My (mostly) weekly thoughts on leadership, high performance, wellbeing and more.

Have a read through, or you can see a complete index here

Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Notes from Paris: 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.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Notes from Paris: Comfort Zones are Underrated

Learning and growth require stretch and discomfort AND rest and consolidation

In the zeitgeisty rush to get out of our comfort zones, don’t forget to head back there sometimes for a little R&R.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Notes from Paris: What actually builds trust

Being trusted as a leader takes more than good intent or credibility. Inside teams, trust is shaped by how you show up, what you prioritise, and what you are willing to say out loud, even when it feels uncomfortable.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Notes from Paris: Rest is not a reward

Most high performers think of rest as something they’ll get to after the work is done. But neuroscience shows that recovery isn’t the reward for performance; it’s the prerequisite.
When we’re under-recovered, the very parts of the brain that handle judgement, emotional regulation and perspective shut down. If you’re leading from a tired brain, you’re flying without the tools you need most.

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