OrgDev with Distinction Rethinking Leadership When the World Won't Behave with Professor Chris Mowles - OrgDev Episode 84
6 snips
Nov 28, 2025 
In this discussion, Professor Chris Mowles, Director of the Doctor of Management program at the University of Hertfordshire, dives into the messy realities of leadership. He critiques the illusion of control that many leaders embrace and emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty. Mowles stresses that leadership should be viewed as a group improvisation, shaped by everyday interactions. He also discusses the impact of AI on workplace dynamics, advocating for its use as a tool, not a shortcut to learning. Key advice includes nurturing solidarity among practitioners.
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Episode notes
Use Metrics As Conversation Starters
- Do treat metrics as conversation starters, not final truths.
- Investigate what numbers mean, how they were produced, and the contexts behind them.
Gaming Targets In A&E
- Chris recalls A&E four-hour wait targets causing gaming like readmitting patients at three hours fifty-nine minutes.
- Targets led teams to satisfy metrics while missing the target's real intent.
Prioritise Collective Sensemaking
- Do protect and prioritise time for collective sensemaking and reflection.
- Managers should be employed to think with others, not only to deliver tasks alone.
