My (mostly) weekly thoughts on leadership, high performance, wellbeing and more.
Have a read through, or you can see a complete index here
Tips for staying well while travelling for work
I went to Perth and it got me thinking about work travel.
Here are some strategies that can help you balance your work and personal life while on the road
New job? Get your legs out from under the desk
The phrase "get your legs under the desk" is often used to describe the process of settling into a new job, but sometimes the best way to do that is to actually get your legs out from under the desk – both literally and metaphorically. Here’s 4 ways to do that.
Boredom, ChatGPT and me
When we're bored, it could be a sign that we're not being challenged or stimulated enough in our work – either in a major, career-defining way, or just that day or hour.
I was bored and here’s what I did.
Tips for making difficult decisions as a senior leader
Making difficult decisions as a leader is one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Here’s 5 steps to follow that can help.
How to set boundaries when your stakeholders won’t listen
Recently I ran a workshop for in-house lawyers and was asked for tips on how to assert healthy boundaries and push back on work demands when your stakeholders refuse to hear it. Here’s my take…
Three counterintuitive tips for dealing with overwhelm as a senior leader
Let’s freshen it up. Here are three counterintuitive tips for dealing with overwhelm that may challenge your assumptions and help you approach the never-ending to-do list in a new way
How can I be authentic and adaptable at the same time?
Some people might argue that authenticity and adaptability are mutually exclusive.
I would argue that the opposite is true.
Quieting your inner critic – dealing with imposter syndrome
Most of us are familiar with that nagging voice in the back of our heads that tells us we're not good enough, we don't belong, or that we're going to be found out as frauds.
But the good news is, impostor syndrome can be eased. Here are a few tips that have helped me and might help you too.
Seven tips for a smoother transition back to reality after a break
As I write this it’s my first day back at work after a summer of sunshine, relaxation, and not being in a hurry. The shift back into work mode can be rough but don't worry, I've got you covered with seven tried and true tips for a smoother transition back to reality after a summer break. And let's be honest, I’m talking to myself here…
Don’t tell me: why some leaders see learning as a threat
There are a few perfectly understandable and very human reasons why leaders might view learning opportunities as threats, but you stand to gain enormously by overcoming that. Here’s why.
Why it’s not always good news when you get on easily with your team
It can be challenging to lead people who have very different personalities from your own, but it's not impossible. Easy rapport is great at a cocktail party but not necessarily at work.
How much time should your stakeholders get?
Do those in your working world who are loudest and most demanding get most of your time, energy and attention?
Use this grid to help you decide what will work better…
The Joy of Subtracting
Overwhelmed clients often ask me for tips and tricks to help them handle the demands on their time and energy.
Stop to think about it, though, and that’s bonkers. How is adding more going to help with overwhelm?
A bit of a rant about toxic positivity
I really get irked by the toxically positive idea that any negative emotion you might have is a limitation holding you back. Eradicate the limiting belief and success will be yours, so this pervasive trope would have you believe! No.
Can your team tell you what they really think?
I once heard a leader describe her team as being “wrong” for saying they didn’t feel safe to offer her feedback, thereby proving that it was not, in fact, safe for her team to offer her feedback.
How to escape from meetings overload
“In nearly all of the dozens of workplaces we’ve studied, helped, or worked at, we’ve found that meetings in particular create wasteful and soul-crushing friction”…
A new Harvard Business Review piece reports research finding what we all already know to be true – and importantly, offers some solutions.
8 Habit Traps to Avoid
Building a new habit is much easier when you avoid the common pitfalls that can derail your efforts.
Avoid these 8 mistakes when trying to develop new habits.
The best time to take a break
When you feel like you can’t stop working, you’re in fight-or-flight mode. Here’s what to do…
Delegating: top tips
Delegation is an important component of most leadership roles. The trouble is leaders often have a difficult time letting go of responsibilities. Here’s some tips on when and how to delegate.
Lowering the bar
This week I'm sharing a blog from before-times (February 2020), on the topic of lowering the bar. It's an oldie, but still very relevant.