Lead Like You’d Follow

What does it take to navigate a 40-year leadership journey? Chris Mallon, who recently retired after 36 years at Lloyds Banking Group, reveals the timeless principles that guided him from an 18-year-old trainee to executive leadership.

Chris challenges the notion that great leaders are born, arguing instead that leadership develops through continuous learning and growth. “I kept learning right up to the very day that I left,” he shares, emphasizing how this commitment to improvement kept him relevant through decades of technological and organizational change. His powerful guiding principle—”lead the way you wish to be led”—offers a simple yet profound approach to authentic leadership that resonates with teams at all levels.

Perhaps most striking is Chris’s insight on team composition. “The worst thing you can ever do as a leader is surround yourself with another eight, nine, ten versions of you,” he explains, highlighting how diversity of thought creates stronger solutions. His practical approach to creating space for quieter voices reveals how the most innovative ideas often come from those least likely to demand attention in meetings.

The conversation explores how leadership must adapt across organizational levels while maintaining core values, and contrasts the unique challenges of leading in large corporations versus startups. Throughout, Chris returns to his conviction that people remain any organization’s most valuable asset—a truth he demonstrated by choosing early retirement to create advancement opportunities for his team.

Whether you’re just beginning your leadership journey or reflecting on years of experience, Chris’s hard-earned wisdom offers valuable perspective on creating environments where teams thrive and leaders continuously evolve. Subscribe now to hear more leadership insights from those who’ve navigated the challenges you’re facing.