Empathy does not equal problem-solving. It’s a mistake many people make when someone shares a problem, concern, or emotion. It’s a mistake I fall into myself. Leaders do it with team members. Partners do it when their spouse comes home from work after a tough day. Instead of listening, we jump into fix-it mode. We […]
What are you doing to create space - and make it safe - for the quieter people in your team to speak up? That’s the question I posed to a roomful of medical leaders this week during my Soft is the New Hard workshop, and it got them thinking. Because it’s not only on the quieter people and passive communicators […]
How do you feel about public speaking? Do you get nervous? Power through it but breathe a sigh of relief when it’s over? Or maybe you're confident until the microphone is in your hand and all eyes are on you? If you're someone who dreads public speaking, you're not alone. Research shows it's one of the […]
Somehow it’s already mid-October and the pace is picking up. The sprint to the end of the year is on, and as timeframes tighten, it’s tempting to cram more in, only to watch in horror as your to-do list grows. But last week, while on a business retreat in sunny Queensland with my mentor Janine Garner, […]
The other night over dinner, I was talking to my sons about the importance of critical thinking, and how it’s a skill that has never been more vital to learn. That’s when my youngest, Lucas (aged 11), asked me: “What is critical thinking and how do you do it?” A simple question but such a […]
When you’re in disagreement - at work, at home, or in the community - it’s easy to go straight to what you don’t agree on. To dig your heels in. To focus on what sets you apart. But if you want to lower the heat and actually get somewhere, don’t start with what divides you […]
The world feels like a bin fire right now. Everywhere you look, people are angry, scared, and being pushed to pick a side.You’re either for or against. Right or wrong. Us or them. This polarisation is being fuelled by politicians, social media algorithms, news headlines, and even the way we talk to each other. And […]
I’m writing this newsletter from Sydney, where I’ve been working from Manly Beach for the past couple of days. There sure are worse places to set up your laptop. The last couple of months have been huge. Since July, I’ve been travelling across the country working with leaders and teams in a wide range of […]
On the back of my book, Soft is the New Hard, I ask the question: “Do you have days when you feel like you’re communicating with toddlers rather than adults in the workplace?” Based on the conversations I’ve had with people in all sorts of roles, across a wide range of industries, over the last few […]
“I just go to work to do my job and that’s it. I don’t do the peopling.” If that’s your mindset, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. If you want to build your influence at work, build your relationships. You don’t have to be loud, extroverted or everyone’s best mate. But if you want people […]
