Tales of Risk

The trickster in the boardroom – Unmasking the insider threat Risk Principles: Insider threats; sabotage risk; misaligned incentives Key Lessons: Disruption often comes from within. Monitor cultural vulnerabilities and manage those who may undermine stability for personal gain. In the high-stakes world of Norse mythology, no figure is as polarising as Loki. A master of […]

Why your business needs multiple “temperatures” Risk Principles: Strategic Balance; Risk Appetite Calibration Key Lessons: Extremes in risk-taking (too hot/cold, hard/soft) are dangerous. Success comes from iterative adjustment and balance – finding what is “just right.” In strategic governance, we often talk about “The” risk appetite – as if a multi-million pound enterprise should have

The Stork in the Boardroom: Is your new strategy devouring your assets? Risk Principles: Leadership; Change and unintended consequences Key Lessons: Change without careful evaluation can lead to worse outcomes. Define success and assess leadership thoroughly before replacing stable systems. Every Board eventually faces a period of restlessness. Growth feels “too quiet,” the status quo

The art of detecting subtle signals in risk Risk Principle(s): Early Warning Signals; Attention to Detail Key Lessons: Even small anomalies (weak signals) can point to deeper risks. Encourage sensitivity, rigorous QA, and listen to those attuned to subtle indicators. In the wisdom of tales that endure, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea”

The tower of isolation: What Rapunzel teaches us about connectivity risk Risk Principle(s): Organisational Silos; Single Points of Failure; Connectivity Risk Key Lessons: Isolation breeds vulnerability. Over-reliance on single systems, people, or access points can paralyse operations. True resilience lies in connectivity and cross-functional integration. In the intricate architecture of modern organisations, information flow, collaboration,

Managing the labyrinth of complexity Risk Principle(s): Complexity navigation; internal threats; governance frameworks Key Lessons: Complex systems need clear strategies. The Labyrinth represents complexity; the Minotaur, internal threats. Plans, courage, and traceability to overcome entrenched issues. In the annals of Greek mythology, heroism often involves not just physical prowess, but cunning, strategy, and the courage

Speculative risk and the climb beyond control Risk Principle(s): Managing growth; Preparedness. Key Risk Lessons: Trading stable assets for unverified opportunity. Rapid, exponential growth without governance or risk assessment invites instability. In the wisdoms of tales that endure, there are profound and timeless insights into human nature and its difficulties. Such insights are just as

The risk of stagnation and the power of continuous learning Risk Principle(s): Continuous Learning; Managerial Blind Spots; Ego Risk. Key Lessons: Refusing to adapt or accept feedback leads to decline. Leadership must remain open, self-aware, and continually evolve. In the pursuit of leadership excellence, we often look for external threats. Yet, some of the most

The risk of overlooking unconventional potential Risk Principle(s): Talent & Innovation Risk; Misjudged Potential Key Lessons: Initial awkwardness can hide future brilliance. Avoid dismissing people or ideas that don’t fit the norm – nurture diverse perspectives. In the complex machinery of modern governance, the pressure to optimise often leads to a dangerous “blindness of conventionality.” We create