Active Listening & Socratic Method
Active Listening and the Socratic Method, a dynamic duo that empowers leaders and managers to navigate complex challenges with finesse. The Socratic Method involves asking probing questions to challenge assumptions and uncover underlying truths. When combined with deep active listening to understand the nuances of the responses and the situation at hand it is a […]
Embracing Duality In Leadership: The Power Of “AND” Over “OR” In Uncertain Times
Navigating Leadership Paradoxes As a leader, have you ever found yourself pondering, “How can I be collaborative without seeming indecisive?” You’re not alone. This question is at the heart of a common leadership challenge: the ‘either-or’ dilemma. It’s the misconception that you must choose between being decisive or collaborative, strong or vulnerable, visionary or practical. But […]
The Impact of Fast Firing: Rebuilding Trust and Ensuring Fairness in the Workplace
Trust has been top of mind this month and I found this episode on ‘The Impacts of Fast Firing’ from Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar’s podcast ‘Trust on Purpose’ particularly thought-provoking. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Hire Slow. Fire Fast,’ and on the surface, it appears to be a practical approach to employee recruitment and […]
8 Signs of Trust Issues within Your Team: An Essential Lesson for Leaders
As a leadership and business coach, I often find myself in the presence of leaders or leadership teams grappling with daunting challenges, seeking ways to overcome or navigate around them. It is in these pivotal moments that I recognise the critical factor we must unpack and evaluate: trust; and the impact of absence of trust. […]
How Leaders Stay Energised: Mastering Personal Energy Management for Peak Performance
As business leaders, we often fall into the trap of thinking that pushing ourselves harder than everyone else is expected of us. We believe that by burning the midnight oil and working tirelessly, we are setting an example for our team and demonstrating our commitment to our goals. But the truth is, this kind of […]
Transforming Leadership: How to Become a More Impactful Leader and Elevate Your Team’s Performance
Becoming a more impactful leader is a challenging and rewarding journey that can transform your organisation and elevate your team’s performance. As an executive team leader, manager, or small business owner, you are responsible for not only leading your team but also for bringing out the best in them. If you are struggling with the […]
Overcoming the Top 10 Fears of Giving and Receiving Feedback: A Guide for Growth-Oriented Leaders
As a leader, providing and receiving feedback is a crucial part of fostering growth and development within your team. However, many leaders face common fears and obstacles when it comes to giving and receiving constructive feedback. Here are the most common fears leaders face when it comes to giving and receiving feedback, and how growth-oriented […]
What Makes Leaders Effective? Key Characteristics To Aim For
What makes leaders effective? This is something that is often elusive to pin down. But there are some key characteristics that most effective leaders share. An effective leader is someone with the ability to inspire and guide their team to achieve shared goals and objectives. They possess a range of skills and qualities that enable […]
Active Application to Solidify New Habits
I have a confession to make – I’m addicted to learning. My particular poison of choice is books ???? followed closely by podcasts. With COVID impacting any drive time (and my podcast consumption) my book habit hit new heights with my husband a little shocked by the regular deliveries arriving at our door. There is a particular rush I feel when […]
2 Simple Tips for Making Feedback Impactful in Virtual Environments
Effective Strategies for Giving Critical Feedback in Remote and Hybrid Environments Giving critical feedback is challenging at the best of times and our remote/ hybrid environments present unique challenges, such as difficulties with nonverbal cues and distractions. I found this recent article from HBR useful in thinking about ways to make feedback as meaningful and […]
Curing the ‘Knowing But Not Doing’ Trap
What is “knowing but not doing?” Let me use an example to explain. I have a confession to make – I’m addicted to learning. My particular poison of choice is books ???? followed closely by podcasts. With COVID impacting any drive time (and my podcast consumption) my book habit hit new heights. To say my husband was a little shocked […]
The Critical Role Continuous Feedback Plays In Culture And How It Drives Success
“I think we should cut the song.” The words hung in the air as the creative team behind Disney’s “Frozen 2” sat in stunned silence. After months of work on what was supposed to be a cornerstone musical number, the film’s directors had just delivered what could have been devastating feedback in any other environment. […]
How To Accept Constructive Feedback for Growth (Without Being Defensive)
As a leader or business owner, one of the most important things you can do to improve is to be open and receptive when it’s time to accept constructive feedback. On top of that, understanding the mindset and skills it takes to be effective at receiving feedback will also help you coach your team in […]
8 Simple Strategies Of Deep Active Listening For Leaders
Do you know one of the most powerful skill sets that most great leaders and influencers share? I won’t make you guess – it’s the dynamic duo of deep active listening and curious questioning. Today, I’d like to share some strategies of active listening you can use to strengthen these core skills that are key […]
9 Critical Thinking Tools for Better Decision Making
This article shares an overview of 9 critical thinking tools you can use as a leader or manager when making decisions for your organisation or team. I have written a more in-depth article on each of the tools and you will find links to those articles below. “A great many people think they are thinking […]
A Simple Yet Powerful Decision-Making Framework for Leaders in 6 Steps
Mastering decision making is a necessary skill for any good leader. But making decisions is often more challenging than we think it might be. Let’s look at a decision making framework for leaders to make the process more effective. The Importance Of Making Decisions Consciously It’s estimated that the average adult makes more than 35,000 […]
How to Give Constructive Feedback That Makes An Impact
Let’s be honest, it can be tough to deliver feedback in an impactful and meaningful way. So, today, I want to share some insights and frameworks to help you learn how to give constructive feedback that makes an impact and nurtures your people and your own growth all at the same time. Creating an environment […]
A Framework for Difficult Conversations in the Workplace
How does conflict make you feel? If you’re like most people, difficult conversations in the workplace make you feel very uncomfortable. But there are things you can do to make it less stressful. To be more conflict confident, you need to prepare. And I’ve got a very simple tool to help you achieve this, but […]
Understanding Conflict In The Workplace
Understanding conflict is a key first step in developing effective strategies for engaging and managing workplace conflict in a meaningful and constructive way. Conflict is something that many people spend their whole lives trying to avoid because it tends to activate that fight, flight or even freeze part of the brain. On the other hand, […]
One Simple Tool Consistently Used By All Successful Leaders
Do you want to be a more purposeful leader or business owner? One who creates better results for your organisation and the people you lead? If so, focus your efforts on this one simple tool – one on ones. Did you know that leaders who create engaging, meaningful, and supportive environments to help develop those […]