Search results for: challenging cheerleader
Why Every Leader Needs a Challenging Cheerleader
I have a love-hate relationship with my personal trainer, Lucas. I hate it when he makes me do one more round of burpees after I’ve already done four. And I have fantasies about throwing a pavlova in his face when he chirps good-naturedly to “keep it up, you’re doing great” as I ungraciously wheeze my…
Read MoreWords matter. But your behaviour matters more.
Don’t tell them – show them. Words matter. But your behaviour matters more. You might be an executive team wanting to change the culture of your organisation. You may be a leader looking to improve your leadership in some way. Or perhaps you have received some unexpected and hard-to-hear feedback in your latest 360 – and you’re…
Read MoreI used to think values were bull – here’s why I’ve changed my mind.
I used to think values were full of bull. Maybe I’d seen one too many shiny, plaque-ey corporate value statements in the polished receptions of organisations. They would loudly espouse “collaboration” or “integrity”, when no one was practicing these values in the corridors or meeting rooms of said corporate. I heard a lot of chatter…
Read MoreDitch the bad habits: Using the 4 stages of awareness to be a better leader
I’ve been told several times, by several different people, that I have a tendency to interrupt. The first time someone told me this, I vehemently denied it. The second time I was given this feedback, I started to get uncomfortable. Maybe there was something to this feedback after all. The third time? That was my…
Read MoreBeware this decision-making flaw
There’s a pesky little decision-making flaw that we all fall prey to. This insidious decision villain seems to ramp up big-time during any election season, and we’re seeing it run amok now, so this week’s blog is a timely reminder for us all. Since this is a leadership blog, I’m going to focus on how…
Read MorePivot Programme
The Programme for Senior Leadership Teams Why is a high performing leadership team so pivotal? The culture and performance of an organisation almost always mirrors what is happening at the top table. Show me a dysfunctional or low performing leadership team – and I’ll show you a dysfunctional and low performing organisation. At the very…
Read MoreHow to combat feeling lonely at the top: Four tips for CEOs
“Solitude vivifies; isolation kills.” – Joseph Roux Being a CEO can be lonely. Nobody tells you this before your first stint at running a company, but having coached a lot of CEOs, I’ve had a front row seat to the ‘lonely at the top’ factor. Sure, you have your board and your executive team to discuss…
Read MoreHow to get through the tough first times in leadership
The first time I went for a run I hated it. We’re talking the level of contempt I hold for personalised licence plates and root canals. “Why do people do this?!” I wheezed. It was difficult, painful and way outside my comfort zone. But as I trundled and puffed my sorry ass around the block,…
Read MoreWhy You Should Ditch New Year’s Resolutions And Goals In Favour of This
This year I’m hopping off the New Year’s Resolution bandwagon. I’m even flirting with the idea of not setting any goals for 2018. (For anyone who knows me, this is a biiiig step. I’m goal addicted. I collect goals like Richard Branson collects tropical islands. Why am I dissing New Year’s resolutions and letting go…
Read More4 Tips For Dealing With Criticism
If you are a leader, you will encounter criticism. The trick is knowing how to sift and sort the gems from the gremlins. Being able to discern what and whom to ‘dig’ – and what and whom to ‘ditch’. As you scale the organisational ladder, it’s likely you will receive less challenging feedback. Although your…
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