The Fastest Way to Fail a Leader? Expect Results Too Soon.

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Starbucks just spent $113M to fire its CEO after 17 months.

Stock down 25%. Sales slipping. Activists circling.

He wasn’t failing. The system was.

Cafés collapsing. Unions rising. China stalling.

Seventeen months to turn a burning building into a functioning business.

I’ve seen the same pressure firsthand during the pandemic in the travel industry.

Flights canceled. Hotels closed. Teams furloughed. Rules changing daily. Customers panicked.

I remember working from home, coordinating last-minute bookings for stranded clients while staff called in sick.

Every day felt like managing a global travel business in crisis while redesigning operations on the fly.

Some demanded instant results. Others knew that stabilising a complex business under chaos takes time, focus, and trust, not quick wins.

This isn’t consultant versus operator.

It’s quarterly optics versus long-term transformation.

Look at history:

• Nadella reshaped Microsoft in 5 years.

• Cook endured years of doubt before turning Apple’s growth around.

True transformation is messy, non-linear, and full of setbacks.

3 Ways to Lead When the Pressure’s Unreal

1. Give runway – Meaningful change needs realistic timelines.

2. Trust expertise – Support leaders through uncertainty, not just results.

3. Focus on progress, not perfection – Small wins compound into lasting impact.

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Looking for more insights?

Here are a few newsletters I read and recommend:

Reflection for the Week

• Are leaders in your organisation given the runway to deliver real impact, or just fast fixes?

• Where might patience, perspective, and long-term vision create leverage for your team?

• How can you signal support for growth, even when results aren’t immediate?

Leaders don’t fail fast. Organisations force them to.
Patience isn’t passive. It’s the real competitive edge.

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Curious about coaching or leadership development support?

Here’s how we can partner when the time’s right. 

Catch you in the next issue.

With appreciation,
Chris