1 min read
Friends at work
I often meet leaders with an “I don’t go to work to make friends” attitude. I get that; I do. One of the reasons I’ve never lasted in an employment...
Wednesday Wisdom (9)
1 min read
First things first: be careful of second-rate priorities
It’s school holidays! My girls and I had a trip to Germany planned for these school holidays, but we had to cancel that for obvious reasons. Instead,...
5 min read
How to move on: 4 steps towards acceptance
I'm a career facilitator, so I built the first iteration of my business by helping others make sense of things. It's clear to me from personal and...
1 min read
Thinking needs space
I’m off the grid this week, holed up in an adorable little cabin in Martinborough, finishing up my second book, From Action to Impact: The Strategic...
2 min read
Beyond crisis leadership: when the cracks start to show
Crisis is a bit exciting, isn’t it? It's different to regular drama, because it has: Surprise Serious threat Short decision times. Tick, tick and...
1 min read
Nothing important happens by accident: align priorities to action
If I looked at your calendar for the week – could I tell what really matters to you? If I looked at your team and decision process - could I tell...
1 min read
How to grow from stress: quick questions to dig deeper
The last couple of months have triggered a shift in our understanding of the world. World Wars, the digital revolution, 9/11, and the GFC are other...
1 min read
Go back to basics
I injured my ankle badly in November 2017, when I started training for my first marathon. After a tough uphill slog on a sunny Monday morning, I was...
2 min read
Chasing cows
Ever started a job and had that new-starter clarity? You're baffled by all the things that don’t make sense and say annoying things in meetings like:...
5 min read
Systems and mindsets
Do what you’ve always done, and you’ll get what you’ve always got. Think about changing your systems and mindset.
3 min read
How to plan your year when things are uncertain
This is usually the time of year when I’d have my 2021 on the wall, month by month, meticulously planned out—significant pieces of work, trips away,...
1 min read
How to make people listen
When people ask me to help them run workshops and meetings, they often come in with lofty goals. How do I get people to really be in this? To own...
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...
2 min read
How to focus more clearly
I’ve always been close with my Nanna. I’ve turned to her a lot over the years as I’ve juggled kids, work, study, friends, relationships and...
1 min read
Embrace awkwardness for better decisions
Good decisions need diversity. And I mean real diversity - age, background, gender, the whole lot. This is bad news for those who use the "diversity...
1 min read
Strategy is everyone’s job
Have you ever heard of Not My Job (NMJ) syndrome? There are some particularly hilarious examples on the internet. I like this one:
1 min read
Real leaders let go
The number one complaint I hear from senior public leaders is about time—or a lack thereof. This isn’t really about time, of course, but space. There...
2 min read
The paradox of public leadership
“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...
1 min read
The grey area
I often discuss the importance of brave public service—community-focused, impact-led policy and strategy decisions that change our world.
1 min read
Get out of the weeds you love
Do you miss the "real work"? The 'paradox of leadership', according to Greg McKeown, is that as we advance in seniority, we can become so overwhelmed...
1 min read
Take the handbrake off: systems change
Eating well sucks. I’m currently in training season for a marathon and doing my best to put the right fuel in for long Sunday Rundays. I’m also on a...
2 min read
Public sector leadership: navigating the layer of crazy
I worked with a team late last year who were struggling to reconcile what they saw as the right way forward for their agency, with the fickle demands...
2 min read
Strike while the iron is hot
I went to a blacksmiths festival recently. It's a bit out of the ordinary for my general weekend entertainment, but talk about impressive! It’s...