Who You Gonna Call?

This week has been a reminder that conversations and connections are one of the best sources of energy we have — whether it’s with family, friends, or the people we work alongside. 

The Weekly Debrief 

We’ve had a wonderful time playing tour guides in our little corner of France. A calming boat trip, long walks in the forests, a breezy visit to the beach and, for balance, a 22,000-step day marching around the sights of Paris. It was one of those weeks where entertaining over a long bank holiday weekend had to sit neatly alongside work, a juggle many SME owners will recognise. 

Spending time with my in-laws reminded me how valuable it is to be around older people. They’re interesting, knowledgeable and wonderfully thoughtful. I loved chatting about everything from grandkids to politics, and hearing their perspectives on a world that’s changing fast. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also re‑discovered that I’m pretty good at organising things and getting people together… but my patience can wear a little thin when no one can decide what they want. Not ideal when you’re trying to plan the “perfect day” in a very wet and sodden Paris. 

The Week Ahead 

This week, the focus shifts back to business. I’ve got a number of big meetings for the organisations I support, some senior recruitment to consider, a couple of quarterly review meetings and the usual admin that quietly piles up while you’re out enjoying croissants and culture. I love juggling multiple boards and businesses, but there are definitely weeks where the diary looks… energetic. 

Alongside that, there are a few leadership challenges on my mind. Situations where someone needs to step up, change the narrative, work out what the “right thing” actually looks like, and bring people together around it. I’m not sure I’m always the best person to solve these on my own, but I do know I’m good at asking the right questions. Over the years, I’ve learnt that when you involve others, the thinking gets clearer and the solutions get stronger. The collective response is almost always more rounded, more robust, and more sustainable. Wish me luck… 

Lessons Learnt 

What have I learnt this week? Talking to others is one of the most underrated leadership tools we have. Time with family reminded me how grounding different perspectives can be. Time with colleagues and boards reminds me that complex problems rarely belong on one person’s shoulders. 

Whether it’s over a long walk, a train journey, a Zoom call or a kitchen table, staying connected to the people who matter in our families, our teams and our wider business communities gives us better ideas, better decisions and better #NRG. 

Here’s to a week of picking up the phone, asking good questions and not trying to figure everything out alone. 

Quoting one of the best films of my childhood, "Who you gonna call?"

Just the right dose of #NRG.