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Lessons in the
challenges of leadership

You’re good at a lot of things, otherwise you wouldn’t be in a leadership position, right?

And yet your credibility is eroded by persistent and recurring problems, and not having time for important things like being strategic.

Even if your education and experience have prepared you well, you will still be tested.

Lessons in the challenges of leadership is a series of stories and examples, research and findings, and the experiences of many great as well as terrible real-life leaders. Practical, implementable ideas to help you overcome challenges and build credibility.

Watch this short overview

©2025 Siebert Neethling

“What will please me most is if some current or future leader, with enough self-awareness to believe that they can learn from the experiences of others, finds in this a helpful approach to a new challenge, a fresh perspective, or even solace when they have failed to live up their own expectations or the expectations of others.”

Strategy

The back of the envelope

What it means to be strategic.

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Greater than the sum of the parts

Applying the six elements of strategy.

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But it’s not that easy!

Getting it right and having time to be strategic.

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Culture

The stereotype about you

What is culture really?

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Jazz radio or a shipyard?

How to influence culture.

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Taking a fast corner fast

What we can do to improve culture.

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Change

Platforms that won’t burn

Behaviour science of change.

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Chasms and waves

The rhythms of change.

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The photo that changed minds

Four suggestions for effective change.

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Collaboration

Averting an air disaster

When to collaborate, and when not to.

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Checking your critical weapons at the door

Why great collaborations work.

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Skunkworks and silos

The five-piece toolkit for great collaboration.

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Performance

The three requirements for performance

What we can learn from Sumo wrestlers.

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Is it me or is it you?

The under-performance diagnostic.

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The right time for a Mojito

Four concepts for everyday performance improvement.

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Growth

When do you really need a Ferrari?

How to grow as a leader.

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Fraud and the audience-alienating playlist

How to grow a team.

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Brewery wisdom

Getting growth right.

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Innovation

Lessons from a London tube station

Un-hyping innovation.

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Survival of the most adaptable

Building a culture of innovation.

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Bad glue and fast cars

Four principles of innovation.

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Communication

Good waiters and good leaders

The behaviour science of starting well.

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Bad sandwiches and good dentistry

How to structure strong leadership language.

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Leadership communication matters

Philosophers, psychologists and you and me.

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Resilience

The one in the arena

Resilient leaders and resilient teams.

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