What to do when people let you down

It wasn't long ago I spent a weekend interstate catching up with a friend of mine. We went out for breakfast, played golf, watched some footy, and went out for a few drinks. In between we each took a little time out to organise a few things for work - me for my practice and he for the business he runs. He was excited to get his managers together to share the strategy he had been working on in the previous few weeks. I was excited for him. He had put a lot of thinking and investment into the process and getting everyone on board was a singular focus for his Monday morning meeting.

The path to misery

You're trying to do the right thing by everyone. You go out of your way to please the people in your team. You even work longer hours to do what is required to give people what they want. The hours they want. The exposure to opportunities they want. The instructions they want. The tools they have asked for. Even less work to do. And at the end of it, someone is still moaning. There may even be a scuffle between team members due to the actions we take to keep them all happy!

Adjusting focus during a challenge makes the world of difference

Two punctures in three bike rides!

When trying to keep the festive inches off my waistline while on holiday I have found it tough to get out and do exercise. But, when I got a 'another blow' out, only this time it was about 45 minutes walk from home, I immediately had a few things come to mind....

Beginning well sees us through to the end

In my keynote speech, Regaining Momentum, I mention the contrary nature of starts. They present the biggest friction while being the biggest opportunity. When we ride a bicycle, the hardest peddle is the first push off. Once we are moving the effort needed to peddle is low.

Retaining essence through growth

There is nothing better than working with people and companies experiencing growth and success. Especially during such difficult times. It has been fascinating to hear and observe of all the problems such growth brings up. It is almost irritating for the management of these businesses. They have over achieved during tough business conditions, yet they are being faced with new challenges they didn't expect. One theme I am hearing is a loss of identity felt by the staff.

Protecting ‘what is yours’ linked to more worry and less belief

It turns out that sharing is more than just caring. In a recent study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, researchers strengthened the link between workplace knowledge sharing and increased creativity (amongst many other benefits. But what does this mean in real terms?

My 5 top reasons for taking on the hardest job in the world

They say there are two certainties in life - death and taxes. I have a third one to add - managers complain over a drink! Business owners, Department Managers, Executives, and Mid or Lower Level Managers... they are dotted throughout our social circles and when conversation turns to work, the tales of struggle pursue.

Hitting and missing targets lack meaning in isolation

Over the past two weeks I had the privilege of attending Simon Sineks two part series talking about his latest work, The Infinite Game. The premise is that business is not a finite game like sport where there are set rules, players, playing time, and boundaries. Business is an infinite game where there is no start or finish line, there is no winner at the end, and almost everything is dynamic along the way. In an infinite game the aim of the people playing is to perpetuate and remain in the game.

Why telling people to 'fall-in-line' is exactly what they want

After months of lockdown, Victorians have been set free. Over the past few weeks we have visited friends and traveled regionally - it's been great. Especially, a weekend we spent in a regional town last weekend. We ate, drank, walked, relaxed, and shopped. It was SO GOOD!

Be strategic with your effort

Can you feel it? Everyone you speak to seems to have zero time for meetings and very long 'to-do lists'. That look of panic you saw on everyone's faces a week before final exams at school are all around us.

Lead for less friction and hit 2021 with renewed momentum

Steven Pressfield says in his book The War of Art:

"it's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is the sitting down to write. What keeps us from sitting down is resistance"

We are wrong more often than we think. Doing it well is critical for leaders.

On the weekend Melburnians were released from over 100 days of lock down. It meant everyone went straight to the pubs, cafes, and restaurants where booking were essential. But, many of us missed out and had to resort to what we did in our younger days - get some drinks and go sit in the park!

Why a coach bolsters your leadership and doesn't undermine it

A few years ago I sat with a Franchisee Group that owned a string of locations to discuss the possibility of me working with their location managers. Improving marketing, staff motivation, and general business processes were all on the agenda. When I discussed the service of coaching as a solution, one of the owners turned to me and said, "isn't that what our group manager is meant to be doing? Coaching our location managers...?"

Investing in basics is our number one strategy in uncertain times

The Barefoot Investor is a financial staple across Australian households. It is an easy-to-read financial guide for everyday people giving guidance for financial decisions we all face. I own it, and many of my friends do too. For some reason, I found myself reflecting on it as I was getting dressed over the weekend. Maybe because of the financial uncertainty and instability seen across the world at the moment. But, on reflection I think it was because I was choosing my underwear and socks for the day... Allow me to explain.

Studies show this one daily habit reduces gossip, nonsense, and cliques

Is there anything worse...? Going to work every day knowing grudges and interpersonal conflict is inevitable. Its a sure way to distract us from our work and make us feel exhausted and fatigued even before looking at our first email for the day. When our teams are rife with these issues the possibility of collaboration, sharing, or cross-functional problem solving become near impossible. I have seen teams self-destruct and entire careers derailed because of this.

No one wants to do it, but how do we stop ourselves from falling into the micromanagement trap?

If I were to be call you a Micro-manager it is probable you would be offended by my saying so. But, what if it was a complement?

The not-so-sexy element of rhythm

In a recent interview I did on Shane Hatton's show Phone Calls with Clever People, we honed in on the Technical pillar of Rhythm, which I discuss in The Rhythm Effect. I jokingly talked about this as the 'poor cousin' or 'unsexy bit' of rhythm. We laughed, but I am deadly serious about it. In fact, I am obsessed with the Technical Skills in the framework of rhythm.

A tale of respect earnt and making every word count

This week Justin Westhoff announced his retirement from professional football in the AFL. To most people, this is quite meaningless. To people who follow the game, it is a nice little footnote. For passionate Port Adelaide supporters like myself, it is a moment to reflect on the service of a very unique and dedicated servant to the club.

The counter-intuitive fact about teams leaders need to be aware of

This may seem counter-intuitive. How can it be that being placed in a team can lower people’s motivation? This may be especially difficult to understand if you thrive on group learning and doing things with others.

In 2020 doing this one thing could save 100's of hours for you and your people

Every coaching, mentoring, and training session I do is preceded by a leadership journal or diagnostic of some sort for clients to input their thoughts and experiences. It is a way people can independently 'brain dump' their work challenges and suggested actions in a safe and uninterpreted way. This in itself is a great practice in the face of the complex problems we are trying to solve on a daily basis.