What do organisations need to do to take more responsibility for burnout
Between being engaged and feeling vital, and feeling burnt-out, there’s a lot that can be done. But too much stress continues to beset high achievers and that affects many organisations. One of the factors that commonly tips workers into burnout is a sense of...
How to think about your thinking so that you make better decisions
Recently I’ve been doing a number of workshops with organisations that want to be fairer and more inclusive. That boils down to making better decisions in general, and in particular, better decisions about people. Good decisions that don’t bias people and at the same...
Why consistent kindness makes you a good leader
According to Boris Groysberg and Susan Seligson’s article, the manager’s toolkit needs to expand in ways not seen before. The most effective strategy for leaders might also be the most innately human: be kind. ‘Kindness is an investment that never...
Why do companies expect workers to do their best work in open plan offices
We know it doesn’t work. Yet that hasn’t stopped open plan offices from thriving. Even if people, and good ideas, don’t thrive in them. DavidBrooks in his The New York Times article ‘The Immortal Awfulness of Open Plan Workplaces’ points out the absurdity of...
Toxic cultures CAN change – with the right kind of leadership
In FlexAbility, I write about the continuing challenges of adopting flexible work practices: at the root of the challenges are leaders who are ambitious, competitive and overconfident. These are the leaders chasing continuous growth whatever the cost, seeking ever...
Forget ‘quiet quitting’ and focus on making sure workers have a good day’
Despite the dizzying pace of innovation and digitization over the past couple of years, many senior business leaders say their digital strategy is outpaced by business demands. The need for digital solutions and innovations is already transforming how we work (and...
How to make sure that an organisation is the right fit for you
With the labour market in free-fall and organisations out-paying each other by ridiculous amounts, Elena decided to take a punt on finding an organisation and a boss with whom she felt a better sense of fit. It wasn’t that her current job was unfulfilling; she...
How career progress is not just about gaining skills, it’s also about giving up some
Recently there was some interesting research published from McKinsey based on workers in Germany, India, US and UK which points to the value of moving organisations, and moving relatively often if you want to gain the most in earnings. The authors claim that such...
How hiring for fit is likely to sabotage some of your best talent
As I looked around the boardroom table, I noticed once again the lack of diversity in the leaders assembled. It isn’t that those present are not talented: they are. It’s not that they’re not well-intentioned: they are. It’s just that affinity bias remains...
The core foundations that will help you manage your brilliant career
You’re time-poor, and interested in your progression, but how and when do you get the chance to manage your career and consciously, thoughtfully, develop the skills you believe you need for that brilliant future career? Or, you’re time-poor, and interested...
A simple values exercise can help you to overcome self doubt
Lately I’ve been discussing the need for a fresh look at ‘imposter phenomenon’ and how helpful it is. An alternative explanation for it is identity threat, feelings of threat and anxiety that are evoked when your demographic identity is in the minority – for example,...
How our over-reliance on certainty erodes the important power of doubt
…..and why we need to increase our comfort with reasonable doubt and modesty. Our fascination with Imposter Phenomenon (IP) seems to be part of our preoccupation with confidence as a critical component of leadership. That’s what makes it doubly challenging for...
To stop the burnout epidemic you need to cancel unproductive meetings
Do you know how many of your leaders are getting up at 4am in order to ‘get their work done’ before the day’s meeting frenzy begins? It’s likely to be more than you think. Or perhaps not – perhaps you’re also trying this tactic to get on top of your meeting overload?...
What an amazing masterclass in leadership by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
And how much we wish he did not have to give it. This speech, and all his other actions that I have seen, have all shown such moral courage. They are all about the higher ground. This appeal to the Russian people is deeply moving; it prioritises our shared humanity...
Having a clear sense of purpose bolsters resilience and wellbeing
The debate continues about whether or not, at least in Australia, the Great Resignation is a ‘thing’. Or whether it’s a ‘great realignment’, ‘great reshuffle’, or ‘great retention……. I reckon that coming out of two years of crisis, challenge and change, the one great...
The Key to Power
In my latest CEO magazine article, I talk about getting a better balance and a healthier relationship with power. Read the full article here. Book a call with me to find out more about how my Leadership Coaching can help you understand what people value, and to use...
To retain good people help them to see their purpose in organisational activities
A common purpose is one of the key drivers of high engagement so if you’re going to focus on improving engagement this is one area where it’s going to really pay you back. Work engagement is: the willingness to devote energy to work, feeling a sense of...
How to discover a more valuable relationship with power
Using your power to get more of what you value might lead to personal gain, but it’s the road to a poor leadership reputation. I’ve been reflecting on power recently – well, I guess I’ve been reflecting on it since I first took on a leadership role...
Why are we still overloaded with meetings when we know they don’t work
Smart people endure boring meetings. Why? Meetings are pretty useful for collaborative work, but they are rife with problems. Despite this, we have too many, suffer through boring ones, and need therapy after excruciating ones. We get caught too often in a groundhog...
Welcome
The global pandemic has increased the burdens on high achieving leaders, and my focus is on helping you to reset the way you work. I help leaders to challenge overwork, rediscover their purpose, and rebalance their life to beat chronic stress and burnout.
