The words “It’s not personal, it’s just business” are all too common. I’ve had them used to me, my staff and friends. And I’ve often read them in the media. The reality is, of course, that all business is personal. Every interaction we have with another human being is personal, founded on human to human … More “It’s not personal, it’s just business” is BS.
To be Human is… To be an adventurer. To embrace failure. To be authentic. To be messed up. To seek connection. To stand up for injustice. To love regardless. To say sorry. To be unique. To have faith. ∴ To be human is to step up. And play your part.
“Do you trust me?” I was asked with absolute sincerity. It’s a huge question because trust binds all relationships together. “Do you trust me?” is not a simple question, and in the years since I’ve come to realise that trust is made up of three things: Trust what I say Trust what I do Trust … More Do you trust me?
It was one of those lazy wet Sunday afternoons when I received the call from a team member just “letting me know” her house was surrounded in water. What was heavy rain on one side of town, was a torrential downpour on the other, that forced this solo mum and her son from their home. … More We Just Go
Waiting for somebody to change can be frustrating. As a leader, friend or parent, you’ve probably shared greats ideas. Encouraged them. Coached. Yet they’re still not changing, or if they are it’s far too slowly. In our mind we wonder ‘why can’t they just do it!’ When it comes to seeing change in others, we … More Waiting for change
It’s election year. This means you will hear two phrases in the media over the next 6 months. They are the terms “flip-flop” and “U-turn”. The media is exceptionally good at spotting a flip flop or U-turn in the opinion of a candidate. While keeping the politicians ‘honest’ is important, I get concerned when the … More Great Leaders Flip-Flop!
I can’t imagine what it’s like to go to war. I can’t imagine having the courage to leave my family. To say goodbye to those I love. I can’t imagine being shipped off to some distant land to fight for people you don’t know. I can’t imagine long periods in trenches. In jungles. On battlefields. Bored. Exhausted. … More I can’t imagine war
“You don’t understand,” I said partly in jest, “It has nothing to do with their fear of change. It’s ALL my own insecurities.” As soon as I heard the words leave my mouth, even though I was meaning them to bring humour, I knew they were true. I was trying to work out what my … More Letting Go
A few months ago I ranted about a poor customer experience I was having. It attracted a fair amount of attention (and weirdly ‘likes’) and the company took ownership and resolved. More than any time in history you have a voice to hundreds, if not thousands of people. You have the ability to contribute. To … More How do you use your social media voice?
I don’t understand how a person can be so broken, so full of hate, that they walk into a club and murder 49 people. I don’t understand how guns can be used in 231 US murders each week, and the people of America not see there is a problem with guns. I don’t understand why … More Why I don’t understand US politics, gun control and practically everything else.
Some people are easy to follow. There is something about them that gives us belief in ourselves and a desire to follow them and make great things happen. Other people are harder to follow. Being around them, following them, can be draining and demoralising. A few years ago I developed an acronym for what makes … More One word that defines extraordinary leaders
One of the first things you notice when you take a Tuk Tuk ride in Cambodia is the way they use their horns. They beep as a warning. Not out of frustration or anger, rather to let the scooter in front know they are there. To avoid a collision. To keep them both safe. They … More How do you give warnings?
“Failure’s not fun. But failure is required. Failure in the service of learning, of experimenting, of making things – this is essential. When you’re learning to walk, no one criticizes you when you fall down. Parents understand that you do it wrong and then you do it right. But that’s about the last time you … More Shame and failure
Recently I was having coffee with a guy who had taken some advice I have given him and was raving about it. The funny thing is that he confessed to me that one of his team had given him the same advice a few months earlier and he had largely ignored it. Often our familiarity with … More Does familiarity stop you listening?
“You’re the nicest person on the face of the planet! Thank you for being so gracious” was the response to me from one of the staff at a partner organisation, that does amazing work in bringing clean water to millions of people. All I had done was make their life a little bit easier by … More How to use an email to make someone’s day!
People Matter ∴ Do Good 