Ever wondered what a medieval castle, Greek shield, or trench whistle could teach you about leadership?

Sean Stewart transforms ancient artefacts into powerful decision-making tools. As "The Historian in the Boardroom," he helps leaders unlock wisdom from historical objects that serve as silent coaches during their toughest challenges.

From designing award-winning exhibitions at English Heritage to coaching executives at PepsiCo and PwC, Sean's approach has helped hundreds of professionals across 17 years. Where others see museum pieces, he sees practical leadership weapons—physical reminders of time-tested principles that cut through corporate jargon and theoretical models.

What started as casual observations about historical objects evolved into a powerful framework for leadership. Sean shares how sailing through literal storms at sea taught him that these ancient lessons aren't just interesting—they're essential for navigating today's business uncertainties with confidence and clarity.

Key Talking Points:

• The "Achilles moment" framework for discovering what truly motivates each team member, creating self-sustaining motivation beyond typical "cattle prod" approaches
• Why diverse teams thrive: Medieval castles demonstrate how seemingly contradictory elements can create stronger, more functional systems
• The "trench whistle principle" of authentic leadership—why the most effective leaders share risks alongside their teams rather than directing from safety
• How sailing through storms at sea taught Sean that staying calm during crisis has more impact on team performance than any motivational technique

Links & Resources:

• Sean's website: Past Forward Talks
• LinkedIn: Sean Stewart
• Book: "Redefining The Leadership Code: Stories and Objects That Shape Greatness" (coming Spring 2025)

Today's Exercise: The Ancient Object Anchor

This practice helps you identify and embody leadership principles that resonate deeply with you, creating physical reminders to guide decision-making during stressful moments.

1. Reflect on a recent leadership challenge you faced
2. Find or select an object that represents the lesson you learned
3. Write down how this object embodies that leadership principle
4. Place the object where you'll see it during critical moments
5. When facing similar challenges, let the object remind you of your learned wisdom
6. After several weeks, notice which object becomes your consistent "anchor"

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