Few can deny that we live in chaotic times. But, are they really as chaotic as many would have you believe?

When I studied complexity theory at Warwick Business School, I learned that chaos is little more than unrecognised patterns. Which suggests a major opportunity, if you are able to believe this and do something about it.

What if, you could recognise those patterns before anyone else does, or at least, be up there with the leaders as more certainty begins to emerge? Read More

Have you noticed lately that I’m messing with your mind?

If indeed you actually read what I share, you will certainly have seen the change.

You see, many things have changed for all of us. To a large extent I’ve been playing. Trying our new ideas, exploring options and thinking a great deal about what the future could have in store.

It occurred to me this morning that what I have been doing is serving you up ideas that are half-baked. And now I think about it, that is perfect. Read More

Don’t trust me on this. Don’t believe anything I am about to say. Think about it and draw your own conclusion.

If you value your freedom, and you’re troubled by what is going on in the world right now, note carefully the implications of what I am sharing here.

Before I share the five vital questions for today, you need to gauge my trustworthiness. How seriously should you take what follows?

 

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What would your life be like if, no matter what happens in the future, you knew with complete certainty - that you’d be okay?

One thing the last few months have proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that inconceivable things can happen, and fast. Things that nobody in their wildest dreams, fantasies or nightmares, would have thought possible. Events that have turned our world upside down.

Now it has been proven that the unthinkable can happen, a huge dilemma appears on the horizon. What else could happen? What other things that we currently consider to be certain, may suddenly crumble? Read More

Ego states from the field of Transactional Analysis is one of those enduring models that returns time and again to my work as a coach.

The high-level summary is that when we engage with another person we think and act either as a parent, adult or child. They respond likewise, but perhaps from a different ego state. Thus, someone who presents as a parent will patronise and attempt to elicit the child in the other person. That person may or may not respond with the desired ego state (child) and thus the game begins.

In the professional world, what TA is always Read More

...unless you can prove it.

Otherwise, you are levelling a personal attack at me and I may choose to take that personally.

However, please feel free to disagree with any conclusion I have come to. That is right and proper. That you disagree with my thinking doesn’t challenge me, just my thinking.

Maybe you know something that I don’t know. Certainly, your Read More

It’s only just occurred to me that one client last year said to me in frustration, “I just wish the world would stop for a while.” One tends to hope that was a simple wish not a root cause of the current pandemic, but who knows?

Though now it is happening, many clients are taking this opportunity to pause and take stock with their lives and careers. A common starting point for many, “Is this what I really want?”

Then we get talking, and many start off down a familiar path, thinking of ambitions, goals, new jobs, achievements they have been shooting for, or aspire to now.

Several are also asking deeper questions about Read More

A deadly serious message to all Executives and CEOs.

Stop your team members collaborating - unless you are certain you have the correct strategy. Otherwise collaboration may well make things far worse and could even bring your organisation to an end.

This is counter-intuitive, and bucks the trend for collaborate, work together, the whole is greater than sum of the parts. Don’t believe Read More

We all know there are a lot of people around us who right now, are very afraid. The level of uncertainty, disruption is dare I say it, unprecedented.

Assuming you have a job to do, and you need their cooperation, or at least wish to help them in these difficult times, how should you modify your approach, because they may be scared out of their minds?

Standard approach from yours truly remains valid as a foundation: Read More

Since influence is the stand-out skill of today, it pays dividends to invest in developing your capability. But, you don’t need to go on a course to get better at it, all you have to do is look around you, think, then experiment.

Tell you what, try this exercise on a different individual each week and see what happens within a month. Read More