Leadership Insights-2

Productivity is one of the most discussed topics in boardrooms, yet one of the least understood at a human level. Leaders often assume that getting more output means pushing harder, driving faster, or tightening controls. In reality, research shows the opposite is true. A 2024 Deloitte workplace survey found that around 70 percent of employees say productivity improves when they feel trusted, supported, and able to focus on meaningful work. The message is simple, people do mo

With so much noise in our lives, leaders need simple ways to keep people focused and steady. Here are RDL’s three practical actions that cut through the clutter and help teams stay on track. 1. Cut the noise so people know what to focus on Tell your team the top one to three things that matter this week. When people know exactly where to put their energy, performance lifts and stress drops. 2. Keep everyone aligned with short check ins A quick daily touch point stops confusio

Great leaders don’t just know when to take control, they know when to release it. In leadership, letting go is one of the hardest and most misunderstood skills. We equate control with competence and oversight with accountability. Yet, in reality, constant control suffocates growth. It prevents leaders from thinking strategically and keeps teams dependent instead of capable. The truth is, leadership isn’t about holding every lever. It’s about knowing which ones to pass on. Let

At some point, email stopped being a tool and became a hiding place. What was meant to clarify has turned into a barrier to real communication. Leaders are buried in reply-all loops, CC chains, and digital noise, mistaking volume for value. Here’s the truth: email is not for conversations. It’s for confirmation. It should capture facts, decisions, and outcomes, not debates, emotion, or alignment. Those things only happen when people talk. Real conversations, the uncomfortable

It sounds counterintuitive, even risky. But the most effective leaders aren’t the ones who protect their time with layers of hierarchy, they’re the ones who make themselves available. When staff know they can reach you directly, something powerful happens: they stop needing to. True accessibility isn’t about being constantly on call; it’s about building psychological safety and trust. It sends a clear message, “I’m here, and I want to know what’s really happening.” That singl

Leadership is not baking. You cannot follow a fixed recipe and expect a consistent rise every time. Baking is precise. One cup of flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, a set oven temperature, and the outcome is predictable. Leadership is cooking. Cooking requires judgement. Taste, adjust, season, adapt. What works beautifully for one dish can overwhelm another. Heat changes flavours, ingredients evolve, and the person behind the stove makes all the difference. The same princi

Every organisation has two types of leaders. One quietly accelerates progress and capability across the business. The other quietly drains it. At first glance they can look similar. Both may be competent. Both may have experience. Both may sit at the same table. The defining difference is not intelligence or technical knowledge. It is attitude. Coachable leaders lean in when challenged. They seek clarity, ask questions, and reset quickly after setbacks. They see feedback as f