After a five-month project to relocate radiators, replaster walls, repair rotten floor joists, extend the electrics and replace a rusty fireplace, the carpet was finally fitted in my dining room this week.

Looking at my collection of DIY tools and the skilled tradesmen that helped do the job, it is obvious that we needed more than a hammer.

As we reflect on the anniversary of the first lockdown in England, this excellent article on versatile leadership from March 2020 (https://hbr.org/2020/03/the-best-leaders-are-versatile-ones) was clearly prescient in reminding us that we need to use a diverse range of skills to succeed as leaders. As the authors say, overusing your strengths can actually be a weakness.

While great operational leadership has been key to the survival of many businesses over the last year, now is the time to shift toward the strategic leadership end of the scale, to “position the organisation to be competitive in the long run.”

This isn't about head-in-the-clouds thinking, but recognising that what worked today can't guarantee future success.

Read the article and take action on it!