In this week’s blog post, I am exploring a dilemma some of us will face at some point in our professional leadership journey: when our leadership style diverges from the vision of the leader we aspire to be. What to do? The following are some of the tips I have learned when I have veered … Read more
I recently rewatched The Queen’s Gambit, a Netflix series that beautifully weaves a coming-of-age story of a young female chess player. It struck me that chess, in its strategic complexity, holds valuable lessons for leadership. In this week’s blog, I delve into these parallels, answering the question ‘What can chess teach us about leadership?’ and … Read more
Have you ever met someone so convinced of their infallibility that it borders on arrogance? Perhaps you have encountered a leader who seems to believe they are always right, unwilling to listen to others or acknowledge mistakes. Well, this is the dangerous territory of hubris. Hubris is not a fancy term for arrogance; it is … Read more
With International Women’s Day (IWD) happening this week, I cannot help but reflect on the tangled web of promises and realities we, as women, find ourselves in. Since late last year, I have been questioning many of our national and international systems, laws and human rights, and while it is not typically what I focus … Read more
This week, I wanted to delve into what conflict can teach us about ourselves as leaders, exploring how challenges unveil our character, decision-making capabilities, and resilience. In the dynamic landscape of organisational life, conflicts are not just inevitable obstacles to be overcome. They are empowering opportunities that serve a positive and powerful purpose: they are … Read more
There is much chatter in leadership discussion circles about legacy, particularly the legacy a leader may leave once they depart an organisation or role. And it seems that “What’s the legacy you want to leave?” is on many interviewers’ lists of questions (whether it is a good question or not is debatable). Leaving a legacy … Read more
Growing up, the etiquette rulebook in many societies often said, “Don’t dive into sex, politics, or religion, especially at work or with new acquaintances.” The rationale is clear: these topics can be contentious and uncomfortable. Yet, as a friend wisely advised, even once familiarity is established, discussions must be approached with a learning mindset rather … Read more
Humanity is a mosaic of emotions, a symphony of experiences that span the spectrum from joy to sorrow, love to hate, and everything in between. Many scientists have tried to boil human emotions down to seven or eight universal emotional expressions, with some suggesting that humans experience 17 million combinations of emotions in a lifetime. … Read more
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, with the relentless pursuit of goals and the constant demands of leadership, fatigue can stealthily become an unwelcome companion. As we head into the last vestiges of this year, perhaps we are burdened and tired by what is happening both at the macro level (Gaza, inflation, … Read more
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assertion, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,” is a poignant reminder of the power of friendship and the responsibility it entails. I thought I had understood those words, but in recent weeks, I have realised that I had … Read more