We’ve had some great debates (and arguments) recently. Here’s our latest thinking

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Is there such a thing as over-investment in people?

This is the question that animates much of our work with clients: facing into an intense competitive environment and acute cost pressure, how do we actually unlock our human capital?

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Is leadership development broken?

Even with continued uncertainty around Covid, businesses are accelerating focus and pace on their long-term strategic plans. As well as this...

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Strategy Mobilisation: sparking energy and progress

Creating a brilliant strategy is important, but it’s only half the battle. Delivering on it is what really makes the difference.

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Leading in a Hybrid World: We Need to Talk About Engagement

As we start to see the light at the end of the COVID crisis, we’re seeing our clients emerge with a firmer eye on their long term future. Whilst every business is in their own unique position, we know that the biggest threat can be often be the internal one. What will be required of leaders in this new hybrid world?

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The Burnout Pandemic

While employees have a certain expectation when it comes to wellbeing provisions at work, evidence suggests that these programmes aren't working. When it comes to burnout, workload is the central issue. As leaders we have to acknowledge we aren’t being choiceful enough and we need to prioritise better.

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Accelerating Into Post Traumatic Growth

Businesses are under enormous pressure to reignite growth – and to do so in the context of a massive change in society’s expectations of them.

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Shaping the Future of Work

Last week we brought together 5 CPOs leading the Future of Work agenda for their companies to share what they’re up to and debate the big things on their mind.

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Is culture anti-D&I?

Could our traditional approach to culture actually have a harmful impact on diversity and inclusion?

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Why team collaboration and agility might be simpler than you think

Real progress doesn’t come from an operating model overhaul or project delivery methodology; instead it’s made by integrating disarmingly simple tools into the way your teams already operate.

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In the press
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To Craft a Purpose That Motivates Your Team, Balance Pragmatism and Idealism

Purpose statements, if they exist at all, tend to be too vague or too lofty, or both. To use purpose to drive business, leaders need to balance idealism and pragmatism. Atif Sheikh and Darren Ashby discuss how to develop and implement a purpose for your business that is both clear and demanding, and that stretches between current strategy and long-term plans.

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These Are The Behaviour Changes That Drive Growth

Many leadership teams focus on “the why.” Darren Ashby urges them to think about “the how.”

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"Workers Watch your Feet Not Your Lips" - Changing Culture At Scale

I saw one of today’s guests Darren Ashby speak at an event – talking through the specifics of how his company businessfourzero tried to change the culture of Tesco. businessfourzero are one of a group of organisations who work with leaders to change company culture.

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What 'The Great Resignation' might mean for business

CEO Atif Sheikh speaks to Ian King on Sky News about 'The Great Resignation', what it might mean for businesses and their people in 2022, and the importance of Purpose in giving people a reason to believe that their work is actually worth it.

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Is Artificial Intelligence A Goldmine Or A Minefield For Leaders?

“AI is both a goldmine and a minefield. As leaders, we are together going to have to figure out how to recover as much of the gold as possible, without all getting blown till kingdom come in the process.” - Atif Sheikh in Forbes

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How To Stop Your Staff Quitting Their Jobs

Whether you believe in ‘The Great Resignation’ or not, where some reports suggested post-covid up to 60% of people said they were going to leave their jobs, the reported numbers of people still considering quitting are pretty shocking - and point to a deep rooted disengagement with the work they are doing and the business they are doing it for.

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How To Thaw The Frozen Middle Management

Middle managers perform a critically important role within organizations. They are the vital link between the senior leadership team and the front-line workers who make things happen on a day-to-day basis. Yet while middle managers have a huge amount to contribute to organizational success, they can sometimes be accused of being unimaginative, inflexible blockers to progress.

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Podcast Episode: Every Team Actually Doing Business Better

Partner & CIO Darren Ashby speaks to Bobby Kerr on 'Down to Business' podcast about the importance of having a mission in business.

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Struggling To Change Your Team? Five Critical Questions To Ask Yourself

While we should expect leaders to be role models, that doesn’t mean we should expect them to behave perfectly. “What we should expect of a leader is that they hold the bar high on the ‘how’ for their teams and peers,” says Darren Ashby, chief impact officer at consultancy businessfourzero and co-author of Every Team Actually Doing Business Better.

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Why Business Needs To Pick Its Targets In Social Matters

The two episodes are neat demonstrations of how, according to Atif Sheikh, founder and CEO of the consultancy businessfourzero, “the dynamic between boards and the executive team is pretty broken.”

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Comeback Kid: Three Ways To Resurrect Your Leadership

“You're only a leader if people choose to follow you,” says Darren Ashby, co-founder of purpose, strategy and culture consultancy businessfourzero and co-author of Every Team Actually Doing Business Better.