Why mentoring is important
“I am not a teacher, but an awakener.” ― Robert Frost Many of us were fortunate enough to have mentors as we grew into our leadership roles. Now it’s our turn to pay forward. The mentor/mentee relationship must spring out of genuine respect and empathy because it’s quite a personal one which thrives on honest […]
What is your brain doing to you?
Did you miss your target? Perhaps you blew the presentation you so badly wanted to excel at. You’re saying to yourself, “I just couldn’t focus” or “My mind wasn’t in the game.” You’re right. Your mind was not helping you but probably not in the way you mean. You know we all have a conscious […]
The carrot or the stick?
For decades organisations have focused on the power of reward and punishment as a way to get their people moving in the right direction. You’ve probably seen it in action. The rewards: “If you meet the deadline I’ll let shout you lunch,” “Get this done by 2 o’clock and you can knock off early” or “If you do […]
Struggle for Authenticity
Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked for your opinion on something, however in order to be viewed in a certain way, you either amended or hid your true feelings? I think we have all done this to some degree whether subconsciously or otherwise. Why do we do this? The answer […]
Single Parenting and Leadership
Parenting is the most challenging job you will love. It also takes a lot of leadership. For those who don’t know me, I am a full time solo parent of a 14-year-old daughter. Yes deep breath. It is wonderful and challenging. It is also very tough. Thing is, I know many single parents; men and […]
Leader’s Mindset
“What we think, we become.” – The Buddha The decision to lead people, whether it happens to be in the workplace, the army, as a volunteer, or in some other setting is a significant responsibility. Capable, intelligent, driven leaders just do not come along very often. Of course, most of us have had the joy […]
Building Trust
Why is it that we can look at one person and instinctively trust them yet look at another and feel uncomfortable? It turns out that the answer is in the way our brains work. In 2008 researchers created an experiment called the trust game. They found that “oxytocin, a hormone and neurochemical, enhances an individual’s propensity to […]
How your emotions affect others
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve been happy or content and someone walks in; a work colleague, your partner, a friend, and they’re just plain angry or upset? The lovely emotions you were surrounded by are gone and you start to feel a little angry or upset for them? Or even with […]
Leadership is an Attitude
Attitude, not aptitude determines altitude Zig Ziglar A few months ago I was speaking about Leadership and Confidence to 200 University students. It was one of the best days I have had this year. What struck me was not only their commitment to being there, listening and really being involved in the presentation, but their […]
The C Word
Compassionate. Is it a dirty word in business and leadership? Or is it the difference between highly effective and mediocre leaders? When we think of highly effective leaders, it’s often in terms of their decisiveness, strategy and clever thinking. It’s not often that interpersonal traits like compassion spring to mind. Yet no leader can lead […]