Tag Archive for: leadership

Back in the Flow

After many years of working for myself, stepping into a bustling office with over 1,200 people has been quite a shift, not just in the environment itself, but in the new rhythm for me of travelling most days to Perth.

The pace of corporate life has returned to my life, and it is relentless!

Processes, procedures, and meetings stack up fast in my inbox and Teams.

Decisions are a constant, with priorities shifting continuously.

There is also a buzz, excitement and energy in the air too.

But amid all that motion, I’ve noticed there’s something more subtle happening.

Yesterday, I began observing a new leadership programme here at Aviva’s Perth office, a listed building built in the late 1970’s as an HQ for General Accident, with beautiful Japanese style gardens.

The Power of the Pause

As I watched people arrive, settle, and begin to engage, what stood out wasn’t just the structure of the sessions, it was the power of pausing.

In a corporate setting where everything runs at full tilt, it was fascinating to see people start to slow down and take some time to think.

To truly listen and engage.

To be and to stay present with each other.

It reminded me that effective leadership isn’t just about drive, oftentimes it’s much more about depth.

And sometimes, the most valuable progress happens when people stop rushing long enough to think clearly, connect genuinely, and reflect honestly.

Many were curious.

Others a little vulnerable.

Many were considering, maybe for the first time in a while, what kind of leader they really want to be and what was there why.

Rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in has been both energising and tiring!

There’s momentum here, and excitement about what’s ahead and we’ve just begun the journey, as have I.

There’s also a hunger to lead the way.

But there’s also wisdom in making time to find some quiet space in the noise of corporate life, for thought, for perspective, for growth and importantly for slowing down.

It’s in the quietness there, in the thinking time, and in being fully present, that I can already see many finding their strength.

What might shift if you gave yourself more time to think and to pause more often?

The crazy side of leadership

Having a BYU student come stay with us, has brought out our younger thinking again, and on Saturday, we decided to do something fun together.
Monic, Amilya and I spent the afternoon at Adventure Island crazy golf.
It was a fun hour, full of laughter, silly obstacles, and some interesting putting techniques!
Both Monic and Amilya even managed to get a hole in 1…!
Monic emerged as the victor with the lowest score, I was second, and Amilya took third spot.
But truthfully, the real joy wasn’t in the positions, it was in the hilarity of it all, somehow, I even managed to miss scoring one hole altogether. 😆
Learning is all around us, and reflecting afterwards, two simple leadership lessons stood out.

Lessons Learned

Firstly, like life, the course was full of twists and turns.
Crazy golf is deliberately designed to throw you off balance.
Just when you think you’ve got a straight shot to the hole, a hidden slope, an awkward obstacle, or some weird random bounce or twist, changes everything.
Leadership is no different.
Plans rarely play out in straight forward, predictable ways.
Obstacles crop up, a few spanners are thrown in the works, things shift unexpectedly, and what looks simple suddenly becomes really complex.
Yet it’s my experience, that good leaders don’t get upset, they simply adapt, laugh at the obstacles, and keep moving forward.
Secondly, celebrate each other’s wins.
On Saturday, we kept a scorecard, but at the end, what mattered was cheering one another on.
Monic’s victory became a fun celebration for us all.
There were several high fives and congratulations offered on the course.
In teams and organisations, many times I’ve witnessed leaders who celebrate others’ successes create an environment where people feel recognised and valued.
That spirit of encouragement can lead to even more motivation and trust than any personal award could.

So, whether on a putting green filled with pirate-ship obstacles or in the middle of a leadership challenge at work, remember to expect the twists, and cheer loudly when others succeed.

In the end, it isn’t just about the score, it’s really about the experience you create together.
What “crazy golf” moments are shaping your leadership right now?

Wisdom with a Giggle

On Monday, we celebrated Emily and Kyle’s wedding near Liverpool.
It was a stunning day full of elegance, beauty, and love.
Emily was radiant, Kyle beaming, the venue picture perfect, and the guests all dressed to impress. (Lots more pictures to follow – soon!)
Every detail had been carefully prepared.
But amidst the grandeur, one tiny guest quietly, effortlessly, and regularly stole the show.
Our wee grandson Oscar.
With his cheerful smile and boundless charm, he constantly drew people in.
Not with fanfare, but with his presence.
Pure, joyful, authentic, mischievous presence.
And here’s the leadership lesson: You don’t need to be the loudest, most decorated, or most experienced person in the room to make an impact.
Sometimes, simply showing up with joy, openness, and authenticity can shift the entire atmosphere.
Oscar reminded each of us, that sometimes the smallest presence can make the biggest impression.
Whether you lead teams, teach, coach, or parent: Never underestimate the quiet power of showing up with real heart.
Who’s someone in your life that makes an impact just by being present?

A spanner in the works

Early yesterday morning around this time (05.30am), I opened my inbox and found a surprise, a significant shift in a voluntary global programme I’m involved in.
No heads-up, no warning.
Just increased complexity.
I reached out for clarification and got on with my day.
Whilst out walking a couple of hours later, a colleague involved in the same project rang and said: “Well, that throws a spanner in the works!”
I hadn’t heard that phrase in years, but it was a great fit.
A perfectly timed, blunt idiom that summed up the situation: something had unexpectedly jammed the gears of our project!
Together we discussed the situation at hand.
It would’ve been easy to react on instinct and fire off another quick reply.
Through the day yesterday in preparing for another matter, I came across the perfect quote from Stephen Covey, which described what happened next, almost perfectly, he once said: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.”
Instead, we both paused and considered a careful response.
We thought about implications, options, and risks.
But before we could act, we received a second and then third message which clarified the new position and an opportunity to address the matter directly in a call later this week.
Here is what I learned yesterday….
• Spanners will always get thrown into the works.
• You can’t stop surprises, but you can control your response.
• Don’t underestimate the power of the pause.
• Reacting is easy, but responding with purpose is leadership.
But remember most of all – slow down!
How do you train yourself to pause when pressure builds?

Why I journal every day

Last week, I started a new chapter in my life with Aviva, joining the People Transformation and Talent team in Perth.
As a Leadership Facilitator, I’m part of a small team delivering an exciting new programme called “Lead the Way”, a people solution designed to shape and support leadership for the future.
In my first few days, as I’ve met with new colleagues, both individually and as a group, one theme keeps coming up: curiosity.
It’s something the CEO herself has mentioned constantly as I’ve listened to her messages.
It’s something we all seem to share.
One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked is, “And what do you like to do?”
That’s led me to share something quite personal: my passion for journaling.
Since January 1st, 1978, I’ve kept a daily journal.
That’s over 17,000 + entries and it tends to surprise people, because it’s not exactly a common habit.
But for me, it’s a practice that has grown more valuable with time.
There’s something powerful about taking a moment each day to write down what matters.
It’s a place where I can treasure up the things that I’ve seen and heard.
The more I write, frequently, the more insights come.
Thoughts that might otherwise drift away take shape and stay with me.
And occasionally, it becomes even more useful than I expect.
That reminds me, last week, two friends asked me about a specific date in 1998. They needed a bit of detail from that day; I’d better check my journal for them!
Journaling helps me pay attention.
It’s where I record the things that mean the most in life.
It’s part reflection, part record-keeping and part therapy.
Many have written today about how journaling can benefit your mental health.
And it’s one of the most consistent sources of clarity I’ve known.
The best time to start journaling was yesterday, the next best time is today!
What’s one moment from this week you wouldn’t want to forget?

A new chapter

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Leadership Development Facilitator at Aviva!
Day one (yesterday) was all about collecting my new IT kit, getting set up, and (most importantly!) receiving a very warm virtual welcome from my new colleagues.
I’m really looking forward to collaborating on impactful leadership development programmes over the coming months with them all in Perth.
And yes… the thoughtful wee welcome biscuit that arrived in the post was the perfect finishing touch! It was much appreciated and enjoyed! 🍪⭐
I’ll still be doing a little bit of coaching and leadership work through my own company, plus all the other voluntary work including the FORB Foundation.
Here’s to learning, growing and making a difference together.

From Rolls to Rest

My wife and I enjoyed a mini tour and a wee wander through some of Scotland’s iconic spots yesterday with Carter Hunsaker and Izaak Bevell.

Driving on the left was tricky for our guests so I volunteered to take the stress away for them for the day and allowed them to relax in the back seats.

Our journey passed by Knockhill and onwards through Glendevon, arriving at the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Resort.

I thought it would be nice to show them some of the rolling fairways, the luscious greens and the grand hotel.

But for these two dear American friends from our Belgium and Netherlands days, it was all about the wheels and the choppers!

From a gleaming 1960’s Rolls Royce parked proudly out front on the double yellow lines, to rows of shiny sports cars that looked like they’d just rolled off a movie set, and a helicopter preparing for an afternoon flight, they were in their element.

And when they weren’t admiring the motors, they were soaking up the view from the deckchairs like Lords of the Manor!

Somehow – I was able to squeeze in for a photo too!

Their grins were as wide as the 18th fairway!

Onward Travel

On to Crieff, the Sma Glen, the Falls of Braan, the Hermitage and a wee shopping spree in Pitlochry all followed on, to make for a fun day out.

Heading home, these two young, vibrant, and energetic lads – simply couldn’t stand the pace.

After all the excitement of the day, no sooner had we left the car park in Pitlochry, that both of them were fast asleep in the back seat of the car!

After 7 European countries in only a few weeks, the two of them were out cold.

And you know what? I was glad to see it.

Because they had soaked up everything: the landscapes, the luxury cars, the helicopters, the history, and the fresh Scottish air.

They gave the day their all. And their batteries had officially hit zero.

Leadership Lesson

It reminded me of something I often overlook in leadership and coaching: we can’t expect sustained excellence without building in space to recharge.

Too often, we glorify pushing through.

But smart leadership recognises that our energy levels are finite.

Taking time to simple recover isn’t weakness… it’s wisdom.

So next time your team’s running on empty, or even just quieting down after a big win, don’t fill the silence.

Let them rest.

Let taking a pause do its work.

Because that’s where the reflection happens.

And that’s where growth sticks.

Even a Rolls Royce needs downtime between drives.

Defining Experiences

Over the weekend, we spent time with a dear friend, Phenix Kline, and her husband, Sam, who we met for the first time.
They were visiting from California.
It has been 11 years since we first met Phenix, when she was a full-time missionary in Dunfermline.
She visited our home regularly back then, always with warmth and a quiet strength.
As we talked and reminisced, Phenix began sharing stories from those visits – small, seemingly ordinary moments to us.
But to her, they weren’t ordinary at all.
They were defining.
She remembered the feelings, the kindness and the impact, those moments had upon her.
The was one story in particular she shared about a pivotal leadership session I had facilitated for her and a number of her colleagues at the time.
I’d walked into the room with a whole bunch of leadership and personal development books and talked about each of them 1 by 1.
That moment, along with a few others had shaped her life in ways we never knew at the time.
It reminded me of something important: We often have no idea which parts of our lives will leave a mark on others.
And that is particularly the case, not only in the facilitation of a leadership or coaching session, but also in our day-to-day friendships and conversations.
We often learn so much in our quiet, everyday interactions.
And yet, they can echo for years.
What small moment have you been part of lately that might matter more than you think?

Shoulder to Shoulder

Life is complex and human beings are complex.
In my lifetime, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life and from a host of different nations and cultures.
Subsequently, in the various professional and voluntary roles I’ve enjoyed, I am a witness to the happiness and joy life can bring for many, along with the problems and challenges that come along too.
In so many ways, our life can be good, great even – and then in an instant, it can be filled with disappointment, grief, anguish, misery and pain.
There is one thing I know for sure, and that is life will intermittently bring challenges to each and every one of us, arriving when we least expect them, in good times or bad.
We all experience difficult times in our lives, and then we must endure for a while.
Yet, in the trials, there are frequently many opportunities for growth and learning.

Coaching and Leadership

That’s where coaching and leadership come in.
As John Wooden said, “A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.”
I’ve seen this in action countless times, not just on playing fields, but in workplaces, communities, congregations, and moments of personal crisis.
One of my most vivid memories was sitting quietly by a dear friend’s side in hospital.
I didn’t have the right words, and maybe there weren’t any.
But I listened. I was present.
And in the stillness, they turned to me and said, “Thanks for being here, you give me confidence.”
That moment reminded me that leadership isn’t always about grand gestures, rather, it’s often about showing up, holding space, and helping others believe in their own strength.
Coaching is about helping people find clarity in the fog, and strength they didn’t know they had.
Leadership is about creating an environment where people can thrive, even when the road is rough.
While we can’t always control what happens, we can control how we respond and with the right support, people are capable of amazing resilience.
Life’s challenges are inevitable.
But with guidance, encouragement, and shared purpose, they can become the very stepping stones that carry us to our next best chapter.
Who in your life right now might be waiting for you to simply show up, listen, and help them believe in their own strength?

Doorstep Deals

The doorbell rang.
A stranger stood there offering milk delivery.
I replied “we don’t use milk, rather oat milk” …
Thinking that would be the end of it.
He paused.
Smiled.
Then said, “we deliver that too.”
A minute or two later I signed up.
And now twice a week, a glass bottle of oat milk appears on our doorstep.
No plastic, no fuss, just a thick, creamy bottle of local oat milk that tastes better than anything off the supermarket shelf.
It’s a small, nostalgic thing, that takes me back to my youth and hearing the clinking of bottles in the early morning.
Back to when the milkman was part of everyday streel life, quiet, consistent and reliable.
And now, in 2025, it’s happening again, only this time, it’s oat milk!
And here is the sales leadership lesson.
In the moment I positioned my “no” statement…
He listened, adapted and offered something I actually needed.
Just a person, building trust, one doorstep at a time.
This oat milk delivery isn’t just convenient; it’s a small reminder that progress doesn’t have to mean forgetting the past.
I’m off to put out my empties…
What old idea might you bring back, and do better?