Insights

Notes from the practice

Writing on leadership, without the consulting speak

AssessmentAugust 26, 2026 · 9 min read
How to run a 9 box talent review that is not theatre
The 9 box grid started life as a capital allocation tool. Used well it forces a real argument about a small number of people. Used badly it is an annual sorting exercise nobody acts on.
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AssessmentAugust 25, 2026 · 9 min read
High performer vs high potential: not the same person
Promoting your best performer is the most common way to lose two good people at once. What separates performance from potential, and how to assess it.
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AssessmentAugust 24, 2026 · 9 min read
Leadership derailers: the strengths that become liabilities
Nobody is promoted for being difficult. They are promoted for being decisive, and then the role grows. How derailers form, how to see them, what changes them.
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AssessmentAugust 21, 2026 · 9 min read
360 feedback vs performance review: what each measures
One has an author and a permanent file. The other is anonymous and belongs to the person rated. What each measures, and what happens when you merge them.
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AssessmentAugust 17, 2026 · 9 min read
Hogan vs DISC: which belongs in an executive decision
Hogan and DISC are different kinds of instrument, not rivals. Which one fits a hiring decision, which fits a team session, and why the difference matters.
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