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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This week, I want to share with you the inspiring story of Adrian McKinty. If his name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, that’s understandable, but his journey holds relevance for anyone who’s faced setbacks in life. McKinty’s story offers hope and insight into the nature of perseverance, especially in moments when giving up feels like the only option.Posted: Monday 7 October 2024 -
This article is an excerpt from my book, Leadership Lessons from the World’s Top Football Managers, where I explore the strategies and insights of football’s greatest minds, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and Jürgen Klopp. If you enjoyed this chapter, you can get access to the full book and exclusive leadership content by checking out my Patreon page. By joining, you’ll not only receive the book but also exclusive articles, behind-the-scenes insights, and much more to help you level up your leadership game.Posted: Friday 4 October 2024 -
You are now reading the first chapter of The Leadership Odyssey, a book that explores the evolution of leadership through history’s most iconic figures. If you’d like to continue the journey and gain access to the full book, visit my Patreon page, where you can purchase your copy and receive exclusive leadership content.Posted: Thursday 3 October 2024 -
Here’s a scenario I frequently encounter. A leader reaches out, frustrated, saying they feel more like a parent to their team than a leader. These leaders typically have strong technical expertise and have excelled in their roles, which led to their promotion into leadership. At first, everything seems to go well. But as time passes, they realise their team doesn’t share the same level of dedication or work ethic.Posted: Wednesday 2 October 2024 -
The debate over whether it’s better to be a Manager or a Leader has persisted in boardrooms and offices across the globe. Some argue that strong management is the cornerstone of organisational success, while others believe that true leadership is what propels businesses forward. In recent years, leadership has been praised as the panacea to all corporate challengesPosted: Tuesday 1 October 2024 -
When you hear the word Ferrari, what comes to mind? Quality, exclusivity, speed, and luxury. These are some of the values that have become synonymous with the iconic Italian brand. Ferrari isn’t just a car; it’s a symbol of status, success, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. In a highly competitive industry, where most car manufacturers strive to be accessible to the masses, Ferrari does the opposite.Posted: Monday 30 September 2024 -
In todays fast-paced world, leaders are constantly told to ‘think outside the box’ and embrace innovation. But what happens when thinking creatively isn’t just a suggestion but a necessity for survival? Throughout history, some of the greatest innovations have emerged in times of crisis,Posted: Thursday 26 September 2024 -
If you want to become a successful leader, it’s essential that you possess a well-defined leadership philosophy. There are many types of leaders—some quiet, some loud, some authoritative, some consultative—and the list goes on. When you consider the different types of teams, industries, and challenges they face, the permutations of leadership styles become endless. This variety is precisely why it’s crucial to make clear to your team what type of leader you are. The best way to do this is to have a leadership philosophy that is clear, consistent, and reflective of who you are.Posted: Wednesday 25 September 2024 -
today’s fast-paced workplace, leaders come in all forms, with some leaving a profound and positive impact on their teams. These leaders inspire, motivate, and create environments where employees thrive. Unfortunately, not all leaders fit this mould. Some cling to outdated practices that may have worked in the past but are no longer effective in today’s dynamic landscapePosted: Monday 23 September 2024 -
Work can often feel like an endless cycle. The paperwork on your desk keeps piling up, your phone rings the moment you put it down, and your inbox is flooded with unread messages. To stay afloat, you work harder and longer, pushing yourself to meet your targets. But just when you think you’ve caught up, your boss thanks you by piling on even more work. Sound familiar?Posted: Wednesday 18 September 2024 -
No matter what business you are in, as long as people are involved, there will always be conflict. But here’s the thing – conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, when handled correctly, conflict can be a powerful catalyst for growth and positive change. Whether it’s between team members or between the business and a client, conflict presents an opportunity to address unresolved issues, strengthen relationships, and ensure that the decision-making process remains robust and effective.Posted: Tuesday 17 September 2024 -
As a Leadership coach, one of the most frequent concerns I hear from managers is about how to turn around an underperforming team. Whether it’s due to missed targets, low morale, or a lack of accountability, leaders are often left feeling frustrated and unsure of how to reverse the situation. Underperformance in a team is a challenge every leader will face at some point, and it can feel overwhelming when your team is not delivering as expected.Posted: Monday 16 September 2024 -
In my thirty years as a Manager, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing every leadership scenario you can imagine. From extraordinary triumphs to devastating failures, every moment has shaped me into the leader and Leadership Coach I am today. As I reflect on the moments when I fell short, I realise that my failures were rarely due to a lack of technical skills or leadership theory—they stemmed from a failure within myself. It’s not always about what you know; it’s about who you are.Posted: Friday 13 September 2024 -
Working for yourself as an entrepreneur is a dream shared by many who have toiled away in jobs that offer little personal satisfaction. It’s the dream of freedom—the freedom to shape your own destiny, to create something that is truly your own. I understand this dream because I was once in that same position. I worked in a windowless office in a dead-end job, feeling like just another cog in a machine that neither valued nor cared for me.Posted: Thursday 12 September 2024 -
As a Leadership coach, I often encounter leaders who struggle with difficult conversations. Whether it’s addressing a team member’s repeated tardiness or navigating a challenging moment in a personal relationship, these conversations are often avoided because of fear. Fear of confrontation, fear of worsening the situation, or simply fear of the unknown.Posted: Wednesday 11 September 2024 -
If you ask a group of people to describe an effective leader, you will hear a familiar set of qualities. Common responses will include: vision, good communication skills, honesty and integrity, the ability to relate to others, and the capacity to inspire people to believe in themselves. Regardless of the industry or field, the perception of what makes a good leader is remarkably consistent. So, why is it that in a recent survey, 25% of people reported that they believed their boss was a poor leader? If the characteristics of good leadership are so well understood, why are truly good leaders so rare?Posted: Tuesday 10 September 2024 -
Many people aspire to be leaders, while others find themselves thrust into leadership roles unexpectedly. But is leadership what we think it is? Throughout my career as a Leadership coach, I’ve encountered a wide array of misconceptions that hinder leaders from reaching their full potential. The truth is, leadership is often misunderstood. To be an effective leader, it’s critical to separate fact from fiction and confront the myths that cloud our understanding of what leadership truly entails.Posted: Monday 9 September 2024 -
To be successful, leaders must develop and learn how to perform tasks they may not be comfortable with—whether it’s dealing with a poorly performing colleague or delivering a presentation. This often requires adopting a persona that may not feel natural, raising the question of whether the leader is staying authentic. This is a challenge all leaders face, so to address it, I will introduce you to the thought experiment known as the Ship of Theseus.Posted: Wednesday 4 September 2024 -
In the world of leadership, many qualities are essential for success—strategic thinking, decision-making, vision, and the ability to inspire others. Yet, at the very core of effective leadership lies a trait that often doesn’t receive as much attention as it deserves: emotional intelligence, or EQ. Understanding and developing EQ is not just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation upon which all other leadership skills are built.Posted: Monday 2 September 2024 -
The discussion about how much money you earn for the work you do is the most important conversation you will have at work, yet very few people actually prepare for it. Too often, people want or even desperately need more money, but their request fails because they are unaware of the techniques that can make the difference between their boss saying no and saying yes.Posted: Monday 26 August 2024