Posts Tagged ‘leadership’
Are You Saying What You Think You’re Saying?
In aviation, imprecise communication can cause confusion and error with dire results. An anecdote that’s stuck in my head for years describes the conversation between a captain and copilot as they initiated their first take-off of the day. The co-pilot was less than sunny, and the captain had extended an encouraging “Cheer up!” midway through…
Read MoreWhat Do They Know That You Don’t?
When I was first awarded my Private Pilot’s Licence, I remember one of my instructors commenting “Right, so you know just enough to kill yourself with now.” It was a not-so-tongue-in-cheek reminder that, as proud as I felt of my achievement, what I’d also done was open up the door to the next chapter. A…
Read MoreProfitability vs People – A Leadership Challenge
As the captain of an aircraft, most duty periods are made up of moments of high-decision-making requirements, balanced by moments of great appreciation for the incredible elements of the job you do – such as the view from your office window. One of the hairiest decisions you’ll ever be called on to make as a…
Read MoreWhat Story Are Your Shoulders Telling?
Communicating without words As you arrive at work, you see the familiar figure of a valued colleague walking towards you. They haven’t seen you yet, but you can tell immediately, that all is not right in their world. As their focus finds you, their face lights up and their shoulders lift a little. You stop…
Read MoreIs Empathy A Leadership Strength or Weakness?
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, has become a buzzword in leadership discussions. Some leaders swear by it, while others dismiss it as a weakness. So, is empathy a leadership strength or weakness? Let’s assess the pros and cons of empathy in leadership and explore its impact on team communication,…
Read MoreLeading Under Pressure
The role of leadership is seldom smooth. By definition, as soon as we realise that we can lead ourselves, let alone others, there is a feeling of responsibility and desire to level up that can’t go unacknowledged. On a good day, no matter what level or role we’re choosing to lead from, leadership requires us…
Read MoreA Deep Breath of Acknowledgement
Wherever you stand today is worth a deep breath of acknowledgement – and appreciation, for that matter. Wherever you stand today is different from where you stood at the beginning of this year, and there have been losses and gains for you to be where you are today. This is true of any year, but…
Read MoreThe Leadership of Guiding Change
Guiding change is described as managing, mobilizing, understanding, and leading change. It includes knowing how to mitigate consequences, overcome resistance to change, and deal with the reactions that team members may have to that change. Leadership itself IS all about change, not status quo – and guiding change takes some particular insight and care. “They”…
Read MoreYOU Are An Integral Cog – Here’s Why
The word “system” has two suggested definitions. Firstly, it refers to a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done – an organized scheme or method. Secondly, it refers to a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole. In my previous article,…
Read MoreHonesty. Respect. Integrity. Trust.
All human beings have similar wants and needs. We want honesty, respect, integrity, and trust. These four are intricately linked together. We want to belong to something bigger than ourselves and to matter. Wanting honesty, respect, integrity and trust is about wanting to live in an environment in which we feel safe. It’s about wanting…
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