Here’s something I used to feel guilty about: there are days where I don’t feel like being a manager. I’ve come to learn that feeling like this at times is both common, and entirely understandable. Because here’s the hard truth: a lot of the time,…
Managers, here’s a simple but effective team engagement hack I picked up a few years ago: At your next management meeting, invite someone else from the team or wider organisation — ideally someone less experienced — to give a quick presentation. Here’s the parameters: five…
I’ve spent countless hours searching for the best productivity apps and tools. Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Basecamp, Trello—you name it, I’ve probably tried it. For a long time, I thought the issue was that I hadn’t found the right tool yet. I thought the next app…
Difficult conversations are called that for a reason. They’re painful—for you and the other person. Here’s how to make them suck a bit less: First: your goal isn’t to make the conversation painless. It’s to be honest, clear, and respectful while staying true to what…
Confidence is important for effective leadership. But lots of managers get this completely wrong. Confidence inspires trust and reassures your team that things are under control. But many leaders misunderstand what confidence means. They think it’s about pretending. Acting like they have all the answers,…
Updated: October 2024 It’s a common thing to say when arranging meetings at work, e.g.: “When works for you? I’m flexible.” But it equally applies to organising things with your friends and family. You probably say “I’m flexible” out of consideration for the other person,…
When stepping into a new management role, the impulse to make early, significant changes is natural. The idea of making a big improvement to the team or the business feels energising. For most managers, this comes from wanting to have a positive impact. The desire…
When was the last time you apologised for something at work? If you can’t remember, consider: are you perfect, or are you not apologising for some other reason? I’ve noticed that some people in management roles don’t like to apologise. But this approach is dead…
The word ‘leadership’ is thrown around so often that it sometimes feels like it is losing its meaning. We see it everywhere: in job titles, on LinkedIn profiles, in performance reviews. But what does it really mean to be a leader? Has the term become…
This cartoon nails it! (cartoon credit: Kendra Allenby, The New Yorker) It’s a common dilemma. One that many of us face at some point in our careers. After years of honing our (usually technical) skills, we’re presented with a crossroad: the only way up seems…
Writing is one of the most powerful tools you have. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or simply trying to get a message across, the way you write can make or break your impact. Yet, most people don’t give it the attention it…
Here’s what they get wrong: ❌ Taking months to finish the process❌ Distracting their already busy team with endless ‘planning days’❌ Drowning in analysis before even starting the plan❌ Spending a fortune on strategy consultants The truth: ✔️ You can create a solid strategic plan…
Interviews are some of the more anxiety-inducing experiences related to our careers. The situation is nothing like most of us experience in our day-to-day work. It involves: It should be no surprise that most of us struggle to bring out our best. Compounding this challenge:…
You’ve probably heard of AMRAP in workouts – As Many Reps As Possible. Let’s apply this to your to-do list. Enter AMTAP: As Many Things As Possible. AMTAP goes against a lot of the conventional wisdom around productivity. Instead of prioritising your work using the…
I’ve let people go.I’ve said “no” when someone really wanted a “yes.”I’ve told my team that the business was struggling. It’s natural to want to delay delivering bad news. We put it off because we care. Because we don’t want to hurt people. But the…
Multitasking is common in our increasingly connected world. We’re paying attention to an increasing number of sources of incoming information. Sometimes we do it as a conscious attempt to get more done. More often, we do it without thinking – we’re just scanning our environment…
You’ll want to say things like “they just weren’t a good fit for our team” or “they didn’t live up to their resume”. I know I’ve said things like this. But the best leaders take accountability for their hiring decisions. Here are three things to…
Inconveniently, leverage works in both directions, positive and negative. The people you bring onto your team can be the driving force behind your greatest successes or the source of your biggest problems. Bringing in the right people will elevate your team’s performance and make the…
Here are some of my favourites: No shame if you use these. I do too. They can be handy shortcuts. Once I got past the vagueness, I found most of them useful. My top piece of business jargon? “Organisation Strategy” Here’s why: So, what is…
I thought this was pretty funny when I saw it the other day. Like most good jokes, it has a strong hint of truth to it. Because sadly, a lot of managers are not OK. A recent study by The Workforce Institute surveyed 3,400 workers…