The moment that Lehman Brothers lost the plot – when they abandoned their ‘Strategic Core’.

Published in CEO World 4 March 2023. I was lucky enough to see The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London last month. What a brilliant play: sharp script, clever set, perfect direction, magnificent performances. Every second of the three hours and twenty minutes was unmissable. But there was one moment in [...]

The moment that Lehman Brothers lost the plot – when they abandoned their ‘Strategic Core’.2023-03-06T13:54:26+00:00

Where are you on the chequerboard of leadership?

Leadership today is not about hierarchy. It is about influence. I would like to introduce you to a new model that I have been using in my 'leading change', 'leadership development' and 'leading with influence' programs and webinars - the 'Chequerboard of Leadership'. After 25+ years of enabling leaders to lead change, I have observed that extraordinary leaders possess two [...]

Where are you on the chequerboard of leadership?2022-03-19T14:06:26+00:00

Leadership insights from the last year as we emerge into a new dawn

It may be a cliche but it is true nevertheless. A new phase seems to have begun. The anxious, volatile and uncertain twelve months we have all endured may at last be coming to an end as we start to emerge into a new world that has changed in so many ways – armed with a treasure [...]

Leadership insights from the last year as we emerge into a new dawn2021-04-22T04:59:13+00:00

Leading in a crisis feat. City AM and the Police!

Leadership in a time of crisis Welcome to the July newsletter. What a quarter we have just endured! How the next quarter will pan out is anyone's guess. But as we tip-toe out of lockdown, one thing is certain - the next quarter and in fact the years ahead will be filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and [...]

Leading in a crisis feat. City AM and the Police!2020-07-03T11:46:46+00:00

Leading in a post-Brexit VUCA world

After three years of political sclerosis and six straight months of continuous and unedifying electioneering, one significant piece of clarity finally emerged from last week’s UK General Election – Britain is definitely leaving the European Union. Technically, in less than seven weeks’ time. The markets have greeted this news with rare, dual-pronged optimism – with [...]

Leading in a post-Brexit VUCA world2019-12-16T11:05:13+00:00

A must for every HRD and CEO – OrgVue people planning software bowled me over!

You know when you see something so utterly brilliant, your immediate thought is, “How come this hasn’t been done before?!” A couple of weeks ago, I was engaged by a switched-on PR firm with the wonderful name of ‘Don’t Cry Wolf’ to deliver a keynote at a customer breakfast round-table session. The host company was [...]

A must for every HRD and CEO – OrgVue people planning software bowled me over!2019-12-10T15:00:48+00:00

Future-proof your culture

The need for culture change is not an admission that your culture is broken or that the way your business has been operating has been wrong. It is simply an acknowledgement that success in the future will require different ways of working. Certain elements of today's culture must change if you wish to be successful [...]

Future-proof your culture2019-11-01T16:21:39+00:00

21st Century Leadership: a team game not a solo pursuit

Three key themes emerge from the delegates on my Leading Change workshops (both at Henley Business School and with clients directly) when we discuss leadership: Leadership is leading change. Anything else is simply managing the status quo. What great leaders do and how they make you feel. Leadership is a team game not a solo [...]

21st Century Leadership: a team game not a solo pursuit2019-06-10T09:16:22+00:00

The Power of Purpose

April 2019. A clear and genuine Purpose is critical for your organisation's future success. A company without one will struggle to achieve its potential. It will also struggle to attract and retain talent and clients alike. As I outline in ‘The Change Catalyst’, a good strategy is comprised of four components: Analysis Strategic Direction Go-to-market [...]

The Power of Purpose2019-06-10T08:46:46+00:00

Lessons in Leadership from Brexit

15 March 2019. The UK’s Brexit debacle may be excruciating to watch but it is providing us with some invaluable lessons in leadership. So many lessons, in fact, that it is difficult to know where to begin. So I suggest we start with reminding ourselves of what a good leader actually looks like … [...]

Lessons in Leadership from Brexit2024-02-29T11:50:23+00:00

Leading your business through the Brexit uncertainty

15 Jan 2019. Tonight marked the end of the beginning of the UK’s Brexit adventure. Five doors now stand between us and our future. Only one will open at 11pm GMT on the 29th March. Which door will it be? More importantly, what will it mean for your customers, your business and your people? No [...]

Leading your business through the Brexit uncertainty2019-04-17T12:15:34+00:00

Insights on Leading Change from 2018

4 Jan 2019. After reflecting upon all of the fascinating conversations and interactions I have been fortunate enough to experience during speeches, workshops, mentoring and consulting engagements during 2018, I would like to share a few insights with you to round the year off … 1. If you can’t change the people, you need to change [...]

Insights on Leading Change from 20182019-04-17T16:22:23+00:00

Successful leadership of change is possible

11 Oct 2018. 88% of change initiatives and business strategies fail to deliver what they set out to achieve. A similar proportion of mergers and acquisitions suffer the same fate.  How can you ensure that your next change or strategy is the one in eight that succeeds? Change is inevitable. Unfortunately, successful change isn’t. And the [...]

Successful leadership of change is possible2019-04-17T16:25:11+00:00

Mission Impossible? Leading change in successful organisations.

21 June 2018. “Our biggest barrier to change is our success,” declared a senior executive during one of my ‘Leading Change’ workshops. Successful organisations automatically erect formidable barriers to change – with very few exceptions. When you are the market leader; when revenues are growing year on year; when shareholders are ecstatic and when your [...]

Mission Impossible? Leading change in successful organisations.2019-04-17T16:25:49+00:00

What does it mean to be a genuine long term investor?

London 4 May 2018. Speech at the SII West Round Table. The Landmark Hotel. By Campbell Macpherson. CEO, Change & Strategy International Ltd Download the PDF of the full speech here. Good morning. It is a privilege to be here. What I am going to talk to you about this morning is my view on [...]

What does it mean to be a genuine long term investor?2018-05-05T21:09:55+00:00

The Change Catalyst: 2018 Business Book of the Year!

On Friday 16th March, The Change Catalyst was awarded 'The Business Book of the Year' at the Business Book Awards gala in London. It also won the 'Leading the Team' category. In announcing the overall winner of the evening, Alison Jones, Head Judge, commented: "The Change Catalyst is a book that frankly absolutely anyone in [...]

The Change Catalyst: 2018 Business Book of the Year!2018-04-23T07:41:23+00:00

How to…lead change in your business

As published in the IOD's Director magazine - June 2017 Edition. The vast majority of change initiatives fail, as do a similar proportion of strategies, mergers and acquisitions suffer the same fate. How can you ensure that your next change initiative is the one in eight that succeeds? Strategic change expert Campbell Macpherson shares some [...]

How to…lead change in your business2018-04-23T07:45:46+00:00

What does a good leadership team look like?

  Reflecting on the many dozens of Leadership teams that he has worked with over the years, Campbell assesses just what makes a great leadership team… One of my favourite clients recently launched a new division, forming a new Executive Team in the process. Knowing how important this new leadership team would be to the success [...]

What does a good leadership team look like?2020-10-29T05:51:47+00:00
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