Face the music
“Can I give you some feedback?”
😨 Oh no. What now?
😲 Sometimes it’s a shock.
😢 Sometimes it just hurts.
Reflections on the pain and shame of feedback…and ways to make it just that little bit easier.
Being wrong
😶I used to worry about being indecisive.
🤔What if something I believed to be true was wrong?
😎Now I find that being open to re-thinking my beliefs is a strength.
Some thoughts here on the benefits of asking ‘How could I be wrong?’
Who are you, anyway?
The first few weeks in a new leadership role can feel like a daily re-living of your interview… constantly trying to prove yourself. How do I add value now? Am I even good enough?
Some ideas here on rein in the doubts and what to ask instead.
Odd one out
Expanding your network can be daunting, especially in unfamiliar territory. What will I do standing in a room full people where I don\’t know anything or anyone? Here are some lessons learnt the hard way…
Keeping everyone going
How do you lead through uncertainty? How do you keep people motivated, including yourself?
Some reflections here on what you can do when change isn\’t in your control.
Mentoring me
What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
Here’s a list of leadership tips that I gathered when I first became a Director more than ten years ago… plus what I’d add now.
What do they want from my life?
One of the most important things we need to do as leaders starting new and bigger roles is work out what our boundaries are.
What are the secrets of work/life balance? Sorry folks, you just have to keep trying.
It’s not that simple
Public sector leaders grapple with complex problems. There are no instruction manuals and it’s not a puzzle where all the pieces fit together if you just work hard enough. How do we lead through this complexity?
Keeping it all on track
As you get more senior you have more responsibility and less control. How do you oversee multiple pieces of complex work when you;re more distant than ever from the action? Good governance is an essential part of the systems and culture you build as a leader. And it’s terribly hard.
When it’s all a bit too much
I’m overwhelmed. Not just under pressure or too busy, but feeling afraid and out of my depth.
How do you spot the signs of being overwhelmed and what do you do about it?
Some reflections here.
