We are all on a development journey aren’t we? No matter what we have achieved, the dizzying heights we have scaled, there is always room for more.

Isn’t there?

So, who are you a role-model to? Who would you like to be a role model for? Or, what specifically would you like others to role-model from you?

Being realistic, how do you actually measure up right now? Be honest with yourself, are you the living breathing personification of your ideal? Have you measured up to what you want the world to notice, admire and hope to emulate?

Yes?

Liar. Read More

Do you remember the Photocopier game from 21 Dirty Tricks at Work? Well, that was just one example of how dubious characters can play you and your emotions to their advantage. So you really do need to pay attention to the way you keep reacting, and install some safely measures. Read More

Life is complicated enough without us making it more so.

While I strongly advocate simplicity, it frequently eludes me in my own work. Except, when I’m coaching.

Yesterday was a prime example of this. My client all-but slapped his forehead as yet another simple concept landed. Concepts that he already knew and accepted, but had been buried in the maelstrom of confusion, distraction and stress.

Which is why I love my work as a coach so much. Being that independent outsider ready, willing, and able, to reflect back the blindingly obvious to help people make significant and effortless shifts in their thinking and progress.

So, stimulated by the last few coaching calls, here are nine simple ideas that can help you to become more influential without too much effort or energy. Read More

With the 5Cs of The Influence to Thrive Model, perhaps the one which causes the most problems for people is Grasp Your CONTEXT. This has major consequences because unless you are intimately aware of the context in which you build and implement your vision, you’ll likely get nowhere fast.

Quite why Grasp Your CONTEXT is so difficult is unclear to me, but certainly, many struggle because of the often nebulous and subjective nature of this area. Aside from the professional agendas which are usually fairly straightforward to determine (well, at least the official version!), it takes confidence, determination and the Read More

Pause for a moment and think back to the last meeting you attended where a group came together to discuss a difficult situation, and a decision needed to be made. As you think back, you'll probably remember several people who appeared to be out of their depth, struggling to get their points across and getting frustrated. Those people may well have looked harassed, angry, or even fearful. I'm sure they felt passionately that the group should make a particular decision yet, somehow, they couldn't make it happen.

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“Every time I get an email from him, it triggers me.”

“I only have to see her on the invite list and my heart sinks.”

“He is so f***ing annoying.”

Oh dear, how easy it is for us all to allow others people and events to determine our emotional reaction.

“This is going to be difficult.”

“It can’t be done.”

“We don’t need to worry about that.”

Says who? Don’t we just love to Read More