1/3 The language you use in your team every day inevitably becomes culture. If ‘interesting’ is your default feedback, don’t be surprised when your team defaults to passive effort.

1/3 Too often I’m asked for solutions to poor communication or low performance, but what people are really looking for is a plaster. Something quick and tidy. But plasters don’t fix problems, they just hide them.

1/3 We’re comfortable with discomfort, but only when we choose it. Leaders are often comfortable discussing and sharing the uncomfortable when it comes to the gym or personal goals.

1/2 Today, my episode of the @businessleader.bsky.social podcast with @joshdornbrack.bsky.social is out! It will surprise no one that our conversation was leadership-led, but we really dug into what it takes to build an organisation where people can thrive. Not just exist, but really excel.

1/5 There’s something about the shift in season that forces reflection; the slowing pace, the shorter days, the pause between chapters.

1/3 I’m honoured to be recognised by the Motivational Speakers Agency as one of London’s top motivational speakers. Speaking has always been one of the most meaningful parts of my work, not just for what’s shared on stage, but for the conversations that happen in the room.

1/3 This Friday, I’ll be returning to The Ivy Club in London for an evening of conversation and connection around my new book, ‘It’s Not Magic’.

1/4 Seeing the endorsements come in for It’s Not Magic from some brilliant minds has been both surreal and affirming.

Final call to join our free and final Find Your Giant Group Coaching Session this evening to discuss adaptability in action and leading with principled flexibility. If you want to become a more deliberate and effective leader, sign up here: bit.ly/fygsignup

Resilience is not the absence of setbacks. It is “the idea that you recognize this setback is a part of your achievement pathway, and you're going to return and maybe even exceed your previous performance despite it”, says @johnamaechi.apsintel.com: buff.ly/bQCkCQc

The StuGotz method! (but actually doing it)

Works for teams too.

1/2 Fractional improvements are what move leaders closer to winning. They might be imperceptible to most people, but they add up.

Join me at 7pm BST on October 6th for my final free group coaching session of 2025. We'll unpack Chapter 8 of my new book, 'It's Not Magic' exploring how we as leaders can flex to meet challenges whilst staying anchored to our values. Register here: bit.ly/fygsignup

The wonders of jet lag. Asleep at 8pm, awake at 3am. But still, I got to see this sunrise from my patio. Morning all!

John Amaechi is somebody I deeply admire and Ive always found his advice to be seasoned, thoughtful and immediately helpful. I’ll be grabbing this ASAP, thank you for your hard work!

The #ClayCaneShow welcomes John Amaechi - Psychologist, Former NBA Player, Author of “It's Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders” @claycane.bsky.social @johnamaechi.apsintel.com #ClayNation blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

1/3 It’s Not Magic is finally out in the world. This day has been a long time coming. Seeing my scribbles and notes come to life like this has been emotional, challenging and sometimes exhausting. But mostly, I’m grateful that it’s now in your hands.

Yay! I’m still here!

1/3 Leaders often underestimate just how closely they are observed. The way you speak, behave and respond sets the tone for what’s acceptable - whether you realise it or not.

1/2 Brilliance is overrated. Exceptional leaders aren’t defined by rare, dramatic moments. They’re shaped by consistency in the quiet, deliberate actions that compound over time. That’s where real leadership begins.

1/4 If you’re building a team, you don’t need robots - you need real, emotional, passionate and yes, sometimes unpredictable people.

Culture isn’t built on the values you have framed on a wall. It’s built by what you allow in the room. When people see bad behaviour go unchecked, it sets a standard. Tolerate it once, and it becomes the baseline. Call it out, and you’ll create conditions for something better.

1/4 The first physical copy of my new book is finally in my hands. Seeing scribbled notes become something real…and that fresh new book smell!

My thoughts on the murder of Charlie Kirk. Danger lies not in Kirk as an individual but in the environment that made his brand of politics possible and his killing predictable. But when murder is justified as a response to speech, the cycle of violence accelerates.

1/2 Is it normal to show up at work the same way you show up at home? At home, I watch cartoons and lean into the more childish, silly side of myself. But in the office, especially when someone needs support, that version of myself wouldn’t be appropriate.

I've often said that the best leaders know when to follow.

1/2 The skills that will make you a great leader often feel counterintuitive. Because great leadership requires sacrifice - of comfort, ego, and always being right. That’s the difference between being assigned a leadership role and committing to taking on the responsibility of being a great one.

That voice in your head? The one that shows up after a setback to tell you you’ve failed? That voice isn’t you. Recognise it, name it and ignore it. You are the one listening, so you are the one who gets to decide what happens next.

1/5 Another CEO exit. But let's be honest, this wasn't a case of Laurent Freixe going rogue. It was a case of a culture gone rogue and Nestlé ousting the man who revealed it.

1/3 I’ve got an exciting announcement for those of you planning to pre-order my book! My upcoming book, It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, is now part of the @BNBuzz pre-order sale.

1/4 In a few weeks, my new book ‘It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders’ will be in your hands - and I can’t wait for you to read it. From scribbles in my notes to pages on a shelf, this book has been a long time coming.

This transition I think is really hard for faculty who become Dept Chair and/or Dean. Many faculty become Dept chairs because it is "their turn" or no other senior faculty can/want to do it. This somewhat ad hoc process creates obvious organizational problems.

Leadership isn’t always about what you’re capable of achieving. Sometimes, it’s about what you’re capable of empowering others to become. Either way, you still have to show up, set the standard and put in the work.

1/2 Receiving credit for the work you do should follow effort, not hierarchy. Too often, I hear about managers claiming recognition simply because their name is on the project, while the real work happens quietly, behind the scenes.

1/3 We all like to think we are magic every now and then! Whether it’s the perfectly delivered presentation or the ability to calm and command a room.

1/3 Connecting with people in meaningful ways is the most valuable part of what I do. I’ve spoken in rooms, on stages and to people across the world. I’ve helped leaders in crisis, teams rebuilding trust and people trying to make sense of what leadership really demands today.

1/5 Extraordinary leadership is not reserved for ‘extraordinary’ people. Since announcing my book, I’ve read the messages and comments, and listened to the people pre-ordering for themselves, teams or friends.

1/3 Bias is present in leadership everywhere. Sometimes it benefits you, sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s always there. And if you’ve had to reach a leadership position to notice it, you’ve waited too long.

1/2 Critical thinking didn’t start dying because of AI. I think it’s time we started to look at the way we measure critical thinking versus the way we ask people to engage with it.

Can someone explain why so few people in London use their balcony/terrace? Genuinely curious. I live in a dense development and am outside anytime it’s possible and see maybe one person doing the same! Am I missing something? It’s lovely (to me!)

If you're looking for some books for summer reading - other than It's Not Magic, of course 😉 I covered a few of my favourites with @bigthink.com I hope you enjoy the suggestions, and if so, consider pre-ordering It's Not Magic here: linktr.ee/itsnotmagic bigthink.com/books/john-a...

Great leadership is about human skills and authentic connections that are built over time and through lived experience. As Simon Sinek said, it’s about taking care of those in your charge.

1/3 Leaders have the kind of power that will cushion impact, and the seniority that blunts consequences. But what about everyone else? As a leader, you can make decisions, change direction or speak sharply, and walk away without a scratch.

1/2 We like to treat bias like it’s a single-issue experience, but that’s never how it works. If you’re Black, you experience racism. And if you’re a woman, you experience misogyny.

1/2 People talk about groupthink as though it’s everyone thinking the same way. But in most organisations, people don’t all think alike because they believe the same thing. They act alike because they’ve seen what happens when you don’t.

Always thoughtful @johnamaechi.apsintel.com on leadership and power

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... In this powerful episode of the EPM podcast, I spoke with the brilliant @johnamaechi.apsintel.com on race, prejudice, and principles, a topic that continues to be important for all of us as we navigate our way through the world... Full link in post below...

Very important thread from @johnamaechi.apsintel.com Please share These are some of the reasons batch recruitment is important in tackling protected characteristic disparities in recruitment. More information and resources on this topic available at citou.com/research-and-resources

1/3 “Will they hit the ground running?” That’s the question many leaders ask during the hiring process. But it’s the wrong question. Because what they’re really asking is “Are they already like us?”, “Will they slot in without friction?” and “Will we be comfortable?”