Blogs
Being a game changer is not easy
One of the most difficult consequences of being a “Game Changer” is that not everyone is going to like you! Upon reading this next paragraph in a recent blog it certainly resonated with me: “Difference makers make change. The majority of people don’t like the change....
What is true commercial collaboration?
This interesting question comes up quite regularly in our leadership programs and for many emerging leaders they concludethey've never experienced it. Far too many leaders settle for compromise. They do this because they enter the conversation expecting to do some...
Generation What Now?
Reading an article in SMH recently entitled "Generation what now?" got me thinking about our Corporate Social Responsibility here in Australia. We readily come out and voice our disgust at the way workers are treated in countries like Bangladesh and yet it is quite OK...
I’m Not Emotional
I increasingly find it interesting the number of leaders who feel it very important to tell me that they are NOT emotional - that I just don't get it - I am not an emotional person, Mandy. It is said like there is something really wrong with being emotional -...
Trust and Team Performance
Trust is at the very essence of team performance and yet in my experience it is not addressed with enough discipline andrigour. To work with your colleagues and for your boss there needs to be complete trust for you to bring out your best. If you are concerned about...
Mourning is a serious stage of team development
For those of us who work with clients or work in project teams then this is a serious stage of team development that we need to recognise and have tools at our disposal to resiliently bounce back from. After a period of high performance, achieving the desired...
Imagine
Watching a movie on the way back from NZ the main character could go back in time and experience his days with a greater focus and intensity. He eventually got to a space in his life where he didn't need to use his special power to go back and have his day over to...
Redefining the meaning of justice
Listening to Mary Jerram present at TEDx Sydney 2014 was inspiring as she challenged us to continue searching for moresophisticated ways to evoke justice in society. She retired from the role of the State Coroner so brought an incredibly insightful point of view and...
Experiencing failure is critical
Interesting to hear Marcus Zusack, author of The Book Thief, talk about the importance of failure. He claimed in TEDx Sydney 2014 that "every success I've had has come wrapped in a gift box of failure." He challenged us to see that failure can be our friend - thinking...
Find serenity in nature
Serenity is important for leaders. Our emotions run high and timelines and workloads put us into stressful moods and situations. So it is important to take time out and enjoy the serenity of nature. Breathe in the fresh air and listen to the "quiet" - rushing river...
Do you think conflict is a good thing?
I was reflecting on a question asked in an HBR Linked In discussion and thought I would share it with you as it is something dear and close to my heart – do you think conflict is a good thing? I can honestly say I grew up wanting to keep the peace – seeing my mother...
Ambition is not a dirty word
Fascinating how so many people don't want to "own" ambition - especially women. In her book "Lean In" Sheryl Sandberg claims that "professional ambition is expected of men but is optional - or worse, sometimes even a negative - for women". This has definitely been my...
Supporting and Rescuing Victims is Destructive
Facilitating development initiatives over the last few weeks we have explored the destructive nature of the Karpman Drama Triangle - a destructive three way explosion of destructive emotions. Anger, sadness and fear collide and result in destructive conversations and...
Differentiate good stress from bad stress
It is important to differentiate the two - because bad stress causes sleeplessness, irritation and at its worst anxiety. Good stress heightens engagement and energy and brings about heightened exertion. Once you experience both it is very easy to know the difference...
Facilitate others thinking
Critical for a leader's effectiveness is the ability to facilitate others' thinking rather than telling and controlling. When leaders facilitate others' thinking they enable the personal growth of others and engender feelings of significance in these same people....
Refresh your Soul
Over the last few months I have attended three graduation/ celebration events - two for my gorgeous eldest daughter and the other for a wonderful young woman I have mentored. What brilliant evenings and how incredibly refreshing for my soul to hear and see young...
Defensive responses indicate that people feel threatened
It is always worth remembering that when you are on the receiving end of a defensive response it probably means the person delivering this kind of response is feeling threatened. By being cognisant of this you receive their response with greater empathy and frame your...
Strategic thinking demands strategic action
At the very essence of strategic thinking is change and focus and this is followed by a need for decisions and action. In my experience these links are not being made strongly enough and executed with the right level of discipline. Too many leaders march off to their...
Enhance your strategic thinking
Lateral thinking enhances strategic thinking – and you can build this capability; it is not something that is limited to a few “creative thinkers”. Edward De Bono discovered the term ‘lateral thinking’ and has spent years educating us about the importance of thinking...