Happenstance rather than strategy is behind Trump’s success From across the ocean that connects Australia and the United States, I am an avid follower of US politics. In the lead up to the US Presidential election next month, the question which regularly reverberates through my mind is: Why is this election so close, at least according to the polls? Putting aside the fact that Trump has been impeached twice, proved to lie at a rapid rate of knots, found guilty on 34 felonies, and also found liable for sexual abuse, political pundits talk about him being a ‘threat to democracy’.… Read more "Trump shines a light on a ‘cultural wound’ that is yet to be healed"
The cost of confusing ‘complex’ for ‘complicated’
Let me start by stating the obvious – organisations and their leaders are confronted by a never-ending succession of problems and challenges. Their ability to effectively navigate these challenges is a critical determinant of the success of the organisation and its ability to deliver optimal performance. But all challenges are not the same! There are different kinds of challenges, and each requires a different strategic approach to its resolution. In recent times I have been mildly obsessed with a model that a colleague and friend – Joy Warmington, CEO of brap, shared with me. This model, developed by Glouberman &… Read more "The cost of confusing ‘complex’ for ‘complicated’"
Democracy and diversity – avoiding the need to saddle up!
Simple question – What is the most effective mode of transport, a car or a horse? Given that these days we rarely see horses tied up out the front of shopping centres or at school drop-off zones, we can reasonably surmise that, due to its effectiveness, the modern car is a far superior mode of transport. But our analysis makes one fundamental assumption – that the car has sufficient fuel (or electricity in the case of an EV) to power it! In the absence of fuel, the benefits, or “the edge” that a car has over a horse, quickly cease… Read more "Democracy and diversity – avoiding the need to saddle up!"
Leading for Psychological Safety
Psychological safety is a key determinant of the success organisations and teams have in creating high-performance cultures. Yet, despite experts agreeing on what psychological safety entails, agreement on a methodology by which to achieve this outcome remains elusive. This is because psychological safety occurs at the complicated yet fragile intersection of leadership competencies; the psychological aftermath of our (painful) personal histories; and ancient survival mechanisms that have been honed and fortified through the process of evolution. The term psychological safety was coined by Harvard Business School Professor Amy Edmondson. She defines psychological safety as a shared belief that the environment… Read more "Leading for Psychological Safety"
The top five reasons that most diversity programs don’t work
Diversity programs have been around for almost 100 years. Yet numerous studies suggest that these programs do very little to support a long-term reduction in implicit (or unconscious) bias, change behaviours or alter workplace demographics. Despite this lack of success, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs have become a staple requirement in most corporate environments. This has partly been driven, especially in recent times, by a combination of social justice movements such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, political correctness and the “woke” movement. Given that Diversity programs and DEI are often used synonymously it is worthwhile unpacking the individual components of… Read more "The top five reasons that most diversity programs don’t work"
The Inner Voices of Leadership: Inspired by my experience at a #BlackLivesMatter march
Leadership is a service one offers to others. Therefore as a leader, one has to be mindful to not make things about one’s self. At the same time, leadership also requires us to be authentic, transparent and sometimes perhaps even vulnerable. So it’s always challenging as a leader to model behaviours such as honesty and self-revelation, without going so far as to be self-indulgent. The question which helps me navigate this dilemma is What is purposeful? In other words, how can I take my experience and share it in a way which makes it useful for others, thus making a… Read more "The Inner Voices of Leadership: Inspired by my experience at a #BlackLivesMatter march"