Glory or a story?
Sometimes we hold onto a desire to change for so long that the desire itself becomes our story. We keep telling people that one day we’ll get a new job. Or one day we’ll run a marathon. Or one day we’ll stop a destructive habit. The day never comes, but the story persists. Now, think […]
Waiting to make your point
Effective communication involves the exchanging of perspectives so that both sides understand each other more. Unfortunately, this process can devolve when the listener knows what their response is going to be while the speaker is still talking. How can you acknowledge their perspective when you’re waiting to jump in with your own? This is particularly […]
A leap of faith
Despite how much analysis you do, you’ll never fully know what the outcome will be before you act. So to make anything happen, you will need to take a risk. .
Defining your role when hiring
When we want to add someone to our team, we typically spend a lot of time defining the specifications of the new role, and little (if any) time redefining the specifications of the existing roles. The roles of the existing team members will change with the addition of the new team member. They will take […]
Picture frames
“When you become a parent, your child becomes the picture and you become the frame”. This is my favourite analogy of parenthood thus far. It’s a helpful reflection on the shift that occurs, and also an appreciation for the frames that have always been around you. Happy Father’s Day. .
Being offered a promotion
When people are offered a promotion, they typically accept it without much negotiation because it’s seen as a validation of their work and effort. But if you were headhunted for a position by another organisation, you wouldn’t accept the role right away, would you? There would be a lot of discussion around the terms of […]
Space attracts stuff
I like minimalism, so this post may not resonate with everyone. Aristotle postulated that “nature abhors a vacuum”, whereby things will naturally move into a void because it yields. I find this dynamic plays out in our homes. The spaces we create are inevitably filled by stuff – empty storage does not stay empty. We […]
Too far in
Systems can be reinforcing, where the longer you stay in them, the bigger your commitment becomes. This can cause your decision-making to grow biased towards maintaining the system, rather than aligning with your initial reasons to be a part of it. Whenever you are asked by someone to join an initiative, it’s helpful to understand […]
The value of coaching is time
Most things in life you can figure out for yourself. It just depends on how much time you’re willing to take to find the answer on your own. Engaging with a coach, mentor or partner helps shorten the discovery process. And the less time it takes to find each answer, the more progress you’ll be […]
Team well wishes
When a card is passed around to celebrate someone on a team, it may seem trivial to include new team members. How meaningful could their sentiments be if they barely know the person? But it’s much more significant than that. Including new team members in well wishes and celebrations is an important signal for your […]