My (mostly) weekly thoughts on leadership, high performance, wellbeing and more.
Have a read through, or you can see a complete index here
5 ways introverts can develop executive presence without the “ick” factor
Are you an introvert whose skin crawls at the idea of “executive presence”?
This week’s article is for you!
What is executive presence and why does it matter?
Something I hear from leaders approaching their first executive leadership role is their desire to develop more “executive presence”. Quite often, it’s the primary goal in our coaching brief.
So what does “executive presence” even mean, and why does it matter?
Be consistent – sometimes. Wait, what?
I had an interesting discussion with a client today around the value of being consistent as a leader. It’s great until it’s not… here’s why.
Look after your life outside work
A healthy work-life balance is not a nice to have. It is vital. Remember, success is not solely defined by professional achievements but also by leading a fulfilling and balanced life, and each supports the other.
3 Tips to Feel More Ease in Your Day
When you experience more ease in your day, it’s not just pleasant. You will be more creative and productive, and probably a lot nicer to be around. So, here are three strategies that can help you do just that.
Not just about the money: Unlocking a fulfilling encore career after retiring from professional services
As partners in professional services firms contemplate retiring from the firm, it's crucial to consider more than just financial aspects.
Here’s some things to think about as you move into the next phase of your career and life
6 simple tips for challenging others in meetings without starting a fight
Isn’t it great when someone poses a ridiculous idea in a meeting?! How do you challenge them without starting a fight?
Here are six simple tips for effectively challenging others in a meeting, fostering healthy debate and driving better outcomes.
Enough about me; what do you think of me?
I don’t love the term “personal brand” (I prefer reputation), but whatever you call it,
I want to share a process that can help you think it through in a structured way.
How to tell which tasks are high impact and which are just wasting your time
Spinning your wheels on low-impact tasks can leave you exhausted.
Here’s some thoughts on how to identify the work that will get you moving…
Under the pump? 5 ways to make more time for strategic thinking
How much of your week is spent on strategic thinking?
It can be hard to carve out the time and mental space, but it’s essential. Here’s 5 tips to help.
New team dramas? Some thoughts on settling the system
As a leader, you know that building a strong team is crucial for success.
Systems and constellations theories provide some good insights to help take your team through the tricky “storming” phase and into high performance.
Can't understand why things aren't working? Maybe it's you
We all have blind spots. But as a leader, lack of self-awareness can have significant negative impacts on your organisation.
5 ways to keep your cool when someone is angry at you
Sometimes pushing back can be particularly challenging when a stakeholder is angry and/or powerful. It requires a delicate balance between maintaining the relationship and respecting your own limits. Here are 5 strategies that you can use to push back effectively in these difficult situations.
Out of control? How to reframe your relationship with time when the day runs amok
Do you ever feel like the day has a mind of its own, slipping out of your grasp and leaving you feeling frazzled and unproductive? Because I never have.
Kidding, of course! Probably all of us have experienced the frustration of lost control over our day.
But what if we shifted our perspective and realised that it's not about how we tame the day, but rather about how we relate to it?
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