Leadership, Performance, Productivity, Wellbeing
We’re heading into the final stage of this year, and it’s likely to be the toughest of the year. (Not to dishearten you, but I had it on the good advice of a 12 year old who explained to his father that this final school term was by far the longest and it was...
Leadership, Performance, Productivity, Wellbeing
I’ve been writing a lot about why we need to pay better attention to perfectionism, workload, stress and burnout and it’s not just to be good leaders and corporate citizens (although that would be enough!), it’s also to get better outcomes. Too much drive, too much...
Leadership, Perfectionism, Wellbeing
Perfectionism takes striving to a new level. It increases the chances of setting unattainable goals, never feeling good enough and not being able to switch off. It is much more strongly associated with chronic stress, burnout, and with a range of mental health...
Leadership, Perfectionism, Performance
It’s important to distinguish between striving for excellence, and striving for perfection. As Patrick Gaudreau and his colleagues show in their research, we tend to confound the two, as if striving of any kind is what it takes. It is not. Pursuing excellence means...
Leadership, Perfectionism, Wellbeing
While the pandemic is officially over, the ‘burnout epidemic’ shows no sign of slowing; reports of worker stress and burnout in 2023 continue to indicate high levels. While healthcare workers and teachers tend to have higher rates of burnout, and were even more...
Culture, Leadership, Motivation
Quite a few of my recent blogs have focused on the issue of confidence and how problematic certain ways of framing confidence are when it comes to leadership. In particular, how it skews the leadership pool and then backfires on us. For those of you asking yourself...
Coaching, Leadership, Motivation
Confidence is not one of the key personality characteristics required for leadership. And it is worse than irrelevant, too much confidence can end up in choices and actions that are dangerous to others. Confidence does affect who is chosen for a leadership role, but...
Coaching, Leadership, Motivation
While well-meaning, the idea that it is someone’s lack of confidence that is the reason they are not being promoted should be treated with incredulity. There are at least three reasons why the idea ought to be banned: Telling someone to increase their confidence...
Influence, Leadership, Motivation, Power
In my previous blog I wrote about the ways in which we underestimate the power we have, and therefore miss opportunities to both be more influential and be more satisfied with how we go about influencing others. In her book ‘You have more influence than you think’...
Influence, Leadership, Motivation, Power
Without getting caught up in the politics, there are a couple of huge issues in the public domain right now and observing how leaders use their power to influence others is fascinating viewing from the sidelines. Who has power, what kind, and how they use it, always...
Imposter Syndrome, Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Performance
In their recent discussion of the moveable feast that is working from home Jared Lynch and Bridget Carter glaringly spotlight the divergent ways that leaders choose to exercise their leadership and how they seek to shape organisational culture in these post-COVID...
Collaboration, Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Performance
In the discussion about whether or not to get everyone back to the office, the key focal point ought to be people’s engagement. Having meaningful conversations is more important to people’s sense of engagement than whether they are virtual or face-to-face. Obviously...
Culture, Imposter Syndrome, Inclusion, Leadership
Our preoccupation with impostor syndrome is giving rise to a strange paradox. As Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Emma Vehviläinen eloquently point out in their recent Fast Company article, highly competent people who experience imposter feelings may underperform when...
Culture, Imposter Syndrome, Inclusion, Leadership
In an earlier blog I extolled the virtues of helping women to fit and feel valued, identifying eight ways that organisations could stop the prevalent under-estimating of women’s talent and capability for leadership and non-traditional roles. The question of fit and...
Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Wellbeing
One of the most important aspects of leaving is doing it with dignity, whether it’s voluntary or involuntary. In his recent article Professor John A. Quelch provided a terrific set of tips for resigning and leaving your organisation. As he cautions, no matter how...
Coaching, Inclusion, Leadership, Performance
If women are more likely to be under-estimated why would they think they are frauds? This question continues to puzzle me. Imposter syndrome continues despite the reality that in many organisations women’s talents and skills are more likely to be under, rather than...
Coaching, Leadership, Motivation, Wellbeing
Recognition is one of a quartet of ways in which leaders can show their teams that they care. Purpose, inspiration and hope are the other three. Appreciation is an important part of showing you care because it lets people know they are valued. As Lisa Lahey and Robert...
Coaching, Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Motivation
Just by showing up in your work relationships with a caring and compassionate mindset, and devoting time to building relationships with your team, you’ll make a big difference to them. Just doing that will inspire them. I’m in strong agreement with – and...
Culture, Leadership, Motivation
In Groysberg’s and Abrahams’ model of motivation, belonging is met by: Making employees feel part of the team Being people-oriented Caring about people on a personal level There’s still a debate going on about whether hybrid work supports or interferes with...
Collaboration, Job Satisfaction, Leadership, Motivation
Keeping people motivated, and keeping your motivated people on your team, can be helped along with a good understanding of just what motivation is, and how you affect it. Keeping yourself motivated and understanding what can help you to manage/increase your motivation...