Creating Enlightened Organisations
I’ve never really considered myself to be creative – at least not in any conventional sense of the word, as applied to artistic endeavours. I can’t paint or compose or sculpt… I’m really great at following the instructions. I can play classical piano but run a mile from jazz. I did some acting as a … Read more Creativity with Constraints: Leadership’s Secret Sauce
“Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.” ~ Alan Perlis Two of the roles I had early in my career were in organisations with a macro-level view on systems: one was in the area of public sector management and the other was leadership – or at least public sector … Read more Complexity: Why Most Leadership Advice Is Wrong
“Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same.” ~ Angelina Jolie I have been trialling a new tool with some of my coaching clients, and I wanted to share a couple of observations with you about the breathtaking beauty of diversity. And the extent … Read more Diversity: The Power of Multiple Perspectives
“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of … Read more Personal Brand: Objectivity, Ownership and Letting Go…
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” ~ Mark Twain Do you remember when you were a kid, and you still believed you could do anything you wanted? A fire-fighter. A mermaid. A princess. President or Prime Minister. As a child, the world – and your whole life – stretched out in front of … Read more “What are you Waiting for?” Time to get Motivated
“Do not think your single vote does not matter much. The rain that refreshes the ground is made up of single drops.” ~ Kate Sheppard Yesterday was Election Day in New Zealand – 23 September 2017. Earlier this week we marked 124 years since New Zealand women became the first in the world to gain … Read more “We Will Prevail”: The Power of Persistence
People often ask me about the books I read. Specifically, they want to know what leadership books I’d recommend – there are so many! Usually I try and curate a list on the spot based on what I know about the person who is asking, but I almost always miss something. There are already lots of “Leaders’ … Read more 5 Books you Must Read if you Consider Yourself a Leader
“New Year’s Eve is a great time to think about making a resolution to change a behavior, improve upon a practice, or to start something new. Most people don’t keep their resolutions very far into the year, but there’s no reason to wait until Dec 31st to reboot” ~ Dana Perino No matter what sort … Read more Reboot: How to Get Going when you’re Stuck
When I was pregnant, my fabulous hairdresser, Jason (who Blogs about Barbering and basically anything), said to me: “the truest thing I ever heard about having kids? The years fly by, but the days last forever!”. Truly the most useful advice I received about parenting! And believe me, everyone has advice. This post is the first … Read more Leadership Insights: Perceptions of Time
Creativity and Craft I think I can best be described as a dabbler. A tinkerer. A hobbyist. I’ll try almost anything once. For example: handcrafts. I can sew, knit, embroider, crochet, quilt – I even learned how to make bobbin lace. And while I love the idea of being creative, my enjoyment of these skills has … Read more Creativity: Why the Best Ideas come from Improbable Connections