Posts by Suzi McAlpine
Beware the ‘Boss Shadow Effect’
Loads of leaders have a blind spot when it comes to underestimating the shadow they cast. I call it the Boss Shadow Effect. Many of us assume our teams are open and honest with us. About what they’re really thinking about our latest idea, how we ran that Monday morning meeting or what they think…
Read MoreA little bit, done often: why the key to high performance is not what you think
There are two things I do most days which have led to massive improvements in my life. One is to meditate every morning for ten minutes. The other is to exercise most days for a minimum of 30 minutes. In both cases, it’s a case of ‘a little bit, done often’ that’s been the trick…
Read MoreWhat is it like to be a Mayor? 10 Questions with Rachel Reese
Disclaimer: I’m not really into local body politics. Come to think of it, I’m not sure why, because I certainly have an opinion on loads of decisions my local city council makes. It’s local body election time here in Nelson. Those pesky VOTE FOR ME signs are doing my head in. But when my husband…
Read MoreAre you doing DIVERSITY right? A quality Q&A with Tania Domett
If you’re still wondering whether diversity in the workplace is important…best you go hang out with the Flat Earth Society. As McKinsey & Co (and a host of other highly credible researchers) have shown, diversity makes your organisation more effective, successful and profitable. But knowing you should be cultivating and promoting a diverse workforce –…
Read More5 Leadership Lessons from Uncle Mac, the man currently raising our son
My fourteen year old son is currently living with his Uncle Mac and Aunty Karen. It’s hard for me being away from my boy. But I know in my heart, he’s exactly where he needs to be at this time of his life. Largely due to Uncle Mac. We visited him last weekend. I watched…
Read MoreAre you missing the most important meeting in your calendar?
I’m betting you attend waaay too many meetings. I’m also betting some are so poorly run, they make you want to hurl your laptop out the window of the 23rd floor. Doing a cull of irrelevant meetings would be a wise move. I’m All. For. That. But there’s one meeting you should make time for…
Read MoreCould Not ‘Managing Up’ Be Cramping Your Career?
There’s a whole lot of noise about how to lead your direct reports. And this is a good thing. The world would be a better place if bosses bossed better. But there’s one area of leadership that’s often overlooked. How to manage up successfully. What do I mean by ‘managing up’? ‘Managing up’ means consciously…
Read MoreBlack Caps Blues: 5 Ways to Help Your Team Bounce Back after a Major Setback
The dust has settled on the Cricket World Cup final. The game has been debated and dissected. Our hearts have bled with the Black Caps and the tears have flowed. For the Black Caps, the focus will undoubtedly now be on how they can pick themselves up and move forward from such an agonising result.…
Read MoreSome of the best leadership books – as recommended by The Leader’s Digest
I’m on holiday at the moment and it’s bliss. In the bleak and busy winter weeks leading up to our tropical island holiday, I made a mental list of all the things I was hanging out to do. I stopped at 46. Reading a great book by the pool was number two, right after spending…
Read MoreSustainability leadership is different from other types of leadership
This week, I am excited to share a guest post from the wonderful David Key. David runs Ecoself, where he works with businesses, organisations and individuals to create deep and enduring organisational and social change towards a sustainable future. We are used to tackling simple, well-understood, and expected problems; but what happens when our world’s…
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