The Lead Yourself First Blog

How would you describe some of the greatest leaders you have met or worked with? What characteristics did you admire the most? If you want to improve your leadership skills, leaders from your immediate or distant past are likely to have made an indelible impression. I still remember my first encounter with a great leader. […]

  Does anyone truly enjoy working in a negative workplace? Negativity is one of the most destructive forces impacting the culture and atmosphere in numerous organizations. And when a leader demonstrates any signs of negativity, they may inadvertently be giving people permission to model what they see. It is a force that can quickly spread […]

I remember working with senior executives from a multinational professional services firm shortly after the Great Financial Crisis. (GFC) During their meeting, the leaders struggled to agree on talent attraction and retention strategies. Several leaders were deeply concerned about losing talent, with one team member expressing concern: “We cannot shrink ourselves to glory.” The group’s […]

I will always remember the calendar turning from one millennium to another. While millions were revelling in the excitement, I was sitting in my parent’s kitchen, enjoying my mother’s home cooking. We watched the traditional new-year fireworks lighting up Sydney Harbour on TV. It was an unusually cold, rainy New Year’s Eve, and I couldn’t […]

When you take care of relationships, you take care of everything. A powerful statement from Peter, a leader in a professional services organization I just met. He was on a mission to help his Gen Z staff engage with their clients in person. His challenge: The majority worked remotely and were swamped with administrative, routine activities […]

When the pandemic struck, I found myself thrust into a new reality of fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, with work on hold and no pressing agenda, I felt as though time stood still for what was seemingly an eternity. My business had survived the economic meltdowns following 9/11 and the global financial crisis of 2008. But […]

Love it or hate it. Change is a part of life and business. Reacting to it is human. Anticipating it is wise. But mismanaging your change management process is entirely avoidable. If you ask Google: What percentage of change management initiatives fail? You will see 202 million results! The number doesn’t matter. Getting to the […]

If you have ever been part of a relationship dynamic at work that felt transactional or inauthentic, you are not alone. Even though years may have passed, and you have since moved on, it’s likely that you can still recall the impact of the experience and level of discomfort. We remember leaders who are real, […]

While economists worldwide declare the end of the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting, the talent shortage is far from over. According to research by Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm, by 2030, over 85 million job positions may remain vacant due to a shortage of qualified individuals to fill them. To proactively address talent […]

  Dilbert, my silly slammer stress buster toy, sits on my desk, vying for my attention as soon as I walk into my office. I enjoy his “rant” each time I slam him, although he only has three sayings: “Get out of my cubicle!”, “that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”, and “You want it […]