I think when you're put in tricky situations it can potentially salvage your relationships by letting the other know where this action/view is coming from. I think it helps to know who's it coming from and whether it's forced or not. Points that resentment away from you and onto the person who put you in … Continue reading Tricky situation →

The little kid wanted to help his mother tidy but ended up making more of a mess. Similarly, the recently retired husband decided to help his wife with the gardening issue but ended up ruining her entire system. The intention was there but the alignment on how best to help wasn't.

I think the best way to humanise a parent is to watch them interact with their parents. I think the best way to humanise a boss is to watch them interact with their boss. I think the best way to humanise a bully is to watch them interact with their bully. It explains behaviour.

The trick to not being embarrassed while doing stupid things in public is to not turn around. If it's the confirmation of the surrounding population staring at you that triggers humiliation then take a cat out of Schrodinger's book and don't check.

Previously I've written about how you can glean someone's focus by the metrics they talk about and incentives they offer. But today I'd like to add a third - the people they talk to. If Ted Lasso spent all of his halftime talks speaking to the attackers I dare say the defenders would get the … Continue reading Talks to who? →

When the definition of success is 'give your best' life seems simple and easy. If that's the case success is within your reach every single day. But when that answer is unsatisfactory and it provokes the question - but what if my best isn't good enough? That's when life gets stressful, never feeling that you … Continue reading Best is good enough →

The problem with reassurance is you can never get enough and you'll drive everyone around you crazy figuring this out. Better to develop your powers of assertion. 'I don't have the luxury of knowing which is the best option with certainty but i assert it's option X' 'I'll happily be proven wrong but for the … Continue reading Seeking reassurance →

"Share the power and get out of the way" This was George Mumford's advice for leaders. I like it! I think it makes sense and avoids the inefficient set up of the 'one genius and a thousand helpers' organisation. A big hindrance I see to George's advice is the love of control. What if the … Continue reading STPAGOOTW →

Recently I was at a fundraising event where sports players from my local club tried stand up comedy. During the night, one player took to roasting the other player/amateur stand-up comedians. This one player picked one trait per stand up comedian and told 3/4 jokes off it. Now, what I found interesting was that the … Continue reading Boring was too far →

'You don't expect your leg to hit the ball well unless you've put in the hours of practice so why would you expect anything different from your mind?' A great question, I thought, and a convincing argument for training oneself mentally. Also, arguably it's the mental side that plays the most important role. If you're … Continue reading Mental training →