I was in Petra (one of the 7th wonders of the world) last week and took a 1,000-steps, one-hour hike up to the El-Deir (the Monastery), an amazing structure carved into a mountain and built by a people long gone. During the climb, as I focused on the steps ahead of me, the searing heat … Read more
I am in a part of the world steeped in history. From the Greeks to the Romans, Byzantines to Nabateans, I tread on lands once walked by generals, soldiers, prophets, travellers, merchants, builders, and creators. Millennia of civilisations have risen and fallen here and the remnants they left behind never fail to awe me. This … Read more
I am travelling for July, and my journey began with multiple airlines and several long-haul flights. Arriving at my destination had me reflecting on the concept of teams. The flight crews on each of the four flights sparked this train of thought. I remembered reading some time ago that flight crews often come together for … Read more
In a world increasingly driven by social media, instant updates, and the perpetual need to present the best version of ourselves, the age-old adage “comparison is the thief of joy” rings truer than ever. While not new, this phenomenon has found fertile ground in modern times, affecting our personal lives, professional development, and leadership mindset … Read more
Imagine a leader who does all the talking, never seeks input from their team, and assumes they have all the answers. It is safe to say that this leader will not be very effective in the medium to long term. In the world of leadership, one of the most underrated yet indispensable skills is the … Read more
In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, the pressure to conform can be overwhelming, which has always struck me as silly – if everyone was the same, how could we differentiate, diversify and add new value? I have seen many an organisation and manager who often have their vision of what an ideal employee should look … Read more
In a world where conflict often seems to reign supreme, and leaders seem to revel in their power and ability to inflict destruction, peaceful leadership may appear counterintuitive or naive. As this blog is about leadership and personal development, I thought about how the business landscape is often portrayed as a battleground, where competition is … Read more
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