Facial hair is definitely not a gift of mine but this month during the month of Movember I have been joining thousands of others around the world in growing a moustache all in the name of men’s health.

Great leaders possess a skill that sets them apart: they listen. In the cacophony of modern leadership rhetoric, the importance of this fundamental yet often overlooked trait cannot be overstated. Listening isn't merely a passive act of hearing; it's an active engagement with others' thoughts, emotions, and aspirations. Leaders who prioritise listening create environments of trust, collaboration, and innovation within their teams and organisations.

Having had a lifetime of experience in both leadership roles and facilitation, I have been unaware of how intertwined and complementary the skill sets are. Recently what I have come to realise is how essential facilitation skills are to my leadership practice. Without them, I would be unable to create environments based on safety and trust that allow for innovation and creativity to lead the way.

Have you ever been to, yet another, boring monthly reporting meeting? Or perhaps a presentation that lacked life and was just a bunch of facts, figures and various charts? How about being sent a proposal that requires a significant investment but you are left with more questions than compelling reasons why you should approve it?

I have participated in a range of team building days over my career and what has separated the positive experiences from the not so positive ones was definitely the format. One experience where the company hired a boat and headed out in the bay for the day sounded good in theory but in reality, left some team members feeling disengaged and bored not to mention a little seasick!

Building trust in your team is a multifaceted task that demands time, consistency, patience, and integrity.

Team building days can be powerful tools for enhancing team cohesion, morale, and productivity. However, many team-building events fail to achieve their intended outcomes due to several common pitfalls. Here, we explore why some team-building days fail and provide practical strategies for ensuring success.

As a leader, building trust within your team is paramount and the questions in their minds are probably not that dissimilar. Trust is the bedrock of a successful, productive, and engaged team.

Encouraging others is not just about identifying and supporting strengths or the things they do well. There are definitely times when calling people up about their words, actions or behaviours is just as important for encouraging them to thrive.

“People can’t be what they can’t see” - This piece of advice from a mentor has been one of those pearls that has stayed with me over the years. Throughout the leadership roles I have had, many styles and influences have guided how I approach leadership but at its core has been the idea of role modelling what we would like to see in others.

Recently I stepped away from a permanent role in an incredible organisation in order to pursue my own personal mission. This wasn’t a decision I took lightly and certainly wasn’t a quick one either. While my role was fulfilling, I was connected to the mission and the people and culture were incredible there was this gnawing, nagging feeling that I wanted something different.

Unsolicited advice in my experience is generally not taken nor even fully heard as it can activate or trigger us when we haven’t asked for it. However, if we actively seek or invite it in we are more open to hearing it and potentially taking it on or putting it into practice. Sometimes it is best to "refrain" from giving advice and just listen and offer support instead.

My first job out of university was working at an Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit. This would be where people suffering acute psychosis and severe mental illness would be admitted when they were not functioning at home or within the community. I remember distinctly the supervisor I had at the time having this superpower-like ability to listen.

When I think about all the workshops, seminars even meetings or one on one sessions that I have run that haven’t gone so well, it is always the ones where I didn’t focus enough energy on creating connection first.

I hear a lot about how wonderful it is that with the advancements in technology in the era in which we live we are able to connect with others so much more than ever before. In fact, I have heard it touted that globally we are the most connected we have ever been.

As someone who is passionate and committed to the way humans connect and experience the world and each other, I am curious about the impact ChatGPT may have on some of our basic Human Skills.

I am reading a lot about the potential pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence (AI) these days. And while I don’t have any particularly strong views on AI, I have a curiosity.

Stories have a way of communicating experience, wisdom, and lessons, but they also have a way of helping us understand what it is to be human.