As I write this, I’m standing outside my office. A few minutes ago, the rain was pummelling down. Now there are patches of blue sky breaking through. By the time I’ve finished writing this, the view will probably have changed again. It strikes me that this is a useful way to think about planning. When we work with leaders, we always begin with what we call the leadership soil. Before goals, strategy or performance, we focus on the conditions that support sustainable success.

The Nature of Burnout Last week, I was speaking with an HR director who was briefing me on the flow of a leadership programme: the themes for the week, the contributors coming in, the strategic priorities behind it all. As we discussed the organisation’s growth ambitions and future direction, I mentioned the pressure those targets inevitably place on employees. There was a small pause in the conversation. Quiet. Slightly uncomfortable. It raised a deeper question. What is the

To Focus Hello, Many teams right now are stretched. More demands. More complexity. More change. Less time to think. The result is often predictable: unclear priorities, fragmented communication, rising tension, and leaders carrying increasing pressure to hold everything together. Recently, during a coaching session with a senior government leader preparing for a team away day, one idea resonated deeply: the importance of weeding. Not adding more. Removing what no long