Developing strong second-level leaders is essential for any organisation aiming to break through its next growth ceiling. Richard Peake, Andres Zylberberg and I examine the predictable points where companies stall, and the leadership evolution required to move beyond them. Common warning signs – including swamped executives, constant decision bottlenecks, and missed market signals – show why the old way of operating stops working as a business grows. 

We discuss how to empower emerging leaders with true functional ownership, how mindset shifts drive organisational maturity, and why proactive development must begin long before the pain appears. 

Takeaways  

• Strong second-level leaders are key to breaking through growth ceilings. 
• Sharing real responsibility keeps the executive team from becoming a bottleneck. 
• Leaders need to shift from doing everything to growing the people around them. 
• When managers are overloaded, it’s a sign the structure isn’t keeping up. 
• Clear ownership helps everyone make better decisions and move faster. 
• Growing leaders early makes growth smoother when things start ramping up. 
• Teams perform best when leaders coach instead of constantly putting out fires. 
• Evolving your mindset is essential to scale beyond what got you here. 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter  https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ 

Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

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