1 min read
Snow melts from the edges: futurist thinking
I am often astonished at how little some executive teams know about what’s happening inside and outside their buildings.
Leadership (4)
2 min read
Time to tell: when to be a more directive leader
How we understand strong leadership has undergone a fundamental transformation over the last decade or two. Traditional ideas about a military-like...
4 min read
How to lead people when you’re feeling worried: 5 top tips
In this post: It's hard to lead when you're worried It's OK if you're feeling worried Five things you can do. It's hard to lead when you're worried...
1 min read
Earn trust: engaging for change
Imagine proposing at the first introduction. At the Magiq Conference dinner on Monday night, I had attendees do exactly that, by proposing marriage...
1 min read
Reasons, seasons and changing jobs
You're probably familiar with the opening line of a poem by Brian A. Chalker:
2 min read
Serve the room: questions to ask for leadership success
In local government, many elected members think they must be approachable and responsive to their constituents. They personally follow up on service...
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
5 career mistakes everyone (from junior to executive) should avoid
A few years ago, I asked a group of public sector executives one simple question: “What are the biggest mistakes you've made in your career?”
3 min read
How to stop AI from stealing your job
Have you been keeping up with new AI tools like MidJourney and ChatGPT?
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...
1 min read
Truth is, i'm rash.
On Friday night, I went to a comedy gig in a large arena. I lasted less than 20 minutes before walking out in disgust and frustration, as the...
1 min read
The problem is never the problem
Picture this: you're frustrated with your partner. They've loaded the dishwasher wrong, again, and they've left the door wide open for you to knock...
1 min read
Use your personal compass to make tricky choices
The average person makes 17,000 decisions a day. Most of those are easy, like what to have for breakfast or what time to leave for work, but some are...
3 min read
Setting boundaries around bullsh*t
I've drawn a new boundary around my professional life: no more leadership team coaching.
4 min read
Good people and bad systems
Change is hard to talk about, because people tend to feel personally attacked. They have good reason to feel that way. When we talk about the things...
4 min read
Nail your next 8 weeks: how to keep strategy alive
In this article: How to run a great strategic check-in Free template for a 2-day strategy session Strategies are great, and 3-5 year plans are...
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...
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...
