It is evidently clear that personality traits vary from situation to situation. I have used the highly simplified equation; Personality + Situation = Behaviour to demonstrate this reality for many years. This shows that although personalities can be wide and varied, and of course influence how people respond, the other key variable is the situation they find themselves in. We…
The global pandemic has created a fog of uncertainty which has engulfed most organisations. Doubling down on costs, shortening planning horizons and troubleshooting the real issues and challenges required to survive, has been the order of the day around the private sector world. This is a totally understandable short term reaction to the threats C-19 created. This tyranny of the…
The recent lock-down and remote working has been a nightmare for micro-managers everywhere. The inability to control all aspects of work in their area of accountability has caused increased stress and worry, pushing several micro-managers close to the edge. Conversely, those managers who are used to delegating and implicitly trust their team to get on with their tasks and to…
How to get the most value from this regular meeting without too much ego getting in the way! We all hate being judged and this dislike often fuels unproductive behaviour and a lot of wasted energy in the performance review process. This short article explores how to avoid this waste of time and energy, and gives some pointers on how…
Leaders Beware: The behaviours that got you promoted will not necessarily be the behaviours that enable you to succeed in a leadership role Leaders get promoted for a variety of reasons, some within their zone of influence, some outside. The humility required to realise this reality is a key ingredient for leaders to succeed in their new role. The lessons…
The new year is traditionally a time to apply new thinking and try out some new habits. The collective sense of anticipation that pervades the first week back is an energy that can be used to fuel new projects and establish new, more productive, rituals and routines. Warning: This energy has a shelf-life and will soon dissipate so do not…
Stepping out of your comfort zone It has been said that ‘a thought is not something the mind possesses, it is something that possesses the mind.’ This is never truer than when we are in a situation that makes us approach the boundaries of our comfort zone. It is at this time that your inner voice pipes up, with its…
I was intrigued by a talk I watched recently given by Chip Conley, where he explained the role of a Modern Elder in this day and age. The proposition for his new book ‘Wisdom at Work – the making of a modern Elder’ is pretty stark and straight forward. We are living longer, up to 15 years longer, and power…
Sunflowers are fascinating specimens of nature, they face the sun as it rises in the East and follow it across the sky until it sets in the West. As a leader you may have noticed you have people in your leadership team who do the same with you! The Sunflower Bias was coined to explain how some team members always…