Leadership lessons

This week's Friday Five leans into leadership; who does it well, how to nail it, how to implement strategy effectively and navigating the art of strategic conversation.

2024 is fraught with difficultly, the economy is wavering, geopolitical crises are omnipresent and the cost-of-living crisis is hanging dark and low above heads of many.

This doesn't haven't have to be the narrative followed by leaders at the front - or the top. With tricky times ahead, it's the headstrong, dogmatic and creative leaders that forge ahead with clarity and precision. So we've included tools, research and resources to help navigate these choppy waters from the front.

Let us know if you have any resources on leadership to add to the Friday Five in the comments below.

1. Top performers

?? What are the leaders of top-performing companies doing better than everyone else? PwC have honed in on 2,000 formidable executives globally to better understand the characteristics that set top-performing organisations apart from the rest of the pack. The study found three interrelated dimensions that correlated highly with company outperformance. Read about it here.

2. Leading differently

?? As a leader, once topline objectives are set, attention should turn to how to incentivise internal collaboration. In this Harvard Business Review podcast, Guy Raz shares the insights he’s gathered on how to inspire your team to take risks and embrace learning from failure. Take a listen here.

3. Disruptive branding

?? A "willingness to change" is the key to being a "constructive disruptor" in brand building this year - that's according to the P&G CEO Jon Moeller. Read more on his forecasts here.

4. Strategic slowness

?? And in a change of pace, could this year be the year the team puts the brakes on it order to propel forward? According to a Stanford Business School Professor, "strategic slowness" is being touted as a trend of 2024. Find out more about pros and cons here.

5. Navigating conversations

?? Author Robert Poynton says there no such thing as small talk. The writer of multiple 'DO Lectures' books has released yet another on the nuance of everyday work and life. This time, he hones in on the art of conversation; how to listen, hold space, and have fruitful interactions with people. Take a read here.

Until next week,

The Bright Space team.