Management Today's Leadership Lessons

On the latest episode of Leadership Lessons, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis Cronin discuss how P&G fought off the start-up disruptors, the CEO who has been nicknamed leader of ‘Wokeminster’ City Council and what chief executives think of the new flexible working rules.Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ceos-new-flexible-working-bill/hybrid-working/article/1869418https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/p-g-fought-off-start-up-disruptors/leadership-lessons/article/1868662https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/stuart-love-ceo-whos-proud-called-too-woke/interviews/article/1868954Credits:Presenters: Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every organisation is clogged with destructive friction – from convoluted meetings to antiquated technologies – that chips away at “our initiative, commitment and zest for work”. That's the contention at the centre of a new book from Stanford professors Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao, which aims to teach people how to "live like a friction fixer".This week on Leadership Lessons, Sutton shares some of the tips and tricks he and Rao learnt over the course of seven years spent researching the book. Plus, you might not know them by these names but they'll probably be familiar: this episode also features discussion of jargon monoxide, power poisoning and decision amnesia. Credits:Presenter: Antonia Garrett PeelProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we discuss why great creative ideas fail to get off the ground, whether it’s time for leaders to embrace the “life admin reality”, and revisit some outlandish CEO antics from the business annals.Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/yes-staff-life-admin-work-heres-why-leaders-embrace-it/opinion/article/1867800https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/when-ceos-lose-plot/leadership-lessons/article/1868214https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/why-leaders-miss-great-creative-ideas/indepth/article/1866650Credits:Presenters: Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cybercrime is not an issue that is likely to disappear any time soon. During the course of 2023, according to Statista, the number of cyber incidents reported by UK businesses rose by more than a third. In 2022, 28% of businesses said they identified one breach or attack in the previous 12 months, compared to 21%. Indeed, the UK is the economy most at risk of cyber attack, according to one recent survey.But never fear! In this week's episode Richard Brinson, CEO of cybersecurity consultancy Savanti, has identified five common mistakes leaders make when it comes to tackling cyber crime, as well as some possible solutions.CreditsPresenter: Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #cybercrime #technology #security Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, we discuss Admiral founder Henry Engelhardt’s crusade to create a world of better bosses, how AI can be used in the workplace to help human employees, and business’s plastic problem.Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/management-hypocrisy-leadership-red-lines-insurance-tycoon-henry-engelhardt/interviews/article/1866388https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/asana-ceo-ai-humans-co-create-future-work/leadership-lessons/article/1863189https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/business-plastic-problem/indepth/article/1865777Credits:Presenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you want to create a successful team? Then you should start a workplace choir, share a spicy group meal before a difficult meeting and take up pickleball. These are some of the tricks proposed by the guests on this episode of Management Today's Leadership Lessons.  Robin Dunbar, University of Oxford’s emeritus professor of evolutionary psychology, and the co-founders of leadership development consultancy Thompson Harrison Tracey Camilleri and Samantha Rockey have written a book called The Social Brain, which delves into the psychology of successful groups. In this episode, Dunbar explains his high-profile research on the impact of group size on human brains. His famous ‘Dunbar’s Number’ theory argues that humans can only manage a maximum of 150 relationships. He has also identified a series of smaller layers in social networks that will make you look at team dynamics differently.   Rockey, who was the global head of leadership development at FTSE 100 company SABMiller (now AB InBev), translates his research into a business context, with clear implications for leaders. Credits:Presenter: Kate MageeProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we discuss why Blockbuster really failed (with the inside story from former CEO James Keyes), the importance of agility and the issues raised by extended gardening leave. Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/why-blockbuster-really-went-bankrupt-according-its-former-ceo/interviews/article/1863669https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/when-does-gardening-leave-cease-serve-its-purpose/opinion/article/1863252Credits:Presenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is Mark Dixon, the founder and CEO of IWG - formerly known as Regus - which is the largest flexible office network worldwide. Mark is a serial entrepreneur. He dropped out of school aged 16 to start his first business selling sandwiches from a butcher’s bike. Next came a hot dog venture, then a bakery which he sold aged 28 for £800,000. He then set up Regus, which he self-funded for the first 10 years, becoming a billionaire (in share value) aged 40, then losing it in the dotcom crash. He now has regained his billionaire status and lives in Monaco. He has a “Saturday job” running the largest rosé wine producer in Provence but is still laser-focused on company detail. So much so, he still reads every customer complaint: “That’s how you understand how your business is really doing. You see faults in your setup that you can fix. It’s a good discipline.”We cover a lot of ground in the interview. Dixon discusses his latest ambitious plans to create an “Uber for offices”, and how he is changing his business model to support this vision. He explains why the dizzying rise and fall of rival WeWork harmed his business because by creating “negativity” among investors. We also discuss why he is considering leaving the London Stock Exchange for a US listing. He says the “return to work” narrative is not real, why the best way for leaders to improve their staff’s productivity is to cut their commute and why he sees people’s homes as a competitor. He also discusses his key leadership advice, why he felt like a “total failure” after he read Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk and why he’s most worried about unforced errors and the business not reaching its potential. Credits:Presenter: Kate MageeProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we discuss female representation on FTSE 350 boards, the real reasons employees keep quiet in meetings and some pearls of wisdom from Amex and IBM's respective UK leaders. Keep an ear out for a shameless plug of MT's latest series.Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/know-real-reasons-employees-keeping-schtum-meetings/indepth/article/1861869https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ibm-uk-ceo-formulate-pit-crew/interviews/article/1862053https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/amex-uk-chief-stop-teams-getting-lost-swirl/interviews/article/1861942https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/female-representation-ftse-350-boards-all-time-high-says-latest-review/indepth/article/1863042Credits:Presenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we meet Tricia Cusden, founder of Look Fabulous Forever.Frustrated with the lack of conversation around good quality products available for mature skin, the now 75-year old launched cosmetics company Look Fabulous Forever in 2013, working alongside her two daughters Anna and Suzy.She and Anna discuss the inspiration behind the company, navigating the world of e-commerce while also running a manufacturing business and the secrets to working harmoniously with her children.She says: "I launched the company with no great targets in mind, but I wanted to see if I could do something with this money. It was much more interesting than shoving it in a pension and I wanted to get out there, meet new people and have a more interesting life."CreditsPresenter: Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArt direction: David Robinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we discuss when it's acceptable for a CEO to have a side gig, why being bolder might help you to get a promotion, and whether it's up to senior staff to set an example when it comes to spending time in the office. Also on the agenda: is the world ready for a DJing chief exec?Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/when-acceptable-ceo-side-gig/food-for-thought/article/1860531https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/want-promotion-just-ask-says-research/indepth/article/1856912https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/senior-staff-set-example-when-comes-office/hybrid-working/article/1861307Credits:Presenters: Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ajaz Ahmed, the CEO and co-founder of digital creative agency AKQA, argues that chaos and unpredictability are the enemies of a well-run company. He is convinced that “exceptional discipline and organisation” are the keys to high performance and it’s a trait he’s witnessed repeatedly among successful clients. Ahmed’s backstory is straight out of the Silicon Valley playbook. In 1994, aged 21, he dropped out of university to launch AKQA with friends, from his parents’ basement. As he told Campaign in 1999: 'There was a lot of talk about the information superhighway and we knew if we didn’t start then, we would have missed out forever."The gamble paid off. His first client was Microsoft, he was a millionaire by 24 and in 2012, he sold a majority stake in his business to WPP, in a deal that valued AKQA at $540m (£348m at the time). He has since been awarded two honorary degrees. So it’s a good thing that he didn’t listen to his school careers advisor who told him to work in a factory like his father. On the podcast, he explains how his agency’s “operating system” provides clarity to employees, his one-minute MBA for CEOs and why good leadership is really about one thing: being a decent human being. CreditsPresenter: Kate MageeProducer: Til OwenArt direction: David Robinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, we discuss whether CEOs are paid enough, how to know when it’s time to leave a role, and the employment tribunal that could mark the death knell for remote working. Watch out for mentions of underwear-thieving gnomes. Linkshttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ceos-growth-opportunities-2024/down-to-business/article/1858451https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/uk-smbs-identify-poor-management-top-internal-obstacle-growth/indepth/article/1858666https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/identifying-misnomers-technology-industry/food-for-thought/article/1857522Credits:Presenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett-Peel, Éilis CroninProducer: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #CEO #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Executive coach Dr Mandy Lehto offers effective advice for leaders who are feeling overwhelmed. One of her key lessons is that burnout is a symptom of something deeper, and you will feel better once you realise what is really driving you. She also says you should ask yourself three questions: Who am I? Can I slow down to speed up? Where do I come alive?CreditsPresenter: Kate MageeProducer: Til OwenArt editor: David Robinson#management #leadership #burnout Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do CEOs think other leaders should prioritise in 2024? Why is Big Tech trying to scare us with existential threats? Which of the six post-pandemic workers are you?Management Today's editorial team discuss all these topics and more on this week's episode of Leadership Lessons. LinksAppian CEO on AI players: "The last thing they want is having to care about other people's rights."https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/appian-ceo-ai-players-the-last-thing-want-having-care-peoples-rights/interviews/article/1851850How National Grid's boss Alice Delahunty is keeping the lights on:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/national-grids-boss-alice-delahunty-keeping-lights/article/1851846MT Asks: What leaders be doing less of in 2024:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/mt-asks-leaders-will-doing-less-year/down-to-business/article/1851960What CEOs think other leaders should prioritise in 2024 - in 24 wordshttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ceos-think-leaders-prioritise-2024-24-words/leadership-lessons/article/1851509The CEO who probably doesn't existhttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ceo-probably-doesnt-exist/food-for-thought/article/1856500Fears about innovation only helping 'the rich' are stoking polarisation, finds researchhttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/fears-innovation-helping-the-rich-stoking-polarisation-finds-research/indepth/article/1857504Meet the six post-pandemic era workershttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/meet-six-post-pandemic-era-workers/indepth/article/1857768CreditsPresenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett-Peel, Éilis CroninProducers: Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we meet Nik Govier, founder of comms and business management consultancy Blurred. She walks us through the process of creating the company, including how having an affair on her business helped solidify her plans, navigating being a successful CEO with a neurodiverse family, and the reality of walking away from her very first entrepreneurial venture.CreditsPresenters: Éilis CroninProducers: Nav Pal and Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eduardo Briceno, founder of Mindset Works, explains why praise can damage performance and what leaders can do to effectively give feedback in a way that encourages a "growth mindset".Also on the episode, Kate, Antonia and Éilis discuss the continuous impact AI is having on the workforce and unpacking what Elon Musk meant when he said having a job will no longer be needed. We also examine Napoleon's management advice and Éilis tells us a bit about her recent trip to Las Vegas, where she attended NetSuite's annual conference.Relevant story linksIs the future of work no work? - https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/future-work-no-work/long-reads/article/1849051Management Thinkers: Why Napoleon Bonaparte still matters - https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/management-thinkers-why-napoleon-bonaparte-matters/management-thinkers/article/1847722‘Just pick something low risk’: advice from an AI start-up - https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/just-pick-something-low-risk-advice-ai-start-up/interviews/article/1847370CreditsPresenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducers: Nav Pal and Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #business #AI #ElonMusk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Rudd, the group CEO of advertising agencies Leo Burnett UK, Fallon and Publicis.Poke, talks to Management Today about his tips for turnaround success, including how he builds beacons and gangs, why he focuses on small wins and why CEOs should never run to a meeting.He also explains why he believes CEOs are ultimately talent managers and why failure never crosses his mind.Also on the episode, Kate, Antonia and Éilis discuss whether dynamic pricing is an effective strategy for businesses - does the reward of extra revenue outweigh the risk of angering customers? We also examine the company that has not one, but four CEOs. How do they get anything done?Relevant story linksIs dynamic pricing an effective strategy? https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/business-introduce-dynamic-pricing/indepth/article/1847365Charlie Rudd's 2015 Campaign profile: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/charlie-rudds-rescue-mission-o-m/1367391Charlie Rudd's 2023 Campaign profile: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/charlie-rudd-man-makes-want-buy/1831039CreditsPresenters: Kate Magee, Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducers: Nav Pal and Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #business #advertising Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 March 2020. The world was waking up to the reality that a global pandemic had begun. Scientific modelling said the NHS would run out of life-saving equipment within weeks. A phone call from the Cabinet Office came through to professional services firm PA Consulting. The ask? To build 30,000 mechanical ventilators in eight weeks.It was a seemingly impossible request, but somehow the team delivered enough ventilators so no patient that needed one went without. In this episode, PA's innovation chief, Frazer Bennett, who was at the project helm, dissects the business lessons from the challenge, including the power of experimental mindsets, parallelism, the fallacy of a 'lightbulb moment' and why his heart sinks when he sees primary-coloured bean bags.Also on the show, was the first AI Safety Summit "too selective"? Is Elon Musk right that the future of work is no work? And after former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty of one of the biggest frauds in American history, why we are still suckers for charismatic founders? Relevant story links:Prominent computer scientist warns AI Safety Summit is 'too selective'https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/prominent-computer-scientist-warns-ai-safety-summit-too-selective/opinion/article/1845831Why financial analysts are providing inadequate scrutiny of fraudulent CEOshttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/why-financial-analysts-providing-inadequate-scrutiny-fraudulent-ceos/indepth/article/1844766Musk tells PM artificial intelligence will eradicate the need to workhttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/musk-tells-pm-artificial-intelligence-will-eradicate-need-work/down-to-business/article/1846358Are we all just suckers for charismatic founders?https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/just-suckers-charismatic-founders/long-reads/article/1750807Credits:Presenters: Kate Magee and Antonia Garrett PeelProducers: Nav Pal and Til OwenArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, spin doctor turned PR boss Charles Lewington talks to MT about how he grew his company Hanover from the ground up and offers his tips for navigating a business sale process.Presenters Kate Magee and Antonia Garrett Peel also discuss the unintended consequences of strong cultures, the dangers of romanticising entrepreneurship and new research that suggests skilled managers offer a “reputational insurance policy”. Linkshttps://www.managementtoday.co.uk/unintended-consequences-strong-cultures/indepth/article/1840098https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/embezzlement-tornados-intensive-care-why-shouldnt-romanticise-entrepreneurship/interviews/article/1840531https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/cmi-chief-skilled-managers-offer-reputational-insurance-policy-management-matters/article/1841873CreditsPresenters: Kate Magee and Antonia Garrett PeelProduction: Nav PalArtwork: David Robinson#management #leadership #businessHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.