Author: Mukesh Gupta

Inspiration, Leadership

From Commander to Conductor: Leading Teams of Human Experts and AI Agents

Premise We are living in a world that is constantly changing and we are leading teams that are engaged in knowledge work. This means that the team members are already experts at what they do. This also means that we are not always the smartest person in the rooms we are in. In addition, we will soon have AI agents joining the teams, if they are not there already. We need to rethink our role as a leader and find ways to evolve to continue to stay relevant and continue to create value. One way we can continue to stay […]

Leadership, Podcast

The Single Most Important Question You’re Not Asking Your Team

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/Are_you_okay_-_Leaders_Worth_Following.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSPremise: A recent article in the MIT Sloan Management Review carried a title that should stop every leader in their tracks: “Your people are not all right.” It speaks to a widespread reality of overwhelm, stress, and burnout that many teams are facing. While tracking performance, hitting targets, and managing metrics are essential parts of leadership, they are not the whole story. A truly great leader—a “leader worth following“—understands that sustainable success is built on the well-being of their people. This requires going deeper than the dashboard. It’s a strategic blind spot for […]

Creativity, Leadership, Podcast, Strategy

The Last Legal Competitive Advantage You Are Allowed!

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/The_Bomber_with_No_Guns__3_Lessons_in_Strategy_from_a_World_War_II_Secret_Weapon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSIn most scenarios, the default instinct for solving problems is additive. We add more features to a product, more resources to a team, more complexity to a process. We operate under the assumption that “more” is inherently better. This approach feels safe and logical, layering on solutions to cover every contingency. This is also in line with the natural process of increasing entropy all around us. However, imagine, what if the most powerful strategy isn’t about adding, but enabling radical subtraction? What if the path to an unbeatable advantage lies in […]

Leadership, Marketing, Podcast

How to be Remarkable and Stand Out as a Leader

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/How_to_Be_Remarkable_And_stand_out_from_the_crowd.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSPremise: Standing out starts with choosing to see, think, and act differently from the default, and then designing your work, relationships, and systems around that choice. This means intentionally questioning “how things are done here” and repeatedly experimenting with better ways that reflect who you are and what you care about.​ Why being different matters Most environments quietly push people to conform, to not make waves, and to follow existing templates for success. If you obey those pressures blindly, you become invisible, even when you are talented and hardworking. Think differently […]

Leadership, Podcast

A Practical Guide to Building an Engaged Team

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https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/Here_is_how_to_build_an_engaged_team.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSTeams that are engaged perform better, collaborate more, and stay longer. I often talk about how employee engagement sits at the heart of every high-performing team. The real question is: how do leaders actually build it in day-to-day work? Hire for Attitude Before Skills Engagement starts much earlier than most people realise — right at the hiring stage. I believe that while skills can be developed over time, attitude is much harder to change. Hiring people who naturally align with the team’s values and energy creates a stronger foundation for engagement. […]