--- title: Sterling Insights description: Discover the latest insights on CEO succession, executive coaching, leadership development and board strategy. --- [![SB | Sterling Black](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/sterlingblack_july2025/images/header-logo.png?width=454&height=166&name=header-logo.png "SB | Sterling Black")](https://sterlingblack.com/) - Services - [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/board-effectiveness) - [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-succession-planning) - [CEO & C-Suite Leadership Assessments](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-c-suite-leadership-assessments) - [CEO Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-coaching) - [C-Suite Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-coaching) - [Executive Team Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/executive-team-effectiveness) - [Inspiring Leadership Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/inspiring-leadership-communications) - People - [Our team](https://sterlingblack.com/people) - [CEO & C-Suite Coaches](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-ceo-coaches) - [Executive Team Facilitators](https://sterlingblack.com/facilitators) - [About](https://sterlingblack.com/about) - Sterling Insights - [Articles](https://sterlingblack.com/blog) - [Internal vs External CEO Succession Guide](https://sterlingblack.com/internal-vs-external-ceo-succession-guide) - [Contact](https://sterlingblack.com/contact) # Sterling Insights Discover the latest insights on CEO succession, executive coaching, leadership development and board strategy. - [All](https://sterlingblack.com/blog) - [Executive Leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-leadership) - [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/board-effectiveness) - [Executive Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-coaching) - [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/ceo-succession) - [Inspiring Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/inspiring-communications) ![What separates effective executive coaching from expensive conversations](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/effective-executive-coaching-vs-mentoring.jpg?width=767&name=effective-executive-coaching-vs-mentoring.jpg) [What separates effective executive coaching from expensive conversations](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/effective-executive-coaching-vs-mentoring-vs-facilitating) [![James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/james-mclaren-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=james-mclaren-profile.png) James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/james-mclaren) Mar 6, 2026 [Executive Leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-leadership) [Executive Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-coaching) ![Why modern executive coaching demands better intelligence](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/modern-executive-coaching-demands-better-intelligence.jpg?width=767&name=modern-executive-coaching-demands-better-intelligence.jpg) [Why modern executive coaching demands better intelligence](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/executive-coaching-demands-better-intelligence) [![James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/james-mclaren-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=james-mclaren-profile.png) James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/james-mclaren) Feb 2, 2026 [Executive Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-coaching) ![Why succession planning fails: 6 board-level mistakes to avoid](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/why-succession-planning-fails.jpg?width=767&name=why-succession-planning-fails.jpg) [Why succession planning fails: 6 board-level mistakes to avoid](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/why-succession-planning-fails) [![James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/james-mclaren-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=james-mclaren-profile.png) James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/james-mclaren) Sep 29, 2025 [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/ceo-succession) ![Is “so” the new “um”? What leaders need to know about filler words](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/filler-words-in-leadership-communication.jpg?width=767&name=filler-words-in-leadership-communication.jpg) [Is “so” the new “um”? What leaders need to know about filler words](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/filler-words-in-leadership-communication) [![Simon Mariner](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/simon-mariner-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=simon-mariner-profile.png) Simon Mariner](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/simon-mariner) Sep 9, 2025 [Inspiring Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/inspiring-communications) ![4 common mistakes new CEOs make + how to avoid them](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/common-mistakes-new-ceos.jpg?width=767&name=common-mistakes-new-ceos.jpg) [4 common mistakes new CEOs make + how to avoid them](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/common-mistakes-new-ceos-make) [![James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/james-mclaren-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=james-mclaren-profile.png) James McLaren](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/james-mclaren) Sep 8, 2025 [Executive Leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-leadership) ![Board diversity beyond gender: Rethinking inclusion in Australian leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/board-diversity-australia.jpg?width=767&name=board-diversity-australia.jpg) [Board diversity beyond gender: Rethinking inclusion in Australian leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/board-diversity-beyond-gender) [![Jane Bridge](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/Jane-Bridge-Sterling-Black.png?width=40&height=40&name=Jane-Bridge-Sterling-Black.png) Jane Bridge](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/jane-bridge) Sep 8, 2025 [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/board-effectiveness) ![What makes a good chairperson?](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/what-makes-a-good-chairperson.jpg?width=767&name=what-makes-a-good-chairperson.jpg) [What makes a good chairperson?](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-chairperson) [![Jane Bridge](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/Jane-Bridge-Sterling-Black.png?width=40&height=40&name=Jane-Bridge-Sterling-Black.png) Jane Bridge](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/jane-bridge) Aug 14, 2025 [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/board-effectiveness) ![How to reduce unnecessary meetings: A smarter approach for senior leaders](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Feature%20Images/reduce-unnecessary-meetings.jpg?width=767&name=reduce-unnecessary-meetings.jpg) [How to reduce unnecessary meetings: A smarter approach for senior leaders](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/how-to-reduce-unnecessary-meetings) [![Simon Mariner](https://sterlingblack.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Team%20Profile%20Images/simon-mariner-profile.png?width=40&height=40&name=simon-mariner-profile.png) Simon Mariner](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/author/simon-mariner) Aug 7, 2025 [Executive Leadership](https://sterlingblack.com/blog/tag/executive-leadership) [![Elite Agent](https://sterlingblack.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/sterlingblack_july2025/images/sterling-black-logo.svg "Elite Agent")](https://sterlingblack.com/) ### Contact **UAE HEAD OFFICE** The Offices 3 Level 3 One Central Dubai World Trade Centre Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai United Arab Emirates   **AUSTRALIA** Level 22, Suite 3 8 Chifley Square SYDNEY, NSW 2000 Ph: (02) 8916 6366 ### Services - [Board Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/board-effectiveness) - [CEO Succession](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-succession-planning) - [CEO & C-Suite Leadership Assessments](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-c-suite-leadership-assessments) - [CEO Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/ceo-coaching) - [C-Suite Coaching](https://sterlingblack.com/c-suite-coaching) - [Executive Team Effectiveness](https://sterlingblack.com/executive-team-effectiveness) - [Inspiring Communications](https://sterlingblack.com/inspiring-leadership-communications) ### About We are a specialist Board, CEO and C-Suite firm bringing together the world’s most experienced practitioners. 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