One of the recurring issues I see in founder-led businesses is not a lack of leadership capability. It is that the leader is still operating in the way the business needed from them two or three years ago, rather than the way it needs them to lead now. The founder who built the business by selling, delivering, solving problems and making every important decision often remains at the centre of all of them as the organisation grows. What initially created speed and control gradually starts to...

AI is already changing how founders and business owners think, plan and make decisions, and I do not see that as a bad thing. Used well, AI can be incredibly useful. It can help structure thinking, test ideas, prepare options, summarise information and speed up some of the work that sits around decision-making. I use it myself as part of how I prepare, reflect and improve my own practice, not as a substitute for commercial judgement or professional experience, but as a tool that can support...

Founder-led businesses are often very good at creating opportunity. The founder sees possibilities, builds relationships, opens doors and spots gaps that others may miss. That commercial instinct is often one of the main reasons the business has grown in the first place. Their activity helps new clients appear or potential partnerships develop, they consider new services, locations or markets. Perhaps an acquisition opportunity becomes available- the point is each opportunity may make sense...