Leading in Context: How Adaptive Leaders Think, Decide and Perform with Roderic Yapp
If you feel like leading in today’s environment is becoming harder, you are not imagining it. The pace of change has surpassed what most traditional leadership models were built for. And if you’re trying to apply yesterday’s logic to today’s challenges, you will feel that tension every single day.
In my most recent episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Roderic Yapp - former Royal Marine Commando and founder of Leadership Capital - to unpack the one leadership capability most people overlook: context.
Rod and I explore why context dictates everything, why most leaders misread it, and how understanding the domain you are operating in (simple, complicated, complex or chaotic) transforms your decision-making. We also dive into practical tools to help you lead in fast-moving environments, including:
Drawing your systems to reveal blind spots
Running experiments instead of relying on long-range plans
Understanding the Cynefin framework
Setting a three-year horizon with twelve sprints
Knowing when empathy drives performance — and when it stops it
Why boundaries and accountability are non-negotiable for leaders today
This conversation is for anyone who feels stretched between delivery, development, growth and change — and wants a clearer, more intelligent way to lead.
If any of this resonates and you’d like to explore coaching or leadership development, please reach out. I always welcome conversations with leaders who want to work at the next level.
Referenced Links:
Rod Yapp: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rodericyapp
Leadership Capital: https://leadershipcapital.com/
Dave Snowden’s Cynefin framework: https://www.cognitive-edge.com/the-cynefin-framework/
My book The extra-Ordinary Leader: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader