Wise Wednesdays

 There’s a difference between having an idea and having a viable vision for your career.While I’ve always pursued work I’m passionate about, I also made sure I was paid fairly—whether through a research grant, having a role created for me, negotiating “non-negotiable” contract terms that set a new precedent, or a simple business structure that has sustained me from year 1. I also insisted on having autonomy and respect to be able to do my best work.If you don’t know how to be remunerated appropriately for your work either in an organisation or business, you don’t have a dream; you have a recipe for burnout. Without having your needs met, you don’t have a career; you have a modern version of indentured servitude! Of course, life happens and circumstances change which means things can fluctuate and you have to stay cool and evolve. But if you want to create a liberated career and life that transcends exhausting societal norms, it’s time to deepen your skills of conscious influence an...

As responsibilities grow, so can the pressure to  do more.  But here's a leadership paradox: stepping into higher leadership often means  doing different (and possibly less), not more. I had a coaching session this morning with a brilliant client navigating the pressures of upward momentum and executive leadership. We explored how to avoid  Responsibility Inflation —the trap of taking on too much—and continue to thrive as a leader with a big vision. But why does Responsibility Inflation happen in the first place and what can you do about it?  (You know I won't let anyone fall into a success trap when they could have all of impact, fulfilment and wellbeing, right? :) [Read on or watch the video.] Responsibility Inflation  is more likely to affect you if: You’re a high achiever : The paradox of competence—the more you can do, the more comes your way. You’re a woman or a minority : You grew up knowing you had to work harder for the same level of recognition. Y...

 Judging by recent election results, it might seem like success benefits from narcissistic or "dark triad" traits (narcissism, machiavellianism, sociopathy i.e. manipulation, lying, and low capacity for empathy or guilt). In the corporate world, the higher up you go in the echelons of leadership, the more prevalent these traits become. About 3-4% of corporate executives score high on measures of psychopathy—compared to about 1% in the general population, according to some studies. In highly competitive environments, these traits help with risk taking and gaining recognition (though not necessarily with building meaningful, long term relationships.) For example, James Brown, one of the most influential performing artists in modern music was also known as “the hardest-working man in showbiz” and displayed narcissistic and abusive tendencies. However, he was able to overcome deprivation, childhood trauma, and racism to become extremely successful. So does that mean you need to b...

 I woke up this morning thinking of the plague. A documentary I’d recently watched had left an impression, and it came back to me today—lingering after a coaching session with a wonderful client who was exploring ways the global health community might respond to the election results in the U.S. As we worked through insights, he began to feel clarity again, and afterwards my mind drifted back to life in that distant time. Let me share a story from those troubled times—one that may offer perspective, and perhaps even a sense of ease, on what you may be facing right now. The spread of the Black Death from Central Asia to East Asia and Europe from 1346 to 1351. One man in particular is credited with accelerating the spread of the plague: a descendant of Genghis Khan named Jani Beg. He murdered his own brother to seize power, and pushed the Mongol empire westward. In 1343, he set his sights on Caffa, a Genoese colony (now part of disputed territory between Russia and Ukraine). But anoth...