You may have seen in the news this week that the US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg passed away from cancer at the age of 87. She was one of only 2 women on the US Supreme Court, but more importantly she was an incredible person.

When she started Harvard Law School in 1955 there were only a handful of women that were allowed to study. In addition, she was a mother of a young daughter and her husband was studying Harvard Law a year above her. In a twisted turn, her husband was diagnosed with cancer and to help him continue at Harvard Law Ruth not only attended her classes, she also attended his classes and in the evening she would share her notes with her bedridden husband so he could continue his studies. Wow, what an inspirational person.

Her true claim to fame was how she repeatedly fought and influenced the legal system to recognise the rights of women (and minorities). I had the pleasure of watching a movie on her life called ‘On the basis of sex’ with my daughters. It was fascinating to watch their reactions to what women were not able to do in the 1960’s and 1970’s. We had a great discussion about the courage that it must have taken her to stand up for what she believes in. More importantly she did this in a way that blended logic with the need to be human and follow what is right.

So what are you having the courage to step up for? Is it an idea that you believe will help others? Is it a project at work that you think will make a real difference? Or is it supporting someone who may be unfairly taken advantage of. With 2020 being a crazy and unpredictable year, it is easy to stay in the shadows and let fear stop you from taking action on what you believe.

On a personal level, I am having the courage to continue supporting and promoting Hands Across the Water, the charity that supports over 350 Thai children at 6 homes across Thailand. With the economic downturn, we are fighting harder than we ever have to continue having the courage to ask people to not forget others that are worse off during this time.

Rather than asking for a donation I would like to invite you to join me for a night of celebration. Normally this time of year we gather together and share our vision forward and have a celebration of what has been achieved.

This year Hands is having a Big Night In Event on Saturday the 31st of October (yes Halloween!) You can sign up on the website and host your family or a small group of friends for an evening of inspiration and connection, all from your home. I am having the courage to ask for anyone with donations of gifts, hotel nights, day on a boat, etc for our charity auction to reach out to me so we can all do a little to make a bigger difference.

As you go about your day remember to have the courage to act on what you believe in and help others to do the same and maybe we can make Ruth Bader Ginsberg smile from heaven.

Imagine creating a charity and growing it to take care of 350 Thai Children at 6 different locations. Better yet growing the success of the charity to raise over $20million (without any government assistance!) to not only provide for the kids but enable over 50 of them to go to University to better their opportunities in life.

This is the story of Hands Across the Water.  Many of you know that I am a founding Board member and have worked with Peter Baines over the last 15 years to make a positive difference in people’s lives (both the kids and our supporters!) Hands also ensured that 100% of donations has gone to the projects on the ground in Thailand, without donors funds being spent on marketing or administration, which is an incredible achievement.

But now we need your help. For Hands to continue we need your support now more than ever. Normally 80% of our funding comes from events (including bike rides in Thailand and the Future of Leadership Conference Series in Australia & NZ). With these events not possible in the COVID world Hands has lost this funding and our future is under threat.

So this is where you come in. Rather than asking for a donation I would like to invite you to join me for a night of celebration. Normally this time of year we gather together and share our vision forward and have a celebration of what has been achieved.

This year however, Hands is having a Big Night In Event on Saturday the 31st of October (yes Halloween!) You can sign up on the website and host your own family or a small group of friends for an evening of inspiration and connection all from the comfort of your home. Please join us for a shared experience which will include:

• Dinner Box that is sent to you which includes: Visa Gift Voucher (to order in your dinner) wine table decorations and a few other surprises.
• 4 Hours of Online Entertainment from some inspirational speakers and live crosses to a number of the homes in Thailand to see the kids and staff you are supporting
• Potential Deals-Charity Auction. An opportunity to purchase some great things in the online charity auction.

So please join me in having a wonderful shared experience in the Hands Big Night In. It will be something that will put a smile on your face, which we all need during these uncertain times.

It has been 19 years since America was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, this was a day that most of us remember. I still remember where I was and watching the horror on the news programs and the sense of shock that quickly grabbed the world’s attention.

In comparing that day many years ago to now, it is interesting how different America is. Back then everyone was unified and most American’s had a sense of pride in their country. The media did not vilify and divide the country, but provided well researched valuable insights that allowed people to be informed and educated.

It is amazing how things have changed. Although I have lived in Australia for over 25 years, I have never seen America so divided. I have friends that span from the left-wing liberal view to the right-wing conservative view. In the past there were disagreements, but still a sense of unity.  Unfortunately, today it feels like things are mostly divided.

Regardless of any political view, I feel today it is best to remember those that were forever impacted by this day. I remember the firefighters that ran into the burning twin towers, the police and medical staff all there to help others who lost their lives. The workers who were just going about their daily lives who would never return. The families who lost their loved ones and had to continue living knowing that a piece of their life would forever be different.

My eldest daughter was born a few weeks later. In her beautiful eyes I could see the hope for the future and my dreams for the world that she would live in. I was thinking beyond 9 September 2001 and thinking about the world that she would live in when she was an adult.

It is up to all of us to step up to be leaders that are compassionate, caring and kind and look for ways to unify, rather than divide. Just like when everyone pulled together to overcome the fear after 9/11 and the devastation of other disasters, if we can work together we can still make the world a better place.

With all of the negative media and the uncertain economic conditions it’s not surprising that Australia had slid into recession for the first time in 28 years (and the US was already officially in recession in June this year). You can anticipate what the news and media outlets will be doing, spreading the fear that comes along with the economic uncertainty (and sells advertising!)

So what is your strategy? Will you hunker down and cut across the board and hibernate until things turn around? That is one approach, however I believe that many businesses will not survive if they take this common fear based tactic.

I reckon what you should do is look for the opportunity. History is a great teacher and if you look back over the past, many opportunities occur during times of economic roller coasters.

So what will you do? It may be advancing some of the projects that you had on the back burner, investing in new areas of opportunity or creating new projects that can create new streams of income.

audentes Fortuna iuvat is Latin for ‘Fortune Favours the Bold.’ Remember this the next time you find fear taking over and clouding your creative thinking. To do this you will need to step out of the normal, stretching your comfort zone and trying things that may (or should) be new to you. Lead boldly and create a culture that inspires your people to step up to the next level and you can achieve incredible things.

If you would like to learn a number of strategies and gain some inspiration on leading, you should attend the Hands Leadership Bytes Online Conference. It takes place on the 10th of September from 10am-3pm AEST. You will learn from some leading thinkers including James Dion who will look at the psychological impact of the pandemic as well as the CEO Fast 5, which includes insights from Optus CEO, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.

If you would like to find out more please go to the Leadership Bytes Website. Remember to be quick as this is next week and is a great opportunity to to be inspired!!

With the lingering COVID19 pandemic and the lockdown in Melbourne, I’m noticing many offices operating on two different levels. When the pandemic first occurred, everyone had to get creative and change the way that they operated. The rise of the work from home dynamic and the massive increase in Zoom meetings to keep the communication open created a new way of operating. People seemed to get used to this approach and many enjoyed the connection with their family at home, not to mention not having to spend hours driving in traffic or on public transport to work.

Now I’m noticing a new speed that is occurring as people go back into the office. I worked with a client in their Sydney office this week, and they still only have 60% of their staff travelling in physically, whilst the rest are still working from home. One of the managers commented on how being back in the office was great as they could have faster catch ups with people from other areas. The other thing she mentioned was she was struggling with trying to reach out to those still working at home to keep them in the loop as it took a bit longer.

These are the two speeds that I am seeing across workplaces. One is the rhythm of working from home and the other is the rhythm of working in the office. When everyone is all one or the other, it is a bit easier. Now, with many organisations running a hybrid approach, it is creating 2 different environments or dynamics with different levels of speed or activity.

So what are you doing to manage this new dynamic? The best thing you can do as a leader is to ensure that regardless of whether people are physically in the office or working remotely that there is a common way to have everyone interact and connect. I have one client that has a 20 minute check-in on Monday morning and a 20 minute check in on Friday afternoon with all of their staff. Some participate physically and others dial in from home and their faces are put up onto the screen so everyone can see them and include them in the conversation. Another has a separate Zoom check in meeting with their virtual staff a couple of times a week. There are a number of different strategies you could use, the question is are you doing something to manage this dynamic?

If you would like to learn a number of strategies and gain some inspiration on leading, you should attend the Hands Leadership Bytes Online Conference. It takes place on the 10th of September from 10am-3pm AEST. You will learn from some leading thinkers including Mike Walsh, a futurist who will share insights on the new rules in a new world as well as the CEO Fast 5, which will provide insights for Senior leaders.

If you would like to find out more please go to the Leadership Bytes Website. This is a great opportunity to bring a group of your people along virtually to be inspired.

We all know the strength of a collective group of people is always stronger than just one.  I find when I get really busy sometimes it is easy to forget this.  Recently I was working with a Senior Leader who was talking about the massive hours that she was putting in.  She had been working until 9 or 10pm every night for the last 2 weeks and was starting to feel exhausted.

“There is just not enough hours in a day” was her response.  I asked her what she was delegating to her staff.  “I don’t really have anyone to delegate to,  my two senior staff members have left and the other six are younger and really don’t have the experience yet.”

Unfortunately, this is a common response that I hear when people have been so busy that they have stopped leading and just jumped into the trenches and began working with their head down.  I asked her a question, “So tell me why some of the younger ones could not do some smaller tasks for you?”

At this point she looked at me with a frustrated scowl on her face.  She then used the common excuse that most managers use, that by the time she explained to them how to do it, she could have done the task herself.  I agree that she could have probably done the task faster the first time, however the point she was missing was twofold:  Firstly she was not building up the capability and learning of her younger staff, so it was a missed opportunity to develop them.  Secondly, she was overloading herself with a number of similar tasks that could be done by someone that was well below her pay grade. (I can hear many CEOs complain of the same thing, why am I paying someone $250,000 to do the tasks of someone that is paid $75,000?)

So what should you be delegating?  What tasks could you share with others and turn this into a development opportunity?  Yes it may take a few minutes to explain, but you will both be better in the long run!

If you would like to learn a number of strategies and gain some inspiration on leading, you should attend the Hands Leadership Bytes Online Conference.   It takes place on the 10th of September from 10am-3pm AEST.  You will learn from Yasmin London on Optimising Online Wellbeing with staff as well as how to be more agile from  Amanda Stevens. There are also 15 other incredible leadership and business speakers who will help stretch your mindset and provide you with inspiration.

If you would like to find out more please go to the Leadership Bytes Website. Also if you would like a book that gives you some practical insights to be more effective in Leading, pick up a copy of my book Leadership Hacks here.

What are you doing to keep learning and mentally active? I have found that the COVID19 pandemic has impacted people in very different ways. Some of my friends have focused on getting fit and have been doing a lot of running and now back at the gym. Others have spent a lot more time on Netflix watching movie marathons (there are some good series on as well as a few poor ones too!) A few have turned to reading that book on leadership that they’ve been meaning to pick up for a while and were too busy to.

For me I have tried to focus on family as well as on learning. During the height of COVID when all 3 kids were at home we spent time every day shooting baskets with our basketball hoop, we have now switched to a ping pong table! I still have the image of my 14 year old son gliding across the living room on a skateboard while playing the electric guitar!

As a leader, I also recognise that it is important for me to keep stretching my thinking and my learning. With the downturn and uncertainty it can be easy to just coast and not be proactive (who doesn’t like trying to knock off early on a Friday!) However if we start getting complacent, this can create a pattern that often leads to inactivity and reaction, rather than leading and creating our future. 

So what are you doing to keep your learning happening? Are you watching Youtube videos that share interesting ideas? Have you signed up for webinars from people that you admire? Regardless, I think this is something we should do more of.

One way to get some leadership inspiration is from the Hands Leadership Bytes Online Conference. It takes place on the 10th of September from 10am-3pm AEST. You will listen to Adventurer Justin Jones as he talks about overcoming adversity and building resilience and Amanda Stevens who will talk about future proofing your brand in changing times as well as 15 other incredible leadership and business speakers who will help stretch your mindset and provide you with inspiration.

If you would like to find out more please go to the Leadership Bytes Website. Also if you would like me to explain how this or a number of other Programs (including a Virtual Fitness Week that could be the thing that your people need to get out of a funk), please let me know. Also if you would like a book that gives you some practical insights to be more effective in Leading, pick up a copy of my book Leadership Hacks here.

I was watching the Last Dance documentary on the incredible basketball player Michael Jordan. It was very clear how much of a leader he was. One of the quotes that I remember was from when he was asked by a reporter about missing the last shot of a previous game and if he was nervous about being in that situation again.  It was fascinating to watch as Michael Jordan just looked at the reporter and smiled and said ‘why would I be afraid of not making a shot that I have not taken yet?’

If you are like me you enjoy a bit of a special deal. You know something that rewards you for doing something early and allows you to share the benefit with your team.

Many of you would know about my relationship as a Board member of Hands Across the Water. Due to COVID19 we have had to adapt the Future of Leadership Conference to a number of online learning options.  

Leadership Bytes is an incredible online event that will bring together 15 of the most inspirational leaders and speakers across the country. This is a great opportunity to listen to: 

• Big Wave Surfer Mark Mathews talking about The New Wave of Opportunities
• AFL CFO Travis Auld sharing Leadership Insights
• Adventurer Justin Jones sharing about An Expedition into Resilience 
• Online Expert Yasmin London sharing strategies to Optimising Online Wellbeing
• TV Presenter Mike Walsh sharing New Rules for a new World

The focus will be on What’s Working, What’s Not & What the Future Holds for Leaders. It will include a number of interactive events including a fun filled ‘talk show’ style format, Q&A as well as a ‘Have You Been Listening?’ segment. This is definitely something that you will not want to miss.

I know that many leaders are looking for ways to inspire and motivate their people without having to take them out of the office for a full day. This online event allows your people to get the hit of inspiration they need and can be used to help refocus and re-energise your people. This is especially important as we tiptoe around the possibility of future lock downs due to COVID19.

Leadership Bytes takes place on the 10th of September from 10am-3pm AEST. Also today is the last day to get the early bird special.

If you would like to find out more please go to the Leadership Bytes Website. Also if you would like me to explain how this or a number of other Programs (including a Virtual Fitness Week that will rock your team culture), please let me know.

“How can I improve my future leaders when our business and operations have been knocked around in COVID19? I know that I need to do something, but finding the time and the method to do it is challenging right now.”