Blog
Here you’ll find inspiration and practical advice all focused on your communication skills development, managing public speaking anxiety, improving your confidence in the workplace, developing effective leadership skills, knowing how best to find a new role or career, learning how to get promoted and understanding your strengths, skills and values.
Thanksgiving and leading with your gut
A tale about New York, travelling your way and why you should be grateful for what your gut’s telling you this Thanksgiving.
The 2 policemen looked at me like I was a bit nuts. “It’s like 20 blocks away” one of them repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Lead like Chris Martin
Do you have a headful of dreams but leadership causes you some trouble? Do you need something to help fix you? Something that's magic? Look no further, you'll be on the up and up before you know it with these leadership lessons from Chris Martin.
I saw Coldplay last weekend. It was a recording of their concert from the night before in Buenos Aires shown in the cinema. What was it like? Well, it ticked a few boxes.
Why leaders should ask questions
“If the day I came out of your tummy is called my birthday, what is the day called when I went into your tummy?” I reckon there was quite a pause, then.
You can imagine that was a special mother and son conversation...
Kids are curious. It’s how they learn. And they ask lots of questions.
What it’s like to be coached
You climb the ladder, and through a small cloud, there it is… new people to meet and new experiences to be had. And each time a new land to explore: the Land of Birthdays, the Land of Goodies, the Land of Take-What-You-Want and the Land of Do-As-You-Please.
I recently re-read one of my favourite books as a child, "The Enchanted Wood" by Enid Blyton. It was written a while back, in 1939, but in many ways it was the Harry Potter of its day.
Managing your emotions
How many emotions do you experience that you can identify as you’re experiencing them? And what are these emotions?
This was the question asked to 7000 people*. And guess what they said? How many emotions could they identify?
Connecting with your team as a leader
You’re a manager and lead a team. How do you connect with individuals and create an open, healthy communication? This is quite brilliant on the topic.
“Every year when we left California he made index cards for us. He wrote down every phone number where he might possibly be reached and taped a dime next to each number…
Walking your way to success
Taking a break is important and time spent outdoors is good for us. It gives us back energy. But is it as simple as just heading outside for a walk? Or should we consider where we’re going?
Here are 4 things to consider before you next stretch your legs.
What I learned from young leaders
“The best course in leadership the school offers” is how it’s often referred to at The Hotelschool The Hague: a five day outdoor programme in The Ardennes, Belgium.
Twelve young leaders are thrown together to complete a range of assignments, 2 night time hikes with overnight camps, a bunch of new leadership theory and not a lot of sleep. Having gone as a co-trainer on a retreat here’s what I learned…
The joy of missing out
You’ve probably heard of the fear of missing out (FOMO) but what about the joy of missing out (JOMO). Do you know about the great benefits of JOMO?
“People are worried about why you’re not going out” Martin said. I was then a 22 year old student and my friend was disappointed I was yet again not joining the crowd downtown on a Thursday night.
But I had plans.
Ten top tips for more confidence
I recently wrote about my recent experience at a networking event, that women were holding themselves back and that we need to talk about confidence. In this follow up blog I’m going to share 10 ways that can develop your confidence (whether you’re a woman or a man).
This means that the next time you’re given a brilliant opportunity you’ll reply with gusto “Why of course, I will be there with bells on - just try and stop me!”
Being a new manager
Congratulations, you've been promoted! Your stellar communication and leadership skills have been noticed and you're now in charge of motivating, guiding and looking after a group of people. Your team.
Whilst getting results is about doing stuff, a lot about being a manager is asking the right questions to help shift people's thinking to help them make decisions to get their own results. You can support your team members by using the following simple framework.
Why great coaching is like the classic cream tea
What’s coaching got to do with a cream tea? Quite a lot actually. A scone with just the right amount of crumble. Clotted cream that delivers heaven. Jam that is jamish in all the right ways. Served on elegant china and savoured with a great pot of tea.
If you’re thinking about coaching, here are a few things you should consider. And yes, what with the power of metaphor and the mention of yummy cakes, reading this might make your mouth water.