Blog

Elite athletes amaze me. Especially between the big events. All that work, all that training, all that discipline for the sake of a few seconds that on the day, can make all the difference in the world. Months of effort for minimal time that can give maximum impact. Incredible to be so disciplined for three seconds, until you know what that three … [Read more...]

When you tell your story in advance you can lead towards it and live into it. It's like you are first the author, then the central character of the best narrative you can think of. Joseph Campbell, the father of the modern story said, ";A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than themselves." The privilege of dreaming … [Read more...]

Sensemaking is about finding clarity so you can move forward with confidence. Max DePree says "The first job of a leader is to define reality." (The last is to say thank you if you're wondering.) When you know where you ARE, you are better positioned to decide where you want to go NEXT. Like your GPS, it works on the endpoint in relation to your … [Read more...]

An experience that delivers true value, embedded transformation and establishes an influential future is what makes the difference in leadership development. It's not information. Motivated leaders can get that anywhere. It's not inspiration. Great leaders have that on the inside. It's not direction. Smart leaders know where they're … [Read more...]

Stamford Leadership Professors Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus captivated me with their book "Leaders - Strategies For Taking Charge" in the nineties. For its time, it had so much depth and consideration on what leaders DO to lead well, lead consistently, and lead with longevity. One idea has stuck with me over the years as we consider growing as a … [Read more...]

As we lead people and teams longer trust is becoming more human. More of a relationship to value and appreciate than a line to be above or below. Trust is a precious friend that I honour, esteem, and protect. Trust is important enough to hold dear and laments loss and delight in its presence. And at the same time, trust is vulnerable, can be … [Read more...]

Trust may be vulnerable but must not be weak. Trust must be AntiFragile. Leaders know how to advance trust in adversity, deepen trust from mistakes, and increasingly grow the capacity and capability of trust in the teams they lead. When trust is AntiFragile it is robust, resilient, and flexible. In his wildly enlightening book Antifragile … [Read more...]

Talking TO and NOT ABOUT is the price of entry for the restoration of trust. Leaders initiate the restoration process in the face of discomfort and challenge. Fredrik Nael said "It takes both sides to build a bridge." Both sides have to want to, and be able to, restore the trust that has been broken. It's true of any relationship, personal or … [Read more...]

I lost a personal and professional friendship because I behaved in a way that broke trust. It wasn't intentional. But it was hurtful. It was poor leadership on my part, a failure to listen to the person and the circumstances, I also had way too much of the focus on me and my world not them and their world. Not in anyway #instaworthy. Did we … [Read more...]

Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying, "If people like you they will listen to you, but if they trust you they will do business with you." Trust is a leadership imperative with a commercial upside. In last weeks post, I wrote that leaders must develop the personal disciplines that position them to be the Chief Trust Officer of their organisation. This … [Read more...]

  To be followABLE you must be trustABLE. Leaders trade in intangibles, and trust is among the most valuable currency you handle. When you have the trust of the people you lead, you have the position to set direction, the authority to align resources and the margin to recover from potential error. Trust is a true point of difference for … [Read more...]

I'll admit to being a book lover (I won't admit to taking a bag of books on my honeymoon though ;) ) I love owning them, I love reading them and I love the burgeoning collection I have in my floor to ceiling home library. I secretly yearn for a sunken lounge room resplendent with chesterfields and a corner of full wall glass allowing the natural … [Read more...]