2 min read
The paradox of public leadership (or: just give them the damn picnic table)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” “I must be cruel to be kind” “The child is the father of the man” Literature is full of...
Risk
1 min read
Fear breeds complexity: simplify the public sector
The Global Simplicity Index tells us that, in the private sector, simplicity pays. The majority of consumers will spend more, for an easy customer...
7 min read
Learn from your mistakes: make the most of failure
Everybody makes mistakes, but only some people know how to use them to get better. If you've made a mistake this week, that's great. It means you're...
2 min read
Three ingredients of perspective
It's conference season, and I've been a busy girl the last few weeks, hitting stages on both sides of the Tasman.
2 min read
There is no right decision
This newsletter is brought to you by Not An MBA, the accelerated executive leadership programme that transforms your life and work in just eight...
3 min read
How to do scary things
Being a person is pretty scary, to be honest. If you're a mildly anxious human like me, you might face a frequent war with your brain as it churns...
1 min read
How to make tricky decisions
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...
6 min read
The risks of self-employment: the good, the bad, and the ugly
Self-employment is an alluring prospect. It’s a chance to live your life on your terms, to achieve more fulfilment and meaning from your career, and...
1 min read
Delegate, or rip off the taxpayer
What do you do for work?” Gulp. When you work for the government, sometimes it’s tempting not to tell people. Primarily if you work in local...
6 min read
This is an intervention: it's time to get unstuck
In this post: What to do when you're feeling stuck Strategic leadership: skills to change your life Stop planning, start strategising: how to stay on...
2 min read
3 myths about decisions that need busting
I've been interested in what it means to make good, long-term decisions for a long time. Fresh out of university, I entered a policy career, all...
2 min read
Fast decisions in uncertain times
When our future is uncertain and our workload is high, we need leaders who can make big decisions fast. As we start the COVID leadership autopsies...
3 min read
Fear is universal but action is personal
Being a person is pretty scary, to be honest. If you're a mildly anxious human like me, you might face a frequent war with your brain as it churns...
1 min read
Take risks to make progress
Most turtles live almost half of their lives inside their shell. Every time they sense an enemy, or the weather’s no good, they retreat and wait. I...
4 min read
That restructure will not fix your organisational culture
In a client mentoring session on Friday, I was looking forward to hearing how a job interview had gone. After an extended secondment and a long...
1 min read
Don't worry about your culture
I hear a lot about organisational culture. It’s pretty trendy, and seems to be blamed for a full spectrum of ills at work. Makes sense, it’s nice and...
3 min read
How to take calculated risks: 3 key steps
Fear Is Like Alcohol .. because it makes parties more interesting. JUST KIDDING.Fear is like alcohol because it clouds our judgement. And when we...
4 min read
Why your strategy is failing and how to fix it
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 doing...
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...
3 min read
How to get on top of your stupidly long list
It's the most... overwhelming... time of the yeeear. 🎶
4 min read
What to do before you quit your job to start a business
What should you do before leaving your job to start your own consulting business? What boxes do you need to tick, and how much money do you need in...
6 min read
How to make hard decisions more easily
Have you got a hard choice to make? Whether it's at work or home, having tricky choices ahead weighs on you, even when you aren't actively thinking...
1 min read
Risky business
Injuries suck. I hurt my right shoulder this week, and it turns out I’m a terrible patient. I don’t rest well – not just because of my personality,...