Situational Background

Mike Cannon-Brookes, Atlassian co-founder and co-CEO, is a candid, mission-driven builder who mixes ambition with humour and humility. He trusts teams, uses writing to align, and speaks plainly about misses and principles. Cannon-Brookes champions open collaboration and long-term stewardship. Distinctive for transparent conviction, he shows how candour, trust, and purpose mobilise talent in any knowledge organisation.

Practical Leadership Principles

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1) Openness that earns trust.

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Share context, not spin.

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Behaviours to model:

• Publish decision memos and FAQs.
• Track prior promises and score yourself.
• Thank public critics who improved outcomes.

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2) Empowered teams, clear guardrails.

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Autonomy with accountability.

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Behaviours to model:

• Set intent, not instructions.
• One owner per outcome.
• Review results, not theatrics.

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3) Purpose with humour.

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Serious work, human tone.

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Behaviours to model:

• Communicate plainly—even about hard stuff.
• Celebrate experiments and learning.
• Model humility in wins and losses.

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Call to action

Share one decision memo, empower an owner with clear intent, and post a candid update on a recent miss and what’s changing.

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