This week I’ve been thinking about fear versus growth. We’ve had to take some pretty serious physical steps back into safety lately and I’ve been feeling like things had become smaller and more contained. In many ways, that’s true. And I’d been feeling that with each step back, growth was getting further away. On reflection, though, these steps into physical safety have actually taken courage.

I’m sure you could readily list the blind spots of multiple bosses you’ve worked for. It’s a little more uncomfortable to consider that your team could do the same thing about you.

To illuminate your leadership blind spots, you need to start with trust.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade - or so the saying goes.

But if life gives you lemons, and your eyes are really stinging from lemon juice, it’s ok to say it hurts. Real life is not all sunshine and platitudes can hold us back. 

Many people retire with a financial plan, a vague idea about a holiday, and not much else.

I’m interested in understanding how people from different lines of work, and of different ages and genders, are feeling about their retirement, and would love you to take 5 minutes to complete this survey.

Have you been surprised by positives during lockdown?

While it’s been extremely challenging, it’s introduced some things we are reluctant to let go of.

Effective boundary setting is so important for both wellbeing and productivity, but it’s something we frequently find so difficult.

When you say “yes” to something, what are you actually saying “no” to?

Saying nothing about what’s happening in the world right now feels like saying it doesn’t matter. And it does. A riot is the language of the unheard. And right now, we need to listen to each other.

Back in the olden days (mid-March), I wrote this post about how important it is to think beyond only finances when approaching retirement.  I didn’t publish it as the time, as events overtook us. Now, it applies equally powerfully for all of us facing big questions about who we are and what we do.

In all of our relationships, being truly seen is a deeply validating and enriching experience. To connect with someone, you must first see them.

As Brene Brown says, “never underestimate the power of being seen”.

As we find ourselves in unprecedented times, it’s tricky to make plans for ourselves and our businesses. This week I’m sharing three tips for managing this change process, and staying alert to the indicators that will allow you to broaden your planning radar.

Ever felt that you just need to let it all out? This week I share an article that addresses the seriousness of this pandemic, and makes a fun suggestion on how we just might deal with some of that built up ‘stuff’.

Creativity is often born out of boredom and there are many people currently struggling with the restrictions on our work and social activity. In this week’s blog, I talk about navigating this new terrain and allowing your boredom to run it’s course.

I’m sharing a couple of quick resources I found helpful this week. It’s important that we allow ourselves to feel all the things but not dwell. Try and get into the habit of swapping the negative state of mind for a positive one.

Now is the time for us to be particularly kind to ourselves. Do away with the pressure to be and do all the things, and find the pace and path that’s going to work for you right now.

Recently I asked you to share three practical things that have been helpful for you during this strange and challenging time. Some very clear themes came through - and I’m sharing them with you today.

Feeling stuck? I’m sharing three ideas that might help you find some calm in the storm. Making important decisions can be even harder during challenging times (think: brain fog). These just might help…

This COVID-19 pandemic places us in very challenging times, doesn’t it? Rather than sharing my upbeat little missive today, I’d like instead to hear from you. Let’s collaborate - and I’ll share our collective thoughts in another post.

Are you chasing priorities that aren’t really your own?

When we are strongly connected to our own core purpose on a deep level, decision making is easy.

Being true to your own values and identity and living and working alongside people with different values and identities is important and actually helps organisations deliver better outcomes. However sometimes you find yourself in a position where refusing to adapt, and walking away, is the right call. This week I explore that further…

When someone leaves a system – a role, an organisation, a social group – the impact on both them and the system they leave behind can be profound. When not handled well, it can lead to serious dysfunction in the organisation as system attempts to restore balance. Here are my tips for handling retirement from professional services firms.