Strategy & Leadership
Executive Traction Labs
One day that shapes the next six months. A bespoke, one-to-one executive intensive built on deep stakeholder feedback, always paired with embed coaching to turn the clarity into change.
Why you'd want this
Most senior leaders want more than a 360. A Traction Lab sets stakeholder feedback inside a full day of structured reflection, challenge and planning, then monthly coaching that embeds it.
At executive level, individual, team and organisational success are the same thing
Whether a leader is stepping into something bigger, holding more than before, or wants to be deliberate about the next six months, the pressure is the same. Build new stakeholder relationships amongst competing demands, balance the tactical with the strategic, and lead a team through a shifting landscape.
Stepping back to discern what is working and what is not is the highest-leverage thing a senior leader can do. Almost nobody makes the time. The Lab does.
What we explore together
Tailored to the leader, anchored in strategy.
- Leadership stance and presence, and how it lands.
- Stakeholder relationships. Who matters, and where friction sits.
- Strategic priorities and role clarity.
- Talent alignment, aligning people to purpose and strategy.
- Adaptability and resilience under sustained pressure.
- Where to focus, and what to release.
Where we support
Five stages, entirely customised for each leader
- Understand. We review your strategy, structure and leadership expectations to find where impact sits.
- Explore. Confidential interviews with three to five critical stakeholders. Peers, reports, chair or chief executive.
- Design. We connect strategy to that feedback and design a bespoke Lab. Feedback is the spine of the day.
- Lab. A full day, one to one, in person. Immersive and confidential, with insights captured live.
- Coach. Monthly embed coaching that drives accountability and locks the roadmap into how the leader leads.
What to expect
- Lead time, four to six weeks. From confirmation to Lab day, the typical runway needed for interviews and bespoke design.
- Lab day, Fridays. In person, one leader at a time. Around six hours, plus short pre-lab reflections.
- Stakeholder voice, three to five interviews. Confidential and themed, never attributed. Around thirty to forty minutes each.
- Embed coaching, six sessions. Typically monthly, in person or online.
Who leads it
Every Traction Lab is designed and led by Sally Schmall, Five's Head of Executive Leadership Development. Sally has more than 25 years of international experience in HR leadership and executive development. Her coaching presence is calm yet incisive, creating real shift through structured reflection and evidence-based development.
Embed coaching following the Lab is delivered by Sally and Nick Mackeson-Smith, Five's Founder and Chief Curiosity Officer.
From individual to team
Where we run Labs across a whole leadership group, we can add a bespoke Executive Team Workshop afterwards, building on what surfaced individually to create a shared view of the future, agreed ways of working and a cross-functional approach to priorities. Those insights then feed back into each leader's coaching, bringing the experience full circle.
How it will benefit you
What the leader leaves with
- A stakeholder and talent engagement plan.
- A six-month strategic roadmap, in their own words.
What we ask of you
- Strategy artefacts, and stakeholder diaries booked early.
- Trust in the confidentiality of the experience. Themes are shared, verbatims never are.
Who to talk to at Five
"Working with Sally over the past 18 months has been instrumental in shaping both my leadership and the performance of a new executive team. Her strategically focused approach to leadership development and team alignment has helped us build a cohesive, high-performing leadership group capable of navigating strong personalities and complex business challenges. Sally has consistently brought insight, structure, and a deep understanding of executive dynamics. She has also served as a trusted thought partner, helping me navigate the complexity and visibility that comes with leading a community-owned bank. Her impact has been both tangible and enduring, and to top it off she is warm, engaging and enjoyable to work with. I can't recommend her enough."
Kerry Boielle, Chief Executive, TSB Bank
"Such an impactful day Sally Schmall! Thank you so much for your challenge and insights. You've certainly given me much to reflect on as well as some concrete actions which will lift my game immediately! Even if you're pretty comfortable with leadership there is always room for improvement and often much your unconscious bias makes you overlook. I'd unreservedly recommend Sally to everyone in my network and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with her going forward. Thanks Kiwibank for such a positive Executive on-boarding experience!"
Paul Littlefair, CDTO, Kiwibank
"Thank you, Sally Schmall, for such an incredible week spent with our leaders. It's not often that leaders get to spend an entire day focusing on themselves with expert guidance, probing questions and a clear plan to enhance effectiveness. I'm also incredibly proud that Getinge ANZ has been able to make this investment in our senior team."
Kartik Natarajan, ANZ Managing Director, Getinge
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