Looking back on 2021, it feels both oddly long and also like it barely happened. There’s been some amazing highs, and terrible losses. Over this past year I’ve had the privilege to work with some extraordinary people and I can’t wait to do more of the same next year.

It’s easy to be motivated when things are going well or you’re doing something you love, but what do you do when you feel unmotivated? We’ve all been there at some point or another. Whether it’s because you didn’t get enough sleep, you have a bad case of Zoom fatigue, or something more substantial, it’s important to learn how to avoid letting your mood influence your productivity at work and develop strategies that allow you to get back on track once the “who cares” fog has lifted.

A couple of days ago, I was explaining what coaching is like to someone who has never experienced it before, and found that the first coaching model I was ever taught – the GROW model - is a great way to help explain it.

The Venn Diagram of “Skills you need to make partner” and “Skills you need to succeed as a partner” can be 2 quite separate circles. If you’re a relatively new partner, it’s likely that people leadership is now on your plate – and you may have had little or no guidance on what that entails.

What topics do you want me to write about?

This week, I’m interested in your feedback.

If you look at your relationship with work through the lens of the criteria for a high control group, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

If you, just hypothetically, sent off very sensitive contracts to the wrong people, what’s the worst that could happen?

Today I am sharing a simple tweak to a daily to-do list that can help you prioritise when you are feeling overwhelmed.

I use this when my “could do” list is extremely long, and I need some clarity about what I’m actually going to do on a particular day.

Imagine two circles. One represents you, one represents your role at work. How much overlap is healthy? Here’s an exercise to help you answer that question.

When a client is feeling stuck or stressed about an upcoming conversation, these 3 questions have often proved to be a real game changer.

Feeling angry and hard done by, while it may be perfectly justified, is a short-term tonic. You don’t have to like reality, but nothing changes in Should Town

Our family movie night got me thinking about making decisions in the face of uncertainty.

I would estimate that, oh, approximately 100% of people I have worked with lately are exhausted (a statistic of correlation, not causation, I trust!).

Lots of people grappling with overload and/or a job they find increasingly unlikeable are looking for a magical cure that will solve all their problems. I know how that feels – I did it too.

How fully do you trust your team? I am still hearing about many leaders who think that having people back in the office is the only way to “get the most out of them”. How might their teams be feeling? Perhaps resentful, disengaged, demotivated and unhappy?

We know power corrupts. This HBR article explains how to temper power with humility and a sense of interconnectedness. For those whose goal is to build confidence and power, the same advice can apply…. as illustrated in my latest glossy graphic. How does this resonate for you?

It’s obvious that you will get the most from people when they are able to perform at a high level ... but are you actively undermining their capacity by creating and perpetuating an always-on, distraction-rich culture? Here’s 7 practical ways to make it better.

When I was working as a junior lawyer, I vividly remember one of my colleagues staying back late into the evening to finish some work. He missed his first wedding anniversary dinner to do that. Why?

When you ask yourself something, your brain can’t help but try to answer it. While sometimes my response to lockdown is a swearword I won’t repeat here, lately the phrase “make the most of it” has also been coming to mind.

So your organisational or team culture is in a jam. As a leader, how are you seen – helper? Resource? Obstacle? Threat? … (gasp) Irrelevant? Having the courage to see what is, not just what you think should be, is a great place to start.