What Is on Your Map?
How do you see something that has become part of the way you see? Explore three windows into the mental maps we carry.
How Mental Maps Are Formed
Why do two people experience the same event yet walk away with completely different conclusions? This essay explores the hidden process through which experiences become mental maps—shaping what we notice, how we interpret the world and, ultimately, who we become. Understanding this process is the first step towards becoming more aware of the assumptions we carry and the choices they quietly influence.
The Map Is Not the Territory
Why Better Decisions Begin with Better Sensemaking More than eighty years ago, the philosopher Alfred Korzybski observed that the map is not the territory. The phrase has since become one of the most enduring metaphors for how human beings understand the world—and perhaps one of the most relevant for the age we live in. The
My Top 5 Leadership Values and Why They Matter for Future Leaders
Not long ago, after a leadership talk I had given, a young student came up to me. We didn’t have much time to speak, but before leaving, they asked me something that stayed with me long after the conversation ended: “We didn’t have much time to speak, but could I ask—what are the top five
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The Leadership Imperative: Cultivating Social Connections for Thriving Individuals and Organizations
As guardians of organizational culture and community dynamics, your role as leaders in fostering social connections has never been more crucial. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging has become glaringly evident. As leaders, it is imperative that we prioritize initiatives that strengthen social connections
Why Leadership Training Programs Fail to Deliver the Results You Want
We’ve all been there: you invest in a leadership training program and hope to see the promised results. But, months later, nothing has changed. Meanwhile, your team is still struggling with communication and collaboration issues. Did you know that only 50% of leadership training programs yield the desired results? That’s a pretty startling statistic, and
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Are You A Compassionate Leader?
Summary Compassion in leadership is often misunderstood as being soft or avoiding difficult decisions. In reality, it matters most when the choices are hard. Whether you’re navigating uncertainty, restructuring a team or responding to a personal crisis, people remember not only what decisions were made, but how they were made. This reflection explores what compassionate
Do You Need A Coach?
Summary Many successful leaders assume coaching is something you turn to when you’re struggling. But coaching isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about uncovering what’s possible. The very habits and thinking that helped you reach your current level of success can also become the reason you stop growing. This reflection explores why high-performing leaders often resist
How Well Do You Listen As A Leader
Summary Leaders spend a great deal of time communicating, but far less time truly listening. In fast-moving organisations, conversations often become transactional and focused on solving the next problem. Yet when people don’t feel heard, trust begins to erode, engagement declines and important information never surfaces. This reflection explores why deep listening is one of
Why Leaders Need To Be Resolute
Based on my inter-disciplinary work in leadership development, social and cognitive psychology, coaching, and my own experience as a leader and a coach, I have designed a model for leadership development that can prepare leaders to handle this VUCA world in a more deliberate, self-assured, and successful manner. I call it the CARES Model of