We need to dream!

Sadly as we get older our dreams become conditional.

We learn so much about “reality” and create so many rules or obstacles in our own minds that our dreams become stifled.

Dreaming creates appetite. It creates a compelling vision that we want to reach for. It motivates us because of the appetite it creates.

The next step is to backward map that dream and turn it into a plan but it must first begin with a compelling vision for the future.

We also need to share these dreams and vision in stories.

Stories reach people at a much deeper level that standards, KPIs and traditional work expectations. Our own dreams need to become shared dreams by all team members. The energy and motivation will become infectious and people will work harder to achieve them.

Lets be “kids again.” Lets be open minded and passionate. Lets unleash true potential so that we break rules and truly make a difference beyond standard conventions.

Lets reinvent, by embracing a paradigm and way of thinking that ignores excuses and in powerful and compelling ways makes dreams possible.

(All of my podcasts are one take - no edits - no script - keeping it real - natural dialogue from the head and heart)

While vision and values, charisma and motivation might be important for leadership you also have to get the job done. The skills of persuasion and influence are essential if you want to turn ideas into reality. We need to have tools that help move people forward and we need to remove objections. It requires excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. This podcast aims to help leaders practice and develop interpersonal skills by providing a set of strategies and skills that you can employ when things are not moving as fast as you would like them to be. We explore several strategies leaders can implement that help diffuse conflict, bring people on board and achieve genuine and authentic consensus. 

(All of my podcasts are one take - no edits - no script - keeping it real - natural dialogue from the head and heart)

In this podcast we explore how systems work and an approach to understanding how to get the greatest leverage for change.

We too often focus only on small parts and not the whole. In order to make significant and sustainable change we need to understand the interactions that occur between parts.

As human beings we are wired to enjoy and value human interaction. Working in teams makes sense. When we value the interactions and improvements that people can discover and implement themselves we will see greater improvements.

As leaders we are most often not the best people to make changes. We should set the standards but not always outline the pathway to achieve it. There may be a better way.

Edward Deming is most famous for helping to transform the Japanese car manufacturing industry from something not credible to one of the finest quality and efficient production systems in the world.

Peter Senge believes very strongly that we should be looking at the whole picture rather than the individual problem and he has helped organisations and schools embrace these ideas.

Both of these thought leaders have significantly shaped a way of thinking and organisational change that is far more effective than traditional methods. 

We will explore these ideas and how they can apply to international contexts.

(All of my podcasts are one take - no edits - no script - keeping it real - natural dialogue from the head and heart)

Decision making can be difficult in any context but it can be even more challenging in culturally diverse environments.

In this podcast we explore the decision making tools called "Ladder of Inference" and "Perceptual Positions" as ways we can become more effective.

Decision making tools help us become more effective by challenging us to look at things from a different perspective.

Ladder of Inference  (Chris Argyris and Peter Senge)

Using The Ladder of Inference helps us look at facts in an unbiased way and not to judge too soon. It is a way of making us become aware of reasoning processes and how to use own convictions and experiences in a positive manner.

Perceptual Positions

Perceptual positions is a form of modelling that allows us to step into somebody else’s shoes, and see what they see,  hear what they hear, and feel what they feel. Perceptual positions help us get a much better impression of another persons ‘reality’ and it helps us move from being reactive to being much more strategic.

Leadership is more effective when we are reflective. These models are an effective "play book" that helps us know how to proceed when things are challenging, cloudy or less obvious than you may think. By using these frames of reference we can walk confidently forward while being more clearly aware of the why and the how.

(All of my podcasts are one take - no edits - no script - keeping it real - natural dialogue from the head and heart)

This podcast aims to explain what International Schools are, their history and role in developing the next generation of global leaders.

My passion for global leadership includes a belief that we don't learn leadership skills by accident. They need to be developed and applied in order for us to truly develop our leadership potential.

International Schools have been very successful in achieving this based not on their "non-local" curriculum but on their philosophy of being international-minded.

They play an important role as models of what can be achieved when we embrace and see the benefits of cultural diversity.

At a time when this Pandemic Crisis has challenged us globally we know that the people who can adapt best are those who can think critically, adjust and solve problems in a dynamic way. Those who are multi-skilled and have a broad background and skillset will be the most successful. This also includes the values of being generous and serving others. It is a time when we need to come together as a global world, embracing the connections that are helpful between nations.

(All of my podcasts are one take - no edits - no script - keeping it real - natural dialogue from the head and heart)

Most people have a desire to be more interesting. We all know that being more interesting is attractive but it also helps us have better relationships with others and to be more effective. 

This 5min version on this very popular topic was created for another podcast series where I was an invited as a guest presenter.  (Feel free to share with others)

To "be interesting" makes us more engaging and successful with others both personally and professionally. 

In this podcast I talk about this concept of being more interesting and some strategies we can use to achieve it.