How to Lead with Authority, Clarity and Action: My Conversation with Chris Hirst
Too many leaders are stuck thinking and talking about what great leadership looks like – but not enough are doing it. In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with bestselling author and former global CEO Chris Hirst to unpack what real leadership means: action, execution, and creating cultures that work.
Chris turned around a business that was once labelled “unfixable” – not with complex strategy decks, but with sharpened focus and obsessively tight teams. This episode is packed with practical insights for leaders ready to shift from theory to traction.
Read on for my favourite takeaways – or better yet, grab a sharpened pencil and listen to the full episode.
What We Cover:
Why leadership isn’t about titles – it’s about doing
The sharpened pencil metaphor: clarity, action, momentum
The equation every leader needs: Leadership Impact = Clarity × Action
How Chris took an underperforming business to agency of the year
Why culture is your true business strategy
The six pillars of high-performing culture
Building "indivisibly tight" teams – and why that's where leadership lives
Creating obsession around your team's Schwerpunkt (point of maximum impact)
Making hybrid working actually work for your teams
Referenced Links:
Chris’s Website: https://chris-hirst.com
No Bullsh*t Leadership: Buy here
No Bullsh*t Chang: Buy here
Indispensable – A No Bullsh*t Guide to Career Success: Buy here
Want to talk about how I can help you build extra-Ordinary teams and culture?
I’d love to hear from you.
