A Question of Behaviours
In our work developing modern leaders, the conversation often starts with behaviours. Which will matter most in helping people and organisations to succeed?
That’s what we’re exploring in our magazine — in print and, here, online – sharing stories from the workplace frontline, welcoming expertise and looking laterally for insights you can test with your own team today. It’s an invitation to read and lead well.
Dishoom co-founder Shamil Thakrar tells us how, for him, leading well begins with authenticity and understanding howto harness his strengths. It took time (and coaching) for him to realise his passion for storytelling wasn’t a distraction, but an important driving force behind his business’s success.
Complementing Shamil’s creative stance, Dr. Camilla Pang offers a powerful scientific and neurodivergent viewpoint. Drawing on her “turbulent cocktail of conditions”, she advocates for patient leaders that make time to understand the variation within their teams and validate it by modelling the process of mining mistakes for learning.
Also embracing an evidence-based approach – Lord Mark Price has spent much of his career helping businesses and governments embed happiness into their operating systems. In conversation with editor John Sunyer, Mark reveals the data behind the dopamine – and the six levers available to leaders eager to boost it. “Extra discretionary effort” is promised to those who do.
You’ll also find the case for rituals, levity, ninja-level listening and a healthy dose of process. In our photo essay, beautifully shot in the mountains of Montana by Jason Coxvold, elite security specialist Kim Greene introduces us to her loyal pack of protection dogs and shares what they’ve taught her about leading humans. Spoiler: praise works.
And whether through the lens of science or intuition, on ranches, in restaurants or at running clubs – perhaps the leadership behaviour encouraged most throughout this issue is curiosity. That everyday openness, willingness to ask more questions and to create space for others to share what they’re thinking.
Which feels fitting, as it’s your curiosity that’s brought you here – and I hope you will enjoy where it leads you next.