In this blog, we're diving deep into why mastering these tricky talks isn't just a good idea, it's essential for any leader who wants to build a thriving team and a successful business.

Let's face it, we often shy away from these conversations because they feel uncomfortable. We might worry about hurting feelings, causing conflict, or just making things awkward. But what happens when we don't have them?  The elephant (that everyone can see) just keeps getting bigger!

When there is “drama” in the workplace, it can take its toll on you as the leader as well as for everyone involved. 

I have recently been working with a leader who seemed to be consumed by the need to blame his team for everything that was going wrong.  Although, following his rants on what they were not doing, he openly revealed that his answer to this was to step in to the role of “fixer” to make the problem go away.  It reminded me of Karpman’s Drama Triangle and so I thought I would share a little more about it in this month’s blog and share some self-reflection questions for you to work through.

We've all been there. That nagging feeling of wanting to try something new, but being held back by a wall of "what ifs." The comfort zone, while cosy, can be a creativity killer and a progress blocker. So, how do we break free?

Many people believe that confidence is the key. "If only I were more confident, I could do that!" they say. Others argue for competence: "Once I know how to do it perfectly, I'll take the plunge." But what if we're looking at it all wrong? What if the real catalyst is something else entirely?

Enter: Courage.

When done well, delegation transforms a leader from a bottleneck to a catalyst, fostering growth, boosting morale, and freeing up valuable time for strategic thinking. What’s not to love? Just think about all the untapped potential that you can ‘uncork’ by taking a different approach and involving others.

Step up and own your actions

The teachers at my high school, always said that our school motto should have been “It wasnae me”, given the number of things that happened that nobody would own up to having done.

In the dynamic world of leadership, where communication is often paramount, the power of silence can be a surprisingly effective tool. While many leaders may feel compelled to fill every moment with words, strategically placed silence can create space for deeper reflection, connection, and influence.

I’ve often compared work to a high-speed treadmill. It’s tricky to jump off when it’s moving, and even trickier to get back on and up to your original pace – it takes a lot of effort. That’s why jumping in and out of work for development time, holidays or even just some quiet thinking is a challenge that quite often goes unrecognised.

My first leadership position was leading a team I had previously been part of.  All was well and good until I needed to speak to a member of the team about their performance. My ‘Please People’ Driver went into overdrive, and I couldn’t find the right words to get my message across.  What was the outcome of dancing around the subject?

Perfectionism, while potentially a positive trait, can become a significant obstacle to personal and professional growth. It’s not always possible to wait until a piece of work is all neatly and tidily concluded with a pretty bow on top to take action.