I was reading some philosophy this morning that prompted me to reflect on the nature of communication and, particularly, on the need for greater discernment in how we receive and interpret the “data” of our lives. The need for greater ‘sensing’. By data, I don’t mean simply facts, figures or words. I mean the whole...
Fifty years ago the UK was about nationalised industries and state control. Leaders found their best selves through outward-bound development – physical challenges often in heavy drizzle and muddy ground. Over the past few years the UK has been moving back to nationalisation. Rail has gone first. Then steel. Maybe water will be next then...
Daily we take positions on the information we receive. Where there are gaps we might explore further. Often it is easier to fill with assumption. The source of the information also has an impact – do we trust it or not? Is it real or not? Once we’ve crossed these not insignificant tests off we...
I sometimes look back on my career and think did I ever master anything and does it matter. I was a skilled generalist leader in my corporate career but didn’t really become a specialist until I became an OD consultant and coach. Provoked by another discussion though I found myself reflecting on the value of...
If you have a garden, yours, like mine, is probably looking more than sorry for itself after several weeks of heat. Faithful watering (watering can only) is keeping its fatigue at bay, hopefully. Pondering the garden has got me thinking that leadership is much akin to gardening, not least because it requires us to consciously...
Wisdom in leadership is vital, and elephants are famed for being wise. Packing your Exec group with wise leaders is likely to bring huge rewards because wisdom isn’t just a factor of experience, though of course that helps, wisdom is an expression of consciousness. And by that, I mean a deep sense of knowing and...
I was reflecting the other day that living in and with the complexity of our world today demands a number of new powers. First amongst them may be the ability to see – something of course most of us take for granted. It can be overwhelming juggling the huge number of demands of our times...
The idea of paying it forward has been on my mind this week, prompted by attending the 19th birthday celebration for global business giving movement B1G1. azzur has been a member since 2013 and makes a donation for every person who completes leadership or team development with us. Our giving aids education (unsurprisingly), empowering women,...
Stability has been on my mind in recent days given the apparent instability of the world around us. I imagine it’s much the same for you. For most of us stability is important. Part of our sense of security. When it is in seemingly short supply anxiety can take hold, distracting us from what needs...
Some recent conversations have reminded me again of how communication, the words we use, the energy behind them, and the context in which they’re set can easily undermine rather than achieve our intention. For me this is all about the framing. Time poor, results challenged leaders may feel they don’t have time to think carefully...