Blog
Fearless Leaders face feedback (and it hurts!)
Last week I had the privilege of coaching David through a particularly challenging session. He’d just been given engagement survey results, including harsh feedback from both his executive peers and his broader team. He was hurt.
3 Reasons why smart leaders adopt curiosity
As kids, we start out being curious. Why do we stop?
Early on we learn that curiosity is not such a good thing… Well-meaning adults telling us things like ‘curiosity killed the cat’. We begin to believe that if we ask too many questions we are signaling that we don’t know the answers, that we need help. We worry we might look stupid – not as smart as everyone else.
5 ways to avoid the leadership booze bus
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians drink 613,333,333 bottles of wine each year*. Sometimes the label says ‘Consume responsibly’. We all have a sense of what ‘consume responsibly’ means, even if we do have the occasional lapses.
4 reasons why so many leaders avoid conflict
When I begin working with leadership teams, it’s not unusual that individual leaders will raise issues with me that they are reluctant to raise with each other. There’s a reluctance to open up challenging conversations across the leadership team.
Do you have the courage to let others fail?
Being a leader takes courage. Sometimes we look more courageous than we feel inside! It takes bravery to have tough conversations, to make and implement some of the decisions needed, to navigate a changing landscape and to continually put ourselves out there…
Are you helping too hard?
The leader who asks takes every opportunity to connect with people, build engagement and develop others. In the lunch room, by the water cooler, waiting for the lift… Growth opportunities are not limited to formal development conversations.
How effective are your meetings?
Have you ever been to a really bad meeting? Hmmm… I thought so! Was it bad because: The agenda was unclear? The wrong people were there? The conversation lacked focus and purpose? Communication flow was all one way? All of the above? Let’s be honest. How many...
Not another !@#$ Meeting
Have you ever been to a really bad meeting? Hmmm… I thought so! Was it bad because: The agenda was unclear? The wrong people were there? The conversation lacked focus and purpose? Communication flow was all one way? All of the above? Let’s be honest. How many...
How to stop telling and start asking
Voltaire had it right, when a long time ago he said “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” Questions trump directions. In fact, I would to so far as to say that the question mark is the golden child of punctuation!
Could you be as courageous as Leila?
Last Friday I had lunch with Leila, one of THE most courageous people I know. As she filled me in on her life in the 10 years since I saw her last, I was alternatively shocked, saddened, angered, and ultimately inspired.