Category Archives: Leadership

An IT Solution Is The Last Thing You Should Offer

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Stuart Cross

Click here to read my latest article on CIO.co.uk and learn why new systems are rarely the answer. © Stuart Cross 2011. All rights reserved.

Posted in Leadership, Performance Improvement | Leave a comment

Lead, Don’t Do Strategy

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Stuart Cross

See my new article – Lead, Don’t Do Strategy – on the blog of my colleague and good friend, Libby Wagner. Click here. © Stuart Cross 2011. All rights reserved.

Posted in Leadership, Strategy | Leave a comment

CIO Blog: Are You Letting Planning Kill Strategy?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Stuart Cross

My article on the role that CIOs should be playing in developing the strategy of their organisations has just been published on the CIO website. Click here to read it. © Stuart Cross 2011. All rights reserved.

Posted in Leadership, Strategy | Leave a comment

Creating A Winning Culture

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Stuart Cross

Last Friday I hosted one of my periodic Chief Officers’ Forum meeting. The guest speaker was Alex Gourlay, CEO of Boots the Chemists. The discussion among the senior executives present is confidential, but I’m happy to share the key conclusions … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Performance Improvement, Stuart's World | Leave a comment

Steve Jobs’ Biggest Management Lesson

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Stuart Cross

Given Steve Jobs’ announcement that he is stepping down as CEO of Apple (although he’s staying on as Chairman), I expect that there will be many stories written about his remarkable turnaround of the company that he returned to in … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Simplicity, Strategy | Leave a comment

Are You A Growth Leader?

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Stuart Cross

There is a simple business truth: poor leadership leads to poor returns and growth. I’ve yet to see a high-growth, thriving company that has poor leaders. Leadership is at the heart of business growth, so here’s a quick quiz for … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | Leave a comment

Please Check Out This Offer From My Friend Libby Wagner

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Stuart Cross

My friend and colleague, Libby Wagner, from Seattle USA has recently published an invaluable management book, The Influencing Option.  Libby’s clients, which include global corporations such as Diageo, as well as mid-sized companies and non-profit organisations, have already benefited from … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Stuart's World | Leave a comment

There Are Two Ways To Look At The UK Economy

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Stuart Cross

The first is to say that growth is weak, consumer confidence is low and it may get worse. The second is to say that the UK has the sixth largest world economy and will generate nearly $2 trillion this year. … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | Leave a comment

10 Ways To Break Through Your Functional Silos

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Stuart Cross

Ensure that you and your executive colleagues model the behaviors you want. Develop a culture of openness and trust. How often do your managers and executives seek direct feedback on their trickiest issues from their peers? Get closer – much … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Performance Improvement, Top 10 Tips | Leave a comment

Granite Principles

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Stuart Cross

Lord Hutton set out his proposals to reform public sector pensions yesterday. It came across to me as a pragmatic solution that skilfully balances political and economic pressures. What I don’t see, however, are the principles that Lord Hutton has … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership | Leave a comment