By | Published On: April 3, 2025 |

In this episode of The Executive Edge, I talk with Graham Wilson, a thought leader and author who founded The Success Factory. Graham shares insights from his military background and how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership and helping businesses.

Episode Highlights:

Military Background

Graham WilsonGraham talks initially about his Military Background. He joined the military at 17, training as a radio technician at the Army Apprentice College in Harrogate. He describes how the purpose-led, service-oriented leadership he experienced there differed from common perceptions of military leadership.

Mission Command vs. Command and Control:

In the military, Graham experienced “mission command” – where leaders share the purpose and mission, then highly trained people on the ground determine how to execute, with leaders providing support. This contrasts with the micromanagement and command-and-control approach he later observed in the corporate world.

Transitioning to Corporate Life:

After a decade in the military, Graham joined DuPont, where he initially found an empowering environment built on a safety philosophy of “stop, think, and do” – similar to military training.

The Birth of The Success Factory:

Graham describes how he created his business by first sitting down and writing “Living wonderful life” on a piece of paper, then working backward to design a business that would support that vision. The Success Factory aims to change the way organisations are being led. As they say on their website: “We set out on our journey to awaken possibility in leaders and teams to deliver extraordinary results whilst living a wonderful life.”

Approach to Leadership Development:

Graham’s work focuses on helping leaders:

  1. Understand the context they’re operating in
  2. Develop authentic leadership styles
  3. Create time for reflection rather than constantly being on the “hamster wheel”
  4. Examine and modify habitual behaviors that may be counterproductive
  5. Build clarity through proper structures, appropriate skillsets, and positive mindsets

Effective Empowerment:

Graham emphasizes that true empowerment requires clear direction, proper training to achieve standards, autonomy, and ongoing support.

Performance Improvement Model:

Graham breaks down performance improvement into three interconnected pillars:

  1. Structures that provide clarity
  2. Skill sets needed for success
  3. Mindset required for optimal performance

Key Quotes:

  • “When I’m working with senior leaders and organizations now, if you’ve got an organization that are just doers and not thinkers, then you’ve created a culture which is what I call being overmanaged and underled.”
    “In today’s world, in a world where the pace of change is so fast, we need people to be able to deal with ambiguity, to make decisions, and to be able to operate on a set of guiding principles.”
  • “I talk a lot about speeding up by slowing down… creating spaces and experiences.”
  • “My whole purpose in life really is around awakening possibility in people to deliver extraordinary results whilst living a wonderful life.”

Connect with Graham Wilson: