Michael trained as a teacher and worked in schools in Britain and Zimbabwe for many years before working at the National Union for Teachers. In 1997, he joined the UK Government to become the Chief Adviser on School Standards.

In 2001, Michael founded the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit in No 10 - the first of its kind in the world and something which has been since replicated across the globe. Headed by Michael, the team had the responsibility for ensuring delivery of the government's main domestic policy priorities including health, education, crime reduction, criminal justice, transport and immigration.

The sustained focus on delivery from the heart of government and the processes that were developed as a result, were seen as a significant innovation in government and of interest to numerous other countries and global institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. In 2005, he was knighted for his services to improving government.

Michael was a Partner at McKinsey & Company and Head of McKinsey's global education practice. He is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter. Before joining government he was a professor at the Institute of Education at the University of London.

As Chief Education Advisor at Pearson, Michael led a worldwide programme of efficacy and research, playing a particular role in Pearson's strategy for education in the poorest sectors of the world, particularly in fast-growing developing economies.

Michael is the founder of Delivery Associates. Under his leadership, Delivery Associates has worked with governments and social impact organisations all over the world to turn ambitious goals into everyday reality for people. This has included the governments of Ethiopia, Canada, New South Wales in Australia, Punjab in Pakistan and Peru.

Michael stood down as Chair of Delivery Associates in April 2024 as part of a planned transition. As the founder, he continues to support the senior team through counsel and mentoring on a pro bono basis.

From 2017-2020, Michael was the first Chair of the Office for Students. The independent body was set up to regulate the higher education sector in England and promote competition and choice for students. Announcing the appointment, the Education Secretary at the time, Justine Greening, described Michael as "a globally respected figure both in the sector and in government with an impressive record in leading and supporting public sector delivery".

Michael wrote his first book Instruction to Deliver: Fighting to Reform Britain’s Public Services in 2008 and has since has published several books and leading publications including How to Run a Government: So that Citizens Benefit and Taxpayers Don’t go Crazy.

His latest book, Accomplishment: How to Achieve Ambitious and Challenging Things , identifies the pattern of accomplishment across many fields including sport, business and science as well as government. It has been described by Matthew Syed as “an excellent analysis”.

Michael has been a distinguished visiting scholar at Harvard School of Public Health and holds honorary doctorates from The University of Exeter, The University of Wales and The University of Warwick.

He is also currently Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Chair of Somerset County Cricket Club and a member of the Football Association’s Technical Advisory Board.