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.