Services

CEO Advisory.

An expert adviser to the CEO.

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The decisions that matter most are rarely straightforward.

They may concern strategy, the executive team, a difficult board relationship, a major change in the business or a decision about people whose performance is critical to the organisation.

As CEO, you are expected to have the answers. You are also expected to project confidence, maintain alignment and take responsibility for the outcome.

Sterling Black provides an experienced, objective perspective on the issues that matter most to you and your business.

The relationship is direct and confidential. It is a place to test your thinking, examine difficult decisions, address issues that may be hard to discuss internally and decide on a course of action.

What we work on

Six areas where a CEO most needs an outside view.

Commercial and strategic decisions

Working through complex choices, competing priorities, business transformation and the implications of strategic decisions.

Executive-team performance

Assessing whether the people around you are the right team for the strategy, where accountability is weak and what needs to change.

Leadership effectiveness

Understanding how your decisions, communication and behaviour affect the organisation, and where a change in approach would make a material difference.

Board and stakeholder relationships

Preparing for difficult conversations, managing differences in expectations and strengthening the working relationship between the CEO and the board.

Taking on a CEO role

Establishing priorities, building credibility, making early decisions and setting the conditions for success in a new role.

Personal performance under pressure

Maintaining perspective, judgement and effectiveness when the demands of the role are particularly high.

How it works

An advisory relationship, not a standard coaching programme.

The work is shaped around the CEO, the organisation and the issues at hand. It combines direct discussion, practical advice, challenge and, where appropriate, structured feedback and assessment.

The objective is not to complete a programme. It is to improve the quality of the decisions you make and your effectiveness in leading the business.

  1. An initial discussionEstablish the context, the issues and whether there is a fit.
  2. An initial diagnosticWhere appropriate, identify the most important priorities through structured discussion, stakeholder feedback and assessment.
  3. An ongoing advisory relationshipRegular meetings, agreed priorities and access to advice between meetings when important issues arise.
  4. A review of progressPeriodically examine what has changed, what remains unresolved and where attention is needed next.
James McLaren
Who you work with

James McLaren

James McLaren brings 35 years of experience in organisational psychology, including 25 years specialising in CEO Advisory, CEO succession and CEO development. Previously, he was Managing Director of PDI (Personnel Decisions International, now part of Korn Ferry Consulting), based in New York. He holds MBAs from Columbia Business School and London Business School.

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Start with a conversation

Every engagement begins with a discussion.

About the business, the challenges you are facing and what you want to achieve.