Author Archive:

“To be an effective leader, all you need is more knowledge.”

This week, I’m excited to be starting monthly executive coaching with a couple of new clients. Each of them will receive one of these lovingly-crafted practical guides on how to help others be at their best. While I always get great feedback on this guide, I’m under no illusion: Knowledge alone does not change you.…

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“You’re the only one who feels like an imposter at times.”

Actually, this couldn’t be further from the truth – so many highly competent people feel unconfident at times. While I don’t personally love the term, I get asked about “imposter syndrome” so much that I thought I’d put together 7 tips you can try. This is not an exhaustive list, so feel free to add…

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“You need an outrageous amount of self-confidence to be successful.”

I used to experience a lot of performance anxiety when I very first started executive coaching. The narrator in my head was constantly evaluating and critiquing: “Was that the right question to ask?” “Am I doing this well?” “Are they finding this helpful?” Then I read an awesome book and came to a profound realisation:…

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“Only our high-potential leaders are worth developing.”

I’ve been noticing this interesting trend in group leadership development – organisations spending more time identifying the right participants than actually developing them. And unfortunately, two types of leaders commonly get selected: those who are good at self-promotion, and those who need to improve but don’t want to. “Potential”, as it turns out, is not that…

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Introducing my better half…

Where we live, my husband is pretty famous. People who he’s never met know who he is. One child described him to her great-grandmother as “the guy who scoops up all the teenagers who are having a hard time and helps them.” He’s the surf coach, the skate coach, the basketball coach and the parent…

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“We’ve gone with something sexier instead.”

I’m based in Orewa, so it’s been a tumultuous week. Friday’s torrential rain and winds blocked our local roads, flooded neighbours’ homes and damaged my kids’ high school. It was pretty scary. So when I saw the forecast for more severe weather overnight, my heart sank. I thought of everyone already affected, having to go…

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“The leader should write the strategic plan.”

The strategic plan – as important as it is – is not magical in and of itself. Having one does not guarantee success. So why do some plans soar and others fail? There are a few reasons but one is top of mind at the moment. The creation process. Strategic plans are powerful when they…

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You help, but are you helpable?

My father had a horrifying accident while out bike riding with me and my mother on the weekend. The gruesome wound on his leg is etched into my memory. As is the reminder to be more willing to ask for help. When we finally saw a car approach on the rural gravel road, I only…

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