it gets dismissed, considered being a distraction from the real work. But the story culture leaders need to lean into is exactly the opposite: humour can be one of the most powerful levers for belonging, engagement and productivity. And it doesn’t take much, just […]
No Problems is the Problem
If you’re not hearing about problems in your team, that is not an opportunity to relax. It’s your opportunity to lean in. Typically, the absence of problems isn’t always a sign of excellence or comfort. It’s a sign of silence. And silence under pressure is rarely healthy. As a leader, you sit in the tension point. You translate strategy downward and absorb expectations […]
Culture is what you reward and what you tolerate
Most leaders say culture matters. However, few can clearly describe the culture they are actively creating. That gap is where culture drifts. Not because people do not care, but because culture is shaped less by intention and more by behaviour. What gets reinforced. What gets ignored. What leaders are willing to address and what they […]
What sets high-performing teams apart?
High-performing teams aren’t defined just by talent. They’re defined by how they think, solve problems and work together under pressure. In today’s working environment, teams aren’t just executing tasks. They navigate complexity, ambiguity and constant change. While “more minds” should lead to better outcomes, the reality is often messy and convoluted, leading to confusion and a lack of forward movement. Conversations go in circles. Decisions stall. Some […]
Accountability conversations without killing trust
Accountability has a branding problem. Too often, it’s mistaken for criticism. Not because accountability is flawed, but because the conversation has been framed poorly. When that happens, leaders either avoid the conversation or deliver it in a way that erodes trust. The truth is, and what we’ve discovered through coaching and training people in their leadership, is that people don’t resist accountability. They resist how it’s delivered. As Rosalynn […]
New Year New Job!
You’ve just kicked off 2026 with a great new job as a team leader – congratulations! Maybe you’re a seasoned pro, or maybe this is your first leap into leadership – whatever your experience, the first 90 days of your new role are critical. How you start sets the tone for your team, your impact and the environment you’re creating for success. We’ve seen leaders […]