Dear Leaders,

Every now and then · by Hamza Shayk

Organizational drag

The Executive Civil War

For a thousand years, the Byzantine Empire was the most sophisticated civilization on earth: unmatched wealth and institutions, brilliant diplomats, and a military that outlived Rome itself.

Jun 28, 2026

Management Has a Public Relations Problem

In 1911, two men raced to become the first to reach the South Pole. Robert Falcon Scott led the British expedition. He viewed the journey as a noble test of human courage.

Jun 13, 2026

What Are You Waiting For?

Last weekend I read Waiting for Godot (pronounced “good-o”) for the first time. It’s a short play, 109 pages, that Samuel Beckett wrote in 1953. A story of two men, Vladimir and Estragon, sitting by a barren tree waiting for a man named Godot to arrive.

May 21, 2026

Why We Avoid Simple Solutions

In 1847, a Hungarian doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis made a discovery that should have made him a hero. Instead, it destroyed him. Working in the obstetrics clinic of Vienna General Hospital, Semmelweis noticed a horrific trend.

Dec 4, 2025

The Abilene Paradox

It is a stifling July afternoon in Coleman, Texas. 104 degrees in the shade, and the wind is blowing dust. A family is sitting comfortably on a porch, drinking cold lemonade and playing dominoes.

Nov 28, 2025

The Key to Decision Velocity: “I Disagree and Commit”

In executive decision-making, few phrases are more effective, or more underutilized, than “I disagree and commit.” It means: I’m mature enough to speak up, clear-headed enough to let it go, and committed enough to execute without hesitation.

Jul 2, 2025

What Your Silence Is Costing You

Politics don’t ruin companies. Hidden politics do. The higher up we go, the more decisions are shaped by personalities, loyalties, and history. That’s normal.

Jun 18, 2025

The One Conversation You’re Avoiding

The longer we avoid a conversation, the more power it gains. Every leader has one. That conversation you keep pushing down the calendar. The one you tell yourself “isn’t urgent” or “needs the right moment.”

May 13, 2025

The Power of Instant Feedback

Waiting for the “right moment” to give feedback is usually a polite way of avoiding discomfort. We tell ourselves: “I’ll wait until they’re less stressed.”

May 6, 2025

How to Delegate Without Losing Control

At your level, technical skills matter less. People skills and tact are more important. You already excel at doing the work. Now you must get the work done well — and at scale.

Apr 8, 2025

How to Have a Meeting

A meeting starts well before it actually starts. Do the following to cut waste, save time, and boost productivity. People will want to attend. Your meetings will be focused and action-packed, with everyone contributing.

Apr 2, 2025

BY GENRE

Executive isolation

Organizational drag

Incentives and measurement

Judgment

People decisions

Power and politics

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ABOUT HAMZA

I advise CEOs and senior investment professionals on difficult decisions, executive development, and organizational performance. My clients lead public, private, PE-backed and family-owned companies, or hold senior roles at investment banks, asset managers and private equity firms.