Be assertive, not aggressive. Practical steps to build assertiveness…

Navigating difficult conversations without causing conflict is an essential skill, but it’s easier said than done. I read a piece from Team Sterka – a business that supercharges client interactions through their People Skills As A Service® programme – that struck a chord.  They said: be assertive, but don’t be aggressive. This simple yet powerful distinction is especially important in situations […]

Perfection is impossible – lessons from Federer

“Perfection is impossible. Throughout my career, I played 1,526 singles matches and won nearly 80% of them. But do you know how many points I actually won? Just 54%. That’s right, even at the highest level of tennis, players win just over half the points they play. This teaches you an important lesson: you can’t […]

Bad Habits. 13 Things to Give Up

When you’re feeling stressed, anxious or somewhat overwhelmed, it can be hard to know where to start. This list of ’13 things you should give up’ is as good a starting place as any. Choose one, practice it, make it a habit. Then choose another, and repeat. Small, simple (not easy) incremental changes that have […]

Stop Stressing: The Hidden Cost of Deferred Tasks and How to Beat It

Chris Williamson shared an insightful concept on The Diary of a CEO podcast that speaks directly to the challenges many leaders face today. He introduced the idea of a “stress cost” that arises when we defer tasks. According to Williamson, when we postpone an activity, it doesn’t simply vanish; it lingers in our minds, becoming a constant […]

Resilient businesses don’t just bounce back from challenges, they bounce forward

I’ve spent years helping leaders navigate the complexities of organisational resilience. I even write a book that is, at its core, about helping leaders to become more resilient – or avoid demising their resilience. When I came across this article by Dana Maor, Michael Park, and Brooke Weddle from McKinsey & Company titled “Raising the […]

Motivating Change in the Workplace

Imagine a workplace where everyone did what you needed them to do, without the need for micro-management and prodding. Even better, picture employees doing these things because they genuinely want to, not because they have to!  As leaders, our goal is to create an environment where motivation thrives naturally. And it’s achievable reality through understanding […]