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
There is a topic that I don’t see often in leadership blogs: self-trust. Not “confidence,” exactly. Not “grit,” “executive presence,” or any of those other LinkedIn-scented words we toss around. I mean the quieter, harder-earned thing underneath it all, the ability to trust your own judgement, even when things get messy. Or maybe especially when … Read more
why doing the opposite can help you be a more effective leader
It often starts innocently enough. A promotion. A bigger title. A new mandate. And with it, the quiet weight of expectation that you “should” now have all the answers. Know what to do. Say the right thing. Predict the future. Show up flawless. I see it in the eyes of the executives I partner with. … Read more
As leaders, we have always known that uncertainty is part of the job. But let’s be blunt: the world seems a little more uncertain these days. Whether it is shifting political landscapes, volatile economies, or the ever-present pressure of leading teams through global and local challenges, it feels like leadership today continues to require new … Read more