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Show One, Watch One, Do One – How to Build Capability Fast
Most agency leaders know they should delegate more. But many don’t know how to do it without losing control, slowing things down, or feeling like they’re setting someone up to fail. Here’s a simple model I often share with leaders looking to grow their team’s confidence and capability: Show one. Watch one. Do one. That’s…
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The beta version beats the bottleneck
If you’re waiting for the perfect version of your agency’s next big internal process before you roll it out, you’re likely waiting too long. This is a pattern I see time and again in agency leadership conversations: a brilliant new way of doing things gets scoped, scoped again, drafted, redrafted, reviewed, and re-reviewed… and then…
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Over-servicing is self-sabotage: how to change the culture
Most agency teams are overworked. But worse than that — they’re over-giving. Over-servicing doesn’t just erode profit margins. It chips away at morale, motivation and, ultimately, people’s sense of ownership. Why? Because when your team can’t see the cost of their generosity, they don’t realise they’re giving away their own bonuses, bandwidth and breathing space. A founder…
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Get excited. Here’s how to reframe nerves…
We’ve all felt it — that rush before a big moment. The sweaty palms. The racing thoughts. The stomach doing somersaults. Whether it’s stepping on stage, pitching to a client, or having a tough conversation with your team, anxiety before performance is part of leadership life. It’s natural. It’s common. And for most of us, the…
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You know enough. Take action.
I jotted this one down after a conversation with a client recently — and it’s been buzzing around in my head since. She shared a quote with me. We’re not sure who originally said it — and I suspect it’s been misquoted somewhere along the line — but here’s how it landed: “When experienced people…
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Stop chasing efficiency. Aim for this instead…
The other day, I scribbled something down after a coaching session — one of those notes where you think, this might be worth a share. So, here it is… I was talking with a client about her daily habits, and she mentioned something that caught my ear. She said, “Each day, I try to do something…
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Using ChatGPT to extract value from client calls
When they’re not rinsing me for my choice of football team, I spend a lot of time in deep conversations with my clients. I’ve come to appreciate just how much ground we cover in a single hour. When you’re in the moment, you’re actively listening, problem-solving, and offering guidance—there’s no time to stop and take…
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The Midwit Meme: Overthinking the Obvious
I was introduced to the brilliantly named Midwit Meme while listening to Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom podcast. Since then, I’ve had so much fun with it—it’s one of those memes that’s both a great share and actually worth a thought or two. If you haven’t seen it, the Midwit Meme is a play on the IQ Bell Curve. It…
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It’s not them, it’s you: Using the Gapology framework to lead with accountability (free download)
When I first came across the Gapology framework, it immediately struck me as something every leader should learn. Why? Because it flips the script: instead of focusing on employee shortcomings, it forces leaders to look in the mirror. Gapology, developed by Mark Thienes, Brian Brockhoff, and Jonathan Brookins, is a practical framework for identifying and…
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Be brilliant at what requires no talent
“Be the best at everything that requires no talent.” – Paul O’Connell Recently I had the privilege of being at Twickenham (thanks Josh), soaking up the drama of England’s last-minute victory against France at the Allianz Stadium. Elliot Daly’s converted try secured a 26-25 win in the dying seconds, sending the crowd into raptures. It…
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LinkedIn Content Ideas [free downloadable guide]
Lost for words? Struggling to keep up with regular LinkedIn posts? Whether it’s finding fresh ideas or knowing what actually resonates with your audience, keeping up the momentum can feel like a chore. To help, I’ve created this little download, packed with ready-to-use post templates designed to spark inspiration, get you out of a content…
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How agencies can use AI to stop over-servicing clients [a guide]
Over-servicing is a long-standing challenge for agencies, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers modern solutions to tackle this pervasive issue. By integrating AI tools into daily operations, agency leaders can better track, prevent, and eliminate over-servicing, freeing up resources for strategic initiatives. Here are some practical ways AI can help agencies address over-servicing while improving efficiency…
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Future of Agency Landscape 2025
The agency world is shifting fast. With 70% of B2B marketers reassessing their agency partnerships, we’re at a crucial turning point. The agencies that thrive in 2025 will be the ones that adapt—embracing specialisation, AI, and outcome-based partnerships. I’ve put together a report breaking down the biggest trends shaping the industry and what they mean…
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[FREE DOWNLOAD] Unlocking Motivation: A Leadership Guide for First-Time Managers
Stepping into leadership for the first time can feel like an exciting leap—and a daunting one too. Suddenly, you’re responsible not just for your own work but for motivating a team to achieve their best. The truth is, being a great leader isn’t about having all the answers or giving perfect orders. Instead, it’s about…
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Distractions. They’re costing you hundreds of hours of focus. How to protect your focus time.
Most of us are doing multiple different tasks every day. We switch from dropping off children to checking and answering emails, attending a client call followed by a sales call, catching up with colleagues, answering questions, folding washing, making dinner, helping with homework. Each of these tasks requires a completely different skill set and type…
