Creativity
How to Get More Creative: Precious Leadership Gems from a Talented Jeweller
There’s a jeweller I know who lives in my city, Nelson – a quaint little seaside town at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. I think this jeweller is possibly one of the most creatively talented individuals I’ve ever met. His name is Benjamin, he’s 27, and his jewellery business, Benjamin Black…
Read MoreWeird is good: why dissonance fosters innovation
It seems like almost every organisation on the planet wants to become more innovative right now. And let’s face it, thinking differently and creatively about challenges and opportunities that face us are table stakes to survival, given the ambiguous, multifaceted and unpredictable landscape we are operating in. As I was musing about this, I came…
Read MoreWe Can Be Heroes: 4 Unabashed Lessons From 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 MoreWhy Dreams Are A Creative Treasure Trove
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, once said – “while we’re awake, we share the universe, but in sleep we each turn away to a world of our own.” Linking dreams with creative thinking might seem a little bit ‘out there’ for some people. But at the risk of being labelled ‘Spooky Suzi’, the reality is, if…
Read MoreWeird is good: why dissonance fosters innovation
As published by Idealog on July 16, 2015. I recently overheard someone talking about a cutting-edge leadership workshop they’d just attended. “It was weird,” he said. “Weird good or weird bad?” I asked. The question caused my erstwhile friend to pause mid-sentence. “Weird good…I think…” He then admitted that the “weirdness” caused him to veer from…
Read MorePlace Matters: How Your Work Space Influences Productivity, Creativity and Collaboration
I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I don’t ACTUALLY have an office. Rather, I have work spaces I am drawn to depending on my mood and circumstances. And I’m a complete fan of the ‘no office office’. There’s my favourite café, Kush, where I can get the best Americano in town and soak…
Read MoreRuled by Rules? 7 Alternatives to ‘Death by Bureaucracy’
I’m a bit of a rebel when it comes to rules. Especially when they’re bloody stupid or defy common sense. Like the one I heard recently that forbade employees from bringing any pot plants to work. I mean, seriously…WTF?! Are we expecting an invasion of The Triffids any time soon? For the rule following junkies…
Read More7 Top Tips For Igniting Better Leadership
As the year draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the lessons I have learned this year. When it comes to leadership, I keep coming back to seven foundational principles. Whether it’s through my coaching practice, in researching in the subject or in my own bumbling experiences in being a manager, the same…
Read MoreWhy Leaders Need To Lighten Up
One of the things I love about my husband is the fact that he takes the mickey out of me. Constantly. Many a tense moment has been averted by the fact he doesn’t take things (or me) too seriously – particularly when I get a bit too sombre or ‘drama queen-ish’ for my own boots. At this…
Read MoreWhy ‘Curiosity Killed The Cat’ Is SUCH A Dumb Saying
This is one ditty we should ditch. The best leaders are curious leaders. Along with developing a penchant for active listening, learning to love the question is one of the most important skills leaders should cultivate. I’m talking curiosity about: The people they lead The market in which they operate Competitors Themselves (perhaps most of…
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