Posts by Suzi McAlpine
The 51% Rule: A useful tool for ongoing conflict
Dealing with conflict is part and parcel of being a leader. And conflict in a team is a healthy thing, provided it’s focused around the right things and handled in the right way. After all, differing opinions and divergent thinking promote team performance. Without conflict, you’re likely to fall prey to groupthink, repress innovation, and discourage…
Read MoreThis week, I’ll finish writing a book. This is what I’ve learned
This week, I will finish writing my book manuscript and send it off to the publishers. This is something I’ve wanted to say since I was 24. I remember one sunny morning, decades ago, sitting with my Dad in his living room over coffee. It was the first time I’d dared to speak out loud…
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 MoreA practical exercise to build a collective vision for your team
Building a high performing, cohesive team is one of your most imperative responsibilities as a leader. Sounds obvious huh? But too often, it’s something we leave to chance, instead of being purposeful and committed to proactively creating one. Building a high performing and cohesive team requires intentional practice – and perhaps more importantly, persistence. A…
Read MoreWhy you should uncover your implicit biases (And yes, you do have them)
I have a friend who’s an eye surgeon. He received the top prize for Ophthalmology and Surgery – you know, one of those all-round overachievers who annoys the heck out of you by being a thoroughly nice bloke too. He’s Samoan. He regularly gets mistaken for an orderly in the hospital corridors. Despite him being…
Read MorePutting the spotlight on workplace wellbeing + your help with a survey
Understanding and supporting mental wellbeing is increasingly a priority for organisations – and with good reason. It has a profound effect on our workplaces – not only for employees, but also for overall organisational performance. But for leaders and organisations to make any substantial impact in this area, we need to go beyond simply paying…
Read MoreFour things you should avoid when delivering bad news
When the CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, had to tell his employees last month that there were going to be widespread job cuts due to COVID19, he did it in a way that received widespread praise. He was transparent, empathetic and his letter was a benchmark lesson on how to deliver tough news. You can…
Read MoreMy dad was intensely curious. Here’s why you should be too (especially right now)
My dad was an intensely curious man. Sure, he was a Professor of Education and did his PhD thesis on creativity in science – so maybe he had a running start on the whole curiosity thing. However, I also think it was in-built into his psyche and the benefits of his curious mind were plentiful…
Read MoreThe End Of The Beginning: Leadership into Level 2 and beyond
Here’s a date to save for this coming Wednesday afternoon, when you’ve had enough of boring Zoom meetings. This one happens to be on Zoom too – but knowing it’s with Harold and Russell, it certainly won’t be boring that’s for sure! Plus you’ll see my face there too – hopefully that’s a plus. This…
Read MoreWhat I did when my brother called me self-centred: Or, a better way to deal with feedback
Last week, in one of our regular lockdown phone calls, my older brother Andrew called me self-centred. Not in an angry, bitter or attacking way. Just casually, in passing. Like it was an afterthought at the end of his story about a trip to the supermarket, which had resulted in some good deals on mince.…
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