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If eyes are the windows to the soul, your questions are a window to your values. The way you ask questions reveals what you care about, what you expect, and how you relate to others. As an executive, John (not his real name) had a vision for innovation and growth. However, he felt his team...
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Imagine you work with a leader named John. He recently discovered he can increase his tolerance of ambiguity and leadership effectiveness by being more curious. He read that using the ‘5 Whys’ technique and greater use of ‘What If’ questions are good places to start. However, once he started, he stopped experimenting with how to...
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One of my coaching clients, let’s call her Liz, prided herself on being a great questioner. She believed that by asking her team members questions, she empowered them to think for themselves and come up with the best solutions. However, when I observed her in a meeting, I noticed that her questions were not opening...
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Let’s go back to the late 2000s. You want to watch a movie or TV show. You could rent a DVD at a video store or stream it online on your computer or TV. What would you choose if the data on your internet plan was not a barrier? Most people would choose streaming because...
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When working with organisations, I often hear they’re challenged by the silos that exist between work areas and how hard it is to break them down. Executive leaders express frustration at how hierarchical thinking means opportunities for peer collaboration are lost because the default is to escalate issues. Team members expect one executive to speak...
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Imagine you are a successful engineer who has been promoted to a management role. You are offered training in technical management skills like budgeting and using the in-house software systems. But you quickly realise these skills are not enough to help you deal with the messy and unpredictable problems that you face as a leader....
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Feeling connected in today’s world can be tough. Loneliness and social isolation are not unusual experiences. It doesn’t matter whether you’re young, ageing, on a high income, impacted by the social determinants of health, living with multiple health conditions, going through a life transition or stuck like a hamster on a wheel. We can all...
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Sometimes we need to make decisions that break our hearts. We found our gentle giant Ollie when a local pet rescue organisation advertised him as a $99 Christmas special. He captured our hearts from the moment we saw the image of him sitting majestically, paws crossed, replete with reindeer antlers. He was on sale because...
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I’m a big believer in working with your strengths. So, it was no surprise when I started working with a DNA performance coach to help me understand myself better after noticing a significant, sustained slump in my energy levels. My coach is helping me to understand my different DNA signatures and how they impact my...
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Imagine that you are leading a major change initiative in your organisation. You have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, a detailed plan of action, and a strong team of supporters. You are confident that you can follow the plan and deliver the expected results. Sounds good, right? I must ask, what...
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A recent trip to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Tasmania had me reflecting on the value of how we choose to show up in the face of ambiguity. MONA is a unique and unconventional museum that showcases contemporary art from around the world. Before you arrive, you are instructed to download an...
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Many years ago, I worked with a woman who was very proud of her membership in Mensa, the exclusive society for people with high IQs. Although she had a reasonable level of EQ, the work environment had changed significantly since she had advanced in her career. Her career stalled, and after several organisational restructures, she...
Read itIf the complexity in your organisation isn't going anywhere, and you have less certainty than you'd like, that's ground Susanne has worked for thirty years.
Start with a conversation to find your team's way through.
