Wiring Your Brain for Positivity It’s 2026 and the new year has begun in earnest. Time and tide waits for no man, but before we’ve really got going, we’re already telling ourselves stories about what this year will be like. Busy. Hard. Uncertain. Our new year’s...
The Gods of analytics were clearly looking down on me the other day. An article from the British Medical Journal from 2022 – yes, ‘22 – appeared in my social media feed. Why that should have happened, I have no idea, but it was clearly the universe at work. So, rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, I grasped the opportunity to learn more. And do you know what? It made for very interesting reading. Join me in reflecting on the BMJ article all about Blinds, Rationals, Shapeshifters and Haters by Dr Partha Kar and how that links with my 3 layer definition of self-awareness and getting feedback from good people.
Right now I’m looking for a new job and like lots of other people, finding the recruitment process brutal. The competition is fierce and the process feels like it’s lost its humanity. Today’s blog is inspired by Nick Thomas from Charisma Charity Recruitment who shares some great advice and puts a little bit of heart back into the process. Join me in sharing my experiences of recruitment and that reminder that actually, you’re checking them out in the same way they’re checking you out. And if you’re not, you should be!
After attending the United Against Workplace Bullying Conference 2025 last week and thinking about the powerful podcast conversations I’ve had on the topic, I wanted to share with you my worries about the rise and impact of bullying, harassment, incivility and disrespect at work. It’s a challenging subject, but an essential one, and as always, we’ll approach it through the lens of learning, curiosity and growth and work out what we, as managers and leaders can do in our daily work lives to make a positive impact.
The more I’ve read about ‘decentralised governance’, the more I’ve found myself drawing parallels with the idea of ‘inclusive decision making’, which was something that came through in my research, as a mitigator against strategic level disconnect. They might sound like they belong in different worlds, one in the realm of blockchain and the other in the boardroom, but at their core, they’re both about the same thing: trust, inclusion and the courage to share power. This week’s blog is about how decentralised governance centralises communities and has inclusion built in by design.
Have you ever noticed how the smallest routines can quietly hold a team together? A shared coffee break, a standing Friday chat, even a run to the local chippy. These simple moments aren’t just habits, they’re rituals that create rhythm, connection, and belonging. This week, “Chippy Tuesday” got me thinking about the power of these everyday behaviours, how they shape culture, build trust, and keep us feeling part of something bigger, even when we’re working apart. Grab a coffee (or a bag of chips!) and join me in exploring how rituals, big and small, can help us build stronger, more human teams.
I naively thought all organisations had strategies. Peter Drucker was talking about objectives and purpose back in 1954 so I thought that by now, all organisations would have some sort of document in place, bringing together objectives, purpose, vision, mission and values. But it turns out, that’s not the case. Sitting at the back of my mind for a few weeks has been the question, ‘what happens when organisations don’t have strategies?’. I was spurred on by a chance encounter with Randy Silver to blog it all out. So, read on for this week’s musings – all about strategy, or the lack of it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective lately, especially how important it is to look up and out, and beyond our routines and familiar spaces. This week, I’m sharing some lessons from my own experiences and sharing why looking up and out might be the best advice we can give ourselves to ensure we stay current and ensure our organisations stay relevant in a changing world.
It’s not like it was 25 years ago. When I started in the world of work, talking to people in senior positions wasn’t really the done thing. You did as you were told and tried your best not to find yourself at the sharp end of your boss’s pointing finger. I’m glad to say things are different now and employees have different expectations of their organisations. They hold their leaders to account or they speak up and move on. Join me in sharing my reflections on the last 20 years and observations on what Linda said.
Welcome to a new look Knowing Self-Aware Leadership! I’ve decided to have a rebrand and shift from the yellow, black and pink to navy and gold. A new year, a new haircut and a new start seemed to warrant some new colours! I hope you like it.
Join me in the first blog of 2026 as I share my thoughts on starting the year on a positive note with a mindset poised for success.