Don’t get Burnt by the Burning Platform
The ‘burning platform’ is a well-known metaphor for igniting personal or institutional change. It’s based on the idea that change needs a spark – a very big one – to ignite the process. Without a burning platform, the change process flames out. Burning [...]
The rush to digital education is on…..finally
As a long-term advocate for the potential of digital technology to transform education, I’ve become increasingly frustrated by the slow pace that digital approaches have been adopted and integrated into education compared with other industries, particularly in [...]
Calling all leaders – the environment needs you!
As a leadership and management commentator, I don’t normally blog about climate change and the environment. However, in my view today’s most pressing and complex leadership challenge is climate change and the environment. The world needs leaders from all walks [...]
Cutthroat Cooperation or Friendly Competition?
Conventional wisdom dictates that competition - regardless of whether it’s in the classroom, on the playing field or between business rivals – is good because it builds character, boosts productivity and delivers better outcomes. The degree to which the [...]
Breaking out of the mould requires perseverance
I recently attended a “Toxic Masculinity” workshop sponsored by a local baseball club that had tragically lost 2 of its members to suicide in the past year. Bill's Story The purpose of the workshop was to help men redefine what it means to be a man and learn [...]
Re-training for Life…and a Life of Re-training
In the good old days, high school students wanting to train for a job/career had a choice – go to college to learn a trade or similar vocational qualification or head to university and gain a tertiary education. These days, it’s not that simple. Instead of [...]
Employee wellbeing starts with job control not yoga classes
Many of us have taken up some form of mindfulness or movement practice to help manage our stress and ageing bodies. I love going to yoga a couple of times a week for both the mental benefits that help soothe the week’s stress as well as the physical benefits [...]
Aussie Aussie Aussie…. Oi Oi Oi…
Australians are famous for their love of sport and their parochial chant (Aussie Aussie Aussie ..... Oi Oi Oi) in support of their individual and team sports. And now according to the Economist, they have even more reasons to celebrate. Why? Because Australia [...]
Deciding how to Decide
In the face of digital disruption and generational change, deciding how much to involve others in the decisions you need to make as a leader and manager is more relevant now than ever. Advances in technology – particularly AI - mean that many decisions [...]
Managing Differently in the Digital Era
Achieving power, exerting influence and maintaining control have long been the domains of executive leaders. We've all seen how information and expertise – critical tools in wielding power and influence - resided at the top of organisation structures. In [...]