Today, when I met my friend for a morning work, we started in the dark and ended in the light. It wasn’t that early. 6:45am. The days are shorter now. We talked like most people this week, as restrictions continue to ease: We lamented the uptick of traffic on our roads. We were feeling the pressure to go out more now, just when we’ve discovered the pleasure of staying home. We wondered how to safely get 6000 people back into the office safely when lifts are only 4-square … [Read more...]

When someone allows you to bear witness to their inner world, you can't help but feel deeply honoured to be trusted with the privilege. As a psychologist, I have had, and continue to have, a very privileged career. I don't know how other executive coaches work, but being endorsed as both an organisational and counselling psychologist, I suspect I get let in just that little bit more. The emotional weight of this work can be high. You bear witness, you hold space, and at rare times, you … [Read more...]

What's struck me, recently, is how my clients started using Yiddish in their conversations with me. They're not so much kvetching (that's Yiddish for complaining), as trying to find words to describe this extraordinary experience. Living and working through a pandemic. English just doesn't capture it. You don't have to be Jewish or from New York (they don't fit into either category) to know there's something wonderful about Yiddish. It's onomatopoeic. Here's what I've been hearing: … [Read more...]

Right now I'm going for daily walks. I mix it up. Sometimes I turn right. Sometimes it's left. And yesterday I had the pleasure of my first Autumn (Fall) leaf crunch. I love that sound. It takes me straight back to the innocence of childhood. As I was happily reminiscing, there it was yet again. Footpath rage. I could feel it rising as, once again, I had to step aside while a fellow walker seemed oblivious to the physical distancing rule. Normally, I don't say anything. But I have been known … [Read more...]

We're all in this together, having a very individual experience. THE QUESTION For some, the question is, 'Are we there yet?' They're over it. Others, while enjoying the slower pace and simpler life that lockdown brings, wonder, 'Can we keep it more like this?' And while it might seem far away and staying grounded today is no mean feat, many are wondering: 'What's the next normal?' WHAT'S THE NEXT NORMAL FOR YOUR WORKPLACE? As a leader, you'll likely have a say in the next normal … [Read more...]

Are you exhausted yet? There's been so much change that it feels like a month went by in the last week. It's a bit surreal. There's a long weekend this weekend for many, being Easter. But it doesn't feel like that. The days tend to blur when you don't go anywhere.  A different kind of Groundhog Day. Although I do like this teddy bear trend. This one brightens up my daily walk. You're Part of the Solution And just like Bill Murray's character discovered in the movie, eventually, you learn to … [Read more...]

Are you squirrelling? You know, collecting acorns for the hibernation? Today, I feel like Santa Claus because I've got a sleigh full of acorns to share with you. These acorns are in the form of a brand new online program: Leading through the COVID-19 Crisis. You're welcome. It's free. If ever there was a time to give back, it's now. It's far from business as usual. This 5-module program will hopefully make your job of leading through the COVID-19 crisis a little bit easier. As a … [Read more...]

It's been an emotional roller coaster ride. My sore throat last week suddenly morphed into a fever and cough. After barely sleeping, at 6am, I thought, as best one can with a fever, "is this it"? Since everyone I've told has wanted to know, I thought you might want to too... This is what happens when you're tested for Covid-19 My local GP clinic sent a text saying, anything Covid-19, keep away. Call the national hotline. So I did. First option was call 000 (our 911). But I wasn't a 000 … [Read more...]