Common Purpose Blog

I was recently sitting on the top table next to a speaker at an event. The next speaker due to address those present sat on my right while the Chair was on my left. At the last moment the Chair leaned over and whispered in my ear: “Would you mind terribly if I made a [...]

We asked Julia Middleton, Founder and Chief Executive of Common Purpose who inspires her…. People who stand up and don’t grovel. Whether they are swanky or not. Whether they change the world or just their streets. People who take a step forward rather than back when faced with a challenge. Who inspires you? What do [...]

Here is a list of Julia Middleton‘s top 10 inspirational leaders: Ronald Arculli Narayana Murthy Jude Kelly Marjorie Scardino Cyril Ramaphosa Matt Baggott Helena Kennedy Devi Shetty Isher Ahluwalia Bernd Kundrun Who would make your top 10 inspirational leaders? What is it about them that makes them stand out? Share your top leaders… Common PurposeCommon [...]

‘Harnessing talent’ is another expression you hear a lot, usually about young talent. But harnesses are thick pieces of leather used to strap down, control and direct cattle and horses. So the last thing we want to do is harness talent. We want it de-harnessed, set free, challenged to try new things, to take ideas [...]

At the end of September in the US, I don’t think I met anyone who did not use the word “authentic” in some way. “Authentic” was coupled with loads of words – “authentic leaders”, “authentic brands”, “authentic messages”, “authentic ideas”… It raises the question of what purpose “authentic” serves in such pairings. And more than [...]