St James's Entrepreneur Club
Mar 1, 2019
As your business grows how can you stay nimble – and why do you need to?
ILM Edge
Feb 13, 2019
Old leadership models and approaches are being continually repackaged, but does leadership thinking really have anything new to offer in 2019?
Forbes
Jan 31, 2019
I highlight why agility is a critical life skill for today’s entrepreneurs.
HR magazine
Jan 11, 2019
Agility has become a highly-prized leadership attribute. I highlight why and how we need to adapt our leadership approach for the modern world.
Project Management
Jan 4, 2019
"The Agile Leader is easy to read and well laid out, and presents thought-provoking discussion on the context of modern leadership."
People Management
Jan 4, 2019
There is an antidote to over-complexity inside organisations, but it requires brave and unusual leadership.
CEO Today
Dec 4, 2018
A look at the role activist investors can play in your business, and what leaders can learn from adopting an activist mindset.
ILM Edge
Nov 5, 2018
Agile leaders develop swift and steady teams that are equipped to face the challenges posed by a VUCA world.
Forbes
Oct 30, 2018
The term 'agile' is one that is used and abused within businesses across many sectors. What does it actually mean?
Professional Manager
Oct 23, 2018
“Anyone interested in new ways of thinking should find it useful.”
Personnel Today
Oct 1, 2018
The UK has an opportunity to reframe management apprenticeships and encourage businesses to support learning and development programmes with meaningful investment throughout their employees’ careers.
HR magazine
Sep 20, 2018
Becoming an agile leader is about relinquishing power and drawing feedback from others to become a storyteller and process hacker.
Management Today
Sep 18, 2018
For many organisations, the departure of a high-profile leader can leave a void which is difficult to fill. Jack Ma, the executive chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, intends to ensure a smooth transition.
Executive Compensation Briefing
Sep 13, 2018
Can developing more agile ways of working help a business to promote gender equality and close the gender pay gap?
HR magazine
Sep 10, 2018
“Hayward shows how organisations can adapt to meet the complex demands of a digital age.”
Irish Tech News
Aug 1, 2018
“Read it before your rivals do!”
TrainingZONE
Jul 31, 2018
Can continuous learning help future-proof your organisation, and how important are the leaders in creating a culture of learning?
People Management
Jul 25, 2018
“Admirably up-to-the minute.”
The Independent
Jul 13, 2018
Gareth Southgate’s leadership of the England football team offers lessons for people in other fields.
CMI Insights
Jul 12, 2018
England football team manager Gareth Southgate has changed the team culture and boosted performance
The Telegraph
Jul 11, 2018
The England gaffer sets an example for the business benefits of compassionate leadership.
The Economist
Jul 5, 2018
Agility is such a modish word in modern management theory that it can seem as if the ideal corporate executive would be a combination of Spider-Man and gymnast Simone Biles.
Real Business
Jun 18, 2018
Challenger banks are often considered more innovative and agile than long-established major banking institutions. But is it possible for a challenger bank to remain agile as it grows, especially in the UK’s highly-regulated finance sector?
A research report from Cirrus
May 20, 2018
What prevents organisations becoming more agile, and what can leaders do to develop agility? This research report draws on my academic research and interviews with major organisations to identify barriers and suggest how these barriers can be overcome.
Management Today
May 10, 2018
Without a focus on agility, the plucky challengers risk turning into the very banks they're trying to disrupt.
HRDirector
May 6, 2018
The news that Sainsbury’s plans to merge with Asda has come as quite a shock. It is a striking example of two major retailers taking a very bold move to address the ongoing challenges of an intensely competitive industry.
Management Today
Apr 18, 2018
When a powerful leader such as Sir Martin Sorrell leaves a business, it can create a void. How can the organisation address this?
TrainingZone
Apr 11, 2018
A look at how the UK apprenticeship levy provides opportunities for subsidised leadership and management development through management apprenticeships.
People Management
Apr 3, 2018
Some thoughts from me on the leadership challenges of the proposed Sainsbury's and Asda merger.
People Management
Mar 29, 2018
A culture of caution is a barrier to agility and innovation. Experimentation, failure without fear and celebrating learning from failure are all key to building a risk-agreeable culture.
Personnel Today
Mar 13, 2018
When prominent leaders speak up for diversity and become active role models, everybody benefits.
People Management
Mar 8, 2018
Almost a year since its launch, is it time to make the apprenticeship levy and management apprenticeships more appealing to leaders?
HR Grapevine
Jan 15, 2018
Are you taking advantage of MOOCs? Massive Open Online Courses can provide a wealth of information and learning for your people. Dr Simon Hayward, CEO of Cirrus, comments in HR Grapevine.
The Times
Dec 15, 2017
Introducing agile thinking into an organisation needs to start at the top or it will fail to win the backing of key employees. Some comments from me in The Times.
Management Today
Dec 14, 2017
As some ex-Facebook executives speak out against the social network, its leaders speak out about ensuring the organisation is a 'force for good'.
Charity Finance
Nov 1, 2017
Collaboration can be quite a challenge for charities, who often have a wide range of stakeholders and a complex governance structure. Some comment from me as part of a wider article.
Management Today
Oct 12, 2017
As leaders, we sometimes need to admit mistakes and actively listen to others.
Real Business
Oct 2, 2017
We can build trust through being open and transparent and willing to change direction.
Forbes
Mar 14, 2017
Comment from me on the need to cut through bureaucracy and prioritise ruthlessly in order to increase agility.
Association of MBAs
Feb 13, 2017
Today’s unpredictable world demands a more inclusive and less individualistic style of leadership.
HRZone
Jan 26, 2017
Workplace bullying is becoming more prevalent. How can we develop the leadership behaviours and company cultures to help stop the rise?
Jazz FM
Oct 22, 2016
I talk to Elliot Moss about my career, Cirrus and Connected Leadership.
Alliance MBS Network
September 1, 2016
My Connected Leadership book grew out of my doctoral research at Alliance Manchester Business School, so I was proud to write about it for their alumni magazine and website.
Connecting the dots: a new model of leadership
Mortgage Professional Australia
August 26, 2016
A review of my Connected Leadership book plus an interview with me on the book's key themes.
How to reassure staff after the Brexit vote
Personnel Today
July 6, 2016
Brexit calls for leaders to provide focus: Some comment from me in a wider Personnel Today article.
How can you become a more authentic leader?
Business First
July 5, 2016
Both employees and customers now expect more transparency. We want leaders who are open, honest, authentic and connected.
Latest trends in leadership and HR
CEO Outlook podcast
June 6, 2016
I join a discussion on the latest trends in HR and leadership with business transformation expert and author Rita Trehan.
A welcome approach to leading
HR magazine
May 16, 2016
Christian Hobson, Group Head of Talent at Standard Chartered Bank, reviews my Connected Leadership book for HR magazine.
'Hero' leaders are dead, long live the connected CEO
CEO Middle East
May 4, 2016
Successful businesses are no longer automatically seen as synonymous with big leaders. Today it's about staying connected in a digital world.
The Times
February 29, 2016
For a business to survive and thrive today, it needs to adapt to changing market forces in what is still an unpredictable environment. We need leaders who are agile and can respond swiftly to challenges.
Unpicking Angela Merkel's 'connected' leadership style
HRZone
Viewpoint: The importance of agility in business
Manchester Evening News
Do difficult characters make for good sporting leaders?
BBC Radio 4 The World Tonight
December 18, 2015
Are football manager José Mourinho and rugby captain Dylan Hartley 'hero' leaders, capable only of short-term success which cannot be sustained?
The Times/Raconteur
Comments on the links between connected leadership and engaged employees in a special employee engagement supplement in The Times.
Adopting a new style of leadership
The Scotsman
September 9, 2015
A look at why Standard Life is such a good example of a connected, customer-centred company.
When it comes to increasing productivity, we’re stronger together
HR magazine
August 14, 2015
There are many theories on why UK productivity is so poor. However, there is one obvious solution: we need to become better, more connected people leaders.
What are the business benefits of being more transparent?
The GuardianJuly 29, 2015
Adopting an open leadership style can bring enormous benefits in terms of company culture, engagement, customer loyalty and productivity.
Should junior managers be coached?
ILM Edge magazine
March 16, 2015
Comment on the importance of professionalism for internal coaches as part of a wider article on internal coaching for front-line managers.
How can HR partner more effectively with the C-suite?
HR Magazine
March 16, 2015
Recent research from Cirrus and Ipsos MORI provides some insights into what the C-suite wants from HR leaders. This article provides tips to help HR leaders become more connected.
Leadership Connections: How HR deals with C-suite leaders
Ipsos MORI and Cirrus
March 5, 2015
A major research project exploring which leadership factors matter most to UK C-suite leaders, with additional insights from HR leaders on how to create more connected companies.
The challenges of retail leadership
Human Resources
January 16, 2015
In the highly competitive retail industry, the most successful business transformation relies on how well the CEO champions a new style of connected leadership.
How can leaders become more inclusive?
HRZone
January 13, 2015
How can leaders cope with the changing demands of customers, employees, and our unpredictable world? Becoming more inclusive is becoming increasingly important.
The quiet art of being a good listener
Financial Times
October 20, 2014
Leaders’ powers of persuasion rest as much on skilful listening as on articulacy. How can leaders improve their listening skills?
Loving your work
Incentive and Motivation
October 14, 2014
Successful employee engagement connects people with company values and goals, putting them at the heart of successful business.
Get the leader you deserve
People Management
September 18, 2014
The old model of one big personality who ran the company, and was the embodiment of its values and culture, is over. We should prepare ourselves for the age of the 'post-heroic leader'.
Connected leadership: The CEO and the HRD
Human Resources
September 8, 2014
Are CEOs and their HR directors having quality, strategic conversations with each other?
Summer Fridays: does your boss trust you to spend an afternoon in the sun?
The Guardian
June 10, 2014
Some comments from me on flexible working, trust and productivity
Eight things the Co-op could do to sort its problems
Manchester Evening News
April 16, 2014
The Co-op's crisis is a real opportunity to modernise the organisation and create significant, lasting change.
Co-op crisis: Governance and leadership
Manchester Evening News
April 10, 2014
Sound governance is important in rebuilding The Co-operative, and so is leadership capability.
Bosses who go under the bonnet
The Sunday Times
March 16, 2014
If you want to lead a company, do you need to be an expert in what it does, or are wider leadership skills and attributes more important?
Helping leaders take control of their learning
Training Journal
December 19, 2013
Today's leaders face complex challenges. Learning apps - and other digital opportunities - can help us face these challenges.
More women on boards saves companies money on acquisitions
The Guardian
December 10, 2013
The more women on a corporate board, the less a company pays for its acquisitions. Comment on a study by researchers at UBC's Sauder School of Business.
Reputation and recovery at The Co-operative
Sky News
November 19, 2013
An interview with Jeff Randall Live to discuss crisis at The Co-operative, and how improved governance and leadership capability can rebuild a reputation built on a rich heritage and values-led culture.
How to save BlackBerry
Management Today
October 30, 2013
What can new leadership at BlackBerry do to transform the once mighty smartphone maker?
Manchester Utd, leadership and succession
Sky News
May 10, 2013
On the day Sir Alex Ferguson retired from Manchester United, an interview on Sky News to talk about leadership and succession.
Is the term 'work-life balance' now outdated?
Edge magazine: The Institute of Leadership & Management
February 18, 2013
For many of us, the boundaries between our work and personal life are becoming blurred. In fact, the different areas of our lives are merging.
Barclays bonuses to be linked to 'way we do business', says new CEO
Ask Grapevine HR
September 17, 2012
“It is refreshing to hear Antony Jenkins, a high-profile CEO, talk about defining and embedding a refreshed set of values and behaviours at Barclays. What’s even more impressive is that he has moved swiftly to change the way Barclays operates to ensure this happens."
We need more leaders to match Branson’s passion
People Management
August 17, 2012
The British public has made it clear that they want to see more values-led leadership, and appreciate leaders who can speak from the heart. Following the series of high-profile corporate scandals we have witnessed in recent times, there is an increasing interest in businesses who can combine commercial success with authentic, clear values – particularly if those values are customer-focused.
Digital leaders
People Management
July 10, 2012
Some of us can be clearly defined as ‘digital leaders’. All of us can benefit from developing digital leadership skills. Learning how to combine insight, focus, speed and connection can help us become more adaptable, more agile, and more successful in a fast-moving and unpredictable world.
Changing ‘the Steve Jobs culture’
People Management
May 29, 2012
When Tim Cook first took over as Apple CEO last year, he was thought of as a very safe pair of hands. Although much admired for his unwavering focus on results, he was considered a bit dull in relation to his predecessor Steve Jobs. But as time goes by, Cook is proving to be as much a master of employee and investor relations as he is of operational efficiency.
World Bank leadership seeks out a global touch
People Management
April 13, 2012
As the centre of gravity in the global economy moves away from the traditional West and towards the East and South, it is likely that we will also see a review of Western styles of leadership. We may see a shift away from ‘heroic’ command and control leadership towards more collaborative organisational cultures. The World Bank has a real opportunity to be a trailblazer.
Freeing up the blue-sky thinkers
People Management
March 13, 2012
We’ve all worked with independent free thinkers. Some of you may even see yourselves as mavericks. Very few organisations enjoy sustained success by always playing it safe. Sometimes a bit of radical thinking is just what we need to encourage the sort of bold decisions that can create real change and breakthrough innovation.
Tighten the team
People Management
January 16, 2012
2011 was a tumultuous time for most leaders. With another year of uncertainty ahead, what are the areas we need to focus on to meet our biggest challenges?
Can work contribute to wellbeing?
People Management
December 8, 2011
What can leaders in organisations do to help employees become happier at work? Perhaps some of the things many people value about their personal and family life, such as support, friendly relationships and open conversations, give us a clue about what we’d like to see more of in the workplace.
Stress doesn't lead to success
People Management
November 7, 2011
It’s unusual for high-profile corporate leaders to admit they are suffering from stress. But why shouldn’t they? Stress is really damaging, and the prevailing culture that prevents many people admitting that stress affects them is detrimental to working life.
A listening boss shows strength, not weakness
People Management
October 17, 2011
"My boss never listens to me.” We’ve all probably heard these words more than once. Some of us have uttered them. And some of us are those bosses – so confident in our decision-making abilities that we don’t always seek the input of others.
Why do teams fail?
Fast Company
September 16, 2011
Some insights on film into why teams fail as part of Fast Company's 30 Second MBA series.
How do you fire someone?
Fast Company
October 20, 2011
It's all about treating people with respect: thoughts on film as part of Fast Company's 30 Second MBA series.
How open should your open door policy be?
Fast Company
November 15, 2011
Sharing experience on film as part of Fast Company's 30 Second MBA series.
Cracks in the coalition and the lessons for leaders
Personnel Today
May 11, 2011
In business, as in politics, real collaboration between leaders not only ensures smooth and successful team-working at senior level - it also sends a strong message to others across the organisation that unity is important in order to achieve objectives. Leaders are powerful role models, and often their actions and attitude influence others more than the words they use.
The careerist: Dealing with needy people
Financial Times
June 24, 2012
“Start by recognising that needy people normally need something. Then make time for an honest conversation. If you explore the problem you can move through the feelings to a state where they’re thinking clearly for themselves. Then you can be a bit more straight-talking. It’s about strengthening them, then challenging them."
The careerist: Working a Christmas party
Financial Times
December 11, 2011
“Christmas parties are an opportunity to use a bit of disclosure and to find out a bit about people and to build a bit more trust. Trust is a huge enabler.”
Connecting leadership development to bottom line benefits
Strategic HR Review
November 15, 2010
Draws on recent research to demonstrate why both leadership development and the financial benefits it brings are increasingly important, and offers practical advice to ensure ongoing investment in leadership development within organisations.
Engaging employees through whole leadership
Strategic HR Review
February 7, 2010
The paper demonstrates the links between holistic leadership in engaging, motivating and inspiring employees, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty, increasing globalisation and complexity in organisational life.
MT Expert's Ten Top Tips: Innovate when times are tough
Management Today
October 22, 2010
With finances so tight, we need to rely on fresh thinking. Fortunately, great ideas don’t always need massive investment – rather, leaders need to create the right context for them to come out. Sound too simple? Here are ten top tips to help you encourage new ideas and foster invention without breaking the bank.