Today a Leadership lesson at two levels around the use of Idioms. Level One: Leaders, avoid USING clichéd idioms. Cliché : "a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought." Idiom: "a group of words established by usage as having a meaning...
In the early 1990s, we saw the beginnings of the widely available internet. Dial up only, super slow, very expensive. At one point I read an article in, I recall, Time Magazine, about the explosion of use of the internet by people, often older generations, seeking to...
You can tell a story in different ways, through all of our senses. How do you tell yours? Let me show you some storytelling I witnessed in one day in London last week, then a TED talk I recently saw that is masterful in this regard. First, on a gorgeous summer's day...
One turn of phrase around telling people something over and over is to say you "repeated ad nauseam", or literally until you were sick. One of the simplest to address gaps I see in leaders around engaging their people is to assume they have communicated their message...
"Never make a point without telling a story, and never tell a story, without making a point" ~ Ed Percival Another lesson from the master, Ed Percival. A hugely important part of leadership is about engaging your people. People connect to stories, so don't just give...
A dear friend recently counselled me: "Patience, my friend, is when nothing happens and you are ok with it." I loved this. That friend also noted to me that in so many areas of life (including in my roles with clients as a sounding board, coach etc) I am patience...
"We’re all lonely for something we don’t know we’re lonely for." ~ David Foster Wallace Early morning, awake and reading a lovely book by Matt Haig called "The Humans". As I read, I am stopped and mesmerised by this beautiful quote in the book from David Foster...
This week I went to New York to support my friend, the force of nature that is Rosie Von Lila (for more, see VonLila.com). Her guest at the event was New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake, an inspiring individual indeed. Paolo Coelho's latest email to his...
Socrates distilled wisdom encourages us to "Know Thyself", and I am on a constant journey of self-knowledge. I know I don't have all the answers at any stage in life, I'm constantly curious and like to think I have a "beginner's mind" and, in most areas, a Growth...
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Will Durant An absorbing, energising and inspiring conversation recently has me musing on the process and the act of writing and what it can bring to us. In that conversation, I was nudged...
"Between Stimulus and Response There Is a Space. In That Space Is Our Power To Choose Our Response" That quote is attributed to Viktor Frankl, author of "Man's Search for Meaning", the most personally impactful book I've ever read. Two recent meetings have had me...
“Zemblanity, the opposite of serendipity, the faculty of making unhappy, unlucky and expected discoveries by design.” ~ William Safire, The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time One could call this an Unpleasant Non-Surprise. Thanks to my friend Bruce...
“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” ~Bruce Lee I've written again and again...
"When you change the way you see things....the things you see change" ~Dr. Wayne Dyer Each week I typically have at least ten 1:1 meetings, some with clients, some with mentees, some with new people, some with longtime friends, colleagues, past clients. This past...
We are the sum total of our experiences. Yesterday's post talked about the power of belief, starting with self-belief. A core to #OpenLeadership is, then, self-knowledge, and recent conversations remind me of this quote : "We are the sum total of our experiences....
Yes. You. Can. Sharing inspiration from a Para Swimming event.
A great quote to begin with ! I am passionate about Diversity of Thought, I am super curious and love to learn from many different quarters and channels (hence my article yesterday: "Synthesising ideas – who inspires you?", listing some writers who inspire me, a group...
One definition of Synthesising is: "combining different aspects of your ideas and research and the ideas of others in order to produce new ideas" Many synthesised ideas are captured in my writing on this site, which is driven by a purpose best stated as : “Our highest...
Regular readers know that each Saturday I write a "Writing I Love" article, and last week I wrote about Mindset by Carol Dweck. I'd also reference the language and ask you to take a look at it and consider in the context of yesterday's post: "Language shapes the way...
I missed you! Why not? Don't do that! Have a safe flight! (and thanks to a dear friend and colleague for reminding me of this road sign in Cayman!) Four very commonly used phrases that you often use unconsciously. Four phrases that, variously, implant negatives when...
Would you pay more, much more, for someone who takes less time than anyone else to provide you the answers and impact you seek ?
Are you patient enough to lead transformative change slowly ? If not, I doubt you will succeed. Why ? read on.. and I’d love you…
Would you pay more, much more, for someone who takes less time than anyone else to provide you the answers and impact you seek?
Leadership lessons from an elite athlete in a pro sport. Which sport ? It may surprise you.
Leadership is the overarching theme of my writing on this site. As part of this, I write every Friday an article on "Smashing Paradigms", looking to challenge my own thinking and to be of support to you in the same way. First, for clarity on the word Paradigm,...
Would you pay more, much more, for someone who takes less time than anyone else to provide you the answers and impact you seek ?
I love this quote from Michael Jordan, as it speaks to "Deliberate Practice", a topic I wrote about yesterday, focusing on golf and Ben Hogan, as well as looking to prompt readers to consider where they are deliberate in what they do, whether it be in their personal...
The summer I was 15, the weather in the Scottish Borders was beautiful (so my memory tells me!). That year I got the "bug" to play golf. Junior membership was almost free and I rode my bike to the club with an old "half set" of clubs and spent all day there most of...
Could you go a week waiting overnight before replying to email? What might you learn?
So what is safe ? Being an Artist. Seriously. Read on…
So what is safe? Being an Artist. Seriously. Read on…
Leaders manage their energy so as to be at their best for others.
Good procrastination and identifying the “doesn’t matter” in your personal universe
Nice view, wouldn't you say ? How about this eight second video to give you a fuller sense, including the sound of the surf on the beach. https://youtu.be/XFa71LH3r8A This stunning location is where this week I have had the awesome privilege to be part of the beta...
When someone goes on a trip, do you automatically say “have a safe flight” ? Thoughts on the power of awareness around and use of…
Time is the most valuable commodity we have, are you “ruthlessly aware” of how you spend this currency ?