I remember exactly where I was when my rugby coach announced that he wouldn't be coaching any more. I vividly recall when my director told us all that we would be leaving the company. Do you have any similar memories yourself?When you found out for the first time that someone was no longer going to … Continue reading Go on without them →

When you're tired everything becomes more challenging and it's in this adversity that the opportunity presents itself.We know you can do your best when you're well rested. But what about when you're exhausted? When everything is harder and your mind and body are fighting you every step of the way.Now there's a challenge for you.I … Continue reading Fatigue – excuse or opportunity →

Google tasked a research team with finding out why some Google teams are much more effective than others. The research team concluded that one of the contributing factors was the 'psychological safety' of the group. It is a term they borrowed from Harvard business professor Amy Edmondson and the Google research team defined it as: … Continue reading Psychological safety →

If you're locked away in a tower, cleaning up after your stepsisters, or being dressed by adorable woodland creatures, and wishing for a better life then waiting is a good strategy. The evidence has shown that either Prince Charming or a fairy godmother are on their way to make everything better. So sit tight! On … Continue reading Wishing and waiting →

"It is possible to have too much of a good thing" Aesop The law of diminishing marginal utility - Mother Nature's way of ruining your reward and pointing you in the direction of balance.

I can never get on board with people forcing others to do things. I think it's not right. It disturbs me to my core. But self coercion.I can get behind that. I think you're going to see a huge increase in your returns, regardless of the venture, when you start to force yourself to do … Continue reading Self coercion →

Donal's new manager is Pierre. Pierre's laissez faire management style is causing Donal anxiety. Why?Because Donal's previous manager was a micromanager. Donal used to have daily meetings with his manager but now he only has half an hour a week. Donal went from knowing exactly what his boss wanted to constantly guessing. I think Donal's … Continue reading Micromanagement to laissez-faire →

At the moment I'm reading the book 'Improvisation' by Max Dickins and I found a line that really resonated with me."Improvisers define listening as the willingness to be changed"I think this is a great quote because in my opinion it succinctly describes the different postures of listening. You can see it instantly in the stubborn … Continue reading Willingness to be changed →

A whole day in front of me. Completely free of distractions. Important work to do.Must sabotage self!It's funny when one is robbed of their excuse, when gifted with more time, one part of the brain desperately searches for any reason not to do the work. I believe Steve Pressfield's resistance is at play here. The … Continue reading Must sabotage self →

Familiarity breeds contempt. Why? Because their predictability is so annoying. Why? Because we pay attention to others flaws. Why? Because secretly we're insecure and it's easier to fixate on someone else's habit than to become more tolerant, patient or secure ourselves.