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In the Press

Articles, Features & Expert Commentary

41+ published articles across AP News, NewsBreak, Barchart, Medium, Training Journal, Singapore Business Review and leading industry outlets.

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USA News
23 June 2026

Why Smart Organizations Still Feel Stuck

USA News explores why even high-calibre organisations with talented people consistently underperform — and why intelligence alone doesn't guarantee execution. Jimmy Burroughes cuts to the root cause: it's not a people problem, it's a friction problem, where misaligned structures, unclear priorities and poor communication quietly drain performance at every level. For MDs and GMs frustrated by sluggish teams despite strong hiring, this piece offers a sharp diagnostic lens on what's actually holding their organisation back.

F/
23 June 2026

JBL High Performance Expands Into AI-Augmented Performance Tools as Friction Removal Methodology Gains Global Traction

JBL High Performance is expanding its proven Friction Removal methodology into AI-augmented performance tools, signalling a significant evolution in how senior leaders can diagnose and eliminate the organisational drag that holds teams back. The move reflects growing global demand for founder Jimmy Burroughes' approach, which helps MDs and GMs achieve measurable performance gains by tackling the hidden friction points most leadership programmes overlook. For senior leaders navigating increasingly complex operating environments, this development positions JBL at the intersection of human leadership expertise and practical AI application.

CEO Times
22 June 2026

JBL High Performance Challenges Leadership Development's Biggest Assumption

CEO Times features Jimmy Burroughes challenging one of leadership development's most entrenched assumptions — that investing in individual leaders is enough to drive organisational performance. Burroughes argues that most development programmes fail because they focus on the person rather than the system around them, leaving senior leaders better equipped but still operating inside the same friction-filled environment. It's a sharp provocation for any MD or GM questioning why their leadership spend isn't moving the needle.

Training Journal
29 April 2026

The risk radar that stops culture biting back

Jimmy Burroughes features in Training Journal making the case that culture isn't a soft issue — it's a measurable business risk that senior leaders ignore at their peril. The piece introduces a practical 'risk radar' framework for spotting cultural warning signs before they erode performance, retention or reputation. It's essential reading for MDs and GMs who want to get ahead of organisational friction rather than firefight the fallout.

Training Journal
1 January 2026

When leaders run on empty, strategy turns into firefighting

Training Journal features Jimmy Burroughes on one of the most costly and overlooked problems in senior leadership: when exhausted leaders default to reactive firefighting instead of driving strategy forward. Jimmy argues that running on empty isn't a personal failing — it's a structural signal that organisational friction has gone unaddressed for too long, quietly eroding the decision-making capacity teams depend on. For MDs and GMs feeling the pressure, this is a sharp reminder that sustainable high performance starts with clearing the conditions that drain leaders in the first place.

SB
1 January 2026

Singapore's mid-market leadership problem nobody's talking about

Singapore Business Review features Jimmy Burroughes tackling a leadership gap that's quietly costing mid-market businesses their competitive edge — the absence of structured leadership development between the C-suite and frontline managers. Burroughes argues that mid-market MDs and GMs are often promoted for technical excellence, then left to figure out people leadership without the tools or frameworks to scale performance across their teams. For senior leaders operating in Singapore's fast-moving commercial environment, this piece is a sharp reminder that untreated leadership friction doesn't stay hidden — it shows up in attrition, missed targets and organisational drag.

All Published Articles (41)

USA News
USA News23 June 2026

Why Smart Organizations Still Feel Stuck

USA News explores why even high-calibre organisations with talented people consistently underperform — and why intelligence alone doesn't guarantee execution. Jimmy Burroughes cuts to the root cause: it's not a people problem, it's a friction problem, where misaligned structures, unclear priorities and poor communication quietly drain performance at every level. For MDs and GMs frustrated by sluggish teams despite strong hiring, this piece offers a sharp diagnostic lens on what's actually holding their organisation back.

F/
FinancialContent / MarketersMedia23 June 2026

JBL High Performance Expands Into AI-Augmented Performance Tools as Friction Removal Methodology Gains Global Traction

JBL High Performance is expanding its proven Friction Removal methodology into AI-augmented performance tools, signalling a significant evolution in how senior leaders can diagnose and eliminate the organisational drag that holds teams back. The move reflects growing global demand for founder Jimmy Burroughes' approach, which helps MDs and GMs achieve measurable performance gains by tackling the hidden friction points most leadership programmes overlook. For senior leaders navigating increasingly complex operating environments, this development positions JBL at the intersection of human leadership expertise and practical AI application.

CEO Times
CEO Times22 June 2026

JBL High Performance Challenges Leadership Development's Biggest Assumption

CEO Times features Jimmy Burroughes challenging one of leadership development's most entrenched assumptions — that investing in individual leaders is enough to drive organisational performance. Burroughes argues that most development programmes fail because they focus on the person rather than the system around them, leaving senior leaders better equipped but still operating inside the same friction-filled environment. It's a sharp provocation for any MD or GM questioning why their leadership spend isn't moving the needle.

Medium
Medium10 June 2026

Escalations Are Not a People Problem. They Are a System Design Problem.

In this Medium article, Jimmy Burroughes challenges the default assumption that escalations signal weak people or poor attitudes — arguing instead that they reveal broken system design. When teams are constantly firefighting decisions upward, the real culprit is unclear ownership, misaligned authority, or processes that were never built to handle real-world complexity. For MDs and GMs drowning in operational noise, this is a sharp reframe: fix the system, and the escalations stop.

Medium
Medium27 May 2026

The Trust Check: Why Silence is the Loudest Warning Sign

In this Medium article, Jimmy Burroughes makes the case that silence in teams isn't a sign of harmony — it's often the earliest indicator that trust has broken down. He argues that when people stop raising problems, pushing back or asking difficult questions, leaders are already behind the curve on a cultural issue that will eventually cost them performance. It's a sharp, practical read for any senior leader who mistakes a quiet room for a healthy one.

Medium
Medium20 May 2026

What a Lack of Trust Actually Looks Like in Your Management Layer

In this Medium article, Jimmy Burroughes cuts through the noise to expose what a trust deficit in your management layer actually looks like in practice — not as an abstract culture problem, but as a pattern of observable behaviours that quietly erode team performance. From decision paralysis and over-reporting to managers who can't delegate without hovering, Burroughes gives senior leaders a clear diagnostic lens to spot where trust has broken down before it becomes a retention or delivery crisis. It's a practical read for any MD or GM who suspects their middle layer is the bottleneck but hasn't yet been able to name why.

Medium
Medium13 May 2026

The Confidence Gap You Do Not Want to Admit

In this candid piece for Medium, Jimmy Burroughes tackles the confidence gap that many senior leaders privately wrestle with but rarely acknowledge — the uncomfortable distance between how capable you appear and how capable you actually feel. Burroughes argues that unaddressed self-doubt at the top doesn't stay contained; it leaks into decision-making, team culture, and organisational performance in ways leaders often can't see. It's a sharp, honest read for any MD or GM who suspects their inner narrative might be the friction point holding their team back.

Medium
Medium6 May 2026

The Delegation Gap You Are Not Talking About

Jimmy Burroughes tackles one of the most overlooked bottlenecks in senior leadership — the gap between what leaders think they've delegated and what their teams actually feel empowered to own. Writing for Medium, he argues that most delegation failures aren't about capability or trust, but about the unspoken assumptions leaders carry that quietly undermine accountability and slow execution. It's a sharp, practical read for any MD or GM who wonders why decisions keep landing back on their desk.

Medium
Medium29 April 2026

You Don't Find Time to Lead. You Decide To.

In this Medium article, Jimmy Burroughes challenges the common excuse that senior leaders are 'too busy to lead' — arguing that time for leadership isn't found, it's decided upon. Drawing on his work with MDs and GMs, Jimmy makes the case that reactive busyness is a choice masquerading as circumstance, and that real leadership requires deliberate prioritisation over constant firefighting. It's a sharp read for any senior leader who suspects their diary is running them, rather than the other way around.

Training Journal
Training Journal29 April 2026

The risk radar that stops culture biting back

Jimmy Burroughes features in Training Journal making the case that culture isn't a soft issue — it's a measurable business risk that senior leaders ignore at their peril. The piece introduces a practical 'risk radar' framework for spotting cultural warning signs before they erode performance, retention or reputation. It's essential reading for MDs and GMs who want to get ahead of organisational friction rather than firefight the fallout.

Medium
Medium22 April 2026

The Most Uncomfortable Part of Leadership (That No One Warns You About)

Jimmy Burroughes tackles the leadership reality that most development programmes conveniently sidestep: the psychological discomfort of holding authority, making unpopular calls, and sitting with uncertainty — without anyone telling you it's supposed to feel this way. Writing for Medium, he argues that the discomfort isn't a sign you're doing it wrong; it's a sign you're doing it properly. A sharp, honest read for senior leaders who suspected they were alone in finding leadership harder than the job description suggested.

Medium
Medium16 April 2026

The AI Coaching Explosion: Why Most Platforms Are Built to Fail

Jimmy Burroughes cuts through the hype around AI coaching platforms, arguing that most are built on flawed foundations that prioritise scale and convenience over the depth of human connection that real leadership development demands. The piece challenges senior leaders to scrutinise what these tools actually deliver versus what they promise — and why the absence of genuine accountability, challenge, and context makes many AI coaching solutions little more than expensive chatbots. For MDs and GMs under pressure to develop talent faster and cheaper, this is a timely reality check before committing budget to the wrong solution.

Medium
Medium1 February 2026

Why Gen Z Is Saying "No Thanks" To Leadership

Jimmy Burroughes tackles one of the most pressing talent challenges facing senior leaders today: why Gen Z professionals are actively rejecting the path to leadership — and what that signals about the state of modern management. The piece explores how traditional leadership models, with their bureaucracy, stress and lack of autonomy, are failing to attract the next generation of high performers. For MDs and GMs, this is a wake-up call — if leadership roles aren't worth wanting, the pipeline dries up and organisational performance suffers.

Training Journal
Training Journal1 January 2026

When leaders run on empty, strategy turns into firefighting

Training Journal features Jimmy Burroughes on one of the most costly and overlooked problems in senior leadership: when exhausted leaders default to reactive firefighting instead of driving strategy forward. Jimmy argues that running on empty isn't a personal failing — it's a structural signal that organisational friction has gone unaddressed for too long, quietly eroding the decision-making capacity teams depend on. For MDs and GMs feeling the pressure, this is a sharp reminder that sustainable high performance starts with clearing the conditions that drain leaders in the first place.

SB
Singapore Business Review1 January 2026

Singapore's mid-market leadership problem nobody's talking about

Singapore Business Review features Jimmy Burroughes tackling a leadership gap that's quietly costing mid-market businesses their competitive edge — the absence of structured leadership development between the C-suite and frontline managers. Burroughes argues that mid-market MDs and GMs are often promoted for technical excellence, then left to figure out people leadership without the tools or frameworks to scale performance across their teams. For senior leaders operating in Singapore's fast-moving commercial environment, this piece is a sharp reminder that untreated leadership friction doesn't stay hidden — it shows up in attrition, missed targets and organisational drag.

Medium
Medium1 September 2025

How my frustration became a movement of 31,000+ people

In this Medium piece, Jimmy Burroughes traces the origin story behind JBL High Performance — revealing how personal frustration with poor leadership culture sparked a movement that has now reached over 31,000 people. It's a candid account of how one leader's decision to stop tolerating mediocrity became a platform for change, resonating with senior professionals who recognise the same friction in their own organisations. The article is a powerful reminder that the most impactful leadership movements are rarely planned — they're built on conviction.

Bend Like Bamboo
Bend Like Bamboo1 June 2025

How Jimmy Burroughes Helps Overwhelmed Leaders Remove Operational Friction

Bend Like Bamboo profiles Jimmy Burroughes and his practical approach to helping overwhelmed senior leaders identify and eliminate the operational friction that quietly drains team performance. The feature explores how Jimmy works with MDs and GMs to cut through the noise of day-to-day complexity, freeing leaders to focus on what actually moves the needle. It's a sharp read for any executive who suspects their organisation is working harder than it needs to — and wants a proven framework to fix it.

The Change Architects
The Change Architects1 June 2025

How to Come Back from Burnout with Jimmy Burroughes

In this candid interview with The Change Architects, Jimmy Burroughes draws on his own experience of burnout to explore what recovery really looks like for high-performing leaders — and why the warning signs are so easy to miss until it's too late. He cuts through the noise to offer practical, honest guidance on rebuilding energy, recalibrating priorities, and returning to leadership with greater self-awareness and resilience. For MDs and senior leaders operating under sustained pressure, this is a timely reminder that sustainable performance starts with the person at the top.

The Recognized Authority
The Recognized Authority1 June 2025

How Constant Online Accessibility is Burning You Out with Jimmy Burroughes

Jimmy Burroughes joins The Recognized Authority podcast to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing senior leaders today: the always-on culture that's quietly eroding performance and wellbeing. Drawing on his experience coaching MDs and senior leadership teams, Jimmy unpacks how constant digital accessibility creates hidden organisational friction — and why switching off isn't a weakness, it's a strategic necessity. A sharp, practical listen for any leader serious about sustaining high performance without burning out their best people.

Medium
Medium1 April 2025

The Hidden Cost of Being the Smartest Leader in the Room

Jimmy Burroughes tackles one of the most common — and costly — traps senior leaders fall into: believing that being the smartest person in the room is an asset rather than a liability. The article argues that leaders who default to having all the answers inadvertently suppress team thinking, erode psychological safety, and create dependency that quietly kills organisational performance. It's a sharp read for any MD or GM who suspects their own capability might be the ceiling their team is bumping up against.

About Jimmy Burroughes & JBL High Performance

Jimmy Burroughes is the founder of JBL High Performance, a leadership development firm that removes organisational friction so teams deliver measurably better results. A former British Army officer and General Manager, Jimmy created the Simplify to Amplify methodology.

JBL High Performance has transformed nearly 3,500 managers across 10+ countries. Jimmy publishes regularly in Training Journal, Singapore Business Review and Medium, and is available for expert commentary on leadership development, team performance and organisational change.

Media Enquiries

Jimmy Burroughes is available for interviews, expert commentary and thought leadership contributions.

Speaking & AppearancesAbout Jimmy