Are you a slave to servant leadership? It isn't about giving and giving and giving. Here's an example of getting it wrong. Jane (not her real name) was at the end of her tether. She'd busted her guts to get everyone nice, new office furniture. Nearly everyone was grateful. And they let Jane know: Thank you, this is so much better. It feels good to come here now. It looks nice and is comfortable too. With one exception. Betty. As usual, nothing seems to please her. Instead, … [Read more...]
What to do when you’re being white anted at work
Turns out 'white anting' is an Australian term. According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the verb means 'to subvert or undermine from within'. What is White Anting? It's namesake, the wood eating white ant (aka a termite), can’t survive in the open. That's why you don't usually see any sign of these pests until it's too late. When you discover the serious damage they've caused. One of my coaching clients had this inkling she was being white anted by one of her peers. Please take that gut feel … [Read more...]
Looking for mini-me’s… unconscious bias at work.
Unconscious bias at work. Gender stereotypes The Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition was fabulous. He's a man who did not conform to the stereotypes... luckily for us. Remember those conical breast corsets Madonna wore on her Blonde Ambition tour in 1990? Unforgettable. And in this exhibition, what struck me most wasn’t the talking mannequins that were mesmerising and quietly disconcerting. Nor the impeccable craftsmanship and innovative design, and the fact that I wanted to take some of the … [Read more...]
How the grumpy waiter got lucky
Improve their mood... and yours It was a few years ago now when I learned this surprising way to improve their mood, that is, the mood of anyone a bit grumpy in your midst. I'd planned to go out with a friend to a local café. I was a little bit grumpy that day (that frustrating feeling when you can't work something out - I was stuck on a section of my PhD). I was hoping that being out with my friend would lift my mood. I'd just been reading about Barbara Fredrickson's broaden and build … [Read more...]
Leadership Tip: A surprisingly easy solution to help people do even better
A Surprisingly Easy Leadership Tip This leadership tip will help you bring out the best in others. In the leadership field, you may have noticed how many ideas are simple, yet difficult to put into practice. Which is why what I'm about to share with you today is a real pearler (that's Australian slang for very impressive). It's straight from my award-winning PhD research. I was amazed to discover this. It really is a surprisingly easy solution to help people do even better. It's what I … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Becoming the Executive of Your Life
Mid-afternoon, you’re feeling like a champ. You started the day strong. You've worked out at the gym, you've taken the dog for a walk, and you've been sailing through your tasks for the day. No wonder you're riding high on the wave of accomplishment and feeling great about yourself. And then you get home. You remember you're having people over tomorrow night for dinner. You scan the house with a sense of slight dread: there are dishes to wash, laundry to fold, floors to be swept. It's too … [Read more...]
The future of leadership… don’t be a knowledge snacker!
The future of leadership... it takes more than bite-sized 'snacks' of information. There are some things we just don't do as well as the robots. And there are some things the robots just don't do as well as us. Still, we need to adapt. And the best way I know is to keep on learning. Turns out I'm not alone: 'The future of leadership is learning', says the brilliant Heather McGowan. 'The best leaders are the best learners', says the brilliant Jim Kouzes. But, learn … [Read more...]
Tips for a Positive Job Transition
Yes it's exciting to start a new job... even if you may not meet your coworkers in person for a while (if you're in locked-down Melbourne and Sydney at least). You plan to hit the ground running, make the most of the opportunity and succeed. You definitely don't want to make any of the same mistakes you might have made in the past. This is a common reason people seek out executive coaching. To make sure you start your great new job strong. Another common reason (both for transitioning … [Read more...]
