Reading Mike Willis’ (et al) excellent book recently, The Resilient Director, I came across the concept of the Subversive Director and suddenly realised that I had a name for what, on occasion, I instinctively try to be in the boardroom. Now Subversion is quite a strong term with overtones of a deliberate intention to destabilise or unsettle….
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I have to admit to having a problem with the whole concept of Role Models. Let me explain: Firstly I’ll lay out what I mean by a Role Model: Someone, anyone on whom someone else models their behaviour, for whatever reason. So this could be David Beckham, Mother Theresa, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela… you get the…
This week I met someone who had recently lost his job and was making his first tentative steps into the world of self-employment. He is very well connected and has met and lobbied politicians and dignitaries across the globe. He is bright and personable. He has all the attributes: skills, experience, attitude and energy to…
I recently spent a day with the management team of a small banking software house. Nice guys, young, driven and successful… Just one little problem – the management culture that’s got them to where they are today, will keep them there for ever and a day. The charismatic founder and CEO is very able –…
The Times’ review of Wolf Hall quotes the director, Peter Kosminsky, on the subject of why Mark Rylance makes such a great actor: He’s quite uniquely vulnerable. He’s very open to the vibrations and emotions around him… There’s very little in the way of mask or suit of armour around him. It’s as if he’s…
I’m interested by how much pleasure and entertainment there is in other people’s faux pas, ignorance and generally messed up love-lives – as exemplified by the latest rash of reality shows. The Germans call it Schadenfreude and I do catch myself indulging on occasion… Is it that it makes ordinary folks like you and me…
Have you noticed how often the dragons of Dragons’ Den disagree over what is and what isn’t a viable business proposition? Sometimes to the point of aggressive and entertaining argument. This leads me to the unequivocal conclusion that those esteemed business gurus must be wrong – and completely wrong – at least some of the…