With the 5Cs of The Influence to Thrive Model, perhaps the one which causes the most problems for people is Grasp Your CONTEXT. This has major consequences because unless you are intimately aware of the context in which you build and implement your vision, you’ll likely get nowhere fast.

Quite why Grasp Your CONTEXT is so difficult is unclear to me, but certainly, many struggle because of the often nebulous and subjective nature of this area. Aside from the professional agendas which are usually fairly straightforward to determine (well, at least the official version!), it takes confidence, determination and the Read More

Pause for a moment and think back to the last meeting you attended where a group came together to discuss a difficult situation, and a decision needed to be made. As you think back, you'll probably remember several people who appeared to be out of their depth, struggling to get their points across and getting frustrated. Those people may well have looked harassed, angry, or even fearful. I'm sure they felt passionately that the group should make a particular decision yet, somehow, they couldn't make it happen.

Read More

“Every time I get an email from him, it triggers me.”

“I only have to see her on the invite list and my heart sinks.”

“He is so f***ing annoying.”

Oh dear, how easy it is for us all to allow others people and events to determine our emotional reaction.

“This is going to be difficult.”

“It can’t be done.”

“We don’t need to worry about that.”

Says who? Don’t we just love to Read More

Originally inspired by the onset of the 2020 COVID pandemic, the future will always below to those who are best able to engineer their belief systems for maximum effect. Enjoy... Read More

A storm of epic proportions, and likely heading in your direction. You heard it here first, and while everyone is looking elsewhere. This storm, a storm the like of which you’ve never seen before, whose ferocity will sweep you off your feet and out to sea so fast that, well, you’ll not find land for a long time. Flash-flood is an inadequate term. Question is, are you prepared for what will come to pass? After the Read More

On workshops a favourite question I challenge delegates with is why has the human race been so successful? Usually, the answer is because of its ability to change. Wrong. Read More

Here’s a contemporary workplace challenge.

You need to get someone bought in to your vision, project plan or endorsing a decision you need made. They may report to you, either dotted or solid line. Perhaps they are a member of your virtual project team, or you may have just been told to get them on board.

The trouble is, you can’t meet with them face-to-face.

How are you going to make it happen? Read More

Going to stick my neck out on this one. And, if you start reading this, I need you to read to the end.

At junior levels you need feedback because you are learning. You are encouraged to ask.

This creates a strong habit, which is useful, until you reach the level at which...

...people expect you to know what you are doing.

From then on, asking for feedback screams that you are unsure. Read More