The Compass
Reflections, strategies, and real leadership insights to help you navigate change, challenge, and growth.
The Unseen Emotional Labour of Leadership (And Why It’s Burning People Out)
When we talk about leadership, we often default to the visible: strategy, board meetings, revenue goals, stakeholder reports. The outcomes. The optics. The KPIs.
But there’s a layer underneath all of that; invisible, unspoken, and heavy. The emotional labour of leadership.
Why Protecting a Toxic Performer Is the Fastest Way to Erode Your Culture
Every leader has encountered that person.
They hit every target, dominate client meetings, bring in new business, and consistently “deliver results.” On the surface, they’re a dream hire. But look more closely, and you’ll see the signs: junior staffers avoiding eye contact, nervous laughter in meetings, high turnover in their team, and a growing sense of emotional tension that no KPI dashboard can measure.
The Advertising Industry's Identity Crisis
The advertising industry has always prided itself on reinvention. It’s weathered the rise of digital, the dominance of platforms, and now, the sweeping impact of automation and AI. But in 2024 and beyond, we’re facing a different kind of disruption—one that’s not just technological or creative, but existential.
IS HR FAILING US? OR ARE WE FAILING HR?
HR is under fire. And not always fairly.
In too many organisations, HR has become a scapegoat for everything thats broken in workplace culture.
Leadership in Different Regions and Cultures: Bridging the Divide
Leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept. Spend a few years leading teams across different regions, and you’ll quickly learn that the way leadership shows up in the US is vastly different from how it manifests in Canada or Asia.
What makes a truly exceptional leader in today’s globalised business world? It’s not the loudest voice in the room or the most aggressive stance. It’s the leader who can bridge these styles; who can be bold yet empathetic, decisive yet humble, visionary yet grounded.
That’s the next frontier for leadership development. It’s not about choosing one style over another. It’s about cultivating a dynamic leadership style that adapts across borders, cultures, and contexts.
Because great leadership isn’t just about commanding a room. It’s about connecting with it.