I bet you have heard someone at some time in your organisation say “it’s not my job”. What they are really saying is “I am not prepared to take responsibility for that”. If too many people take that line, no one is taking responsibility for anything and drama unfolds. It is the job of a […]

First of all, we all do it. Some of us do anything to avoid conflict. Some of us want to be friends with everyone. No one really enjoys delivering words that might cause upset or worry. Second, as a leader, there is no escaping the need, from time to time, to say what needs to […]

Leadership means different things to different people. Some think it’s about power and getting your own way. Here is a new way to think – it’s called servant leadership and it’s about making sure that you are making others better as well as yourself. Imagine if all bosses were more focused on doing whatever they […]

Just yesterday I presented at an industry conference on building a culture of leadership. In the presentation I listed what I think are the top five things you need to have in place if you want to improve your organisation’s culture. 1. High level commitment (board/owner/senior management). Without it, as soon as things get hard or tough […]

Australia Day is a time when many of us celebrate being Australian, and some of us reflect on elements of our national culture, both positive and negative. I think we should also take the opportunity to do the same about our corporate cultures – both celebrate and reflect. Use this simple guide to give your […]

One thing that we all have in common is the desire to be happy. Smile if you agree. Have you ever thought about what happiness means? Is it pleasure, satisfaction, joy? Is it the absence of suffering? Is it a destination or a journey? I recently came across a concept of happiness that caused me to reflect […]

This short, practical exercise will result in a one page blueprint for action in your 2014. Firstly, spend about 30 minutes looking back on 2013, month by month. Make a list of your successes and disappointments, the positives and the negatives. Next, identify the four or five most important areas of your life eg health, family, […]

It is impossible to not acknowledge the passing of Nelson Mandela. He will be remembered as one of the greatest leaders of all time. Here are just three things that all of us can learn from his life. 1. Have a vision. Mandela’s was clear. To unite his country, to free its people from oppression, to […]

Commitments made at 11.57 pm on 31 December fuelled by a couple of glasses of bubbles rarely stick. Here are three things you can do now to make sure you can hit the new year running. 1. Start with you. Have a good hard look in the mirror. Where do you need to improve as a […]