Blog

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an “Audit & Strengthen Your Leadership” survey. It gave you an opportunity to scrutinise your leadership and intensify your effectiveness. I’ve received a great response to the survey. And I’ve noticed some thought–provoking patterns. Let’s have a look at a summary of the responses before we take a birds-eyeRead more

Will you spend a few minutes with me, now, scrutinising your leadership practices and behaviours? You’ll get massive clarity on your leadership assets and potential danger areas. That will lead you to: Getting more juice from the lemon (your team) Reducing stress (your own and others’) Each day, going home feeling more proud of who you wereRead more

Just quickly, before we get to 2015’s hot topics, I want to say… Whether you’re a person I coach, a sponsor of a person I coach, a business associate or a friend, I appreciate you being in my 2015. Thank you! It’s been a valuable year and I’m glad you were a part of itRead more

“How am I going?” That’s the question great leaders ask those around them—their direct reports, peers and boss. It’s their opinions that count as you rejuvenate your leadership. They know. They’re the people who’re watching you.   What Motivates Great Leaders To Ask The Question? Great leaders: Care about being an exceptional leader. Good enoughRead more

95% of leaders find difficult conversations stressful. Many leaders admit their apprehension about having a difficult discussion is enough to put it off for days, even sometimes for months—regardless of the huge costs of doing so. But there is a way to ease the stress…   How’s It Going to Be When You Get aRead more

Self-esteem. It’s a sensitive topic that, in an instant, could have you putting yourself into one of two camps… Camp 1:    My self-esteem is good, thanks very much. I’m not sure that I need this bulletin. Camp 2:    You’ve written this for me. I definitely need to feel better about myself! If you’re in theRead more

Highly zealous team member are: —Highly productive team members. They focus on achieving brilliant outcomes, faster. Their personal commitment positively impacts the way they approach problems. —The hub of high performing teams. They support and encourage one-another. They share their talents with their peers, for the greater good of the team. The team is knownRead more

One of the traps you and I both fall into, when we’re not eagle-eyed about it, is to blame others when something goes off-track. We either physically, verbally or attitudinally point our finger at someone else. We think, talk and behave as if another person is the cause of the trouble. The problem is, whenRead more

I’m going to cut to the chase in this bulletin. Please forgive me if I offend you. And please know that I am well-intended and here to help… There are lots of disturbing things about poor performance. And the most disturbing aspect by far is how common it is for leaders to tolerate poor performance!Read more

I couldn’t count the number of times people in organisations have said that their leaders just aren’t getting candid feedback. And many leaders have disclosed to me that they personally haven’t been completely candid in giving their boss feedback.   What’s This Got To Do With The Disease That Most Leaders Have?  “CEO’s Disease” isRead more

An “I’m OK, You’re OK” attitude is an intrinsic part of effective leadership. This proposition usually triggers a lot of discussion . What troubles some leaders is their perception of their lack of capacity to view another person as OK when the other person’s behaviour was clearly not OK—well, in the mind of the observerRead more

Trying to change a behaviour can be exasperating, can’t it? Many, many attempted behavioural changes get derailed. Unless something special happens, it’s way too easy to, wittingly or unwittingly, resurrect the old habit. We’re very reluctant to change our behaviours. But I have a treat for you, courtesy of best-selling author, Marshall Goldsmith. (The toolRead more

I’m noticing that there’s a critical, key-difference between: A stand-out leader who’s truly respected, and A so-so leader who’s not nearly so well regarded. The behaviour I’m noticing, that the highly-valued, sought-after leader consistently demonstrates, is…   Conversationally, They’re An Exceptional Receiver We’re not talking here about how well a leader receives gifts or awardsRead more

There’s now heaps of research about how the best leaders have high emotional intelligence (EQ). And a large part of a leader’s high EQ is them having: An awareness of their mood, and The ability to manage their thinking. They know that it’s their thinking that needs to shift when their mood isn’t constructive—because it’sRead more

Warning: In disclosing my opinions on this topic, you’ll detect that I take a tough line. That’s because I think the topic is vital for effective leadership… What words would others use to describe you? Up or down? Optimistic or anxious? Happy or sad? Relaxed or frazzled? Beware! Your state of mind as a leaderRead more

Enough struggling with team members—enough feeling frustrated with peers—enough grappling with your boss—enough wrestling with issues! It’s time for you to tackle your frustrations… …and influence difficult people with ease. It’s time for you to have more impact… …and grow your leadership career. It’s time to loosen up and flow as a leader… …and haveRead more

I hope 2015 is looking like it’s going to be immensely satisfying for you . We have two topics in this first bulletin of the year: The most useful/read/commented on/liked Leadership Bulletins during 2014 The two issues/subjects/concerns/themes you’d like me include in our Leadership Bulletins during 2015.   Your Top Three Leadership Bulletin Topics FromRead more

I can’t say this better than Seth Godin did: “We Have Limits… There are challenges, limited resources, people or organisations working against you. Your knee hurts, the boss is a jerk, the systems are down.   We Have Opportunities… There are opportunities, new sources of leverage and ideas just waiting to be embraced. You canRead more

I appreciate you taking the time to read this bulletin  Some leaders have it embedded in their DNA to let others know that they appreciate them—and for other leaders it’s a learned skill. Regardless of your genetics, let’s look at why thanking a team member, or anyone really, is a hugely impactful habit to develop.Read more

The leaders we admire and align with are the leaders that we trust—and, when it comes to cranking up engagement, having your team members trust you is THE number one essential. It’s therefore essential that you’re alert to these two key ways you can immediately kill off your team members’ trust in you: Being emotionallyRead more