Reflections of a Decade

Posted on Monday, 5 April 2010 | Permalink

Amanda Sinclair, Foundation Professor, Management Diversity & Change, at Melbourne Business School is a prominent academic and a regular contributor to the AFR's BOSS magazine. In a recent edition she reflected on changes in leadership and management in Australia over the past ten years. I found this particularly interesting because she highlighted some trends and themes that I've been noticing in the last couple of years.  The future trends she anticipates are also emerging in the work I'm doing with clients - especially in my executive coaching conversations. If you'd like to read her article, please email us (bron@bclearning.com.au)  and we'll send you a copy of the excerpt.
 

AHRI HR Practices Day - March 16th

Posted on Monday, 1 February 2010 | Permalink

Bronwyn is thrilled to have been invited to facilitate a session at the upcoming Tasmanian AHRI HR Practices Day.  This is being held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on Tuesday March 16th.  Further information and registration details are available through their online newsletter.

From 2009 to 2010...

Posted on Friday, 11 December 2009 | Permalink

It's been an interesting and challenging year - so Bron and Megan will depart from the BCLS office on December 18th to recharge their batteries and get those creative juices free-flowing for 2010. Bron will be "back on deck" January 11th. Looking forward to chatting with you again in 2010 - all the best for the New Year!

The Power of a Common Purpose

Posted on Sunday, 1 November 2009 | Permalink

Organisations and teams are collections of people who are aiming to achieve a common purpose. A reasonable proposition? Leadership theory exhorts us to build a vision, develop a mission and then harness the strengths and energies of the team members to perform tasks that will deliver that vision.  This can all be useful.

The "big picture" is made up of many components - the smallest of which is a particular moment in time. We can simply put our attention on each moment, moment by moment. What could be possible if people all over the world did this, on one particular day? One lady decided to find out - www.justthisday.org

Whether we rejuvenate and find silence in nature, take a moment to read a nourishing book, spend time in the garden, take time to enjoy a contemplative cup of coffee or engage in the practice of yoga, martial arts, meditation or mindfulness - finding this silence recharges our energy and refreshes our spirit. It supports us to be ready to make the next contribution - in our communities, in our families AND in our organisations.
 

PS you don't have to wait until November 25th...you can choose to do this ANY day you wish!

Spring Clean your Emotional Intelligence

Posted on Tuesday, 1 September 2009 | Permalink

The days are getting longer, the grass is growing (...and it would feel more like spring if it wasn't still snowing?!)

The sunshine and the snow remind us it's the time for optimism AND for reality.  This was evident when I read Robert Sutton's article "Good boss, bad times" in the Australian Financial Review's BOSS magazine (www.afrboss.com.au) .  He acknowledged that difficult times are ahead AND he identified the important role emotional intelligence can play in effective leadership during these times.

Great leaders are optimistic that they  CAN make a positive difference to their organisations and their people.  They also need to face the reality that challenging economic times still exist, and it will require more than economic acumen to succeed.  Often when leaders are "under stress" they revert to their "defaults" (or comfort zone) and are LESS likely to use a wide range of communication and relationship management avenues.  And this is a time when flexibility, relationship awareness and emotional intelligence are MOST needed.

Sutton quotes psychologist Susan Fiske; (In times of high pressure) "people (employees) pay attention to those who control their outcomes...(they try to) predict and possibly influence what is going to happen to them".  Sutton continues..."when feeling threatened...(employees) become distracted from their work (and) redirect their efforts to try and figure out what is going on and to cope with their fear and anxiety"(p.40).  Sutton identifies four key areas where great leaders can place their attention; providing predictability, increasing understanding, affording control and showing compassion.

Predictability - in these uncertain times people look for consistency in words, behaviours, emotions and interactions from their leaders.  It's also about communicating what will happen and when.  How predictable are you?  How predictable are your messages?

Increasing understanding - this is about communicating the why and how.  Keep the message simple.  Provide concrete examples.  Explain major changes and their expected consequences.  Then Repeat.  Then Repeat.  Then Repeat.

Affording control - draw attention to what CAN be controlled (influenced).  Build confidence and coach for success.  Celebrate accomplishments.   How often do your communications and interactions focus on what CAN be done?

Showing compassion - sincerely attempt to understand the other person's perspective.  Understand and acknowledge anxiety.  Communicate your genuine empathy.  Even the most difficult message can be communicated to preserve the other person's dignity.

Wishing you all the best to "Spring!' into action.
 

Use the current economic climate to assist your organisation's growth

Posted on Monday, 1 June 2009 | Permalink

The current economic situation can actually provide opportunities for
growth and renewal within your organisation.

Bron recently attended the CATALYST 2009 Australasian Executive
Coaching Summit in Sydney. As colleagues and professionals they
explored the following question: "In what ways is the current economic
situation an opportunity for growth and renewal?" and had some great
debate/dialogue about the role of coaching and the coach during these
uncertain times of cutbacks and limitations.

A coaching focus could be to increase your capacity to break through
under stress, not break down - a skill which will help you in the long
term too. Remember that the global community is connected (i.e. all
"crashed" together) - use this as a positive and an opportunity to
build connections between people and organisations, to explore ways we
can serve and support each other. We can also use coaching skills to
help facilitate dialogue and understanding, which is needed now more
than ever in these uncertain times!