Are you leading change? Do you understand the key components in successfully leading change in today's disruptive world?On December 24th, 1968, fueled by fears of Russian space supremacy, and guided by President Kennedy’s vision, Apollo 8 comes around the moon for the first time.The astronauts are greeted with the most amazing spectacle – Earth Rise.From the Dawn of Time, man has … Read More
I’m writing this with a familiar knot in my stomach, pain behind my eyes and fatigue from a fitful sleep. I know this feeling, it’s the feeling of a fresh failure. Perhaps you relate?I’m no stranger to failure. I’ve been through divorce, business disruption and bad reviews, but before you think I’m a loser, read on, there just might be something of value here.A quick update, this is not a … Read More
My last article on personal brand was in 2009 - A lot's changed since then! And so I think it's time to revisit your personal brand and ask some tough questions.Jeff Bezos famously said, "Personal Brand is what people say about you after you leave the room". I think it's now more appropriate to say, Personal Brand is what will get you in the room, or a seat at the table!" I don't know about … Read More
It’s that time of year! A time to share a Motivational, Self-leadership Christmas Message.Regardless of your religious affiliation, or none, there’s an undeniable ‘Spirit of Christmas’. A spirit of giving, of family, of selflessness and renewal.Since leaving England in 1985, I have celebrated the majority of my Christmases in hot countries (Australia, Singapore and Brazil), but the … Read More
Imagine, three weeks at sea, cramped like cattle in a steerage compartment, or freezing on the deck of a steamer from Southern Europe. Then through the fog, you see the statue of Lady Liberty and the skyline of New York. It must have been breath-taking for the 12 million immigrants who started a new life in America, after being processed at Ellis Island.I’m English born, with an Australian … Read More
Leadership can't be taught in a classroom - or can it?In 2015, I received a call from Leona Tan, then a Managing Director at UBS in Singapore; "We know you coach leaders, how would you like to help us rescue a failing CSR project to help at-risk teenagers learn communication and leadership skills?"I paused, this was not my 'target market' and I wondered if my 'style' of challenging people … Read More
“That sucked, I suck” Stephen said to himself as he sat down after his presentation at the senior management team off-site. “I’m going to stay up all night and prepare for the next one.”Whilst preparation is a good idea, it’s how you prepare that matters. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice does.When we don’t perform as we expect or wish, whether in business, sport or … Read More
Philip was furious, he had worked hard, stayed late, been loyal, exceeded his numbers, but missed out on the promotion he was expecting. When he asked his boss the reason, he was told that the other directors felt he lacked, ‘Executive Presence’.Philip hadn’t realized that he was missing the ‘Secret Ingredient’ to success in a modern organization, and it cost him. Executive Presence is the … Read More
Being in my 50’s I remember when the computing power of today was just a science fiction dream, but now there seems to be a device or an app for almost everything.I see my 9-year old son, regularly disappearing into a virtual world, and I feel uneasy. I wonder if perhaps he won't develop the required physical and psychological muscles for success in the real world.Don’t get me wrong, I’m … Read More
So much has already been written about the VUCA world we live in, and so it’s not news that leaders face daily complexity in decision making. Tried and tested methods of analyzing situations may no longer be applicable or take too long to be relevant.Today I was chatting to a GM of a well-known multi-national; a remarkable, hard-working, resilient and self-aware, Asian Woman, about values and … Read More