Neuro-leadership is about engagement
“One doesn’t have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient” (Charles M Blow) Don’t we all love ‘position’ – a title, a promotion, status?...
View ArticleUphold the dignity of the human being
“If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion societies and all that. But they are everywhere and...
View ArticleRethinking criticism
“A microscope of faith is far better than a telescope of criticism” (Anon) While helpful feedback is aimed at improving or enhancing the performance of an employee or team and accelerating business...
View ArticleShowing up well in life
“One’s real life is so often the life one does not lead” (Oscar Wilde) Creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and regular old people are forever searching for the secret to inspiration. Is it a flash,...
View ArticleThe power of appropriate attention
“I heard approaching footsteps. I reached out my hand, as I supposed, to my mother. Someone took it, and I was caught up and held close in the arms of her who had come to reveal all things to me, and...
View ArticleBeware of sedentary senior leaders
A sedentary lifestyle is often characterised by sitting or lying down while engaged in an activity like socializing, watching TV, playing video games, reading, or using a mobile phone or computer for...
View ArticlePower versus empowerment
“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because...
View ArticleYour tongue could cause deafness
“His thoughts were slow, His words were few, and never formed to glisten. But he was a joy to all his friends – You should have heard him listen”. (Anon) Listening is a rare phenomenon amongst human...
View ArticleA leadership approach that influences
“A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:16) I have travelled to the beautiful island of Madagascar more times than I can remember. Sometimes a forgotten island by...
View ArticleLeaders, tame your tongues today
“… the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark” (James 3: 5) Although the weight of the human tongue is only about 60...
View ArticleWhat is not changing?
2020 has been a year like no other – some are even saying: “It’s the end of the world as we know it”. People have endured hardships everywhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has been pervasive with virtually...
View ArticlePost COVID-19 – inclusivity
“Thinking collaboratively is not new. What is new is the increasing complexity of information flow in organisations that calls for high levels of engagement, innovation and collective problem-solving”...
View ArticleThe recruitment advertisement
“We are hiring!” Many adverts are boring, but some job postings are fun – like this one I happened to read recently: “Thanks for taking a look at the job description for … We felt a little bit...
View ArticleFight, flee, freeze, or …?
When confronted by significant differences of opinion with others, aggressive communication or manipulative forms of behaviour, particularly from those in more senior positions, many employees are...
View ArticleTreat staff with dignity and respect
“It does not make sense to hire chess players and then treat them like chess pieces” (Anon) I was always taught to treat the cleaner like I treat the managing director/CEO – i.e., with dignity and...
View ArticleDon’t cause emotional dissonance at work
I finally landed at the international airport, on my way home after a week-long trip abroad. It was an early arrival and I approached passport control, greeted the official, who answered: “Yeah”. I...
View ArticleWhen I disagree with my boss, how do I communicate that to him without coming...
We are all different and thus have different opinions and ideas about issues, processes and systems. At times, we disagree significantly with a decision made by the boss, particularly if we perceive...
View ArticleResolving issues with your boss without being a nag
You’ve asked your boss to assist you in resolving an issue – he said that he would, but it remains unresolved. You’ve asked him again – he mentioned that he has been too busy, but that he would do it....
View ArticleFrom unconscious bias to conscious inclusion
We all have it – a nasty condition called ‘unconscious bias’. This “ailment” permeates our thinking. It guides the decisions that we make. It motivates favour for one above the other. It unconsciously...
View ArticleStructured conversations for relational success
So much has been written for leaders and managers, team leaders and organisational heads – and rightly so, as there is a huge leadership skills gap in the world. Very little, however, has been written...
View Article
