Australasian Leadership Institute Free Articles
Welcome to My Leadership and Mindset Blog
With over 34 years of experience in leadership, I’ve had the privilege of working with leaders and organisations internationally, helping them unlock their potential, overcome challenges, and achieve exceptional results. Recognised as one of the world’s top leadership experts, I’ve authored 12 books on leadership and mindset, sharing the strategies and insights that have transformed individuals and teams around the globe.
This blog is where I share practical insights, proven techniques, and timeless lessons to help you navigate the challenges of leadership and elevate your performance. Whether you’re an experienced executive or stepping into a leadership role for the first time, you’ll find valuable advice here to guide your journey.
If you’re ready to take the next step and bring meaningful change to your team or organisation, I offer:
• One-on-one coaching tailored to your unique leadership challenges.
• In-house leadership training designed to create high-performing, purpose-driven teams.
Get in touch today, and let’s work together to make your leadership vision a reality.
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The workplace is not what it used to be. In just the past few decades, we’ve seen seismic shifts in how businesses operate, how teams function, and what employees expect from their leaders. The pace of change has only accelerated, and as we step into 2025, the role of a leader has never been more complex—or more crucial.Posted: Tuesday 14 January 2025 -
As we move into 2025, HR professionals play a critical role in shaping how organisations adapt to the evolving leadership landscape. The rapid pace of technological innovation, societal expectations, and workforce changes are redefining leadership. Understanding these emerging trends is essential for HR leaders to identify, develop, and support effective leaders within their organisations.Posted: Monday 13 January 2025 -
The new year brings with it fresh opportunities and a sense of renewal. It’s that time of year when many of us sit down to write our New Year resolutions—a list of changes we want to make to improve our lives. Some people focus on personal goals, such as losing weight, forming new relationships, or improving their mental well-being. Others aim for professional milestones, like earning a promotion or starting a new business. Whatever the goal, New Year resolutions represent a promise to ourselves: a commitment to change for the better.Posted: Thursday 9 January 2025 -
When people think about leaders, they often imagine someone confident, decisive, and sure of their abilities. And while confidence is indeed an essential trait for effective leadership, the truth is far more complex. Even the best leaders aren’t immune to self-doubt. In fact, many high-performing leaders struggle with an inner voice that questions their decisions, their abilities, and even their worthiness to lead.Posted: Wednesday 8 January 2025 -
The Premier League is renowned for showcasing world-class talent and breathtaking football. Yet beneath the surface lies a pressing issue that is hindering the full potential of teams across the league: a lack of leadership on the pitch.Posted: Monday 6 January 2025 -
As we move into 2025, the business landscape continues to evolve rapidly. With new technologies emerging, employee expectations shifting, and customers demanding more, staying ahead of the curve has never been more challenging—or more rewarding. Success in this environment requires more than just innovation; it requires strategy, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.Posted: Tuesday 31 December 2024 -
There’s something inspiring about watching elite athletes perform at their peak. Whether it’s a footballer scoring the winning goal in a final, a sprinter crossing the finish line with seconds to spare, or a fighter stepping into the ring with unshakable confidence, we can’t help but admire their ability to perform under pressure.Posted: Tuesday 31 December 2024 -
These days, I live near a graveyard. On my walks, I often stop to read the gravestones. They all talk about family—beloved husband, cherished wife, devoted father, loving mother. Not one of them mentions being a dedicated manager or a hardworking colleague.Posted: Tuesday 24 December 2024 -
Have you ever been part of a team where everything just seemed to click? Where everyone worked together effortlessly, putting the team’s success ahead of their own? It feels like magic when it happens, but as Richie McCaw, one of the greatest All Blacks captains in history, reminds us, it’s not magic—it’s culture.Posted: Wednesday 18 December 2024 -
Santa Claus, the legendary figure who brings joy to children around the world, might seem like an unusual leadership role model. After all, his main job is delivering presents and spreading festive cheer. But when you think about it, Santa runs one of the most complex operations imaginable. He leads a team of elves, manages a logistics operation that would put Amazon to shame, and keeps his cool under pressure—all while maintaining an unshakeable belief in the spirit of giving.Posted: Tuesday 17 December 2024 -
When we think of the FBI, many of us picture agents cracking complex cases, tracking elusive criminals, or profiling dangerous individuals based on limited clues. Behind the high-stakes drama, however, lies a unique and disciplined approach to understanding human behaviour. FBI profiling isn’t just about catching criminals—it’s about piecing together patterns, motivations, and decisions to make sense of seemingly chaotic situations.Posted: Friday 13 December 2024 -
Leadership is about navigating challenges, influencing others, and fostering collaboration—even in the most high-pressure situations. Few roles embody this more than that of a hostage negotiator. In their world, a single mistake can have life-altering consequences, making exceptional training and precision non-negotiable.Posted: Friday 13 December 2024 -
Every team, no matter its size or purpose, has a collective mentality. It’s the invisible force that shapes how people behave and interact. Within a team, individuals are influenced by their peers to adopt certain attitudes and behaviours, often without realising it. This collective mentality can be so powerful that it drives individuals to act in ways they might not instinctively choose, simply to feel like they belong.Posted: Wednesday 11 December 2024 -
New Zealand rugby is synonymous with excellence. The All Blacks, with their unparalleled success, have become the gold standard in the sport, admired worldwide for their skill, unity, and mental resilience. But this dominance hasn’t come from talent alone—it’s the result of a culture of constant evolution, innovation, and leadership. For New Zealand rugby teams, from grassroots to professional levels, embracing specialised leadership coaching is the next step in maintaining and building on this legacy.Posted: Thursday 5 December 2024 -
Football is evolving at an unprecedented pace. What once was a sport built solely on raw talent and tactical ingenuity has become a multifaceted game requiring expertise in every area, both on and off the pitch. In modern football, clubs at the highest level boast specialised coaches for specific roles—set-play coaches, goalkeeping coaches, nutritionists, and even throw-in specialists. Yet, despite this growing trend of specialisation, one crucial area often goes overlooked: leadership.Posted: Thursday 5 December 2024 -
In my experience, the best leaders are also the best listeners. Listening is often overshadowed by other leadership qualities like decision-making or strategic thinking, but it is an essential and often underestimated skill. We spend so much time learning what to say, how to say it, and when to say it, but communication becomes meaningless if we aren’t willing to listen.Posted: Wednesday 4 December 2024 -
Lets be honest—leadership isn’t always as rational as we’d like it to be. Leadership is about people, and every person, including the leader, brings internal biases to the table. No matter how much we try to focus on facts, our emotions and instincts often influence our decisions. One of the most fascinating ways this happens is through something called the halo effect—a psychological bias that can distort how we perceive others and ourselves, sometimes for the better, but often to our detriment.Posted: Wednesday 27 November 2024 -
Recently during a leadership workshop I was facilitating, one participant posed a question that resonates with many managers: “What do I do when I have to enforce a decision I don’t agree with?” This situation is one of the most challenging a leader can face, particularly when senior leaders make decisions that must be implemented by frontline and middle managers.Posted: Wednesday 20 November 2024 -
Becoming a leader for the first time is an exciting yet daunting journey. Up until now, you’ve likely been evaluated based on your own performance. But as you step into this leadership role, you’ll realise that you are now judged by how well others perform under your guidance.Posted: Wednesday 13 November 2024 -
We’ve all seen people make decisions that are obviously very bad and clearly not in their best interest. During these times, we wonder, “What on earth were they thinking?” As a Leadership and mindset coach, I frequently encounter these patterns in people’s lives, and I see how these bad decisions often come down to specific psychological factors. In this article, I want to share with you four key reasons why good people tend to make poor decisions: cognitive dissonance, present bias, ego depletion, and social influence – and, more importantly, what can be done about it.Posted: Thursday 7 November 2024