By Christopher ED Graham FCIPD, ACTP For all the corporate language surrounding meritocracy, leadership excellence, and talent development, there remains an uncomfortable truth sitting in plain sight across much of the modern corporate world: the higher one climbs inside large organisations, the less success becomes purely about competence. That statement tends to irritate people initially, particularly those who built their early careers through hard work, intellectual horse

Christopher E D Graham FCIPD, ACTP - CGC Senior leadership appointments are often discussed as though they hinge on capability. By the time an executive reaches the final stages of consideration for a C-suite or senior leadership role, however, competence is rarely the central question. Experience, technical ability, and track record have already been examined. The more consequential question is usually left unspoken. Will the organisation’s culture allow that leader to succe