Weekly Insights

Do you think you are lucky?

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Whether you see something that happens to you as luck, fate, destiny or even an opportunity is based on your beliefs and mental paradigms. That is, how you see the world and what you believe to be true, or not. What one person sees as luck another person may construe as something they are entitled […]

The unexpected benefits of the detour

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In the Lewis Carrol book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice follows the White Rabbit and falls down a rabbit hole, which is the start of a series of adventures. If you recall the story, you’ll know that at one point she comes across the Cheshire Cat in the woods and inquires:       “Would […]

When you land, you want to land well

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Even as someone who loves flying, I am always grateful when the plane has safely landed. A good landing doesn’t happen by accident. Before attempting to land the plane, the pilot runs through a landing checklist to ensure nothing has been forgotten. There are lots of variables to consider: the weather, crosswinds, visibility and turbulence. […]

It’s time to punctuate

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There’s plenty of books on happiness – The Art of Happiness, Authentic Happiness, Stumbling on Happiness, The Happiness Advantage, The Happiness Project – just to name a few, and many are well worth reading. However, if you only take a cursory glance you could easily be left with the impression that pursuing happiness, above all […]

Help others, and you’ll help yourself

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Throughout your career, you’ll come across all types of leaders and co-workers. At one end of the spectrum, there’s the ‘win at all costs’ personality. The leader or co-worker who subscribes to the motto that ‘nice guys finish last’ and for them to come out on top someone else (perhaps, you) has to lose. Advocating […]

Why wasting time is good for you

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Like many, COVID-19 has impacted my work. Most notably, I am no longer flying most weeks and am spending way more time at home. And while being in lockdown mark 2.0 doesn’t feel like I am lying on a beach (I can dream about it though!), the pace has shifted. What I’ve noticed is that […]

Why it’s so easy to judge

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Instinct can be a powerful and useful guide – providing an early warning when something (or someone) doesn’t feel right. However, there are times when our initial reaction can be misplaced. It’s suggested that it only takes seconds before we have sized someone up. Research from psychologists at Princeton University, Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov, […]

Is it time to adjust the sails?

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One of the upsides of lockdown (yes, there are some), is having more time to read fiction novels. I’ve recently been reading – Below Deck by Sophie Hardcastle It’s the story of 21-year old Olivia, who meets Mac and Maggie, changing her life forever. As Mac is explaining to Olivia the finer points of learning […]

Why gratitude at work matters

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When organisations analyse their culture and determine their values, gratitude isn’t a trait that is likely to appear. Yet, more and more research is revealing the significant role it plays in elevating well-being, enhancing relationships and enabling progress. In a working world that’s constantly changing and throwing up obstacles and challenges, the ability for leaders […]

Do you need to find the exit?

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There’s a long list of great TV shows, which over time lost their way. Topping my list – the final season of Lost, season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale, and the list could go on. And then there are TV shows that when they end, you’re left wanting more; a recent example is the final […]

Who is helping you make better decisions?

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We all make make many decisions each day. Decisions that range from simple things such as what to wear, to more strategic matters such as where to invest. At work, as you get into more senior roles the decisions are likely to get more complex, and the consequences more significant. Trying to go it alone […]

Are you captured by your culture?

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We all know the environment in which we live and work can impact our behaviour, but have you ever wondered how quickly such impacts can take effect? Culture influences incredibly quickly. When you enter a new work environment, you quickly learn the accepted way to behave. Behaviour that is off-culture can be shunned and ridiculed. […]

Finding the next chapter in an uncertain time

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It’s currently a challenging time for many people on the job front, and with that comes the inevitable line of thinking that it’s not a good time to shift careers. While you may not want to switch careers immediately, it’s never a bad time to reflect on where you are at and to start thinking, […]

What are you not seeing?

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Over the weekend, Craig, Barney and I went for our usual walk, but this time instead of turning right, we turned left. That simple change in our routine sparked surprising results. We found a whole new area to explore (see picture below) – never realising that this gorgeous part of the world was right in our […]

What’s your recipe for progress?

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Like many others, during our recent period of lock-down, I started baking again. Some efforts were successful, and others less so. The most challenging was trying to make sourdough bread! My husband, Craig, and I tried lots of different recipes. Some long. Some short. Some complicated. Some easy. All with varying degrees of success. In […]

The power of the pause

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Great communicators have an impact, but often their impact isn’t just about what they say, it’s about how they say it. They know when to talk, and when not to talk. That is, they know when to pause and how to use silence. The pause is powerful, and yet it’s often overlooked or misused. If […]

How to bring out the best in your team

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Recently, many people have asked me what more they can do as leaders to engage and connect with their teams during this time. While these times are challenging, what’s needed to create great teams hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s just elevated its importance. At its core, people are brought together into a team to get […]

Five ways to stay productive when winter hits

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In the southern states, you can undoubtedly feel the early onset of winter. The mornings are darker, and there’s been fog, rain and chilly days. The days feel shorter, and it may be harder to get going in the morning. A range of studies have found that the weather impacts how we feel, think and […]

Who’s distracting you?

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You see it happen with children. They’ve fallen over and are about to cry, and so to stop them reacting you distract them with a toy or something else, so they smile and laugh. Distractions like that are harmless. As we get older, deliberate distractions can take on a whole new meaning. If there’s something […]

Seeking successful impact is never one size fits all

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You’ll have seen this at some stage during a conversation; a situation where someone is frustrated and becomes increasingly so. Why? Because they aren’t getting what they want out of the conversation. However, rather than recognise that their current communication style isn’t working, they’ll dig in and keep using the same approach. Having impact, maintaining […]