I am next speaking at the Out and Equal Conference in Austin, Texas September 2008.

Recent Thoughts

August 2008  - I see leaders as enabling organisations and individuals to perform to the highest quality and best outputs.  Leadership is about encouraging others to aspire to change and improve themselves, their outputs, their work environment and the world.   Leaders need to be open to change in themselves, to develop high levels of self awareness coupled with vision and self belief.  They also need to demonstrate ambition – be that ambition to lead a large organisation or ambition to lead a small change.   In order to encourage leadership throughout organisations we need to create environments where people can lead, take on stretch assignments, lead projects, teams and small changes. We should be encouraging people at all levels in an organisation to see themselves as leading that organisations success. 

April 2008 - I was reminded last week of the principles of dialogue, which can simply be described as listen, suspend, question and only then advocate. This is quite a challenge. Yet when I experience really being listened to,  I begin to think more carefully about my own thoughts, and to value them more highly.  So in the act of listening - I think I am being more valued.    Research  suggests that in organisations if we inquire into things as much as we advocate or tell then the organisation will be more successful.  So the challenge to me this month is to listen, to suspend, to inquire and then question. Only then, and only maybe, to say what I think.   

March 2008 - Ever wondered about the impact of confidence on your work?  I have - endlessly.  And recently have become convinced that the link to confidence and performance is stronger than I even imagined.  I am also convinced that when people able to be themselves at work - whatever that means - their confidence increases and performance improves.  So the challenge for me and for organisations is to ensure that we create environments where people are able to bring their whole selves to work.