Tag: mindfulness
Lawyers Weekly: To lead others, you must lead yourself first
Repa was recently invited by Lawyers Weekly to share her thoughts on leading through disruption. First published in April 2021, in this article Repa discusses the importance of leading yourself before you lead others. In August 2020 (post bushfires and during the second COVID lockdown in Melbourne) a survey of 1000+ Australian workers found that 49.5% of workers were “living well”, despite their significant struggles. This cohort of almost 50% of respondents were also more likely to experience higher levels of: Job satisfaction Performance Organisational commitment Team performance Organisational performance These results show what the ancient eastern traditions have known…
Read Lawyers Weekly: To lead others, you must lead yourself firstIIDM: How mindful leadership can help you overcome fear and denial
Recently asked to write for The CEO Institute, Repa contributed this timely article on how leaders can use mindfulness to lead authentically during uncertainty. Read the full article below, first published by the International Institute of Directors and Managers (IIDM) in April 2021. Uncertainty is certain. The last 12 months have shown the world how unpredictable our future is; old ways of managing businesses and leading teams are no longer working. What has made you successful in your career and life to date will not ensure your success in the future. The nature of an ever-changing world where the pace…
Read IIDM: How mindful leadership can help you overcome fear and denialRest Is Not a Luxury
Every year come December, I am inundated with friends, family, and clients telling me how tired and burnt out they are. Modern workplaces and 21st century living has resulted in employees working longer hours, taking fewer holidays, and succumbing to illness when they finally do stop for their annual Christmas break. This year has been particularly taxing with working from home blurring the lines of work, family and rest. Working on demand without daily periods of rest and sleep is simply unsustainable. In the pursuit of excellence, and the rise of “hustle culture”, we have come to believe that rest…
Read Rest Is Not a LuxuryHow to Manage Uncertainty as a Leader
COVID 19 has put the business world in a spin. Leaders in many organisations are navigating unknown and very unpredictable waters, whilst also having to maintain positive morale among team members. It can be anxiety-causing in itself but believe it or not the best defence comes in the way of the mind. The ancient yogis would say we can’t control or predict the future but through our actions, we can influence outcomes. Rather than posturing for predictability and trying to control outcomes, try building the life skill of managing your mind to consciously choose your actions and so create new…
Read How to Manage Uncertainty as a LeaderCritical Steps to Elevate Your Executive Transition
In a survey conducted by Egon Zehnder, 80% of executives said it took them more than 6 months to have an impact in their new role. They identified a poor grasp of how the organisation works and cultural mismatch as the top derailing factors. Recently I ran a workshop on the 7 Critical Steps to Elevate Your Executive Transition. The first and most critical step is to manage your mind. As Rod Stryker says “the mind is the architect of your destiny”. Neuroscience is discovering many benefits to mindfulness, including, what you focus on grows (so choose your focus wisely)…
Read Critical Steps to Elevate Your Executive TransitionYour 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 LeadershipMindfulness 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 Manual