books
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Cycling, a Team Sport with Leadership
I expect this to be a long post; will try keep interesting and insightful. Until 5 years ago I had never watched a professional cycling race. I did not know the rules and I did not understand the sport. Then I met Primoz Roglic and everything changed. A cycling champion, a leadership icon. I have…
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Remove the Shackles to thinking bigg-r
There are many aspects to thinking bigger. Step outside of your culture to see the shackles it has placed on your thinking. I am specifically referring to cultures of geography, and not the culture between like disciplines (e.g., engineers globally have a common culture etc.). Off course reading is an important element of broadening your…
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How to get out of a hole?
The simple answer is to stop digging. Why can’t people stop digging when they are in a hole? Mostly the answer is because of an EGO of self. Ego is like fog in the air; you struggle to see rationality. I am careful to qualify EGO in terms of ego of self, which translates into…
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The Laws of Nature
I love this picture, a rare moment and privileged encounter with a mountain goat, and then still an opportunity for a photo. My inspiration to take 5 and think about the laws of nature and synergy, and how this relates to our own effectiveness, and leadership. Once we discover real synergy with nature, we are…
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A defining moment
A defining moment in my life, a leadership workshop in 1997, attended by leadership and high potential associates from Goodyear SA, Trentyre, and key customers of each enterprise. It was a week program covering “THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE” BY Stephen R. Covey. Some history. Goodyear SA, a manufacturing entity had acquired Africa’s…
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Habits that I work on
I was known to have strong opinions and to have said, “my opinions your opinions, I win. Your facts my opinion, you win”. Therefore, I encouraged people to always speak with data, that eliminated opinions. Although most people want certainty, my advice is to consider a probability that you may not be correct, even if only a…
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Soft Skills key for Expats
My learning and mistakes as an expatriate. I left South Africa as a competent executive, with self-confidence, courage, and empathy as a leader, BUT I had a limited view of the world. I thought the way I saw the world was the way the world was, and even worse, should be. I believed that I…
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Grow & Retain “A” Players
Companies engage me to help them develop measures to grow, AND KEEP, their high potential associates, those associates that they have identified as their A players. Mostly I find an environment where the thought process focuses on remuneration, flexitime and generally a cozy environment. Yes, star associates want an environment of TRUST, but equally they…
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Never Be Acted On!
Every venture has its own rewarding experiences. My current role in leadership mentoring gives me the opportunity to experience life changing appreciation from those that I interact with. Let me share 1 such outcome that will help illustrate. One area of my work is an in-depth understanding of PROACTIVENESS. When people truly understand and practice…
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From The Horses Mouth
I guess the gentleman was around 40 years and 100 kilos. We were at the gym. In a rare moment that he was off his phone I asked “why are you exercising”? To lose weight he said. I said he should start by leaving his phone in the locker. 2 days later a personal trainer…