I’ve been an avid reader of fiction ever since my parents taught me how to sound out my very first words in my favourite childhood books. Forty-plus years later, I consider that habit to be not just one of the great joys in my life, but also one of the pillars of my leadership practice. […]
Why leaders need to read fiction Read More »
The old saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” gets trotted out all too often when someone is going through a hard time. I don’t think it’s particularly useful. It’s trite and can come across as completely lacking in empathy. I know that’s not necessarily how the speaker intends for it to be interpreted,
My mantra when life gets hard Read More »
The first time I heard the phrase “No is a complete sentence”, it blew my mind. All my life, I’d believed that if I said “No” to something, I had to provide a justification, and that my justification had to be absolutely water-tight. How wrong I was, and how much heartache that belief cost me!
The power of a clear “No” Read More »
Fears are a completely normal part of the human experience. Almost every human will feel fear regularly, from the time we are born, until the time we leave this Earth. In the right amount, and the right situation, the right kind of fear can help keep us safe. But the wrong kind, in the wrong
The two fears you need to know about Read More »
Which of your recent failures did decide on in advance? I know, you’re probably thinking, “Aren’t I meant to be planning for my successes, not my failures?” The short answer is, “No”! Read on to find out why you need to proactively plan your failures. The importance of planning for your failures If you don’t
Why you need to choose your failures Read More »
One of the most common thinking traps that we humans fall into is mistaking stability for certainty. I’ll bet you’re used to things being a particular way. The amount of traffic on your commute. What you do on the weekends. The type of tasks you do at work. How your morning coffee tastes. What’s it
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Empathy is wonderful, but what’s even more powerful is connecting with a fellow traveller. I learned that from talking to my cousin The picture by the title is a throwback to 2017 when I met up with my cousin Brigette who lives in The Netherlands. We were visiting the Wynand Fockink ‘Proeflokaal’ (tasting room) and
Why A Fellow Traveller is More Powerful Than Empathy Read More »
As we move into the festive season, it’s a perfect time to look for new ways to use your strengths to support your wellbeing, create enjoyable celebrations, and help your favourite people in the world use their strengths too. I’ve created a playbook of ideas for how you can use each of the 75 strengths
75 Ways To Use Your Strengths During The Festive Season Read More »
As Christmas and the New Year draw near, it’s a great time to choose your approach for the silly season. You don’t have to sit back and wait for things to happen to you – you can front-foot the challenges and opportunities of the festive season, to make it your best one yet. In this
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Back in my early 20s, I was given a piece of advice, and told that it works in every situation that humans face. I initially couldn’t (or rather, wouldn’t!) accept the idea that it could apply in every context. And I tried really hard to imagine a situation in which it wouldn’t work… but even
The Best and Wisest Piece of Advice I Ever Received Read More »
