What will it cost when we speak truth to power? Short answer: a lot. When we speak up against injustice, those in power have a vested interest in shutting us down. And if we don’t speak up? Even more is at stake. As leaders, here’s what we can do to build a culture of speaking truth to power, and creating a better world while we are at it.
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Leadership skills for power struggles
Power struggles can cripple an organisation’s development. Turf wars and silos stop progress. There are three critical leadership skills you need to handle this tough stuff.
Read MoreIs your leadership perspective expanding or contracting?
Standing looking out to sea over a beautiful expanse of land, I could not help but feel at once small and vast. This is the power of environment.
Environment causes evolution. It's a concept I learnt 15 years ago from the founder of Coach U and Coachville, Thomas Leonard. He had deep insight into how crafting environments deliberately can cause evolution.
Leonard highlighted how all animals and plants adapt to their environment and conditions. The polar bear has developed a thick white fleece for camouflage in Arctic snow. The Chameleon is renowned for changing its colours to blend in to the landscape. Look at any animal and any plant you will see how it has evolved to suit the situation.
Leonard’s theory about deliberate evolution started the question: “what if we deliberately changed our environment to cause adaptation?”
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Read MoreBoundless Leadership: Choices versus obligations
“What percentage of your life is currently your own?”
This is one of the questions I ask clients when we first start working together. The majority answer less than 100%. The sense of obligation is rife.
It got me thinking about what holds us back. Obligations are one of the big anchors we drag along behind us. They drain energy and vitality. They are one of the biggest risks to Boundless Leadership.
Boundless Leadership is stepping boldly in to the unknown where everything is possible. Limitations are dissolved, and our energy is abundant with enthusiasm, and industry.
Obligation clogs up the petrol of our passion.
Read MoreCentered leadership in a time of hate
Grief stained my heart. Every day this week stories of hatred, murder, violence leapt from the media. White supremacy violence in Charlottesville, a President who all but excused it, Pauline Hanson and her hate-filled vitriol against Muslims, and yet another bus attack against civilians, this time in Spain.
What are we doing to each other?
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Read MoreA leadership perspective on systems (and skiing)
With all the fresh snow from the ‘Blizzard of Oz’, it seemed every man and their dog was out on the slopes, taking advantage of the extraordinary conditions. This meant long queues for the lifts. If you’ve never skied at a resort before, imagine this: it’s like sheep being squeezed through little channels to funnel towards a shearing shed. At the ski lifts, the action point is where people line up to get on the chair or tow-bar. There is a sheep-dip like turnstile that reads your pass electronically, before you shuffle forward towards the chair. For a four-person lift, there are four turnstiles, the idea being that you go through in a line, all ready for the chair.
Sounds good in theory. In practice, mayhem.
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Read MoreHow to challenge leadership perspectives
I gaped as my friend Sandra told me of her near-death experience paddling on a river. She fell in, got hypothermia, had no effective communications, and had to crawl out of a canyon to find help. It could have ended very, very badly. I shuddered at what may have happened.
I’m all for adventure. It is one of my core values and I have lived all my life following its call. Solo adventure can be done safely, with plenty of planning. In my experience though, adventure together is better. It’s safer, easier, and way more fun.
Likewise, strategy together is better. None of us is as smart as more of us. We can challenge assumptions, test ideas, and explore creatively together.
Here are some key principles to make it work well for you.
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Read MoreA leadership hack for retaking your inner power
I have a Gold Star syndrome. As a kid I always wanted to be first, to win the prize, and to be the best student. I was thrilled when I got called out as an example for others. This competitive edge served me well in terms of academic and career achievement: I worked hard to get good results. It caused endless suffering when someone else did better than me, usually it was my school aged nemesis, Susan, and I was no longer the star. This drove me nuts.
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Read MoreHow do I deal with emotions in leadership?
I've started playing golf. I have a handicap of 45.4. If you’re not familiar with golf, this is very very bad. Just as a benchmark, the pros have minus handicaps. The only reason my handicap is not bigger is that they don't go any bigger. The good news is that I can only get better!
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Read MoreHow good is your strategic plan? Avoid these leadership mistakes
When it comes to strategic planning and strategic thinking, leaders often do it backwards. Don’t start with the budget or targets. Reverse engineer your plan, starting with results.
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Read MoreWhat is sacrificed in leadership?
Sacrifice in leadership comes with the territory. It’s one of the main reasons that not every one should lead others: sacrifice is a concept and action that requires great maturity and self awareness. Not all are ready for this kind of surrender.
What should we sacrifice as leaders?
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Read MoreEdge of Leadership Un-Conference Insights
5 key takeaways from our premium event, the Edge of Leadership, on how to enhane leadership thinking, connections, and contribution.
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Read MoreThe best strategic leadership thinking needs a sounding board
Gordon leaned back, both arms straight, pushing against the edge of the table, like a king commanding his minions. The others squirmed in awkward silence.
This is the death knell for effective strategic leadership thinking: decisions railroaded through intimidation and shallow discussion.
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Read MoreA leadership perspective on normalised chaos
We almost died. It was the summer of 1992, and we were paddling one of the large wild rivers in North West Ontario with a group of young women. We were five weeks in to our six week trip and we had grown confident and complacent in the environment.
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Stop your strategic planning disasters avoid these key leadership mistakes
I admit it. When I saw a friend and colleague achieve a huge milestone in their business, I had a little moment of jealousy. I felt left behind. I felt less than.
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Read MoreLeadership inspiration beyond the shower: why your brain needs more than a two minute break for the best ideas
In Japan, the routine was delightful. Wake to the soft hush of a snowy winterland. A scrumptious breakfast fireside with views to the mountain. A day of adventure and savouring the magnificent vistas. Finishing with a hot bath, ‘onsen’, to soak the tired skin and legs. Then another ridiculously good meal. Slumber happily early in bed.
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Read MoreBigger Leadership Opportunities
I’m so looking forward to the Edge of Leadership Un-Conference 28 March and the opportunity to bring together people who want to make a bigger and better difference in their world, and the world of others. There’s no bones about it though, if you want to make a difference, you need to strengthen your network.
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Read MoreResolutions don't work - here's a leadership perspective on what does
After years of repeating the same resolution (‘this year I will truly get a Cameron Diaz body’) I’ve worked out it’s futile.
Resolutions don’t work because:
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Read MoreChange more than your hairstyle and diet this year: upgrade your leadership thinking to reveal hidden opportunities
This is our sixth trip to Japan. It’s easy to notice the little things that have changed: the new pot belly fireplace, a few more beers on the menu, new towels. We can cope with little tweaks. They keep us interested.
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Read MoreThe leadership power of saying 'yes'
Peter Gordon is the CEO of Hands Across Canberra, and in our podcast interview he celebrates the power of saying ‘yes’ when people come together to make a difference for others.
I asked, “what does it take to move people from an idea to saying yes”? And he replied, “I wish I knew”.
I’ve been turning it over in my mind. This is what I believe moves people from being impressed by an idea or cause to following through and saying yes to an opportunity to contribute - either with money, time, or expertise.
There are three factors that determine whether someone says No, Maybe or Yes.
These are:
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