#119: Curiosity And Connection
This week’s letter is one of those that assembled itself over a few months. It’s always fascinating to watch the process unfolding. It doesn’t always seem to involve me. Which is a little weird, but it is what it is.…
Tag Diversity
Invisible Women
Good morning friends Thank you for the messages checking on my recovery. Like Covid itself, it is filled with unpleasant surprises. I feel strong and positive, only to be hit by an unexpected fit of coughing that feels like I…
The Power of Listening
Last week’s email reflected on how psychologically unsafe environments destroy value by silencing people or, more insidiously, by creating conditions in which people do not feel safe to speak and so silence themselves. In the silence, value is hidden. Amy Edmondson, Professor…
How To Think For Yourself, Continued…
It is Sunday again… At the time that I press send it is still momentarily before dawn. In the last few weeks, I have noticed that it is lighter and lighter at this time. Southern Hemisphere summer is on its…
What Good Leaders Look Like
Good morning everyone We know the numbers. In the US, women constitute 44% of the workforce in S&P 500 companies but occupy only 6% of the CEO roles. At the beginning of 2019, The Conversation reported that in South Africa “no female CEOs…
How to be human
Good morning I hope that you are well and that you had a great sleep last night. I had a plan for today’s letter that hasn’t worked out. The reading that I did, didn’t deliver what I had hoped, so I…
Building the courage for complexity
Good morning humans Forgive the oddball greeting. I have been immersed in Tade Thompson’s excellent sci-fi Wormwood trilogy. I came to know about it reading The eight must read African Novels to get you through lockdown. Although I am not a massive…
Understanding context
Happy Sunday Everyone Today I am writing to you from the Cederberg mountains. We are here because it is here, 13 months ago that I made my decision to leave media. It was a hard decision. I love what…
Leadership Lessons from Horst Schulze
Do you force or do you lead? Horst Schulze started his career as a restaurant busboy at 14. He went on to be the co-founder of the Ritz Carlton Hotel group, famed for its high levels of customer service –…