Focus on the process
Has a bad outcome caused you to question your strategy? This was the focus of a coaching session I had with a client. They’d spent a lot of time creating their strategy and the processes to achieve it. So when their week finished with a poor result, they reasoned that they needed to re-strategise. Instead, […]
Let the silence do the work
We are uncomfortable with silence during conversations. We only allow for a second or two of silence between each other, and if a break is any longer one side will rush in to speak. If you can be comfortable sitting with silence, the other person will help you understand them a lot more. They will […]
Holding onto a position
It’s easy to be swayed by the beliefs of others that want what you have, or tell you that what you have is valuable. So when you find yourself in a position that’s desired by others, make sure your reasons for staying in the position are your own. Otherwise you will increasingly justify that this […]
Lasting first impressions
Would the way you engage with people for the first time change if you saw every encounter as the opportunity to create a lasting connection? .
Re-planning
How much of your planning is re-planning? I don’t mean refining your plan because of new information. Or redoing your plan because something isn’t working. Or scrapping your plan entirely and trying something different. I mean re-planning the same plan again and again. Either because you aren’t documenting it properly. Or because you’re ignoring your […]
Dealing with fears
We suffer more in imagination than in reality – Seneca. I’ve been wanting to write about this quote for a while, as it would be hugely beneficial to allocate less energy and headspace to worrying. But simply sharing this quote and commenting on it does little to address how to deal with fears. One of […]
Changing your go-to rewards
Ice cream is one of my favourite rewards. Unfortunately, it’s not a great reward when your goal involves being healthier. It’s great to reward yourself when you do a big workout or if you’ve eaten a healthy meal. But if that treat is ice cream, it turns from a reward to a penalty. So whenever […]
Perfect handstands
Don’t worry, this isn’t a blog post about handstands. It’s about effectively aligning expectations with reality. See below an anecdote shared by Jeff Bezos in Amazon’s 1997 Annual Report. If you are thinking about starting a new initiative, or if you’ve started but not getting the results you’re after, consider if you have clearly defined […]
Why are you in your current role?
Are you clear on the reasons for being in your current role? It may seem like a straightforward question, but you may find answering it rather tricky. You may be able to explain how you came to be in the role. And you may be able to justify why your current role is beneficial. But […]
Reinforce the compliment
I’ve written before about the importance of recognising great customer service by sharing your experience with someone of a higher authority. I did this when hiring the venue for our recent leadership workshop. The event was streamed across Australia and New Zealand, so it was important for our Sydney venue to be set up smoothly. […]