Sustain the messy, transformative work of real connection One day last week, like many of you, I spent fifteen hours on a computer. This included four group webinars (one of which was a hundred faceless people), six Zoom meetings, and the normal transactional activity of small business. Closing my screen at 7pm, I felt strangely […]
Leadership in Crisis
Deep Leadership Skills for Leaders and Senior Teams Rarely do we encounter times when deep leadership is so critical. The world and its operating systems are thrown into a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) crucible. Leadership is deeply challenged. In time, history will create stories of who failed and who prevailed. For now, the […]
Spirit in Action Part 3
“Life is a storm. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you human is what you do when that storm comes.” Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo. Part 1 explored what Spirit in Action is and Part 2 scoped out why this is important […]
The Eudaimonia Drive
Perspectives on Mental Health Week When we hear “mental health”, the words ADHD, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression and suicide tend to surface. This is counter-productive. Aristotle’s and the Stoics eudaimonia is a powerful idea. It may be a better frame to reduce suffering. Supported by 2,500 years of practical philosophy, eudaimonia means good (eu) spirit […]
How to Master your Anger
Anger mastery transforms your life and our world While treating a music industry executive for dangerously high blood pressure, I noticed that in the mornings it was high and in the afternoons almost normal. This man loved his job and was otherwise very healthy. One afternoon after a normal reading, he told me about his road […]
Resilient Leadership in a Nutshell
Insight, mastery, connection and influence Resilience searches are booming and many definitions exist. We believe it is a learned ability to demonstrate bounce, courage, connection and creativity. This set of skills is closely interrelated. Bounce requires courage, connection and creativity. Equally, creativity requires bounce, courage and connection. While interrelated, cultivating resilient leadership is a journey that […]
Empathy: have we taken it too far?
Distorted and short-sighted or the solution for our lives and our planet? First, I recommend that you read both of these masterful books before you judge. Paul Bloom has put the cat amongst the pigeons with one book that stands against a wave of 1,500 plus books on empathy. We have gorged on empathy. We […]
Women Suffering at Work
Resilience Delivers Part Two Read Part 1 here. Forget the Glass Ceiling: Fix Resilience Are women more resilient than men or are women suffering? We see evidence of resilience in longevity, pregnancy, and capacity to change societal outcomes through education. Yet, our data, drawn from organisational life, shows women suffering at work. They are struggling with resilience […]
Christmas Connection Workouts
The Point Coming to the end of 2016, NOW is the time to work on connection. All too often we crash exhausted into Christmas holidays. Combined with unrealistic expectations we are irritable and prone to excess. Conflict erupts, anger and sadness leave us isolated and disconnected. An opportunity for rejuvenating connection and joy can be […]