3 min read
Are you having the wrong argument? The value of focus
I love a good argument, especially as part of a strategic planning process. In a good argument, everyone’s point of view is fully and respectfully...
Communication
6 min read
How and when to quit things (and how to do it well)
Last Friday, I announced I was retiring Not An MBA, an executive leadership programme I founded in 2021. It's been a wild ride. For the most part,...
1 min read
How to ask quality questions
Bad questions kill relationships. When we turn up to a meeting, conversation, or email powered by judgement and annoyance, our questions reflect...
2 min read
How to ask bigger questions
Most meetings and workshops are a waste of time. They're full of people resolving trivial issues that could be handled by email or delegation with...
4 min read
Tell, don't sell: how to get what you want at work
I had a great conversation with an IT leader in Australia this week. She was doing good work, but she was feeling increasingly frustrated by people...
2 min read
Big questions enable bold choices
Most meetings and workshops are a waste of time. They're full of people resolving trivial issues that could be handled by email or delegation with...
1 min read
How to tame talkfests: focus prompts for frustrated facilitators
Man, I get sick of people talking sh*t. To be fair, it’s an occupational hazard. I run strategy and leadership workshops, where people are used to...
1 min read
Pushing back
Marie Kondo, in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, suggests getting rid of everything in our lives that doesn’t ‘spark joy’. Clearing clutter...
2 min read
10 questions to boost your professional credibility
There's a reason every job interview asks the dreaded question: "So, do you have any questions for us?" Gulp. I've got butterflies just thinking...
8 min read
How to get better at making mistakes
In late 2019, I interviewed a Mayor on stage at a conference in Australia. His Council had done some seriously impressive work, and they were...
2 min read
Master the world’s most valuable skill
Critical thinking is the world’s most valuable skill. Unfortunately, being overworked and overwhelmed keeps people from learning how to do it. They...
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...
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.
4 min read
Five skills for leading strategic conversations
Leadership used to be a pretty straightforward affair. The boss knew all the things and told all the people who worked for them what to do.
4 min read
Say no nicely: challenging conversations
Last week I talked about the importance of putting first things first, to prioritise progress. But here’s the thing with priorities. Setting them is...
3 min read
People want to connect
Last week, I wrote about how to get people interested in your strategy and change initiatives and the importance of being real and using plain...