🚦 Time to go it’s | 🐟 𝔽.𝕀.𝕊.𝕙. FRIDAY

Friends, clients, associates and business cards, hope you’re galvanizingally well and not facing too many leadership challenges.

𝔽.𝕀.𝕊.𝕙. FRIDAY is my fin-tastic weekly that hooks you up with some fresh helpful stuff that I came across this week, gems netted from deep dives earlier this year or underwater nuggets from this lifetime resurfacing like friendly dolphins.

𝔽oolproof | Leadership Skills for SMEs

Running a small business requires wearing many hats, but stepping fully into your role as a leader is the one that shapes everything else. When you actively improve these skills, your team understands what good looks like and you finally stop having to carry every single decision alone.

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/important-leadership-skills-for-small-business-owners

𝕀ntelligence | The Empathy Expectation

A major shift is happening in what employees expect from their directors, with “human-centred leadership” becoming the defining workplace trend of 2026. Research shows that successful modern leaders must combine this high-level emotional intelligence and empathy with a strong grasp of digital fluency.

https://www.salford.ac.uk/spd/leadership-trends-watch-in-2026

𝕊auce | Can AI do my job?

In this Boss Class podcast, host Andrew Palmer explores how leaders should integrate AI by attempting to let a generative AI model take over his daily workflow. It is a revealing listen that uncovers both the massive potential of the technology and the very human nuances that still make leadership irreplaceable.

https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2026/01/29/s3-e1-fat-layer-of-humans

𝕙odgepotch | Owning the Unknowns

Geopolitical uncertainty, shifting consumer expectations, advancing technology, and the constant squeeze on costs mean that every decision leaders face now carries greater weight and a shorter shelf life. This insightful KPMG breakdown explores how you can stop fearing this constant state of disruption and start actively owning the unknowns.

https://kpmg.com/uk/en/insights/consumer/owning-the-unknowns.html

Have a Stress-less Weekend!

Best Fishes,

JC

John Crowder

Emerald

T: 01744 353095

eicic.co.uk

Emerald helps SME directors fix cashflow and navigate insolvency with fast and free confidential support.