This might seem like a strange first post (ever for me!) but it’s top of mind from breakfast with a trusted colleague last week.“If you don’t do your dirty work, who is?” she said over breakfast.  We were discussing the implication of those leaders who struggle in difficult times, either personally or organisationally, to deal with the difficult stuff.  As our conversation progressed we both shared experiences of what we agreed can at times feel like the “mire of filth” that sometimes we need to go into to sort problems out. It’s a test of leadership to be able to roll your sleeves up, get down and dirty – there are some things in life we can’t and shouldn’t delegate or farm off.   What are things you as a leader should never delegate? Or, looked at another way as Confucius (551-479 BCE – they were clever counting backwards then) said “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”

Next week I’m off to visit a friend on his dairy farm.  “Bring your gumboots” he said.  Looking forward to the mud!