Eating with Abandon: The French Way

I often work with individuals who struggle with OVER activities, and it’s usually part of the reason why they are seeking executive coaching. OVER-working, OVER-stressing, OVER-checking, and OVER-preparing to name just a few. Often these OVER activities follow a cyclical pattern of OVER-working (in some form) followed by OVER-indulgence. It’s frequently a hamster wheel pattern, not at all dissimilar to ‘yo-yo dieting’. (Image source: www.anecdotesandapples.com – a refreshing food blog and also a delicious recipe for making your own croissants)

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Abundance in the Workplace: What Managers Need to Know?

Very early in my career I participated in a two day retreat with my work unit. Our manager had organised the retreat with the intention of increasing our team connection and our performance.  We came back even more disillusioned, disengaged and dysfunctional after one very telling team activity. (Image Source: www.olympic.org/photos)

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Resilience: Its not what you think

I don’t often tell people about the kind of psychology I do.  It’s not that I’m not proud of it, but because it is generally misunderstood. When I tell people my work involves applying positive psychology and building resilience in the workplace, they usually look at me like I’m a flake.  It seems they picture me facilitating group hugs and Kumbaya sing alongs.  (Image source: reachout.com) 

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Irasshaimase: The Art of Mindful Service

There is no chance of walking into a Japanese store unnoticed.  And when you are spotted, you will hear a welcoming greeting – ‘Irasshaimase’ – which seems to reverberate around the room, with each available staff member joining in the chorus. Japanese customer service is mindful customer service.  Time stands still and the most important thing in the world is the present moment. Image Source: http://agorafukuoka-hilltop.com/english/

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That Sinking Feeling

When do you get that sinking feeling?  Is it when you’ve made a great big whopping mistake?  When you feel out of your depth and not sure of what you are doing?  Or when you receive negative feedback?  Read more about working with that sinking feeling to be the leader/team member/partner/parent/friend you want to be.

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New Year, New You? Embracing the Inner Gorilla

Argumentative? Time poor? Control freak? No willpower? Weakness for a good Shiraz? Coffee addiction? Bad hair?  No problem, leave them all behind in 2015 and welcome a NEW YOU in 2016!  As we welcome in another new year, we are overwhelmed with articles encouraging us to become a brand new turbo-improved version of our former selves. But the reality is – You can’t just skip over yourself.

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Positive Neuroplasticity: Hardwiring Behaviour Change and Building Inner Resources

What do you want to become ‘more’ of?  More patient, more confident, more assertive, more light-hearted? This article explores how we can identify the inner resources we need and want to develop, and the practical ways that we can ‘hardwire change’ in our minds. As I mentioned in my previous article, there is a growing body of research in the area of neuroplasticity that supports the idea that our talents, abilities and strengths are not fixed.  We are all very quick to put ourselves (and others) into boxes which limit us.  In fact, we all have the capacity to change, …

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Achieving Goals: Applying Positive Neuroplasticity to Your New Year’s Resolutions

Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution or a professional development goal, most of us struggle to find the motivation and persistence necessary for follow through and success.  The good news is that research in the area of neuroplasticity is providing growing evidence for how to use everyday activities to develop the inner resources necessary for sustainable behaviour change. 

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How do you inspire confidence and competence in others?

One of our greatest challenges is standing back and allowing others to learn from their own actions, triumphs and mistakes.  It can be too easy to step in and ‘save the day’ at the first ‘wobble of the wheels’.  However, when you give others the space to apply new learnings, you provide invaluable opportunities to develop confidence and competence.

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