Honestly influencing

Let’s face it, people and institutions that we used to trust, because they were largely trust-worthy, are no longer. From politicians to clergy, bankers to the law and even some scientists these days need to be checked for vested interests.  This ...

We’re always influencing, for better or for worse

Just because we’re not pouting on Instagram and taking selfies of our lifestyle, doesn’t mean we’re not influencing all day every day. Every interaction counts. Each moment of communication is loaded with potential. Sometimes we're conscious of ou ...

Goals and time management

If I have to listen to one more person tell me that “you can’t manage time, you can only manage yourself” like they’re explaining something profound to me, I’m going to find a way to single-handedly shut down YouTube. If I have to listen to the same ...

Difficult conversations are difficult

Can you be a blank slate? Can you leave behind your opinions and judgements, history and personality when it comes time to have a difficult conversation with a colleague or friend? The blanker we can be, the more we serve the other person and the ou ...

What’s your point

Sadly, having extensive education, expertise or experience does not automatically mean we have the capacity to convey our message in meetings, with clarity, confidence and influence and as a result, opportunities are often lost. At the end of the day ...

Don’t Set Goals

Let’s talk about the science and the art of life. By science, I’m not talking biology or chemistry, I’m talking about formulae for SUCCESS and HAPPINESS to the degree that they exist.   Here’s a standard SUCCESS formula as widely proffered: s ...

Be present

There’s a core foundational skill to understanding the people around us - the skill of being present. Present to the information we’re gathering and present to the other person.  There’s something a little woo-woo about the phrase ‘being pres ...

Looking for Evidence

Did you know that 100% of the people in my office like snow peas and at any point during the day you’re likely to hear the sound of loud crunching and see the tell-tale sign of strings and stalks on someone’s desk?  Luckily, there’s only one of me in ...

Really? Is that all you know about me?

Every one of the people in our lives – our team and colleagues, clients, suppliers, competitors and everyone we know personally - is facing challenges and shouldering burdens on a scale from light to unbearable. Their kids may be suffering mental ...