Gavin Scott is the author of Finding Gold Dust and one of the most outstanding thought leaders and trainers on leadership and commercial strategies in our region.

High-performing leadership teams come from developing existing talent and adding the right external hires at the right time. Our collaboration with Gavin connects leadership training with executive search, helping clients make stronger appointments, accelerate impact and reduce risk.

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We were delighted to spend time with Gavin discussing the leadership challenges facing scaling SMEs, particularly how to strengthen capability, manage growth and make senior appointments that will land and deliver.

Great to have a long-term, personal history to underpin our work together.

In the world of recruitment and leadership consultancy, people often talk about "synergy." But for Nik Pratap and me, it started with something much more grounded: a pair of running shoes and a shared goal:

Over a decade ago, we ran two half-marathons on back-to-back days, raising nearly £4,000 for Child Bereavement. When you’ve spent a weekend pushing your physical limits for a cause that matters, you learn exactly who a person is. That foundation of trust—the knowledge that we have each other’s backs—is the same philosophy we bring to our clients in Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

What sits behind the human side of leadership advisory work for and how does it influence results?

Growing businesses can outlive leadership.

We see it constantly across our regional SMEs: a company finds its stride, the numbers climb, and suddenly, the "scrappy" management style that worked at £1M turnover starts to fray at £10M. The complexity grows, the pressure rises, and the leadership needs to catch up with the scale.

At this crossroads, MDs and HRDs usually have two levers to pull:

1. Recruit new leaders who have "been there, done that" (where Nik’s expertise at Pratap Executive is unmatched).
2. Develop existing talent into the leaders the future business needs (which is where I step in).

The link between a search firm and a leadership consultancy is not just logical, it is vital. You can hire the best talent in the world, but if the culture doesn't value ownership, they won't stay.

Why is ownership, not accountability, the real differentiator in high performing leadership teams?

In my recent work, I have noticed that as SME targets rise, it becomes easier for leaders to explain why something happened rather than taking responsibility for it.

Accountability is often a corporate buzzword. Ownership, however, is something your team feels.

Ownership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It is about the leader who says, "I should have handled that sooner - let's resolve this together." This shift in maturity is what separates an average manager from a trusted leader.

Where should leaders be looking for their Gold Dust as they build confidence and ownership in growing teams?

If you are leading a growing team in our region today, ask yourself: Do I instinctively explain, or do I take ownership?

Small shifts in this instinct create massive changes in team confidence and, ultimately, your bottom line. Leadership isn't about being perfect; it's about being responsible for the impact you have on your people.

Insight from Nik Pratap:

Search identifies the right leaders, development ensures they deliver impact, and clients need both working as one.

"I have known Gavin for years, and his ability to distil complex leadership challenges into actionable 'Gold Dust' is why I never hesitate to point my clients in his direction. Whether you are looking to hire your next Finance Director or want to ensure your current team is performing at their peak, we are here to support your growth."

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Ready to strengthen your leadership impact?

Explore Gavin’s insights at GavinScott.me or connect with Pratap Executive to discuss your next strategic hire.

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