A walk along the road : my reflective blog

I do a lot of work with  individuals  around identifying their values. I always watch for that slight look of suspicion and doubt from many managers and leaders when I suggest thinking about their values.  It is interesting  that  we sometimes react to and perceive values to be abstract and 'soft' and of no value in terms of effective leadership.  For those that do engage with doing work around their values it is very  revealing  how frequently, the gap between an  individual's  core values and their current  situation  brings clarity to issues they are facing at the time.  Authentic leadership is a concept that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the business world. At its core, authentic leadership is about being true to oneself and one's values. It's about leading with integrity and transparency, and building meaningful relationships with others. One of the key characteristics of authentic leadership ...

Today's  walk was a good time to reflect on a number of 360 degree reports I facilitated with clients this week. While discussing colleague feedback it was evident with each person the increased awareness they gained from considering their reports.  In every case each client was able to come away with actions and increased appreciation of their behaviours and the how these impact on those around them. Self-awareness is a crucial trait for effective leadership. A leader who is self-aware understands their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. This knowledge allows them to make decisions that align with their values and goals, while also being mindful of how their actions impact others. Leaders who lack self-awareness can inadvertently create a toxic work environment. They may fail to recognise how their behaviour affects those around them, leading to low morale and high turnover rates. In contrast, a self-aware leader is more likely to create a positive and sup...

Coaching is an effective and powerful tool for personal and professional development. It involves a process of working with a coach to set goals, identify challenges, and create action plans to achieve them. The benefits of coaching are numerous and can have a positive impact on an individual's life. Here are some additional points that can provide more context and information about coaching: Coaching is often used in the workplace to help employees improve their performance and reach their potential. Coaching can also be used for personal development, such as improving communication skills or overcoming limiting beliefs. A coach is trained to ask questions and listen actively, helping individuals gain clarity and perspective on their goals and challenges. Coaching sessions can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conferencing. The coach-client relationship is built on trust and confidentiality, allowing individuals to feel safe and supported in their coaching journ...

I had an interesting conversation with a leader today who was concerned by what they described as a 'very demotivated' team.  We spent time talking about all that was not working and then turned the discussion onto what was going well. This naturally led to the importance and benefit of having and expressing gratitude. Leadership is not just about taking charge and making decisions. It’s also about creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and appreciated. One way to do that is by expressing gratitude. Gratitude is the act of acknowledging and being thankful for the good things in life. In a work setting, expressing gratitude can boost morale, increase job satisfaction, and improve productivity. When employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. As a leader, expressing gratitude can take many forms. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” or acknowledging a job well done. It can also involve providing opport...

Today’s walk along the road was achieved by careful timing and watching the clouds to avoid the rain. I found myself wondering about a conversation I had last week about the language we use in work situations relating to how busy we all are.   I caught myself saying that I had ‘back to back meetings all day’ not sure if I was looking for admiration or pity.  The fact that I could feel the uncomfortableness of the fact, combined with an annoyance with myself for getting into this situation collided and I adopted a resigned to accept it outlook.  With the time to reflect today – I wonder how often I willingly allow myself to get into the too busy being busy mode.  The day goes so quickly – for sure ! Some around may marvel at my revolving office door and the constant foot fall ….  When I reflect on what I achieved during my day of meetings it is clear little or any of it could truly be called ‘deep work’ – in contrast to what is described as ‘shallow work’ – ...

  Today's walk was the first where a coat was necessary for a long time ... with a storm at my back I headed back along my familiar road and was reflecting on the common theme that featured with a number of those I had been coaching this week. Team performance and how to 'get' teams to function effectively was the key challenge facing people this week .... I don't know why but a return to 'office working' or implementing hybrid models of working is my suspicion.  When thinking about and discussion team working I frequently go back to my preferred definition of a team by Katzenbach and Smith (1993)  A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they  hold themselves mutually accountable While one of many definitions of teams, this is my preferred - mainly because it reminds me of how seldom I have actually being part of or led a team or teams that fully meet th...

Todays walk along the road was an altogether very different one - peaceful, still and sad. We had been in preparation and expectation of my mothers death for the past few years. The person we knew was long gone, wrapped in a fog of confusion and circular conversations ... frail and vulnerable ... different but still a presence. The one and only Christmas card I still send; this year is reduced to none.  We spent time together on Saturday, looking at old photographs and for about 30 minutes the conversation flowed, the stories remembered, the familiar connection made, the need to say goodbye - not said; but instinctively communicated and heard ... the hardest of goodbyes. The finality of death must be the most painful to accept, no second chance, no opportunity to go back, final.  No Facebook or Tik Tok page has ever featured and no grave stone will stand to document a life, but in the presence of her family yesterday, I sat and thought of a life lived and fulfilled. Today as ...

I hadn't intended on doing anything this evening but found myself and Ted the Maltese going for a walk. Ted was restless all evening and I remembered that before leaving the house this morning I promised him we would go for a walk when I got home - he didn't forget, unlike me ! As we walked along, I thought about how I found the motivation to deliver on my promise to a small white dog much more easily than any promise to myself to continue with my daily exercise routine …  As we turned to make the return walk home before it got dark - I looked along the road and couldn't help but see how the long road is such a popular reference to our lives … clearly not enough unexpected twists and turns in this road to reflect true life! I completed a programme of coaching with a client this evening and I used the remainder of my walk to reflect on the meetings we had and the close out of this particular engagement. My coachee was positive about the work we had done - and yet I am always...

In our fast lives it is all too easy to be caught up in the busyness and miss or not see what is around you. While driving today it was hard not to notice a herd of mountain goats on the road - not to mention these two who were having a full on disagreement.  The novel or unusual will obviously get our attention easily - but how often do we go through life on 'auto pilot' oblivious to what is going on around us - caught up in worrying about people and future events and not present in the moment ? How often do you notice things on your drive or walk to work ?  Do you take time to be conscious of the familiar sounds and sights each day? I challenge you to go for a walk this evening - walk around somewhere familiar but go with the intention of being aware and take notice of your environment. As you walk, look up and around, notice things, be aware of the noise your feet make as you walk ... try and focus on your breathing ....  Stop half way on your walk and consider your li...

 I don't really understand the fascination and lure of lighthouses .... but I know I'm not the only one who is fascinated and drawn to the mystery of a lighthouse.  Today I made my first visit to Hook Head Lighthouse  in Wexford, Ireland.  I remember fondly my time living and working on Fair Isle  and how on the (many) stormy days I wondered how the lighthouse managed to stay standing - but how reassuring it was at night as the light would sweep over my house ... it was a constant and dependable feature of my life at the time.  I wonder if the altruistic purpose and nature is a component of our love for them ... there to keep us (or boats at sea to be more precise) safe ?  As a final reflection - I can't think about lighthouses and not recall that powerful saying which is a timely reminder for everyone; If you close your eyes no lighthouse can help you   a challenge to us all to be aware, live in the moment and not to ignore or refuse the support...