Feel like you’re running a circus, not a workplace?
Leadership is hard, and when you have many different personalities under one roof, it’s not hard to see why the pressure builds and you start questioning whether you’re really cut out for leadership. Leadership isn’t about titles or corner offices. It’s about creating stability, trust, and a sense of purpose for the people who look […]
How push backs are like a dodgy Wi-Fi signal
It’s true! Even though they’re frustrating and unproductive, ultimately push backs, are just like a dodgy Wi-Fi signal – an attempt to connect. As leaders, staff pushing back is par for the course, but did you know that there are three kinds of push backs? I wonder how many you’re getting … but I’m also […]
The Poached Egg Effect – Why Your Instructions Go Sideways.
When I was about 10, I decided to cook myself a poached egg for breakfast before I got on my bike and headed for school. The only problem was – I had never cooked a poached egg. Mum had always made them for me. She was outside watering the garden, so I went out and […]
NICE vs KIND and why you need to know the difference.
We’ve all heard the phrase “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” but have you ever wondered if it’s doing you more harm than good? So, what is the difference between being nice and being kind, and why does knowing the difference matter? Well, they may seem like the same thing […]
You CAN call out poor behaviour, and still be everyone’s favourite boss.
Leadership is not about passing the buck, it’s about owning it – but how do you do this when the thought of dealing with difficult people has you heading for the broom closet? It’s an incredibly common thing – leaders avoiding the tough stuff, in the hope that it’ll go away – but what ACTUALLY […]
The Dinosaur Sending Your Leadership Into Extinction
Let’s get real! Leadership is a walk in the park. Jurassic Park. Blindfolded! But it’s not the stubborn rex-spect issuesaurus, the trust-erodactyls or the stagnatoraptors that are killing productivity, cohesion and retention … it’s the most dangerous dinosaur of all. The timidactyl – the pushover leader who avoids confrontation at all costs, creates boundaries out […]
How to escape impostor syndrome, without needing to believe in yourself first!
The first ever corporate training I did sent me straight into impostor syndrome’s gates of hell, actually no, on second thoughts, it was worse! At the end of this article, I’ll tell you why. But first, let me take you back to 2017. I was struggling with body image big time back then, in fact […]
When leaders fall into the approval trap
Read on to identify if you’re in it, the impact if you choose to stay in it and some simple, proven strategies to escape it. Leadership is a balancing act, and if you’re a leader who craves approval, you’ll be trying to balance people’s expectations, emotions, criticisms and performance, and I’m pretty sure you’re equal […]
A piece of cellophane or a piece of work. Which one are you?
How once cranky heckler nearly ruined a family outing, and how one cool, calm collected dad decided to handle it differently. A few weeks ago, a lovely bloke named Brett was taking his young daughter out for a bit of an adventure to see the amazing lights of the Aurora Australis that made a surprise […]
Nice Guys Can Lead Too: Mastering Assertiveness Without Sacrificing Empathy
Meet Jason – a leader who shared he’d “find swimming with sharks less stressful than taking his chances with a belligerent employee”. Are you familiar with the stereotype of the leader who is “too nice”? Maybe it’s something you can relate to a little more than you’d like to. If you can, you’ll be […]