For most of my life, I’ve been told I need to tone myself down, to be less assertive, to be less … something they didn’t like or want to accept about me. My reaction used to be that I would care too much about their opinion of me, it would …
What it takes to be a global leader
It would be erroneous to put one’s leadership style under an umbrella term, like servant or transformational. As a result of globalisation, a leader isn’t ‘or’, they are ‘and.’ They are servant and transformational, and all other leadership nomenclatures. Global leadership requires the leader to be malleable to those they lead and …
Want to get good at something? Get a coach, says Atul Gawanda: Just don’t call me nasty
He called me nasty. It wasn’t a mistake, he repeated it several times. My hurt was immediate and evident, I could feel the tears begin to well. I ended the video call promptly with a “can we discuss this later, I need to take a moment?” A go-to tool I …
Fact vs. Fiction: A Tool to Avoid Assumptions
I believed it to be true, after all, they did that thing and said those words with that tone. It must have been what was intended. But, what proof did I have of their actual intention? So I asked. And as sure as the sky was blue that day I …
I am Enough
And you are. Enough, that is. You’re more than enough. Right now, just as you are. You are enough. Say it. I am enough. Say it again and again. Out loud. With a clear, determined voice. Print this image and place it on every frequently seen wall and mirror, and …
Young, Famous, and African: A review (kinda)
Nadia had just told Andile that she’d broken up with her boyfriend, paraphrasing, she said, “I’m sad, but I’m not broken. It’s that conversation I had with you where I feel like men are disposable to me.” As she sweeps her bangs from her forehead, she continues, “And I know …
How to prepare to be your most authentic self on stage
I had just come off the stage in LA when the event organiser said, “I thought you would have been better, you seem so confident in person. At least you’re easily forgettable.” ‘Ahh, thank you, and feck you very much,’ I thought & so desperately wanted to say. That D …
You’re dumb: EQ in action
He called you dumb if you believe the Influencer’s BS: “It’s not easy to make $10k a month online,” said one of my favourite BS-smashing Influencers, Luke Matthews. “Influencers are lying to you, and you are dumb for believing it…” He inspired me to think of a kind way to call …
The solution to ambiguity isn’t clear communication, it’s honesty
If the enemy of accountability is ambiguity, as Patrick Lencioni is quoted as having said, then surely ambiguity is solved with clearly communicated, concisely written, and consistently followed processes and procedures. Is it not? I learned today that if I’m not in a position to make things clear, concise, and consistent, then …
The Three Shoulds of Time Management: A tool to get focused
There are three Shoulds for how to manage what you focus on. The No. 1 Should is that which is an excellent use of your time, effort, resources or attention (TERA). This is what you excel at. It’s what you should spend 75% of your time doing. The No. 2 …