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

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 […]

The Last Legal Competitive Advantage You Are Allowed!

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 […]

How to be Remarkable and Stand Out as a Leader

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 […]

A Practical Guide to Building an Engaged Team

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. […]

How to Be Creative as a Team

https://traffic.libsyn.com/pushingbeyondtheobvious/3_Ways_to_come_up_with_Breakthrough_Ideas.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Email | RSSPremise:  In today’s fast-paced world, every organization and leader feels the relentless pressure to innovate. We’re taught to hunt for that game-changing idea, that single “Eureka!” moment that will redefine our market. But waiting for a random stroke of genius is an ineffective and stressful strategy. The myth of the lone visionary struck by a sudden, brilliant insight is just that—a myth. True innovation isn’t about luck; it’s about process. Generating breakthrough ideas can be a systematic, repeatable activity. By moving beyond passive inspiration and adopting active methods, you can build […]