Andrew Stratton’s Simple Secrets for Better Leadership and Stronger Teams

At The Executive Outlook, we love featuring leaders who share simple, real-world lessons anyone can understand and apply. One of our favorite conversations recently was with Andrew Stratton, a thoughtful leader who brings clarity, trust, and teamwork to the center of everything he does.

From his early days at IRE to his current role leading teams in Dubai, Andrew’s journey is full of practical ideas for building strong teams and helping people do their best work. Let’s dive into some of the key lessons he shared.

From London to Dubai: Andrew’s Start at IRE

Andrew’s story begins in London, but his career soon took him to Dubai, where he joined a growing company called IRE. He wasn’t hired as a top executive or manager, he was the second employee, doing a little bit of everything.

This experience gave Andrew a unique understanding of how businesses grow from the ground up. It also taught him that leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about stepping up and helping where help is needed.

Lesson 1: Clarity Drives Progress

As IRE grew, Andrew noticed that being busy didn’t mean they were making meaningful progress. Things felt messy, and the team was working hard but not always achieving results.

So, Andrew introduced a simple but powerful habit:

Weekly meetings to track five important numbers on a whiteboard.

This small change created clarity for the whole team. Everyone could see what mattered most, stay focused, and understand how their work contributed to company success.

Andrew believes that when people know what really matters, they become more responsible, energetic, and creative — a powerful reminder that clarity drives performance.

Lesson 2: Great Leaders Coach, Not Command

In his early days as a leader, Andrew thought his job was to jump in and fix problems quickly. But over time, he realized that this approach made his team too dependent on him.

So, he switched to a coaching style. Instead of giving solutions right away, he started asking questions like:

• “What do you think is the best way forward?”

• “What’s blocking you?”

This helped his team build confidence and take ownership. Andrew says that true leadership is not about having all the answers — it’s about helping others become leaders too.

Lesson 3: Mindset Matters More Than Resumes

When we asked Andrew about hiring, his answer was simple and powerful:

“No matter what industry you’re in, you are a recruitment company first.”

Andrew looks for people with the right mindset — curiosity, responsibility, openness to feedback — rather than fancy resumes. He shared a story about one of his best hires: this person didn’t have a standout resume but asked great questions about teamwork, customer service, and success during the interview.

That person is now a leader at IRE.
✅ The takeaway: Hire for attitude, train for skills.

Lesson 4: Use Data to Create Ownership

Andrew also talked about the role of data and transparency in creating a strong company culture. At IRE, everyone from warehouse staff to top managers can see numbers tied to their work.

This helps people feel ownership and purpose. Whether it’s sales, quotes, or receivables, people know how their efforts contribute to the company’s big picture.

Andrew believes that when people can “see” their contribution, they feel more engaged and motivated to do their best.

Lesson 5: OKRs Help Align Goals But It Takes Time

IRE uses a system called OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to break company goals into smaller department and individual goals.

Andrew was honest about the challenges: their first two attempts at using OKRs didn’t work perfectly. But by the third time, people understood the system and could see its value.

The lesson here is that change takes time, and persistence matters. But when leaders explain why a new system is being introduced and involve people in the process, they gain support and buy-in.

Transparency Builds Trust

Andrew also makes sure IRE holds quarterly updates where they openly share how the business is performing, financially and otherwise. This builds trust and gives everyone a clear picture of where the company is headed.

Andrew summed it up perfectly:
✅ “Leadership is about creating clarity, building trust, and helping people feel safe and supported to do their best work.”

Key Takeaways for Every Leader

Andrew Stratton’s journey shows that leadership is not about complicated strategies. It’s about simple, thoughtful habits that help people feel confident and connected to their work.

Here are the top lessons from our conversation with Andrew:

• Clarity matters: Track what’s important and help teams stay focused.

• Coach your team: Help others find solutions instead of solving everything yourself.

• Hire for mindset: Skills can be taught, attitude cannot.

• Show the data: Help everyone understand how their work connects to company goals.

• Be patient with change: Good systems take time to adopt, but they’re worth it.

• Be transparent: Share business performance openly and build trust.

At The Executive Outlook, we’re proud to share stories like Andrew’s that offer simple lessons for leaders everywhere from CEOs to first-time managers.

Whether you’re building a business, growing a team, or just looking to improve your leadership style, Andrew’s insights are practical, human, and easy to apply.

Stay tuned for more inspiring leadership stories from around the world only at The Executive Outlook.

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