As we push through the last stretch of the year, many of us are caught in a relentless “rush, rush, rush, busy, busy, busy” cycle. There’s the pressure to tick every box, meet every deadline, and make it to the holidays in one piece. But, as tempting as it is to just power through, fuelled […]

How do I make someone talk about an issue when they don’t want to? That’s the question Lisa* asked me after attending my Don’t Shoot the Messenger workshop. Lisa was married with four kids and her relationship with her husband was in trouble. She’d tried to speak with him about their challenges many times, and even suggested relationship […]

Leading through change and uncertainty is tough. It requires the courage to not only support and deal with the feelings of your people, but also to lead yourself. You need the emotional intelligence to regulate your own emotions as you steer through the storm and the strength and self-awareness to model the behaviour you want […]

What do you think of when I say ‘aggressive communication’? I’m guessing you jump straight to the stereotypical image of a person who yells, bullies, threatens, and intimidates others with the aim of getting their own way. But while this is the version of aggressive communication most people picture, there’s a lot more to it […]

1. Remember, the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Be prepared, don’t be surprised. Rather than expecting someone to change, hoping they don’t say or do that thing, or playing over in your mind how angry they will make you, accept that this is who they are and don’t be surprised by their […]

As a leader, receiving feedback can be challenging, even when it’s constructive. It’s natural to feel defensive or uncomfortable when faced with what you perceive to be criticism. But, as a leader, your ability to not only accept but truly welcome and learn from feedback is vital for your personal growth, team dynamics, and organisational […]

If you’ve attended training with me, no doubt you’ve heard me speak about the fact that communication underpins all human relationships – be they professional or personal. And while most of you work with me to improve your communication, leadership and self-management in a professional sphere, the skills you learn in my sessions are applicable […]

As a leader, supporting your people through change can feel relentless. It is often exhausting and frustrating. Sometimes you may not feel like you’re leading at all, rather you feel like you’re dragging, pushing, pulling, cajoling and fighting tantruming toddlers. Or like you’re stuck in one of those nightmares where you’re trying to move forward […]

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had many conversations with people who are not at their best. They’re tired, stressed and overwhelmed. Some are navigating big changes in their workplaces and job uncertainty. Others are struggling with exhaustion after a long and challenging year. Their tolerance is shot and they’re getting frustrated and snappy. To […]

Ryan, a shift supervisor, had two operators in his team who were nearing retirement. Despite them both having 18 months to go before their end dates, the two men were already in what was jokingly referred to as the “departure lounge”. They’d checked out. They were doing the bare minimum and they weren’t interested in […]