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Your Difference Is Important
Africa gave birth to me, England raised me and Australia adopted me almost 25 years ago. What this means is that I blend the best of eastern wisdom traditions with the rigour of western science. I have come to believe that my ethnicity and my refugee experience are the core of whom I am and, as this gets reflected more and more in my work, I have realised that this approach strengthens my difference in the market. But it was not always like that for me. As a migrant I wanted to blend in so badly that I softened my…
Read Your Difference Is ImportantWould You Earn Less In Exchange For Meaningful Work?
9 out of 10 people are willing to earn less money if they did more meaningful work… Interesting isn’t it? In our society, we often equate success with external factors like the cars we drive, the houses we live in, the clothes we wear and how much we earn. Studies have shown that, as long as we earn enough to provide for our essential needs, any amount above this does not increase our happiness. So what does this mean for an organisation? In an ever-changing environment where nothing is predictable, making the link for your employees between their work and…
Read Would You Earn Less In Exchange For Meaningful Work?Why Physical Resilience is Not Enough to Future Proof Your Leadership
We live in very uncertain times. More so because as the pace of change is increasing, technology and artificial intelligence are disrupting the way we work and live. Because we don’t know what impact this will have and when, we cannot control the future. As the future is so unpredictable, we try to cling to things that are certain. In fact, everything is uncertain and impermanent. We try to control outcomes by doing more of what we know hoping that will bring certainty However, what we know, might not be relevant, in a world where resources are diminishing, and technology and artificial solutions…
Read Why Physical Resilience is Not Enough to Future Proof Your LeadershipHow to Declutter the Mind
If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, how have you felt about those Winter Southerly Winds that have been blowing our way this week? I think many would agree, we’re now well and truly settled in for the coldest time of the year with many people anchoring to cozy up next to the fire – if you’re lucky enough to have one. It’s also the shortest day of the year, as we celebrate the Winter Solstice in which nature reaches its stillest, darkest point and then pivots towards the light to allow a new year of growth and change. Our unique…
Read How to Declutter the MindMindfulness In The Office
Imagine for a moment that the agenda for your next team meeting started with a “mindful moment”. As you walk towards the meeting room, you are confused. You don’t recall seeing this on the agenda in the past. What does it mean? You become nervous. What did you need to do (that you have not done) to prepare? What is a mindful moment anyway? You sit down and notice others pointing to that agenda item as your manager walks in and begins to chair the meeting by asking everyone to close their eyes and take 3 deep breaths. What would…
Read Mindfulness In The OfficeHow to get the best out of your team – Create a Leadership User Manual
Back in my banking days, I joined a team in which I was given a one-page document by a very senior leader, entitled “how to get the best out of me”. The document included a list of ways in which he worked, what he expected from his team members and how he would support me and my team. It was a bold move. Some people might even call it arrogant if they didn’t take it for what it was, which was simply giving me a tool which took the personality guesswork out of a new environment. I thought it was…
Read How to get the best out of your team – Create a Leadership User ManualWhy working harder is not good for you or your career
Often when we hear stories of successful people, we hear about the hard work they put in to get there. We’re told of the many hours they spend each day, doing what they need to do, and the sacrifices they need to make. It’s a work ethic many subscribe to, and in fact, many see as a virtuous quality, something to aspire to and to become. Our definition of success is tied up with “putting in” the hours. Many of us also have a natural bias towards action. We find it difficult to just be, with ourselves, our loved ones…
Read Why working harder is not good for you or your careerWhy using our strengths leads to career success and happiness
If human beings are perceived as potentials rather than problems, as possessing strengths instead of weaknesses, as unlimited rather than dull and unresponsive, then they thrive and grow to their capabilities. Barbara Bush In the world of business and careers, we’re often asked to differentiate ourselves from others. Surprisingly, people are often reluctant to look at their strengths and how they can effectively use them to stand out in the crowd. Instead, the focus is often on their weakness and what they need to do to improve them. This is partly due to how our brain is wired, stemming from…
Read Why using our strengths leads to career success and happinessWhy a vocation is more important than a career
As a child, I believed I could be anything I wanted to be. I was fascinated by many different subjects and loved reading, which led me to dive deeply into topics that often had little correlation. Under the old English school system, at 14 I had to pick subjects to study that would eventually define the university degree I could apply to study. This was a big decision for a 14-year-old. What did I want to be when I grew up? Of course, this was the day of one career per lifetime, and from this limited framework, I allowed myself…
Read Why a vocation is more important than a careerSelf-Awareness – A Critical Tool in Effective Leadership
Self awareness is our capacity to stand apart from ourselves and examine our thinking, our motives, our history, our scripts, our actions, and our habits and tendencies. Stephen Covey A client once asked me how he can develop self-awareness. His vulnerability in recognising the need to develop this skill was both courageous and imperative in his leadership journey. Often leaders are asked to focus on how they lead others but the real leadership journey needs to begin with how we lead ourselves and to do this, we need to be aware of our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and actions. We often…
Read Self-Awareness – A Critical Tool in Effective Leadership