When we see feedback as a treat, an honour to receive and ignite our curiosity to know what the other person can see that we can't, then we can be more open to the learning opportunity in front of us.

Authenticity doesn't mean you need to show everything but it does mean that you show- what is really you.

Authenticity by definition can not be faked. When a leader is authentic, you can see that there is an alignment between how they present themselves and how they naturally are. This is sometimes hard to get to because the role of a leader over the course of their career can be built up of expectations and judgements about how the 'should' be. What does the real you sound like?

I believe that learning and growth happens in the spaces between- what was- and - what will be- We have had so much crisis, that we need to use disruption as an opportunity to build the skills we will need in the future.

The key to asking good questions. I believe that curiosity is the key to asking questions and quality listening.

When you are curious, you are in the space between what you used to know and what you are about to learn. You have the desire to learn something new and to do that you are willing to give up what you might have believed before. If you can hold your own beliefs and ideas very lightly, curiosity becomes a whole lot easier.

This month I have been working with clients to help them get unstuck and get talking about bias, it has been fun and I have had great feedback about the value of these sessions. They are a great warm up to the group coaching that I am running in September. I finished the second of three sessions all about taming those bias gremlins. There is still one more to join, and here is why…

What you see matters. The desire to be politically correct can keep us from seeing but also valuing qualities that make up a person. Of course you see a person’s colour, but what you don’t see is who they are. When we have conversations and build connections with a person we can get a clearer picture of their experiences. Looking critically at the biased view we have of the world is not easy, and it will be tough to have these conversations. But when we see differences as they exist and connect with humans of any colour, gender, sexual orientation, background etc. we can acknowledge and appreciate their experiences.

Silence never solved any problems.
Martin Luther King said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
When we say nothing, nothing changes.

Have you been in a conversation and been triggered by something they said, which distracts you?
Do you interrupt people when they talk?

Of course we all do these things, because we are human, it is normal. But when it is an important conversation, for us or for the other person, these natural responses can hold us back from really understanding what the person is trying to share.

Everyone of colour has a story about their colour. I believe that we need to be open to hearing stories of experiences from people of all backgrounds. We should hear them to stop and reflect and find strength and unity in what is right.

They say change is good, but sometimes we have become creatures of habit. My house, my desk, my job… in this case, my sofa! We assign our ownership to them and attach to them, that is why it becomes difficult when things change.

In these days of virtual working, we certainly need to pay attention to ‘how’ we communicate and importantly, how we can support leaders and managers to be aware of their audience’s reactions. 

Something that builds stronger human relationships is that we have a shared truth. That starts by moving out of what we know to be our through and getting a better understanding of another person’s perspective. That all starts with listening. Here are some tips to help you listen better…

How can you communicate a message authentically when it doesn't feel like your message? If it doesn’t come naturally, it is often because it doesn’t feel like you.

This is a story about taking risks and following a dream, I with you three things I learned in that class and want to share with you.