Lead at Speed:How to Accelerate Purposefully

Success isn’t (just) about working hard; it’s (also) about working smart. It’s about bringing clarity, efficiency, and purpose to your efforts. But how do you build and sustain focused momentum without burning out? In particular, how can organizational leaders drive change and set the right pace, rather than falling into reaction mode, especially as things get busy? 

True leadership at speed is about control, intention, and the courage to drive forward with clarity, purpose, and direction in an ever-accelerating world. It’s the ability to create high-performing teams that can move fast while staying aligned and grounded in a shared purpose. 

In this episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast by BIP Ventures, Sophie Devonshire from The Marketing Society shares how leaders can succeed in a fast-paced environment by sustaining a high-functioning team of individuals.  

This is an episode for anyone who wants to grow up without slowing up.  

Timestamps:  

• [02:06] Sophie's background and what she does in the leadership space 
• [04:54] The inspiration behind Sophie’s book Superfast: Lead at Speed 
• [10:21] How founders can lead effectively in a high-speed world 
• [17:41] How leaders can create velocity and move in the right direction  
• [19:54] How to build a successful team and business relationships 
• [24:26] Assessments and classic listening in building a high-functioning team  
• [28:35] Setting up structures and rituals to listen, connect, and build inside out    
• [30:47] What a super team looks like and what happens when we achieve that  
• [35:01] Sophie’s advice for founders looking to build velocity and accelerate their company  
• [37:22] How to connect with Sophie and get her book 

Points of Wisdom: 

• “There’s a shortcut and accelerator in learning from the stories of other people; it’s what the most curious and smart business leaders do.” [06:33] 

• “Whatever the size of your business, you need to slow down to build relationships in order to have the permission and the support to take risks and to move faster.” [20:59] 
• “It’s not strategy, it’s not finance, it’s not technology, that’s is the ultimate competitive advantage, it’s teamwork.” [30:53] 

Resources Mentioned: Superfast by Sophie Devonshire 

About Sophie Devonshire: 

Sophie Devonshire is the CEO of Marketing Society, which is a global network of marketing leaders. Sophie is an experienced business leader and entrepreneur who has experienced firsthand the thrill of starting up, scaling up, setting a pace, and building velocity. She is also the author of the best-selling, award-winning book Superfast: Lead At Speed, which was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year and reached #1 on Amazon. With a background spanning multinational corporations, high-growth startups, and leading agencies, she brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and commercial expertise to leadership.  

BIP Ventures 

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