In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Doug Field, former CEO of the East of England Co-op, about leadership and business growth.
Doug shares his accidental journey to becoming CEO, the importance of self-awareness, and strategies for developing leadership skills.
With an emphasis on long-term thinking and embracing diverse perspectives, we talk about building supportive teams and fostering a strong company culture as the foundations to creating a successful and sustainable, and growing business.
Doug offers practical advice for small business founders, including the value of feedback, effective delegation, and focusing on core business fundamentals like cash flow.
Wrapping up this series, we are reminded of the continuous, adaptive nature of leadership and the importance of growing both yourself and your team.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Introduction and Doug’s Background (00:02:10) Doug introduces himself, shares his leadership mission, and outlines his career path to becoming CEO.
Accidental CEO and Early Career Lessons (00:04:31) Doug discusses his accidental rise to CEO, early career moves, and lessons learned from interviews and transitions.
Leadership Development for Small Business Owners (00:06:17) Rob and Doug explore the evolution from founder to leader, and practical first steps for developing leadership skills.
Sharpening the Saw & Long-Term Thinking (00:07:14) Doug emphasises the importance of stepping back, thinking long-term, and investing time in strategic reflection.
Market Changes and Planning for the Future (00:08:48) Discussion on adapting to market changes, planning for the future, and focusing on what stays the same.
Adapting to Change and Core Business Principles (00:10:30) Doug explains the value of focusing on unchanging customer needs and adapting business models accordingly.
Transitioning into Leadership & Mindset Shifts (00:12:09) Challenges of becoming an accidental CEO, the importance of saying yes, and broadening leadership perspective.
Seeking Support and Embracing Diversity of Thought (00:14:04) Doug shares how he sought support, learned from others, and the impact of cognitive diversity on leadership.
Managing Overwhelm and Delegation Strategies (00:17:22) Advice for overwhelmed CEOs: self-awareness, strategic delegation, and building a supportive team.
Knowing Yourself and the Power of Feedback (00:20:32) Doug discusses the importance of feedback, identifying blind spots, and building psychological safety for growth.
Building and Leveraging a Professional Network (00:23:22) The value of cultivating a trusted network, finding mentors, and being strategic about professional relationships.
Transferable Skills from Outside Business (00:27:15) Doug reflects on leadership lessons from coaching youth sports and the transferability of skills.
Creating a Thriving Business Environment (00:29:13) Key conditions for a thriving business: culture, clarity of purpose, and the leader’s influence on environment.
Vision, Values, and Culture by Design (00:32:08) Guidance on intentionally shaping company culture, making the right hires, and balancing perfectionism.
Confidence, Self-Belief, and the Iceberg Analogy (00:34:39) Doug addresses imposter syndrome, the unseen work behind success, and the importance of support systems.
Common Leadership Mistakes and Adaptability (00:35:47) Balancing perseverance and action, knowing when to adapt or persist, and the multifactorial nature of leadership.
The Nighttime Car Journey Analogy (00:37:59) Doug uses a car journey analogy to illustrate leadership, adaptability, and navigating uncertainty.
Role Modeling and Psychological Safety (00:39:50) How leaders can foster psychological safety and high performance by role modeling and admitting mistakes.
Evolving Culture with Business Growth (00:42:34) The changing nature of culture as teams grow, and the ongoing journey of self-awareness for leaders.
Team Growth vs. Self-Growth (00:43:18) Doug’s key advice: focus on growing the team to unlock greater impact, not just personal development.
Don’t Forget the Basics: Cash Flow and Foundations (00:44:26) Final reminder to prioritize business fundamentals like cash flow and not chase every new trend.
Sharpen the Saw: Top Tip for Small Business Owners (00:45:21) Doug’s top tip: invest in thinking time, personal growth, and strategic positioning for business success.
Closing and Contact Information (00:45:53) Doug shares how listeners can connect with him via LinkedIn or the Business Growth Coaches Network.
About Doug:
Doug Field OBE is on a mission to prove that high performance and human happiness can—and should—co-exist. After 16 years modernising the £400m, 3,500-employee, East of England Co-op, Doug now guides ambitious boards and CEOs to grow without sacrificing wellbeing.
As founder of a Suffolk MyBigSky peer group and a sought-after Non-Executive Director, he blends CFO rigour with CEO vision, turning complex challenges into clear, actionable wins.
He distils complexity into clear, data-backed choices, drawing on 30+ years across PwC, Christie Group plc, and the Co-op to spot both hidden risks and overlooked opportunities. His £30 million funding wins prove he can speak banker, while an OBE for services to business shows he can speak to governments, too.
Beyond the boardroom, Doug’s impact stretches into the community as a volunteer director with Green Light Trust, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, and other regional causes.
Expect sleeves-rolled-up insight, an enviable network, and enough humour to make even the toughest balance-sheet chat fun.
To learn more, head on over to:
www.startbuildgrow.co.uk
