Archive for 'Leadership'

Leading Without Emptying The Ocean

Leading Without Emptying The Ocean

Posted on 29. Jun, 2010 by .

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I read some very disturbing scientific research recently that you might have read too. The conclusion of the widely publicised project was that 90% of the species we fish for today will be wiped out by 2048 until fishing practices change. With an eightfold increase in commercial demand for fish since 1950 the report found [...]

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Burn Your Boats

Burn Your Boats

Posted on 17. Jun, 2010 by .

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When Alexander the Great arrived on the shores of Persia his army was overwhelmingly outnumbered. Yet he gave the orders to his men to burn the boats. As their only means of retreat went up in flames, legend has it that Alexander turned to his men and said, “We go home in Persian ships, or [...]

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Label Maker

Label Maker

Posted on 25. May, 2010 by .

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The label maker is a versatile device. Saviour of kids’ belongings that would otherwise disappear at school. Stalwart of office filing systems. It can categorise, declare ownership, explain purpose, give instructions for use, even declare value. The label is a powerful thing. But I’ve noticed that labels switch from helpful to harmful when we use [...]

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What’s Your Leadership Footprint?

What’s Your Leadership Footprint?

Posted on 11. May, 2010 by .

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In more recent years we’ve become aware that every person, every company, leaves a mark on our natural environment. Increasingly we’re being forced to consider issues like our “carbon footprint” which are very tangible ways of measuring the extent to which we damage the earth as we go about life and business. That footprint was [...]

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Airbrushes, Avatars and Authenticity

Airbrushes, Avatars and Authenticity

Posted on 12. Apr, 2010 by .

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Airbrushes Have you ever seen how much editing is done to the photos of models before they appear on the cover of a magazine? The contrast between the before and after shots is astonishing. In the hands of a graphic designer just about every imperfection can be fixed. Got wrinkles? Nothing a little Photoshop airbrushing [...]

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Spring Clean Your Leadership

Spring Clean Your Leadership

Posted on 29. Mar, 2010 by .

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We moved homes this week and became acutely aware of the amount of stuff we have accumulated as a family over the years. We’re not hoarders. In fact we’re not even especially sentimental. Yet quietly, in boxes and cupboards, in drawers and dark corners of the garage, “stuff” had been slowly multiplying. Not quite rubbish [...]

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Being Adaptable Is Over-Rated

Being Adaptable Is Over-Rated

Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by .

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For years I’ve sung the virtues of being adaptable and to be fair adaptability does have real value in certain situations. But I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not enough. Being adaptable is over-rated. By definition, leadership is bringing change to the world around you rather than simply conforming to what already exists. [...]

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