Performance Advisory Group

Technical brilliance alone doesn’t automatically create great leaders.

Recently, I joined Mark Holton on the Accounting Industry Insights Podcast to unpack one of the biggest challenges many professional services firms are facing right now:

The leadership capability gap.

We spoke about:
• why technically strong people often struggle when promoted into leadership roles
• the mindset shift from “doing” to leading people
• why delegation is harder than most leaders admit
• managing multigenerational teams
• and why leadership development can’t be left to chance anymore

One thing I know for certain:
People leadership is hard.

And too many businesses are still expecting leaders to simply “figure it out” without the tools, training or support to succeed.

If we want stronger teams, healthier cultures, and sustainable business growth, we need to intentionally build leadership capability - not leave it to chance.

Read my reflections and listen to the full episode below.
👉 https://performanceadvisorygroup.com.au/leadership-capability-gap-professional-services/

A client in one of our leadership programs shared a post today about Ubuntu, the South African philosophy of “I am because we are”, and it really made me stop and think.

In leadership, we can so easily celebrate the individual. The high performer. The visionary. The person who appears to have “made it happen.”

But when you really think about it, no leader succeeds alone.

The best leaders know that leadership is not about power or position. It is about people. It is about creating an environment where people feel trusted, valued, challenged, supported and genuinely connected to something bigger than themselves.

What stood out to me most was the reminder that success is shared.

Behind every successful leader is a team of people who contributed, challenged their thinking, supported them through hard moments and helped make the outcome possible. Leadership is not just about what 𝘐 achieve, but what 𝘸𝘦 create together.

It made me reflect on a question I think all leaders should ask themselves:

Am I creating performance through pressure, or through connection?

Because in my experience, people do their best work when they feel seen, heard and valued. When trust exists, ownership grows. Confidence grows. Performance grows.

𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

Read more here:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-ubuntu-shift-from-power-people-bruce-temkin-iwepe/

As we move toward a new financial year, now is one of the most important times to pause and ask:

👉 Is our team aligned on where we’re heading?
👉 Does everyone understand the priorities?
👉 Are we operating reactively… or intentionally?

A well-designed strategy workshop does more than create a plan.

It creates clarity, alignment, ownership, and momentum.

Here’s what a strong strategy development workshop can deliver:

1️⃣ Clarity and Focus
Define where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

2️⃣ Actionable Steps
Turn ideas into practical actions with accountability and momentum.

3️⃣ Alignment Across Stakeholders
When people help shape the plan, they’re far more invested in making it happen.

4️⃣ Targeted Plans That Drive Growth
Fresh perspectives often uncover opportunities teams haven’t yet considered.

5️⃣ Renewed Energy and Motivation
There’s something powerful about coming together with purpose.

The businesses that thrive into the next financial year won’t just be the busiest.

They’ll be the ones who intentionally create space to think, align, and reconnect as a team.

✨ Strategy workshops, leadership sessions, and team strengths facilitation are all part of how we help teams move forward with clarity and connection.

Link in comments.

Strong teams and strong client relationships both start with one thing… great questions.

Sometimes it’s not the big strategy sessions or the polished presentations that create connection.

Sometimes it’s simply asking a better question.

We’ve pulled together 16 of our favourite relationship-building questions from our Team Connection Activities Guide - designed to spark understanding, empathy, trust, and meaningful conversation within teams and with clients.

Try asking one or two in your next:
✨ Team meeting
✨ Coaching conversation
✨ Leadership catch-up
✨ Client meeting

You might be surprised by what you learn.

Because sometimes one meaningful question can completely change the energy of a conversation.

💬 Scan and download our free Team Connection Activities Guide for more practical connection-building ideas.

Link in comments.

Some of the best team moments aren’t planned.

They happen somewhere between getting lost on bikes in Vietnam, sharing meals by the river, wandering through local markets, laughing until your stomach hurts, or pushing through tiredness to experience something unforgettable together.

These photos capture more than a trip.

They capture connection.
Shared experience.
Perspective.
Curiosity.
Community.

And honestly, they’re a beautiful reminder that strong teams aren’t only built in boardrooms or strategy sessions… they’re built in moments where people genuinely experience life together.

One of the biggest themes we’ve been speaking about lately with leaders, teams, and GLEP participants is this:

People are craving connection.

Not surface-level interaction.
Real connection.
Psychological safety.
Belonging.
Shared experiences.
Space to think and grow together.

This Vietnam experience gave us so many reminders of the power of togetherness… and inspired this month’s latest leadership insight blog around connection, culture, and why leadership was never meant to be carried alone.

✨ Full blog now live, including the stories behind these moments and reflections on leadership, teamwork, and community.

👉 Read it via the link in comments.

Connection Happens in the Moments We Share

Gallup’s latest workplace research revealed something powerful: employees are craving connection.

Not just communication.
Not just collaboration.
Real human connection.

In this month’s insight blog, I’m reflecting on leadership, team togetherness, and the shared experiences that build trust - inspired by recent travels through Vietnam with the team and my own team member Romela’s reflections.

From bike ride adventures and floating river markets to leadership reflections and community, it’s a reminder that connection is often built in the moments we least expect.

✨ Check out the full blog as we explore why connected teams perform better, communicate better, and lead better.

👉 https://performanceadvisorygroup.com.au/team-connection-at-work/