Many senior leadership teams struggle to be cohesive and high performing. While some actively work to lift their game there are thousands and thousands of New Zealand organisations being “led” be dysfunctional…
How Picasso can make you a better leader
For centuries, artists have shaped how we see the world and we can learn leadership lessons from them. Pablo Picasso is a great example. Half a century before Apple was encouraging us…
You are contagious!
When we ask participants in our leadership programmes to identify the four things they most want in a leader – being inspiring is always one of them. Why? Because we want to…
Leadership Lessons from Jazz
“If you’re not making a mistake, it’s a mistake.”Miles Davis My favourite album is Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. Leading is a lot like jazz. Jazz is messy. Leaders face mess…
Feedback—why Kiwi “nice” isn’t nice at all
On a recent trip to San Francisco I walked into a made-to-measure clothing shop. It was early trading hours and I don’t think the boss and his assistant knew we were poking…
Three Practical Insights for Leading Remote Teams
I’ve noticed tons of articles going around on how to lead remote teams. Most seem to be based on theory rather than practice. With eight team members working from homes across the…
Feeling stressed? Take five.
We’ve been noticing in our consulting work that people are feeling increasingly stressed out. When we are alone with leaders and ask “how are you doing?”, it’s common for them to sit…
Can leadership be learned?
We believe that while some people may be more naturally inclined to lead, good leadership can be learned. One of the things that gets in the way of many people leading is…
The myth of motivation
Managers and leaders often ask us “how can I improve employee engagement?” We know why – motivated employees are more committed, effective, productive and creative. It makes smart business sense to have…
A ‘Catapult interview’ with Karen Beard-Greer
Karen Beard-Greer, Chief Executive, Independent Living Services What’s the most valuable leadership lesson you’ve learned? You don’t need all the detail to lead and achieve a positive outcome. Sitting in the chaos…