Navigate Uncertainty Based on Better Feedback Loops
In today’s business landscape, the era of command-and-control leadership has ended. Executive teams now operate in an environment demanding agility, transparency, and a profound connection to the workforce. Senior leaders provide the northstar for the organisation; however, effective guidance requires accurate, real-time intelligence. Often, the feedback loops from the wider organisation to the...
Mastering Difficult Conversations: Introducing Alex the Sales Director, Your New Digital Challenge
After five years of driving impactful change with Hive17 Advisory, I am thrilled to unveil an entirely new chapter: Hive17 Tools . Our vision is providing actionable, hands-on resources that empower managers and leaders to elevate their daily operations. Today, we take the first leap into this future with the launch of Alex the Sales Director .
Constructive Feedback Enabling Autonomy and Continuous Learning
In today’s business world, the quest for peak organisational performance is perpetual. At Hive17 we advocate a People-First Work Culture, yet how to truly embed the mechanisms for continuous improvement in your leadership initiatives? The answer lies in transforming the often-dreaded process of giving and receiving feedback into a foundational business capability.
Are you Choosing between ‘Kind' and 'Right'? The Strategic Advantage of People-First Leadership
Let’s be honest, in the C-suite, there’s a persistent, whispered question: Does truly effective leadership force a choice between ‘being kind’ and ‘doing the right thing’? For too long, the default answer has been a resigned nod towards the latter, accepting that success requires a certain ‘hardness’. At Hive17, we think that choosing between ‘kind’ and ‘right’ is asking the wrong question ....
Beyond the 'Visionary' Leader: The Power of Decentralisation
We often hear the argument that centralised, totalitarian systems are inherently faster, more efficient, and better equipped to navigate dynamic environments. The belief is that a single, visionary leader can cut through bureaucracy, making swift decisions based on superior insight. Yet, history - and contemporary failures - tell a different story. This reliance on the ‘dominant Tiger leader’...
The Ownership Crisis: Why Your Talent is Quitting the Bureaucratic Grind
Do we need a hierarchical structure? Yes. Do we need to be compliant? Yes. Is it good to be data-driven? Yes. Bureaucracy, at its core, is an information technology and it is essential for enabling larger organisations to function by providing necessary structure, compliance, and data-driven decision-making. These are not inherently bad things. Are we getting frustrated with bureaucracy? Yes!...
Time to Let Go: Six Leadership Truths for the Modern CEO
Remember that moment when you first stepped into a top leadership role? Perhaps as a General Manager (GM) or a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Suddenly, the job wasn't about being the smartest person in the room or the best functional expert anymore. It felt like a fundamental shift, didn’t it? In a recent post, I explored this very evolution: the transition from 'functional expert' to the...
From Curiosity to Self-Praise: The Strategy for Ownership and Growth
Today's senior leaders face a critical business challenge: a global workforce drowning in anxiety. Economic instability, the 'always-on' nature of hybrid work, and the unsettling rise of AI and automation have created an epidemic of burnout and job insecurity. This is not just a mental health crisis; it's a productivity risk, an innovation killer, and a primary driver of high turnover, especially...
Defining Your Leadership Team's Raison D'être: Addressing the Silent Inhibitor of Success
Have you ever stopped to ask your management team the simplest, yet most profound question: "Why do we exist as a team?" As a facilitator, I recently had the privilege of guiding the Sika Vietnam leadership team through this exact inquiry. The air in the room, initially thick with the daily pressures of EBITDA targets, sales forecasts, and operational firefighting, soon began to shift. We weren't...
People-First Work Cultures: The New Blueprint for Success
In today’s complex, fast-moving global economy, the traditional 'command-and-control' leadership model is showing its age. As organisations navigate continuous transformation, a new blueprint is emerging - one centred on human potential, connection, and purpose: the People-First Work Culture. This isn't just a feel-good philosophy; this is of strategic importance. Research consistently shows that...
Unleashing Potential: Cultivating a Connected Leadership Team at Sika Vietnam
The journey towards sustainable, high-impact growth for any organisation is intrinsically linked to the strength and unity of its leadership. We at Hive17 were privileged to partner with the Sika Vietnam’s Management Team for an intensive two-day Leadership Development Workshop, a program designed to reinforce team cohesion and build future-proof leadership capabilities necessary for their...
Step Down to Step Up - Unlocking Performance by Meeting on the Same Eye Level
Building a genuinely people-centric work culture starts with a surprisingly simple yet profound shift: meeting everyone on the same eye level . It means leaders intentionally step down from the hierarchical perch and join the team as a partner, not a judge. Let’s look at this everyday scenario illustrating how we can be stuck in the parent-child trap. A team member, Sarah, brings a thorny problem...
The Unseen Cost of Cultural Drift: Why Strategic Alignment is Your Biggest Financial Driver
At Hive17, we understand that the senior leadership team is the architect and custodian of a thriving, people-centric workplace. While most executives intellectually grasp the power of corporate culture , the latest data reveals a stark and challenging reality: many organisations are leaving immense value - and crucial resilience - on the table by failing to align their culture with their...
Cultivating Collaboration: A Journey of Growth with EOA and VISEO
At Hive17, we believe in the transformative power of strong leadership and deeply connected teams. That's why we were thrilled to partner with VISEO Asia and E-Outsource Asia (EOA) on a series of workshops designed to nurture a collaborative culture and pave the way for ambitious market expansion. This initiative wasn't just about achieving business goals; it was about laying the foundation for...
The Unseen ROI: How Compassionate Leadership Drives Business Performance
At Hive17, we believe that truly successful organisations are built on the strength and well-being of its people. In today's dynamic world, nurturing a people-centric work environment is not just a buzzword; it's a strategic imperative. This means moving beyond traditional metrics to cultivate a space where compassion, connectedness, and autonomy flourish. Our recent discussions with the Future...
The Thriving Leadership Team: Navigating Uncertainty with a Strong Sense of Belonging
In today's unpredictable business landscape, traditional leadership models are falling short. What we need is a leadership team that embraces uncertainty and thrives on it. It's not about having all the answers; it's about cultivating a mindset and characteristics that turn ambiguity into opportunities . Imagine your leadership team as a force that thrives in uncertainty. It's built on a...
Empowering Growth: The Art of Delegation
In today's fast-paced business landscape, many leadership teams find themselves caught in a challenging cycle: bogged down by operational details, leaving little room for crucial strategic initiatives and future growth. This often leads to a noticeable decline in team autonomy and can stifle both innovation and results. At Hive17, we believe the path to unlocking true organisational potential...
Uncertainty is Your New Opportunity
Recently the terms ambiguity and uncertainty are popping up a lot. The geopolitical situation is giving us one surprise after another; trade wars and armed conflicts don't seem to stop. We have been talking about a VUCA world for over a decade. The world is not only complex, it's ever changing in an unpredictable way. And the speed of change and the uncertainties are only raising faster.
Tired of Decision Paralysis? Embrace the Power of Experimentation
Is your leadership team wrestling with decision fatigue? Do endless debates and risk aversion slow your progress, hindering agility and stifling innovation? In today's rapidly evolving landscape, the inability to make timely and effective decisions can be a significant roadblock to success.
Sizing Up Success: T-Shirt Sizes are a Simple Approach to Measure Your Team Productivity
How do you feel about the word "productivity"? It can feel like a corporate buzzword, often discussed but rarely tangibly measured. Many teams operate without a clear understanding of their output, leading to a sense of being busy without necessarily being effective. At Hive17 we are enabling leadership teams to become highly effective . And, understanding your productivity is one way to measure...