Tune Up Your Strategy For The Post Covid World
Dominic Houlder, Adjunct Professor in Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management, London Business School, on developing business strategies for a post Covid world.
Dominic Houlder
What philosophy can teach you about being a better leader
Dominic’s latest book takes aim at traditional management practices which focus on numbers and productivity. With the help of Aristotle, Socrates, Kant and Nietzsche, a new model for empowerment, fulfilment and harmony at work is unveiled.
Times Review Of Dominic’s Latest Book On Philosophy For Leaders
Picture the scene. Dawn on the Med. After a disturbed night, Sir Philip Green — Roman toga, gold laurels — and Neil Woodford — tight T-shirt, jodhpurs — stand on the poop deck of Sir Philip’s 295ft yacht Lionheart in Monaco harbour.
Which philosopher would you take out for a drink
If you were to take a philosopher to the pub, who would you choose? Dominic explores this question in his latest video on what philosophy can teach us about being a better leader.
A leadership compass for dangerous times
There are certain places where science can’t go, and that’s where the compass of philosophy can help us flourish.
What Aristotle teaches us about leadership
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period. What can we learn about leadership from this fascinating philosopher of Ancient Greece?
Leadership, Friedrich Nietzsche Style
Friedrich Nietzsche, the philosopher who is outrageous and in your face, a reason to be wary of him but crucially, also a reason to respect him.
Strategy execution seen from above and below
Strategy can be viewed from two perspectives – above (by those setting direction from the top), and below (by those living the day to day challenge of delivering value). Dominic explores this topic in his talk on strategy execution.
How can your organisation avoid a midlife crisis
Executives can avert the seemingly inevitable decline of many mature corporations by viewing their organization as a portfolio of business opportunities at various life cycle stages.
Surviving turbulence – who wins
Who wins and who loses when the business world faces turbulent times? Dominic Houlder and Nandu Nandkishore explore the secrets of success.
Did the crisis kill innovation?
A lot of people ask, “is innovation dead in the current crisis?” In this video, Dominic looks into whether innovation opportunities still exist and are worth acting on in a time of crisis.
Why Argentina’s Malbec miracle offers hope in a time of crisis
Business leaders confronted by turbulent, disruptive times would do well to look for lessons from one of the most crisis-prone economies in the world: Argentina.
Executing strategy for results
70% of strategies fail to deliver. Be in the 30% that succeed by enrolling on this open programme from the London Business School, taught by Dominic Houlder.
Strategy: How to shape the future of the business
This publication, part of the Decision makers series, looks at strategic policy aspects of business management, focusing on the three strategic ‘horizons’ of the changing business environment; business resources and networks; and the people side of business.
Return of the dinosaurs
They’re big, they’re old and they’re out of fashion – but don’t write off the long–established corporate giants.
Winning in growth markets
The growth of the global middle class across India, China and other fast growing economies is arguably the most important trend in the coming decades. So how should firms organise themselves for success in these markets?
Give them the full story
New disclosure rules have put many firms on the defensive. But the best IROs see an opportunity, not a threat.
How the fight for independence could be the death of your business
Business history is replete with examples of companies that had it all: the hard assets, the skills, the strong market positions – and yet still lost their way.
Corporate governance should combine the best of private equity and family firms
Is there a sweet spot that uses the strengths and addresses the weaknesses of the private equity model? We believe so — it is a form of governance that is much older than the public and private equity models, one developed in sophisticated Western capital markets. And it starts with family businesses.
Business transformation process
Businesses must adapt to the new economy. The “Thought Leaders” are trying to figure out how.
What is strategy?
It’s easy to be cynical about business strategies, but they’re more than just hot air. From her interview with Dominic, Jane Lewis charts their evolution and explains why every business needs one.
Avoiding the midlife crisis
Are companies prone to midlife crises? New research by London Business School’s Donald Sull and Dominic Houlder says things are not so simple.
All hail medium-term planning
We have worked with corporations throughout the world, and the phrase we simply never hear is this: “the medium term.”
The professional challenge
Growth, globalisation and industrialisation are tempting strategies for professional service firms. But, unless properly managed they can put at risk what made firms successful in the first place.
Anchors in a professional storm
Professional service firms — the ones traditionally hired to help other businesses — have increasingly found themselves in rough waters. They must ensure that they have anchors to keep them from drifting into turbulent waters that could destroy them.
Work: what is it good for?
We will never completely understand people and organisations if we don’t first understand why we work, say the LBS authors of a new book.
Could a philosopher be your most valuable recruit?
Recruits with philosophical insight will be those who you can most rely on in our turbulent, uncertain, highly demanding and highly rewarding times.
The greatest gift
This story behind a story prompts reflection on the as yet unnoticed ways in which any of us might have a profound impact on the world and the way it does business.
Do your commitments match your convictions?
People usually reassess their priorities only after some personal upheaval—an illness, a divorce, the loss of a job. But with the right framework, you can think through your preferences long before crisis strikes.
A fistful of morals
Worldly success and practising Buddhism are not mutually exclusive. Vishvapani visited the palatial London Business School and has asked Dominic how this was possible.
Business view: Corporate purpose isn’t this
The idea that meaningful purpose helps organisations stand out, connect and prosper isn’t new. What’s more, it can be a powerful force that helps attract the right talent and fulfil a company’s corporate, societal and stakeholder aims.
Ancient wisdom for modern business leaders
What can philosophy teach business? LBS experts help make the case for the humanising influence
of Aristotle and Nietzsche.
4 hard questions to ask about your company’s purpose
In the early 1930s, cars in Europe were still a luxury for the rich. But in 1933 Dr. Ferdinand Porsche launched the People’s Car: Volkswagen.
Strategy execution challenges
Dominic gets to the root of one of the main challenges of strategy execution and how the reasons for our success in the past, may very well be the reasons for our failure in the future.
Four dimensions to great strategy execution
Dominic discusses the four dimensions to great strategy execution: performance commitment, alignment, collaboration, and adaptation.
Decision making in a VUCA world
How do we make decisions and formulate a strategy in a VUCA world? VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
The agility loop
How can we remain agile and focused in decision making execution? Explore this topic entitled ‘The agility loop’ with Dominic Houlder and David Lewis.
Next generation leadership
A major objective of our leadership program is for you to become a trusted advisor to your clients. This is what next generation leadership is all about.
Professional services firms – from experts, to advisors
Clients are asking what do we have to do to survive the current crisis and come out stronger.
Commitments vs convictions
What do we stand for? Why are we doing this? What is our conviction? Dominic explores these questions in this video on commitments vs convictions.
6 strategy execution myths
There’s a lot of confusion around what strategy execution is, and what it is not. In this video, Dominic clears up some of the myths about strategy execution.
Five lessons for leaders in turbulent times
For many of today’s corporate leaders, this current period of turbulence in everything from GDP growth to commodity prices to the pace of product innovation is more extreme than anything they have known before.
Leading through a pandemic
Dominic and his colleagues explore the upside of pestilence and how the virus will humanise your organisation.
Dominic Houlder
Dominic is one of Europe’s leading experts on professional services firms. He helps leaders to connect with their clients, their colleagues and themselves in different and compelling ways.
Business strategy
A video series by Dominic Houlder on the fundamentals of business strategy.
Strategic management
A video series by Dominic Houlder on Strategic Management covering four topics.
Doing the right thing
“Looking back from 2025, what would have been a good outcome from the pandemic for you and your organisation?” This is the question that we asked several thousands of our former students from London Business School in a recent webinar.
Crazy Money podcast – Buddhism and money
Dominic Houlder spoke with Paul Ollinger from the Crazy Money podcast on Buddhism and money.
Overcoming the knowing-doing gap
I know what needs to be done, but will I do it? I understand, but do I care? In this video Dominic explores the knowing-doing gap.
The key to unlocking your client’s strategy
Trusted advisors have 3 defining characteristics which Dominic explores in this video on unlocking your client’s strategy.
Why medium term planning works
While managers focus on short-term results and leaders evangelize about the long-term future, the medium-term is all but forgotten. And yet, the medium-term is where companies are shaped.
Closing the knowing doing gap
Dominic teaches about closing the gap between knowing something, and doing something about it.
Dominic Houlder teaching Sloan fellows at LBS
Dominic teaches Sloan fellows at London Business School.
Execution advantage
Dominic talks to his former London Business School students about strategy and execution advantage.
Dominic Houlder 2016 Sloan Summit
Dominic Houlder speaking at the 2016 Sloan Summit at London Business School.
Mindfulness & Money
Authors Dominic and Kulananda are leading instructors in business and Buddhism and present a fresh approach to making peace with your finances and creating true abundance.