Post tagged in "safe teams"

As leaders, we all experience moments when a team member says something that stays with us long after the conversation ends. Sometimes it’s a quiet comment. Sometimes it’s a direct statement. But certain phrases carry deeper meaning. Signals that something in the culture needs attention. When leaders learn to decode these moments, they find opportunities to elevate trust, engagement, and performance. Below are the five things leaders never want to hear from their teams, what they really mean, and how to turn them into powerful leadership insights. 1. “I don’t feel valued.” This isn’t simply a request for praise, it’s... read more

Have you ever noticed how the choices you make quietly script the rest of your year as a leader? I’ve spent a long time working with leaders and one thing I keep coming back to is this: the year never shapes itself. We shape it. The priorities we set early, the conversations we choose to have, the tone we create, the behaviours we reward, and even the small actions we repeat each week all add up. They either steady the team, or they wobble it. They either build confidence, or they build doubt. And because I coach leaders who carry... read more

Have you ever noticed that the leaders who coach well are usually the ones who’ve been coached hard themselves? I’ve seen this pattern for years across teams, industries, and coaching rooms. And the more time I spend working with leaders, the clearer it becomes. You can’t guide someone confidently if you haven’t sat in the uncomfortable seat of being guided yourself. It shapes you. It steadies you. It gives you that sense of calm that people look for when things heat up. This week I’m in Los Angeles for JT Foxx’s Mega Success event. It’s full-on. There are leaders from... read more

Have you ever wondered why some teams share bold ideas easily while others stay quiet, even when the room is full of talent? I ask myself this all the time, because I see the difference every day. Some rooms feel alive, brave, unpredictable in the best way. Others feel tight. Guarded. Careful. And the idea that keeps coming back to me is this: people don’t wait to speak because they lack ideas… they wait because they don’t feel safe. I learnt this the hard way after the workplace incident that nearly took my life. That moment pushed me into a... read more

As a leadership coach, I regularly hear the words “old school leader” and “new age leader.” I work with a mix of both, and if I was to describe the difference, it’s that new age leaders tend to be more connected with their people. They are more transformational, more emotionally competent, and more invested in the human experience behind the work. Old school leaders, on the other hand, often take a transactional approach. They are more direct, more production-focused, and, at times, “too busy” for conversations about feelings or culture. They prioritise outcomes over people and can struggle to understand... read more

Are you ready to lead with care when everything around you feels out of control? When a crisis hits, many leaders instinctively move into a control mode: quick decisions, tighter reins, rigid protocols. I’ve been there. After my own near-fatal workplace incident I realised that while control has its place, it isn’t enough. What matters more is how you lead with care, especially when people are hurting, uncertain or knocked off balance. Why care makes the difference in tough times When our team is under pressure, it’s easy for a leader to default to commands. But I learned that what... read more

Have you ever felt that your quiet nature holds you back from leading effectively? I’ve met so many leaders over the years who believe that leadership has to be loud, commanding, and full of bravado. But truthfully, some of the best leaders I’ve seen lead quietly. They’re the ones who don’t need to raise their voice to earn respect. They lead with presence, not volume. That’s what I call quiet confidence. As someone who’s spent decades helping people stay calm under pressure, I’ve realised that introverts often have an incredible ability to lead with care, thoughtfulness, and self-awareness. They don’t... read more

Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought, “I wish I’d just said what I really felt?” I’ve been there, more times than I’d like to admit. As leaders, we often find ourselves biting our tongue to avoid tension or protect feelings. But here’s the truth: if we can’t talk honestly, we can’t lead honestly. And without honesty, there’s no trust, no growth, and no real connection with the people who rely on us to guide them. Over the years, I’ve realised that honest conversations are the heartbeat of strong leadership. They might be uncomfortable, but they build... read more

My team aren’t engaged. I’m not engaged. How do we get everyone engaged? We need a higher level of engagement. Organisations spend tens of thousands of dollars (sometimes on a yearly basis) to measure how engaged their teams and organisation are. They try to answer some of the above questions or address the above statements, which is a great strategy, particularly if the organisation follows up the survey with employee feedback sessions and leadership development programs focused on addressing key engagement issues. At the end of the day, it is the leader’s role to increase engagement. As leaders, one of... read more

Have you ever looked back at something painful in your life and wondered if it happened for a reason? I’ve had that thought more times than I can count. After my near-fatal workplace accident, I didn’t see purpose, I only saw pain. It took time, a lot of reflection, and some honest conversations with myself before I realised that what nearly broke me would one day help others. That’s the part many of us miss in the middle of our struggle, the hurt we go through can often be the very thing that gives us the empathy and courage to... read more