Being ‘authentic’ is a popular concept at the moment, but what does authenticity look like? Surely you are ‘authentically you’ just by existing? Well, not exactly. We often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect. The perfect leader, the perfect parent, the perfect friend. The good news is that perfection isn’t necessary….
What is it that makes you unique? What makes you tick at work? Do you feel happiest when you’re bouncing ideas off other people? Or is it when you’re filling in a spreadsheet? One of the great things about people is that we’re all unique. We may share common goals, interests and even personality traits…
Over 20 years ago, my eldest son was born, and I remember my Grandma saying to me “you can’t be a great mum, wife, daughter, friend, neighbour, boss etc; if you’re not a great you.” This was her way of telling me to look after myself, but it was done in a way that provoked…
As 2019 comes to a close, it’s that time where we begin to reflect on the past year and our achievements. In between the many Christmas lunches and parties, that is! There’s something about the darker nights and the comforting lights of the Christmas tree that gets me into a more introspective mood. It’s the…
Before my mum passed away, she used to phone me every evening at 6pm to have a quick chat. This started back in the days when it was cheaper to phone after this time and because my mum had done this for so many years, it became a habit. Unfortunately, 6pm wasn’t the most convenient…
Are you’re feeling overwhelmed by an ever-increasing workload? It may be time to regain your focus by clearing your backlog of tasks. Many of the leaders I work with report feeling overwhelmed because they never seem to get through their workload. Over time, outstanding tasks start sapping their energy and attention; making it harder to…
A lot of my work with my clients is focused on gaining a greater awareness of yourselves and finding the ‘real you’. Recently I met with a coaching client who had lost her passion for her work. She was less motivated and found it harder to focus on the goals of her team and organisation….
As a busy leader, do you miss out on opportunities to connect with your team? With little time available, it’s easy to reduce your contact to brief progress updates before rushing back to work. In the long run, the lack of personal contact is demoralising and damages your team’s ability to perform. But when you…
How do you feel when you hear negative feedback about your behaviour? Especially when the complaint comes from the person you feel is at fault? As a leader, you are expected to role model certain behaviours. But this isn’t easy when team members speak over you or appear to challenge your authority in front of…
