Hive17 Consulting - Hive17 Thoughts

Defining Your Leadership Team's Raison D'être: Addressing the Silent Inhibitor of Success

13/1/2026

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 just discussing their job descriptions; we were digging for their collective soul - their raison d’être.

People-First Work Cultures: The New Blueprint for Success

6/1/2026

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 leaders who adopt a more compassionate, people-centric style consistently outperform on key metrics, driving higher productivity, greater employee retention, and supporting highly engaged teams ready for innovation. In fact, cultivating environments where people genuinely thrive is the foundation for corporate resilience and agility.

Unleashing Potential: Cultivating a Connected Leadership Team at Sika Vietnam

19/12/2025

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 ambitious next phase of expansion.

From Functional Expert to Cross-Functional Glue: A General Management Mindset Shift

6/12/2025

Climbing the corporate ladder to become a General Manager (GM) is a significant undertaking. After years spent excelling in one or two functional areas, the new GM is suddenly expected to grasp the complexities of the entire business. The pressure to make well-informed decisions across diverse departments can feel overwhelming.

However, a consistent pattern emerges among successful leaders who thrive in this demanding role: they have fundamentally shifted their perspective from being purely task-focused to becoming deeply people-centric. Embracing this leadership style is key to unlocking their true potential and propelling their careers to new heights.

Debugging Our Systems: Why We Must Adopt the Lean OS Now

28/11/2025

Last week in Saigon, I had the privilege of attending the Anphabe conference, a powerful event that served as an urgent wake-up call for every executive concerned with talent, innovation, and performance. The central theme was clear: there is a dangerous chasm between what our employees want and how our organisations operate. We are running on antiquated operational systems that are resulting in "drained human" capital.

Step Down to Step Up - Unlocking Performance by Meeting on the Same Eye Level

13/11/2025

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 to her manager, Mark. She's done the research and has three potential solutions, but she’s feeling anxious about picking the wrong one.

The Unseen Cost of Cultural Drift: Why Strategic Alignment is Your Biggest Financial Driver

6/11/2025

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 overarching business strategy.

If you are serious about achieving and sustaining growth in today's complex market, it is time to elevate culture from a “soft” HR topic to a strategic, financial imperative.

Cultivating Collaboration: A Journey of Growth with EOA and VISEO

13/10/2025

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 lasting success through shared vision and empowered individuals.

Stop Meeting, Start Leading: Regular Leadership Team Retreats to Boost the Bottom Line

10/9/2025

For medium-to-large-scale businesses in Southeast Asia, it’s not just a buzzword; it's a strategic imperative. In a fast-paced market defined by rapid change and intense competition, your leadership team is your most valuable asset. How do you ensure they remain a cohesive, innovative, and highly effective unit? The answer lies in regular, purposeful leadership retreats.

The Unseen ROI: How Compassionate Leadership Drives Business Performance

30/8/2025

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 Work Forum Focus Group highlighted key ingredients for nurturing such an environment, drawing heavily on the powerful principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI). This isn't about implementing a rigid new system, but rather integrating these insights into how we already lead and interact.

The Thriving Leadership Team: Navigating Uncertainty with a Strong Sense of Belonging

6/8/2025

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 foundation of belonging, compassion, and a shared vision.

Empowering Growth: The Art of Delegation

10/7/2025

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 lies in mastering the art of delegation; a transformative shift that leverages trust to empower your team.

Beyond Tasks & Targets: Cultivating People-First Cultures for Growth in Asia

2/7/2025

In today's fast-paced corporate world, it's easy to get caught up in the relentless pursuit of tasks, targets, and processes. We often see leadership styles that prioritise output above all else, treating human interaction as merely transactional.

At Hive17, we believe it's time to shift our perspective. Inspired by our experience and a number of books and articles, we advocate for a profound pivot: moving away from transactional leadership and squarely focusing on the human beings at the heart of our organisations.

Uncertainty is Your New Opportunity

26/6/2025

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.

Is Your Leadership Team's Untapped Potential Hiding in Plain Sight?

9/6/2025

Are your relationships the secret weapon you're overlooking? In the demanding landscape for executive leadership teams, strategy, operations, and key performance indicators often dominate the agenda. However, what about the very foundation upon which success is built: the network of relationships within your team? When we neglect these connections, it is like constructing a skyscraper on a foundation of sand. Fragile relationships give rise to miscommunication, erode trust and psychological safety, and ignite conflicts, ultimately limiting innovation and progress.

Tired of Decision Paralysis? Embrace the Power of Experimentation

17/5/2025

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

13/5/2025

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 if you are achieving good results. The big question: how do you even begin to measure something that feels so… abstract?

Are you forcing change - and nothing changes? Let's allow change instead

6/5/2025

I recently came across this quote:
"When we are forcing change, this will automatically create resistance.
This effort is keeping things in place and preventing things from flowing.
Instead, we want to create the conditions that allow things to change, based on their own flow."
- Headspace

And in a few simple words this quote is expressing what many people do wrong in managing change. And in many modern leadership concepts, I can observe the same mantra: let's move from competition and conflict towards cooperation and unity.

Building a Stronger Hive: The Power of Diversity, Inclusion, and Collaboration

14/4/2025

At Hive17, we believe that our strength lies not just in our collective skills, but in the diverse perspectives and experiences each member brings. By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we can significantly enhance our collaboration, innovation, productivity, and overall motivation.

Diversity, in its essence, encompasses the wide array of backgrounds, cultures, viewpoints, and talents that make up our community. When we actively seek out and value these differences, we unlock a wealth of creativity and problem-solving capabilities. Inclusion goes a step further, ensuring that everyone feels welcomed, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique insights. It's about creating a space where everyone feels they belong and their voices are heard.

The Art of Power: A Zen Approach to Leadership

6/3/2025

Where does power solely come from authority? In the pursuit of business success, leaders often find themselves grappling with the concept of power. How can power be wielded effectively, not just for personal gain but for the betterment of the entire organization and community? The book "The Art of Power" by Thich Nhat Hanh offers a Zen approach to leadership, suggesting that true power lies not in authority, but in mindfulness, compassion, and insight.

Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes that power is not derived from external factors, but from within. Self-confidence, diligence, awareness, concentration, and insight are all key sources of power. When leaders cultivate these qualities, they are better equipped to handle power skillfully and lead with patience, love, and wisdom.

How to Drive Strong & Fast Results? Lead without Authority

27/2/2025

Would you agree - it is so easy to lead and influence with authority. Your hierarchical position allows you to tell people what to do. And things are getting done. Easy, right?

In my experience, this leads to complacency and "dump followership". It hinders your productivity, agility and innovation. You want your teams to add their expertise, make fast decisions, and think out of the box. Let's look at leading without authority!

Human Connection - The Based to Highly Effective Teams

25/2/2025

Change is not only needed when major external factors are transforming. Some teams are doing good and are well established. Yet, there is an itch: can we do better? Is our team enabled to give their best? Could it be that we are becoming complacent?

Last week we facilitated a workshop with a regional leadership team that was a great bunch of people. And they went exactly through these kinds of thoughts. And within a highly interactive day we laid the foundation for a highly effective leadership team. Let's see how!

Beyond the Bottom Line: Understanding Family Firm Success Through Socio-Emotional Wealth

19/2/2025

Family businesses are a unique breed. While profit is undeniably important, their motivations often extend far beyond simply maximizing financial returns. What sets them apart? A key differentiator lies in the concept of socio-emotional wealth. This framework offers a powerful lens for understanding the heterogeneity among family firms and how they differ from their non-family counterparts. It also provides a more holistic approach to defining success, acknowledging the complex interplay of factors that drive family business decisions.

The Synergy between Change Maker & Change Facilitator

17/2/2025

One way I like to explain what change management practitioners are doing, is by making a distinction between Change Makers and Change Facilitators. The former being responsible that the change is happening; the latter being responsible that the change is happening as effective as possible.

We can find great synergy between these two roles, supporting each other in creating lasting success for organisations. Let me dive deeper into this dream team.

How to successfully execute a strategy? It's teamwork!

11/2/2025

How do you bring a global strategy into the APAC region? You might have guessed, not with a push approach. Rather, based on a dialogue among equals.

That's what we did last week with Jungheinrich Singapore, bringing together the Racking business team to discuss how they can explore and accelerate in this market.