What Strong Leadership Looks Like in Practice
I had the pleasure of having coffee with Helen Starling, Chief Executive Officer of Paragon Works, while attending a Board Meeting at Paragon-PCC in Bristol, UK. Helen leads a global organization focused on creative, workplace, and recruitment solutions, and our conversation reflected that scope—high-energy, wide-ranging, and grounded in real experience. Our conversation was high-energy, with many interesting perspectives shared about the markets we serve. However, the most fascinating aspect was the reference to the people, family, clients, and our team.
It turns out that we both bristle a bit when restrictions are introduced, as we enjoy the control of one’s destiny, often found with being a Sagittarius. We decided that a morning walk might be a challenge given the lack of tennis shoes, so instead, we sat down for coffee after traveling 4,086 Dialogue Miles™ from Nashville to Bristol.
A Few Things That Stayed with Me
Accountability builds trust.
Own your area of responsibility. Understand your role, make informed decisions, and be proactive in addressing challenges.Innovation solves recurring problems.
Look for new approaches to old challenges—through tools, process, or collaboration.Know the details of your business.
Metrics, market trends, and competitive dynamics matter. Preparation creates credibility.Make people feel seen and heard.
Engagement isn’t optional. It’s how trust and collaboration are built.Play to your strengths—and complement them.
Strong leaders know where they add value and bring in others where needed.
I imagine that for anyone early in their career, having someone like Helen provide guidance would accelerate their trajectory in a meaningful way.
Grateful for the conversation, Helen, and for the kind of exchange that sharpens perspective and reinforces what strong leadership actually looks like. Looking forward to the next one.
