What’s the key?

Two leaders from the High Impact Mentor program spoke to me about AHA moments this month. 

Both of them saw something in a new way and it changed everything. Both were frustrated and dissatisfied in their work and were finding their focus with staff getting dragged into more and more unnecessary detail. They felt overwhelmed. They felt they were not getting the best from their staff. They wondered if leadership was for them. 

The key for both of them was shifting their mindset from trying to control the people around them, to getting better at influencing the people around them. The work load hasn’t changed, but both are feeling lighter. One of them looked physically less tired and more relaxed than he had just a few weeks earlier. When I asked him what had changed, he said, “ I just changed how I was looking at everything, and now everything has changed”.

Moments like these are why I do the work I do. When leaders raise their capacity, the capacity of everyone around them also rises..

If you or someone on your team could use a change like that, send me an email. I’d love to help.

Mindset Magic

When I was young a great uncle made coins disappear then magically reappear in new locations, often as sweets or notes. I remember dearly the curious fun it created, and my clumsy attempts to repeat the trick.

Magic gives us a visceral experience of just how much we miss as we look at the world around us. Psychologists tell us that we miss up to 80% of what's happening right under our noses. This is both a super power and flaw for us humans.

Super Power - it allows us to deeply focus and pull detail from chaos. All our successful endeavours rely on this ability, both individual and collective.

Flaw - we are easily lulled into thinking we have the whole picture. The blind spots that result can cause massive (sometimes fatal) problems.

Teams that create psychological safety have a deep curiosity about what they might be missing. Finding a blind spot is cause for celebration rather than criticism.

Magic gives us a playful way to explore blind spots.

I’m delighted to announce a collaboration with the fabulous Stuart Lightbody. Stuart is an award winning, global touring, sleight of hand master. What he can do with card and coin baffles your brain. He and I are running a short workshop on 22 February for humans who are curious about:

• How we filter

• The stories we tell

• Creating Magical Moments

• How these things can be used to navigate uncertainty and lead well

The workshop is going public on Friday, I wanted you to have access to it before then. Tickets can be purchased here.

P.S. I rarely use this blog as a sales platform. There’s no expectation or obligation to buy. However, if you are curious, Stuart and I would love it if you can join us.