Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, There is no such thing as a straightforward leadership search. Every assignment I work on has nuances, and the consequences of making the wrong decision can be very costly. More than half of the executives I speak to about leadership roles in consumer and retail aren’t in active job search mode. Processes can be lengthy, and all parties must be patient. Companies also need to...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, A leadership team becomes powerful when complementary skills and experience are present. Sometimes, to achieve that, you might need to inject a leader into a team who can shake things up and bring a fresh perspective. I recently hired a senior marketing leader, and the brief was to challenge conventional thinking and bring fresh ideas. The CEO was favouring a candidate with prior...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, How should values feature in leadership hiring? Look to Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, for inspiration. According to their CHRO, Ulrika Blesert, the company's success is not just about furniture, but about values. Founder Ingvar Kamprad's values of resourcefulness, togetherness, and ingenuity have shaped Ikea's culture, fostering entrepreneurship, kindness, and...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, Company founders can be inspirational - as much for what they choose not to do as what they do. Stepping back and handing the reins to a CEO isn't a straightforward decision, but it can be what's best for the company. The success of the transition then comes down to the Founder taking on the right role and creating enough space to co-exist with the CEO. It's sometimes a Chairman...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, We’re all familiar with the phrase money doesn’t buy you happiness. When researching the subject, I found this quote from back in 2019 by Steve Bartlett. 'Happiness is not a destination, it's not a new boyfriend, it's not a new job, it's not a completed goal, it's not a new car. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.' The...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Scaling Success Insights into executive hiring for scale-ups and entrepreneurially-driven companies. Hi Reader, Last month, Boots' UK CEO Seb James stated that there was "no doubt" in his mind that the office was the best place to work, as he announced that the business would be scrapping its current hybrid work strategy. This has rekindled the back-to-office debate and the real drivers behind it. One argument I read is that a CEO's agenda is driven by experience bias of building their own...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Onboarding new hires is critical but often overlooked, especially within scaling and more entrepreneurial companies. The natural goal for any new hire is to make as swift an impact as possible. The desire to create a rapid impression is understandable but can also be a 'danger zone' for companies. Instead, I see far greater success and longevity with executive hires where onboarding is more measured—an investment in understanding the business's drivers and culture first. When I...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Counteroffers spark keen debate regardless of which side of the table you're sitting on. While I see more evidence of counteroffers delaying the inevitable than resolving underlying issues, I can understand a company's commercial rationale for counteroffering. After all, we all know that the estimated cost of replacing someone is several times their annual salary. For companies From an employer's perspective, there are some critical questions to ask: ◾️ What commitment is there to...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I recently read an article about whether the term "digital transformation" was outdated. After all, it's been around for a while. And it's fair to say it's met with varying degrees of enthusiasm or scepticism. As we enter 2024, is the term digital transformation still applicable to most organisations, or has it shifted into the territory of an overused buzzword? Digital transformation is an accepted vernacular for digital change – like a common currency in business. This is clear...
8 months ago • 2 min read