19 min read
Outrageous Conversations: How to convert controversy into connection
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this article. Your thoughts, links, resources and ideas were invaluable in pulling this piece together. I've...
6 min read
A certain type of man: the family man
I’d like to introduce to you: the family man. Not the responsible, fatherly, working class man of popular culture, mind you. A hologram. A cultural...
1 min read
Get outside of yourself
There's an excellent AA meme: "I'm not much, but I'm all I think about."
4 min read
Why strategy fails (and what to do differently)
Many of us have the wrong idea about strategy. We think it's about workshops and documents, and then struggle to understand why everyone's still...
2 min read
Use your big voice
Last Tuesday, I took my children to see Clementine Ford at the Embassy Theatre here in Wellington. Of all the wonderful things she said, one...
4 min read
Gaslighting at work
I met a curious, clever young woman recently. She was smart, a real systems thinker, and passionate about doing great work. When we got to talking...
5 min read
Find your why journey update #2
I recently sent out a Wednesday Wisdom about a traumatic time I've experienced in my personal life and business.
1 min read
Throw your raft in the ocean
In an old Buddhist parable, a man is trapped on one side of a rushing river. On this side of the river, there is great danger and uncertainty; on the...
1 min read
Facilitate meaning through experience
I've been lucky to spend some time with Optimal Workshop recently. One of the coolest things about their office is the large library in the main...
3 min read
How to trust people to do a good job: your delegation toolkit
Some of us (cough) have trust issues. Most of those issues are for a good reason. But when it comes to leading teams at work, they can get in the way...
2 min read
Disagreement needs dignity
I had a positive social media experience this week (...I know right?!). Someone with a large public following had posted an open question about a...
1 min read
4 ways to move fast without breaking things
Hi, I'm Alicia McKay, a serial fast-moving thing-breaker. It's one of my best qualities - I execute ideas quickly and fix them as I go. I'm often on...
4 min read
How to define leadership in the real world
Leadership is all the rage, but if you're sick of swimming in buzzwords, you might find yourself asking what it really means. Read on for a real...
7 min read
Stop being nice: 7 reasons why your niceness is dangerous
I have a confession to make: I'm suspicious of nice people.
1 min read
How to make habit change easier
Driving to Palmerston North a couple of years ago, a good friend of mine was explaining what they'd learned in yoga about habit change.
3 min read
Social habits: why it's ok to stay home.
You heard it here first kids, the latest thing is... staying home.
1 min read
How to stick to your strategy throughout the year
Goals and dreams that seem exciting and doable when we prepare our strategy and plan can feel impossible a short time later once we're drowning in...
1 min read
How to make your problems useful
There's no way to avoid problems, I'm afraid. Problems are like cockroaches and glitter: even when the world ends, they'll still be there.
2 min read
Stop using meetings to build your culture
When I run Meetings that Matter, I challenge learners with this controversial idea:
2 min read
How to be a strategist: 3 things to do today
I've been thinking again about how to answer the dreaded BBQ question - you know, the one: "So, what do you do for work?"
End Like You Mean to Continue
Welcome to another Wednesday Wisdom. Every week, I share with you what I'm thinking about life, work, and leadership. This week we're talking about...
2 min read
It's just work: how to put work into perspective
On Sunday night, I went to check my calendar for the week. I knew I had a bit on, but I wasn't too worried. Until I got to Thursday. At that point,...
3 min read
Always be a beginner
On Saturday, I went to my first creative writing workshop. I walked in fairly confident. I've published two books (non-fiction), and I write daily. I...