My Library
People are my library, my writing inspired by what I learn: ideas, inspiration, wisdom, and sometimes some eclectic whimsy for good measure, all centred around #OpenLeadership. At the heart of all of this is that I write to share learnings and to discover my thoughts. Over the years i have written (mostly) daily, over 2000 posts and 1,000,000 words (that last part blows my mind, tbh!). Enjoy browsing.
Do it for them, not to them
Seth Godin wrote this the other day: The Empathy of Magic Magicians know where the trapdoors are, what’s up their sleeves and how to hide the ball. And yet, mechanical skill is just the first step in being actually good at magic. The real skill is in finding the...
Do it for them, not to them
A thought that jumps off the page for me was “Do it FOR them, not TO them”.
When did you last plan to be bored?
If we plan to be bored, we allow our minds freedom for creativity and diversity of thought. For the seven weekends starting at the beginning of June I have full plans for every single weekend except one. This weekend I have no plans. Well, a regular Sunday morning...
Take a walk
Take a Walk and experience the power of shifting context for yourself. Walking is beneficial to the body and the mind. Last week I wrote a post called "It is solved by walking", itself linking to an earlier and more detailed post about the power of shifting context by...
Travel and Shifting Context
Travel has the power to shift our context, causing us to look at things in different ways. A one hour flight, thirty-five minutes drive, a converted shipping container on a farm overlooking a view for miles and miles...
When business feels like family
When a business feels like family, everyone wants to be a part of it. How can you achieve this feeling with your company and make it stronger? This weekend I was in the Scottish Borders visiting family. Craving a curry, I found a restaurant with excellent ratings in a...
New Zealand’s WHY – Well Being
New Zealand has decided to guide their budget and purpose as a country on the well being of their people. Yesterday I wrote: "get clear on the WHY and the HOW is easy". In that post, I noted: "collectively when we are all clear on our WHY then we can also trust each...
Get clear on the WHY and the HOW is easy
Having a clear why for your purpose can guide the way for the what and how to be achieved. "Les pierres du chantier ne sont en vrac qu’en apparence, s’il est, perdu dans le chantier, un homme, serait-il seul, qui pense cathédrale." This is a quote from Antoine...
Unearthing the hidden assets in your people
Yesterday I wrote: "Do you know the hidden assets in your business?" with a focus on the people in your business. Today I'll share a simple tool that has many valuable applications, including unearthing the hidden assets in your people. Ikigai I have been drawn to the...
Do you know the hidden assets in your business?
Knowing the assets and liabilities of your business is important. Some hidden assets do not appear on the balance sheet in the valuation of your business. As a leader, I am sure you know what your Assets and Liabilities are. You know, the component parts of...
Drawing one voice out of two separate strings
Today, some thoughts on the poem "Drawing one voice out of two separate strings" by Rilke, and how it relates to changing paradigms of leadership. Today's post comes from one of my usual wide-ranging conversations with my brilliant friend Bruce Peters. Our general...
It is solved by walking
Recently I was reminded of the Latin phrase "Solvitur Ambulando", literally: "it is solved by walking". A while ago I wrote an extensive post with lots of thoughts around and linked to this, called "Solving problems by taking a walk". Today some simpler and more...
Leading from Purpose – your golden opportunity
Leading from Purpose is a golden opportunity to bring out the best in your people. "There is a natural pull for executives, even CEOs, to be managers rather than leaders. They can become so focused on profit that they cannot generate profit because they cannot release...
Are you sure? Truth, certainty and politics
Musings on being sure. Truth and certainty in politics and life. Recently I posted about "Language, truth and trust", noting the power of language and how we can take very different meanings from it. Today, curating a video from Aeon which features a video that really...