A huge issue in management is falling into the trap of black and white thinking. What is it? It’s called splitting in psychology – when we fail to see the shades of grey in issues (and in ourselves), and instead view people and situations as…
“Leadership is doing the right thing, even when it hurts”. This is a quote I picked up from Scott Galloway recently. And I think it’s a good point. We’re so often faced with a choice – in leadership, as in life – between what’s convenient…
When we enter management, we often feel we have to become what we can see. We tend to assume that leadership has to look a certain way. That it needs to be strong, unemotional, rigid and in control – because that’s how it’s so often…
No one is lazy. Just disengaged. And the problem with labelling someone as lazy? We shut the door on the possibility they could ever be more than that. I used to be freewheeling – like terrible – in labelling people as lazy. That guy who…
Sexism is a complicated topic, both in organisations and society more generally. As a man, I’m interested in how male leaders approach the topic of sexism. And – more importantly – how we can be advocates for addressing the issue. I know I’ll never fully…
“It’s all very ordinary once you get past the shiny suits and gruff exteriors”. I read that somewhere recently, though I can’t remember where. It was about celebrities (or maybe organised criminals 🤔😆). But the line stuck with me because it applies just as much…
Burnout is real. Burnout is tough. It’s the depressing feeling that descends on a Sunday night. The weariness that fills us when waking up before work. Most people have experienced episodes of this at points in their career. A few have experienced the pain of…
You can’t performance manage people anymore – you’ll just be accused of harassment. I’ve heard this so many times 🙄. And it’s just not true. So, why do people say this? I think some are genuinely misguided, but I think what many are really trying…
They’re here! Our Daily Acts of Leadership card decks are officially on sale 🥳🎉! Leadership isn’t just about the big moments. It’s shaped in the small, everyday actions that build trust, inspire others and create meaningful change. That’s exactly why we created this deck. Want…
Managing people is often annoying and exhausting. Our team members can confuse us, rub us the wrong way and disappoint us. This is genuinely frustrating and difficult to navigate at times. But it’s no excuse to drop our standards of respect and effectiveness as leaders.…
Pain is inevitable. But what happens next is up to us. We can process it and grow. Or avoid it and watch it repeat. It’s inevitable that we experience painful moments, at work and in life. Pain is part of being human. Things go wrong:…
Would you work for a tobacco company? A gambling giant? A payday lender? Is it ok to do work for any organisation? Would you offer your time, effort and intelligence – whether as an employee or a consultant – to any kind or organisation, involved…
Here’s a word for something we all know, but rarely articulate: sonder. American writer John Koenig published an ambitious book in 2012, ‘The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows’. It’s an amazing project: he set about creating new words to describe complex emotions that lack a precise…
Are corporations inherently harmful, or are they simply reflections of the leaders who run them? It’s increasingly fashionable – particularly on the political fringes – to dismiss corporations as inherently harmful: exploitative, profit-driven and destructive to society. But I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong…
To be a good manager – or just a good person – doesn’t mean we need to be perfect. Being a good manager simply means that when we make mistakes, we: Nobody is perfect. To be imperfect is to be human. And striving for perfection…
I felt a mix of anxiety and excitement as Joel carefully cut open the carton on my dining room table yesterday. Inside was the final piece of something we’ve been working on for months: our first ever physical product, the Daily Acts of Leadership card…
Leadership might be serious business, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy ourselves along the way. So often, management and leadership content and advice is as dry as it is out of date and out of touch. We’re trying to change that in many…
Are you hard on behaviour but soft on people? You should be. Here’s why 👇. Most people most of the time are trying their best. When people stuff up, it’s rarely out of malice. Remember Hanlon’s Razor: “never attribute to malice that which is adequately…
Picture this situation that I’ve regularly observed over the years. A CEO is discussing an issue with some people within the organisation. It’s a novel problem with no obvious answers. They’re wrestling with it, thinking it through and trying to work out together what to…
We are more decent up close. When we interact with others directly, we tend to treat them better. Because we see their humanity, understand their challenges and treat them with greater decency. Whereas from a distance, it’s easier to dehumanise others and ignore the impact…