As a leader, you will be busy planning for a new phase in the return to work. You’ll be thinking…
Executive Coaching
New Year is traditionally a time of reflection and resolve. And perhaps we’re extra aware of our thoughts, emotions and…
Are we building common ground, reaching for higher ground or securing the bedrock? We’ve all learned so much this year…
The global pandemic has brought home to us just how complex life really is. The future always was unchartered – but we chose to seek out predictions and forecasts. Now we’ve got to know uncertainty for ourselves. And we’ve learnt that our adaptability helps us live within it and lead others through it.
My invitation to you here is to support yourself, and those you lead, with the shift in identity that uncertainty demands of us. And my challenge to you is to accept that this lifelong quest lies at the heart of our role as leaders.
The challenge of working from home has freed many of us from the social and organisational constraints of the workplace. It’s handed us the responsibility to choose how we do our jobs while fulfilling the other important roles in our lives. And, in the process, it’s shaken up how we see ourselves and our contributions.
My invitation to you here is to support those you lead through this transition, to encourage them to bring more of themselves to their work, wherever they’re working.
For me, September feels like the start of a new year. A shift from summer adventures to a more defined routine. And, for many, a new year of learning at school, college or university. It’s a time that demands a quicker pace and a sharper focus. The transition can be challenging in a normal year. This September it’s happening in the face of new uncertainties within our work and learning environments, the possibility of a second wave as autumn draws in, and our concerns for our economy, our businesses and our jobs.
So my invitation to you, as we move into this uncertain phase, is to take a deep breath and find your focus.
Where are we in the lifecycle of this pandemic? Is this the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end? Or half time? And – as our days shorten and shadows lengthen – are we ready for whatever lies ahead?
In this article I want to celebrate the phenomenal flexibility we’ve all mustered over many months. Let’s not take it for granted. Let’s acknowledge it so that we can own this vital capability and continue to adapt in the months ahead.
It’s hard writing about inclusion. How can I do it with any kind of honesty without talking about exclusion. And, of course, exclusion is something that most of us have very little experience of.
We’re learning that we need to do things differently. And as parents, teachers, mentors, coaches, teammates, employers and leaders we have the responsibility – and the power – to create inclusive environments. Many of us are working out what that means for the way we think and behave personally.
Here I share what creating a safe, inclusive space means for me. I offer my thoughts on how we can be truly welcoming by creating environments in which we listen deeply to what others think, feel and want to say.
Recently I shared what I’ve learned while coaching leaders working on their impulse control. One month later, this emotional intelligence skill is critical for all of us. And it is being put to the test in many different ways and to extreme levels. I’ve been thinking about how we are responding to the very different challenges each of us are facing right now, and how we can meet the chaos with choice and calm.
We’re all human. We’ve all found ourselves in situations so frustrating or stressful that we’ve exploded. We’ve snapped at our…