Situational Background

Emma Walmsley, GSK’s CEO since 2017, is recognised for clarity, resilience, and dignified steadiness under pressure—guiding a major simplification and spin-off before announcing a planned handover at the end of 2025. She communicates purpose plainly, pairs empathy with firmness, and keeps promises visible. Distinctive for calm, transparent leadership that builds belief over time. (Reuters)

Practical Leadership Principles

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1) Clarity in complexity.

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Explain the why, the choices, and the next step.

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Behaviours to model:

• Begin updates with “purpose, progress, problems.”
• Translate strategy into three plain-English outcomes.
• Remove one confusing policy each month.

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2) Courage with empathy.

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Make hard calls while respecting those affected.

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Behaviours to model:

• Hold listening sessions before and after big changes.
• Use “I will / I won’t” commitments.
• Recognise effort during transitions.

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3) Trust as a habit.

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Say what you’ll do, then do it.

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Behaviours to model:

• Publish a simple scorecard.
• Share imperfect metrics and improve them.
• Invite independent challenge and act on it.

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Call to action

Choose one message to simplify, one difficult conversation to hold, and one trust-building disclosure you’ll make this week.

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