Why Leaders Need To Go Into Bat

As leaders, we all have a responsibility to Stand Up to these injustices. Otherwise, all our hard work to gain and increase trust is diminished. In my experience, whenever a business is struggling with the performance there are cliques and political manoeuvres happening all over the place.

The powerful concept of opportunity

The first thing that comes to people’s mind when you mention rhythm is music. We often talk of people having ‘great rhythm’ or commenting on a song having a ‘nice rhythm to it’. But, what are people actually talking about? It’s one of those things that everyone understands, yet would find it very difficult to describe. And, when asked what the ingredients of rhythm are most would struggle to give a concise answer.

The Agreeable Leadership Style That Sends Us To Extinction

Because of boredom or a want to hold onto comfort, Existor Leaders will agree with whatever people say. They may even agree with statements and poor decisions from peers and junior staff. They don’t build a case or engage with a problem. They just want to punch the clock, get their pay check and go home. Sometimes, agreeing to do a little more work is preferable to an Existor rather than having to argue or stand up to injustice or poor decisions. It is easy to see why Existors are generally not respected.

The Power of Servant Leadership in the Modern Age

In the coming years the team would slowly progress up the ladder. They would cement their place in the premium yearly European cup competition (The Champions League), and they would financially stabilise and then thrive. As a close observer it has been a wonderful organisation to observe closely as they put into place a lot of the concepts I have been researching for The Rhythm Effect.

Being able to motivate others requires consistency rather than rationale

If we think we can have a one-off chat with each staff member or each client and jot down what colour wine they like best, what their favourite currency of incentive is, and if they prefer email or text communication and we are done, we will be sorely disappointed. It is not a shopping list that needs ticking off. People are complex and the triggers that help them to perform are also complex. They are also dynamic so what motivates someone today may change tomorrow. If we do not keep up with the cascade of changes we can find ourselves becoming irrelevant very quickly.

Practical tips for leaders to generate momentum

Last week I released a new program called Leading Momentum. Something that a lot of people had talked to me about. With things feeling lethargic, sluggish, and slow moving there seemed to be a need for learning about momentum...

The Value Of Maximising Interaction Opportunity

Throughout my career as a Health Therapist and then in the Retail Industry, the key metrics all revolved around Transactions. Usually looking at how many Transactions, the average spend per Transaction, the number of units brought per Transaction, and so on. These would tell us how many people were buying from us and how much they spent during their visits. This was helpful to guide us to where we could improve our marketing and customer experience. As leaders, daily and weekly decisions are based on these tangible metrics which become a part of the vernacular. Every industry has their version of this.

Unnecessary Cost Centre's Are Missed Opportunities For Cohesion

It has been super irritating... Every time I write notes I take a photo of them on my phone and upload it to my Evernote for filing. But, the process hasn't been working lately. If it does work, it doesn't sync with my other devices. My initial response was to try a few work around's - take the photo inside Evernote, or share the photo through the Photo App into Evernote, or to pile up my notes and put my head in the sand (that didn't work well at all by the way...)

Doing Lots But Not Getting Anywhere - A Sign That One Element Is Missing

When I quit my corporate job in 2013, I was clear on what I wanted to do - to be a full time Educator. To facilitate, author, and speak on High Performance Topics. I had management experience, corporate experience, and a huge sack full of random knowledge and experience that comes from working and living all over the world in many different industries. But, I didn't have a name, a business, or any clients. I had to start from scratch. This is the definition of having zero momentum.

Basics Are Undermining Our Performance

I arrive early before going on stage to present a talk on High Performance at a National Conference for the number one brand (in their category). This is a room full of high achievers. The constant talk over coffee amongst the troops has been about how they will continue to maintain market share. In such situations I like to chit chat with the attendees before my slot and ask about their day, their year so far, and what is generally happening in their world.

How keeping people accountable is different from breeding an accountability culture

I feel strongly that leaders are required to balance two key responsibilities: Performance and Care. It is a precarious balance to find and maintain as one can outweigh the other, or they can feel like adversaries resulting in confusion, mixed messaging, and possible micro-management. None of these set a good base for accountability and harmonious working relationships.

Standing Still Creates Nothing But More Friction

For years, I have been asking under performing front line staff "what is your definition of fun?".

I often get blank looks. It is a starting point to discuss how checking social media all day is not fun. Procrastination, politics, gossip, and generally 'having a laugh' at the expense of 'getting shit done' may all provide short term highs, but there is an underlying edginess that comes with it.

The Costs Are Multiple And Painful When Operating Transactionally

Like many, I have been buying up all sorts of tech toys recently. The home office has gone through some upgrades and the ques outside of the computer store I visited a few days ago, show I am not the only one.

Trying To Keep The Peace Is The Quickest Way To Misery

I have no idea how I got to this point. All I was trying to do was be polite. Do the right thing by everyone. And have a positive supportive environment for everyone to work in. But, instead, it seems like everyone is stabbing everyone else in the back and everyone thinks it's my fault.

Good work done inconsistently masks weak and unstable performance

You know that feeling when things are just happening for you. Things are coming easy. And you feel light as a feather. That thing I've mentioned before about ‘being in the zone’. Its one of the best feelings on the planet. I get this sometime when I’m playing golf. Occasionally, the club hits the ball sweetly. It sounds amazing. It feels brilliant! And the flight of the ball is straight and gentle as it penetrates the air with piercing speed. It is also controlled (the best a hack golfer like myself can hope for), but does not happen often.

The Game We Are Really Playing

If you were a professional sporting coach and the volume of training you were putting your athletes through had been maximised, what would you do?

What I learnt from my Dean Waugh crisis

I’m playing a One-Day cricket match on a hot day at Campbelltown Oval for my grade club East Torrens in South Australia. I’m bowling first change in batting-friendly conditions. The batsman is the third Waugh brother - Dean. Apparently, the best batsman of all the brothers (for the sake of the story let’s just say he is 😉).

A time to go big, not small

Disruption is not fun. It really isn’t. It’s like being Harrison Ford in The Fugitive. One day you’re an award-winning Doctor, next you are running for your life. Looking over your shoulder constantly not knowing if you’ll survive another day.

Focused on contribution without fuss

I had the privilege of going to the Women's T20 World Cup Final this week. What a cracker of a night! It was a brilliant showcase of community, sport, and inclusiveness. When it came to the cricket, the Aussies put in an almost faultless performance to swipe the Indian team aside to win the championship.

Artifacts connect us to our work and boost performance

The Maori warriors would use stealth to consolidate their forces and approach their enemy. At night time they would scout and travel the terrain. To guide their forces they would use the leaves of the native Silver Fern. When this leaf is turned upside down the underside of the leaf would reflect the moonlight with its silver-like reflective surface. They would lay the ferns out like bread crumbs for other warriors to follow - the fern represented 'the way forward'. Then when they returned home the last warrior would turn the leaves over so they could not be followed.