Integrity – perhaps the most important virtue of a leader

Image of one person helping another up a mountain

I once worked for a company whose core values included, “do the right thing”. Unlike loads of companies who merely shove their values up on a plaque, and pay lip service but don’t practice them, this company walked their talk. This value of ‘doing the right thing’ was measured, talked about, and used as a…

Read More

Why leaders must destigmatise mental illness in the workplace

In the past year, we’ve seen many high-profile people take their own lives due to their struggles with depression – Anthony Bourdain, Kate Spade, TVNZ news reporter Greg Boyed – it’s a list that sits uncomfortably on anyone’s lips. News of these deaths have sparked conversations about mental health in the media, at home and…

Read More

We Can Be Heroes: 4 Unabashed Lessons From David Bowie

David Bowie

There’s nothing like the death of your teenage hero to halt you in your tracks. The moment I heard the news of David Bowie’s death, I was instantly transported back to hormone-fuelled teenage dorm rooms; a vivid picture of my friends and I hollering “Lets Dance!” at the top of our lungs. My oft-kissed, most…

Read More

It just goes to show you, doesn’t it?

I’m an excruciatingly self-conscious person. I need to have a few wines before I can even contemplate the idea of dancing in public, let alone actually getting up off my chair and partying like it’s 1999. But recently – stone cold sober I might add – on a crisp Friday morning, along with 120 strangers,…

Read More

How The All Blacks Management Aced Collaborative Leadership

Today’s post was written by my Comms manager and the other half of The Leader’s Digest, Amy Cunningham. Amy is a blogging and social media pro – if you need help establishing a personal or business blog, or want to build your social media presence, she’s your girl!  It’s been an exciting week for executive coaches…

Read More

3 Tips For Subjugating Your Ego To Become More Collaborative

The unchecked ego can be one of the biggest villains of collaborative leadership. Watch my latest vlog for three tips to subjugate your ego, in order to become a more collaborative leader – or alternatively you can read the vlog notes below. Effective leader = collaborative leader. One of the biggest villains of collaborative leadership is the…

Read More

How To Get Your Collaborative Swag On

Imagine you and I are flies on the wall in one of your team meetings. If we didn’t know anyone in the room, how long would it take for us to work out you are the boss? Where are you sitting? At the head of the table? Who is talking most often? Who is talking first? Is…

Read More

5 Leadership Lessons We Can Learn From Pandora

Pandora, the music streaming and automated music recommendation service, has recently become the world’s most popular internet radio station. To say I’m a raving fan is an understatement. It has literally opened my eyes, (ahem, ears), to a whole new world of phenomenal music experiences. Every time I open the Pandora app on my phone…

Read More