When Gratitude Turns Into Obligation
Recently appointed C-suite leader with a non-visible disability: “I know I should be grateful for this promotion. I can’t let on that I’m struggling with the transition.” Mid-career leader with a spinal lesion: “I can’t ask for adjustments. I’m just grateful to have been given this opportunity. I can’t afford to be seen as ungrateful.” […]
The Safety Manager
Most workplaces these days have a designated safety officer who, supported by a myriad of policies, procedures and systems, helps identify and manage the risk of workplace accident and injury. Recently I’ve noticed I also have my own internal safety manager who monitors my choices, decisions and actions to prevent me from coming to harm. And […]
The Curiosity Show
We are born naturally curious – we want to know everything there is to know about the world, soaking up information and experience like a sponge. But at some point our curiosity becomes a burden. Maybe adolescent arrogance, a narrowing of our perspective about what’s important, or simply the fact that our brains start to […]
Look UP!
This month’s article has been inspired by the experience of my 47th recorded PhINC. (Phone Incited Near Collision). I started my Monday holiday with a lovely morning run, and as I’m soaking up the sight of the first autumn colours and the sweet sounds of waking Rosella, out of nowhere an entourage – consisting of […]
PB Christmas Recipe
I have to say up front that I’m not a huge fan of Christmas. Not in the Scrooge or Grinch kind of way, it’s just that having never had the opportunity to have a family of my own, I often feel lost and lonely. All that peace and joy, tinsel and store musac, seems to […]
Pot Luck
Regular readers will be aware that I have a vision impairment. I was born with congenital cataracts, and had around twelve operations as a child, my first at 12 weeks, and most before the age of four. There’s no explanation for why my sight was affected – it was just one of those things that […]
The Real Heart Of Change
Despite Kotter’s 8 steps, Bridges’ 3 phases, ADKAR’s 5 stages and Lewin’s 3 actions, the literature is overflowing with examples of failed organisational change projects and the trails of destruction left in their wake. Why? “Organisations don’t change… People do”. So, no matter how lean your thinking, how strategic your restructuring, how good your process […]
Pitch Perfect
As I start to write this article, the familiar feeling of anxiety creeps in. Within a heartbeat, I’m procrastinating furiously – checking emails (again), tidying my top drawer – you get the picture? Why so, when writing articles is important to me, people tell me I’m a good writer, and I know from your feedback […]
Better Connection
We live in a disposable society – it’s easy to throw stuff out when we no longer need, like or want it. As an example, the combined impact of clever marketing and planned obsolescence means we’ve barely figured out how to work our new smart phone before we’re desparate to upgrade to the next must-have […]
Energy Boost
Expending physical, emotional or mental energy depletes us – if we don’t replenish our energy we run the risk of collapsing physically or suffering burn out. Even the Eveready Bunny eventually conks out! But there’s another type of energy we can tap into – relational (social) energy – and it has is the opposite effect. […]