Hala Batainah

Last week, I wrote about the outdated beliefs that quietly run in the background, long after we have outgrown them. This week, I want to slow down and explore how those beliefs feel in the quiet in-between moments. This is not circling the drain on the same topic. It is taking the time to get … Read more

There is a moment, often in between the noise, after the client call, during a long drive, in that quiet five minutes between one meeting ending and another beginning, when something flickers. And no, it not your brain resetting. It is that fleeting, uncomfortable question that surfaces when the noise dies down: “Why am I … Read more

And the sooner you stop trying to make it so, the better leader you will be. As we approach the end of the month and the final post in this series on rapport, I wanted to share a perspective on something I am hearing frequently from senior leaders. Sometimes in coaching sessions. Sometimes in the … Read more

We have all been there. A moment passes. Something shifts. A conversation that was flowing suddenly feels flat. A person who used to lean in now pulls back. It is subtle, but unmistakable: the connection is not quite there anymore. Last week, we explored the signs that rapport has ruptured. This week, we focus on … Read more

Last week, we looked at rapport as a living, breathing part of connection. It is not a one-time event. You do not “build rapport” and walk away with a certificate. It is something that needs to be noticed, sustained and rebalanced, especially in conversations that matter. This week, I want to turn our attention to … Read more

Like many leaders, I always thought I had a solid grasp of rapport. After all, I have built my career around human connection. Whether in sales, executive roles, or now as an executive coach, I have been reading rooms since childhood – literally. My father was a diplomat. I know how to build trust, how … Read more

This one is a little more personal than usual. It is about trust, and how sometimes, the trust others place in us can shape everything. 35 Years Ago, I Arrived in Australia I was young, unsure of what lay ahead, and still finding my voice.I had no business connections. No network. No real sense of … Read more

It did not fall apart in some dramatic way. It started, as these things often do, in a meeting. A senior leader I partnered with told me about a moment she almost missed. Her Head of Strategy, someone sharp, usually vocal, full of energy, had gone quiet. Not completely silent, just… dialled down. Less challenge. … Read more

There is a moment every leader hits, often early in their tenure, when they realise something is off. A conversation they have been avoiding.An elephant they keep politely walking around.A tension that is NOT going anywhere on its own. They might tell themselves it is not the right time.That people are busy.That things might “settle … Read more

Last week, I wrote about self-trust, not confidence or charisma, but the quieter, more essential ability to trust your own judgment when things get messy. But self-trust is not the end of the story. In leadership, it is only the beginning. Because trust does not stop at you. It radiates. What you believe about yourself, … Read more