BEYOND STRATEGY: Exploring the Human Drivers of Organisational Performance

Why do sound strategies sometimes fail to deliver results?

This question guided discussions at the Executive Leadership Forum organised by the Ghana Netherlands Business & Culture Council (GNBCC), in collaboration with The Capital Group Ltd. and Peoplesource Consulting, the Africa Master Partner for Management Drives.

Held at La Villa Boutique Hotel in Osu, Accra, the invitation-only forum brought together senior business leaders to exchange experiences and consider how leadership, behaviour and workplace culture affect organisational performance.

A Conversation About Leadership Today

The evening opened with an interactive discussion on the changes reshaping leadership and the workplace. Participants shared perspectives on the growing influence of artificial intelligence, changing workforce expectations and the arrival of a new generation of professionals widely known as Gen Z.

The conversation raised practical questions about how leaders and organisations can remain effective in a rapidly changing business environment. It also introduced the forum’s central theme: although technologies, markets and ways of working continue to evolve, organisations still depend on people to turn strategy into action.

In her welcome remarks, Hilde Famaey, General Manager of the GNBCC, spoke about the importance of creating spaces where business leaders can connect, exchange knowledge and discuss issues affecting their organisations.

She also welcomed The Capital Group Ltd. as a new GNBCC member and expressed appreciation for the expertise and relevant conversations the company brings to the GNBCC community.

The Capital Group joined the GNBCC in July 2026. Read more here.

From Strategy to Behaviour

Bode Olutunbi, Managing Partner and CEO of Peoplesource Consulting and Global Partner for Management Drives Africa, and Stephan van der Vat, Co-owner of Management Drives, led a presentation titled “From Strategy to Behaviour.”

They examined the gap that can emerge between developing a strong strategy and successfully putting it into practice.

Organisations invest considerable time and resources in strategies, plans, targets and transformation programmes, yet even a well-designed strategy can fail during execution. The speakers invited participants to consider whether the problem always lies with the strategy itself, or with the people and systems responsible for carrying it out.

A key message from the session was that strategy becomes performance through behaviour. Leadership affects behaviour, behaviour shapes culture, and culture influences how consistently an organisation delivers on its plans.

The discussion focused on four human drivers of execution: leadership behaviour, executive alignment, organisational culture and motivation.

Participants were also introduced to the Management Drives approach, which helps leaders understand what motivates people and how those motivations influence behaviour. They considered what happens when different behavioural preferences meet within teams, particularly when colleagues approach communication, decision-making and collaboration differently.

Understanding these differences is not simply about gaining insight into individual personalities. Its value lies in helping leaders adapt their approach, improve collaboration and guide teams towards shared goals.

The Leadership Team as a Competitive Advantage

Samuel Leslie Adetola, CEO of The Capital Group Ltd., continued the conversation with a presentation titled “The Leadership Team as Competitive Advantage.”

He drew attention to an important distinction between individual excellence and collective performance. An organisation may have experienced, ambitious and highly capable executives, but this does not automatically result in an effective leadership team.

Strong leadership teams also require shared priorities, trust, open discussion, accountability and a willingness to work across functional boundaries.

The session addressed the risks created by organisational silos. Leaders were encouraged to see themselves not only as heads of their respective functions, but also as members of one team responsible for the overall performance of the organisation.

An aligned leadership team has a shared sense of purpose, agrees on its most important priorities, welcomes constructive challenge and accepts collective responsibility for results. It also provides consistent direction to the rest of the organisation.

This alignment matters far beyond the executive level. The way senior leaders behave affects how managers lead, how employees experience the workplace, how customers are served and, ultimately, how the organisation performs.

Connecting, Learning and Looking Ahead

In addition to the presentations, the forum gave senior leaders from different organisations and sectors an opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another and build new professional relationships.

For the GNBCC, the event formed part of its continued commitment to providing platforms for knowledge exchange, professional development and business networking.

The evening left participants with a clear message: successful execution requires more than a strong strategy.

As organisations respond to technological change, shifting workforce expectations and increasingly complex markets, leaders must give equal attention to the people responsible for delivering results. Strategy provides direction, but leadership, relationships, motivation and culture determine how far an organisation can go.

Continue the Conversation

For organisations interested in tailored leadership workshops, executive team development, or similar collaborations, connect with The Capital Group Ltd. and Peoplesource Consulting to explore opportunities for collaboration and leadership development.

The Capital Group Ltd.
Website: www.capitalgroupghana.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +233 302 674 697 | +233 577 681 933

Peoplesource Consulting
Website: www.peoplesourceconsulting.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 7985 219413 | +234 805 272 7684

Management Drives
Website: www.managementdrives.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +31 (0)30 635 54 00