Blog
I Can Put Air In That For You (WT570)
This was the offer Ross received the other day when he was chatting with a neighbour in the van park. Our neighbour had recently bought a motorhome and he and his wife had just begun their journey. He was asking Ross for some tips and Ross was recounting some of the mistakes and misadventures we’ve made and had along the way. As they were talking Ross noticed that our front tyre looked like it needed air. The neighbour offered to use his compressor. Initially Ross was reluctant, thinking it would be a big imposition for the neighbour to have to pull out what Ross thought would be a big piece...
No Triangles (WT569)
In our Leading Yourself and Leading Others Experience and Online Membership we have a topic called The Eternal Triangle of Hate. For some participants, even the name is too much. “Hate is a very strong word Shirley”, commented Elli. “Yes, I agree. It is and when we go through this concept you may understand why we use it”, I replied. What we’re talking about here is the triangle that is formed, in the workplace and at home, when we have at least 3 people playing one of the roles of Victim, Persecutor and Rescuer. If you draw an upside down triangle, it will make the V sign. At the bottom of...
Just Press A Button (WT568)
“If he’d gone 2 feet further he would have missed it completely”, lamented the caretaker at the caravan park. He was referring to a guest who wiped out the security gate as he attempted to turn the corner and enter the park with his caravan in tow. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to fix it over the last 6 years”, he added. I shook my head as Ross recounted the story. There are actually 2 gates side by side on the entrance side. When you arrive for the first time, the receptionists press a button to open the gate closest to the office to let you into the park. When Ross finished...
Don’t Assume Malevolence (WT567)
You know I love quotes and mantras. Well here’s another one that a colleague of mine shared with me recently. Thank you Mark! It comes from Jordan Petersen, “Don’t assume malevolence, when ignorance will suffice.” First of all we’d better define malevolence. Without consulting the dictionary, in this context for me it means, don’t assume malice. Don’t expect that someone is intentionally wanting to hurt you in some way. When you combine it with, “When ignorance will suffice”, my interpretation is that the other is not even aware of the effect they are having on you. The meaning of ignorance...
What Lesson Did I Just Teach? (WT566)
One of my weaknesses is that I let everyone else go first and I put myself last. It’s not a great quality and for the most part it only affects me (and of course, Ross from time to time). I was horrified the other day to realise that I may have taught this to my friend’s 2 year old child, unintentionally of course, but a life lesson, none the less. Here’s what happened: Magnus was climbing the slippery dip at a local café where we were having breakfast. Another kid, possibly the same age and a bit bigger in size, height and weight started climbing too. I was standing behind Magnus to make...
Can I Have a Go? (WT565)
“Excuse me.” “Excuse me.” “Is that an electric bike?” asked one of the kids in the caravan park where we’ve been staying. “Yes”, replied Ross. “Can I have a go?” the young boy asked. “No, it’s too big for you”, replied Ross. “Does it go really fast?” “Have you got to peddle all the time?” Ross chatted with them and answered their questions. They didn’t push the point for a ride and I couldn’t help admire their confidence to ask for what they wanted. Straight up! I love how kids don’t prejudge an answer. I love how they simply ask for what they want. It makes me curious. At what point do we...
Don’t Jump to Conclusions (WT564)
This week we’re in Canberra, running my signature Leadership Experience and the Canberra weather turned cold on the weekend and we are back in our winter woollies. Speaking of cold, I want to share Larry’s story with you this week. “He won’t do what I ask him to do”, cried Larry. “Who are you talking about?” I asked. Larry had two boys so I assumed he was talking about one of his sons. “My manager”, he said. “Your manager? What do you mean?” I asked. “I told him I wanted a stocktake done before the end of the first quarter.” “Larry, that was a week ago.” “Yes, but I told him to do it in...
How Good is Your Culture? (WT563)
You’ve heard me mention the REACH profile before. It’s a psychometric tool we use to understand people’s personalities as well as their REACH – their agility to adapt to the other profiles or as a leader, their ability to use all of the 16 leadership competencies. This week I did some peer reviews for one of my clients and we used the REACH Ecosystem Culture Survey. The results we received were outstanding. Both sets of results showed the current engagement scores for both leaders were in the top 10% of all culture surveys globally. So what do the Culture Survey or engagement scores show us?...
Phenomenal Coaching (WT562)
One of my clients was sharing a coaching experience they had recently. It unnerved me a little because if she was talking about them, it’s most likely only a matter of time before she starts talking about me. On a tangent here, I remember confronting a coaching client about the same thing. He was complaining about all of his suppliers. After he stopped ranting, I looked him in the eye and said “I’m just wondering when it will be my turn.” “Your turn for what?” he asked. “My turn for you to p..s all over me”, I answered and continued, “You’ve just sat there for 20 minutes and told me all the...
Ho’Oponopono (WT561)
This week I thought I would share another story to demonstrate where I use Ho’oponopono [ho.ʔo.po.no.po.no]. I have mentioned it before in Weekly Thoughts and it is so powerful, it deserves repeating. We also have it proudly displayed on the top of our motorhome, clearing the way as we go. Firstly, what is Ho’Oponopono? The word “ho’o” means “cause” in Hawaiian, while “ponopono” means “perfection”. The term “ho’oponopono” can be translated as “correct a mistake” or “make it right”. Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian spiritual practice that helps us to forgive past wrongs, conflicts,...