The Power of Ordinary Tasks in extra-Ordinary Leadership
When we think about extra-Ordinary leadership, it’s easy to imagine bold breakthroughs or visionary moments. But the truth is, being an extra-Ordinary leader is often about something much simpler: mastering the ordinary. It’s about showing up consistently, staying committed, and giving your best effort—even in the smallest, most routine tasks. That’s where the real magic happens.
In this blog, we’ll explore how small, consistent actions, creative thinking, and a commitment to curiosity can lead to extra-Ordinary leadership, drawing on insights from Dan Maudhub, founder and CEO of the creative agency Wonderful. Dan’s practical strategies and sense of humour reveal how ordinary tasks can transform the way we lead and achieve remarkable results.
Why Ordinary Matters
Take the simple act of making your bed each morning. It might feel trivial, but it holds a powerful lesson: when you leave things better than you found them, you create momentum. Starting your day with one small win sets the tone, training your brain to tackle the next task—and the next one—with purpose and focus.
This principle, applied across leadership and creative spaces, builds a foundation where ordinary actions transform into extra-Ordinary outcomes. As Dan Maudhub puts it, “If you don’t do the small, you quite often don’t get the big.”
Leadership and Creativity: A Dream Combination
Leadership and creativity might seem like separate domains, but combining the two is a must for solving complex problems and standing out in competitive markets. In creative industries, the most effective leaders challenge assumptions, think divergently, and inspire others to move beyond the obvious.
Creative leadership starts with shaking things up and challenging the usual script. Take this common claim: “We’ve been industry leaders for 20 years.” A creative leader doesn’t just nod along—they ask, “So what? What does that actually mean for your customer right now?” It’s in these bold, curious questions that the real truths emerge, helping leaders dig deeper, rethink their story, and reposition their organisations in ways that truly resonate.
The Balance of Divergent and Convergent Thinking
Extra-Ordinary results come from finding the balance between two very different ways of thinking:
Divergent Thinking: This is where the magic begins—brainstorming bold ideas, breaking away from the norm, and exploring what’s possible.
Convergent Thinking: This is where those ideas take shape—narrowing down options, making decisions, and turning big dreams into clear, actionable steps.
It’s not just a mental shift; you can even use your body to help. Picture this: standing tall with your arms wide open invites that expansive, creative energy. Then, as you shift into focus mode, touching your toes mirrors the process of honing in and grounding your ideas. It’s a physical reminder that exploration and execution both have their place in extra-Ordinary leadership.
Consistency and Commitment: The Grunt Work of Leadership
Let’s face it—leadership isn’t always shiny or exciting. Most of it happens in the trenches, in the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that doesn’t get a round of applause. The emails, the follow-ups, the endless team alignment meetings—what some might call “grunt work.” But here’s the thing: this unglamorous grind is the backbone of extra-Ordinary success.
Those consistent, small steps are just as important as the grand strategy. Leadership, after all, is built one seemingly ordinary task at a time.
Expanding Leadership Perspectives
Great leaders don’t stay stuck in their own lane, they widen the lens and look beyond the obvious. Inspiration often comes from the most unexpected places. An engineer could learn valuable lessons from the hospitality industry, or a tech CEO might find fresh ideas by exploring retail trends.
When you step outside your comfort zone and peek into other worlds, you open the door to new ways of thinking and solving problems. This kind of broad perspective fuels innovation and helps you break free from the same old box. Because sometimes, the best ideas are waiting just outside your usual view.
The Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit
Modern leadership isn’t just about making money, it’s about making a difference. Balancing profit with responsibility is becoming the new standard, and it’s exciting to see how businesses are stepping up. Take rewilding projects, for example. They show how companies can weave environmental and social impact into their strategies without losing sight of financial goals.
It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about small, steady steps. Allocating a portion of profits to ecological restoration or other meaningful initiatives ensures that organisations leave a positive mark on people, the planet, and their bottom line. This is leadership with heart, purpose, and impact.
Leadership as a Journey
Leadership isn’t a box you check or a destination you arrive at. It is an ongoing journey. It is about staying curious, asking sharper questions, and committing to growth, even when things get tough. The best leaders find a way to blend big-picture creativity with the structure needed to make it happen, turning grand visions into grounded, everyday actions.
The real secret is to never overlook the power of the ordinary. Those small, consistent steps you take every day are what pave the way for extra-Ordinary results. Stay focused, stay steady, and watch how far the journey takes you.
“Extra-Ordinary leadership is about doing the everyday things to the best of your ability and making a difference, no matter how small." Dan Maudhub
Listen to the full episode now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2230417/episodes/16434881
00:00:00: Introduction and launching the extra-Ordinary Leader book
00:01:08: Exciting new guests from diverse professions
00:02:03: Introduction to Dan Maudhub and his work
00:03:15: What extra-Ordinary leadership means to Dan
00:04:49: The importance of small, ordinary tasks
00:06:12: Creativity as a solution to business problems
00:08:02: Challenging assumptions to define business success
00:11:11: The 'so what' test and redefining boardroom thinking
00:16:04: Introducing creative thinking into business solutions
00:18:14: Introduction to divergent thinking
00:18:51: Transitioning to convergent thinking
00:19:28: Practical application of divergent and convergent thinking
00:20:07: The importance of physicality in divergent thinking
00:21:04: Client reactions and involvement
00:22:05: External vs. internal transformation
00:24:08: The leadership journey
00:28:15: Keeping motivation through project management
00:30:29: Importance of the "why"
00:32:28: Client-led curiosity and project outcomes
00:35:16: Introduction to convergent and divergent thinking
00:35:44: Budget constraints and project redesign
00:36:12: Achieving outstanding outcomes through challenging norms
00:37:00: Leadership as a lonely journey
00:38:09: The concept of aeration chambers in business
00:39:04: Importance of key performance indicators (KPIs)
00:40:07: The Value of external agencies in providing fresh perspectives
00:42:25: B2B marketing evolving to human-to-human marketing
00:45:02: The reality of brand being lived out through experience
00:46:00: The sociology within corporate structures
00:47:01: Summary and key takeaways on leadership and innovation
00:52:00: The importance of understanding your customer
00:53:02: Final thoughts on leadership and an item metaphor
00:53:32: Introduction to triple bottom line
00:54:09: Involvement in rewilding projects
00:55:15: Closing remarks and further resources
