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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Every team faces adversity at some point. Whether it’s a challenging project, a downturn in sales, or an unexpected setback, adversity can test motivation and morale. In these moments, the difference between a team that struggles and one that rises to the occasion often lies in how the leader is able to motivate the team. Adversity doesn’t have to derail motivation; in fact, if managed correctly, it can become an opportunity to reinforce resilience, focus, and unity.Posted: Wednesday 22 January 2025 -
Leadership carries both power and responsibility. When used wisely, power can inspire and elevate others, but when misused, it can lead to environments that harm both individuals and organisations. One of the most striking studies of human behaviour under the influence of power and authority is the Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo. While the experiment is widely discussed in psychology, its insights are equally relevant to leadership, particularly in understanding how power dynamics and toxic environments can shape behaviour.Posted: Tuesday 21 January 2025 -
Leadership is a complex set of skills required to bring together a group of individuals and turn them into a cohesive team. This is challenging because people have different personalities, motivations, and approaches to handling conflict. If these differences aren’t carefully managed, the team can easily fall apart. In this week’s article, I want to explore the challenges of managing how people behave in groups. To do this, I’ll share with you a famous social experiment called the Robbers Cave Experiment.Posted: Monday 20 January 2025 -
Congratulations! You’ve just secured a new leadership position. Whether through a well-earned promotion or as an external hire, you’ve reached an exciting milestone. The anticipation is over, and now the real challenge begins—your first day leading a new team. After all the preparation and effort to land the role, this is your moment to set the stage for long-term success.Posted: Thursday 16 January 2025 -
One of the most common complaints raised in workplaces is about micromanaging. This occurs when a manager wants to control every aspect of an employee’s job to such an extent that it feels suffocating. Every action, no matter how small, is closely scrutinised, leaving employees feeling undervalued, untrusted, and demotivated. Micromanagement is a recipe for dissatisfaction, and yet it persists in workplaces around the globe.Posted: Wednesday 15 January 2025 -
The workplace is not what it used to be. In just the past few decades, we’ve seen seismic shifts in how businesses operate, how teams function, and what employees expect from their leaders. The pace of change has only accelerated, and as we step into 2025, the role of a leader has never been more complex—or more crucial.Posted: Tuesday 14 January 2025 -
As we move into 2025, HR professionals play a critical role in shaping how organisations adapt to the evolving leadership landscape. The rapid pace of technological innovation, societal expectations, and workforce changes are redefining leadership. Understanding these emerging trends is essential for HR leaders to identify, develop, and support effective leaders within their organisations.Posted: Monday 13 January 2025 -
The new year brings with it fresh opportunities and a sense of renewal. It’s that time of year when many of us sit down to write our New Year resolutions—a list of changes we want to make to improve our lives. Some people focus on personal goals, such as losing weight, forming new relationships, or improving their mental well-being. Others aim for professional milestones, like earning a promotion or starting a new business. Whatever the goal, New Year resolutions represent a promise to ourselves: a commitment to change for the better.Posted: Thursday 9 January 2025 -
When people think about leaders, they often imagine someone confident, decisive, and sure of their abilities. And while confidence is indeed an essential trait for effective leadership, the truth is far more complex. Even the best leaders aren’t immune to self-doubt. In fact, many high-performing leaders struggle with an inner voice that questions their decisions, their abilities, and even their worthiness to lead.Posted: Wednesday 8 January 2025 -
The Premier League is renowned for showcasing world-class talent and breathtaking football. Yet beneath the surface lies a pressing issue that is hindering the full potential of teams across the league: a lack of leadership on the pitch.Posted: Monday 6 January 2025 -
As we move into 2025, the business landscape continues to evolve rapidly. With new technologies emerging, employee expectations shifting, and customers demanding more, staying ahead of the curve has never been more challenging—or more rewarding. Success in this environment requires more than just innovation; it requires strategy, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.Posted: Tuesday 31 December 2024 -
There’s something inspiring about watching elite athletes perform at their peak. Whether it’s a footballer scoring the winning goal in a final, a sprinter crossing the finish line with seconds to spare, or a fighter stepping into the ring with unshakable confidence, we can’t help but admire their ability to perform under pressure.Posted: Tuesday 31 December 2024 -
These days, I live near a graveyard. On my walks, I often stop to read the gravestones. They all talk about family—beloved husband, cherished wife, devoted father, loving mother. Not one of them mentions being a dedicated manager or a hardworking colleague.Posted: Tuesday 24 December 2024 -
Have you ever been part of a team where everything just seemed to click? Where everyone worked together effortlessly, putting the team’s success ahead of their own? It feels like magic when it happens, but as Richie McCaw, one of the greatest All Blacks captains in history, reminds us, it’s not magic—it’s culture.Posted: Wednesday 18 December 2024 -
Santa Claus, the legendary figure who brings joy to children around the world, might seem like an unusual leadership role model. After all, his main job is delivering presents and spreading festive cheer. But when you think about it, Santa runs one of the most complex operations imaginable. He leads a team of elves, manages a logistics operation that would put Amazon to shame, and keeps his cool under pressure—all while maintaining an unshakeable belief in the spirit of giving.Posted: Tuesday 17 December 2024 -
When we think of the FBI, many of us picture agents cracking complex cases, tracking elusive criminals, or profiling dangerous individuals based on limited clues. Behind the high-stakes drama, however, lies a unique and disciplined approach to understanding human behaviour. FBI profiling isn’t just about catching criminals—it’s about piecing together patterns, motivations, and decisions to make sense of seemingly chaotic situations.Posted: Friday 13 December 2024 -
Leadership is about navigating challenges, influencing others, and fostering collaboration—even in the most high-pressure situations. Few roles embody this more than that of a hostage negotiator. In their world, a single mistake can have life-altering consequences, making exceptional training and precision non-negotiable.Posted: Friday 13 December 2024 -
Every team, no matter its size or purpose, has a collective mentality. It’s the invisible force that shapes how people behave and interact. Within a team, individuals are influenced by their peers to adopt certain attitudes and behaviours, often without realising it. This collective mentality can be so powerful that it drives individuals to act in ways they might not instinctively choose, simply to feel like they belong.Posted: Wednesday 11 December 2024 -
Football is evolving at an unprecedented pace. What once was a sport built solely on raw talent and tactical ingenuity has become a multifaceted game requiring expertise in every area, both on and off the pitch. In modern football, clubs at the highest level boast specialised coaches for specific roles—set-play coaches, goalkeeping coaches, nutritionists, and even throw-in specialists. Yet, despite this growing trend of specialisation, one crucial area often goes overlooked: leadership.Posted: Thursday 5 December 2024 -
New Zealand rugby is synonymous with excellence. The All Blacks, with their unparalleled success, have become the gold standard in the sport, admired worldwide for their skill, unity, and mental resilience. But this dominance hasn’t come from talent alone—it’s the result of a culture of constant evolution, innovation, and leadership. For New Zealand rugby teams, from grassroots to professional levels, embracing specialised leadership coaching is the next step in maintaining and building on this legacy.Posted: Thursday 5 December 2024