Edge2

13/11/2019

Interesting new thoughts and theories around the topic of feedback.

Sari Wilde, a managing vice president at Gartner, studied 5,000 managers and identified four different types of leaders. The surprising result is that the “always on” manager is less effective at developing employees, even though many companies encourage supervisors to give constant feedback. In...

10/04/2019

A small mindful lesson from WInnie the Pooh.

This is the most beautiful message you'll read today.

"Say, Pooh, why aren't you busy?" I said.
"Because it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"Yes, but ---"
"Why ruin it?" he said.
"But you could be doing something Important," I said.
"I am, " said Pooh.
"Oh? Doing what?"
"Listening," he said.
"Listening to what?"
"To the birds. And that squirrel over there."
"What are they saying?" I asked.
"That it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"But you know that already," I said.
"Yes, but it's always good to hear that somebody else thinks so, too," he replied.

- From the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Stop and listen my friends. We live is such a beautiful world.

06/04/2019

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carleysime/2019/03/28/how-does-coaching-actually-help-leaders/

It’s no surprise then that executive coaching is being used more and more frequently to develop leadership talent. How does it work though? What are the experiences of these leaders within coaching, what works for them and how does coaching really facilitate their development?

12/03/2019

Our reactions to facts, emotions and biases :-)

11/12/2018

a wonderful mindfulness calendar for this often very busy and buzzing time of year from our friends at Catalyst 14

At this time of year, we have a great opportunity to consciously choose to ‘wake up’ to this festive period — otherwise with all the doing that needs to be done we run the risk of giving ourselves an inner speeding ticket. To support you in the run up to Christmas, here are our recommendations...

24/07/2018

Fear sometimes stops us being the people we want to or can be. But it can also stop us allowing others to be who can be.
What helped you conquer your fears as a child / young adult?

24/07/2018

Words of Wisdom from Nelson Mandela, who would have turned 100 on July 18th.

20/06/2018

As the world grows smaller and flatter this can be very useful

Don’t assume everyone wants to be treated the way you do.

19/06/2018

Some words of wisdom from Richard Branson

"Dear Stranger,

You don’t know me but I hear you are going through a tough time, and I would like to help you. I want to be open and honest with you, and let you know that happiness isn’t something just afforded to a special few. It can be yours, if you take the time to let it grow.

It’s OK to be stressed, scared and sad, I certainly have been throughout my 66 years. I’ve confronted my biggest fears time and time again. I’ve cheated death on many adventures, seen loved ones pass away, failed in business, minced my words in front of tough audiences, and had my heart broken.

I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life, and that most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But they haven’t; in fact it’s the reverse. I am successful, wealthy and connected because I am happy.

So many people get caught up in doing what they think will make them happy but, in my opinion, this is where they fail. Happiness is not about doing, it’s about being. In order to be happy, you need to think consciously about it. Don’t forget the to-do list, but remember to write a to-be list too.

Kids are often asked: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ The world expects grandiose aspirations: ‘I want to be a writer, a doctor, the prime minister.’ They’re told: go to school, go to college, get a job, get married, and then you’ll be happy. But that’s all about doing, not being – and while doing will bring you moments of joy, it won’t necessarily reward you with lasting happiness.

Stop and breathe. Be healthy. Be around your friends and family. Be there for someone, and let someone be there for you. Be bold. Just be for a minute.

If you allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment, happiness will follow. I speak from experience. We’ve built a business empire, joined conversations about the future of our planet, attended many memorable parties and met many unforgettable people. And while these things have brought me great joy, it’s the moments that I stopped just to be, rather than do, that have given me true happiness. Why? Because allowing yourself just to be, puts things into perspective. Try it. Be still. Be present.

For me, it’s watching the flamingos fly across Necker Island at dusk. It’s holding my new grandchild's tiny hands. It’s looking up at the stars and dreaming of seeing them up close one day. It’s listening to my family’s dinner-time debates. It’s the smile on a stranger’s face, the smell of rain, the ripple of a wave, the wind across the sand. It’s the first snow fall of winter, and the last storm of summer. It’s sunrise and sunset.

There’s a reason we’re called human beings and not human doings. As human beings we have the ability to think, move and communicate in a heightened way. We can cooperate, understand, reconcile and love, that’s what sets us apart from most other species.

Don’t waste your human talents by stressing about nominal things, or that which you cannot change. If you take the time simply to be and appreciate the fruits of life, your stresses will begin to dissolve, and you will be happier.

But don’t just seek happiness when you’re down. Happiness shouldn’t be a goal, it should be a habit. Take the focus off doing, and start being every day. Be loving, be grateful, be helpful, and be a spectator to your own thoughts.

Allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment. Take the focus off everything you think you need to do, and start being – I promise you, happiness will follow.

Happy regards,

Richard Branson"

14/02/2018

With the Winter Olympics underway, we will again be graced to watch spectacular performances by ordinary people. Well, ordinary people in that these individuals are made up of the same blood and bone as you and I, but extraordinary in the way they have chosen to live their lives. Incredible focus, unyielding resilience and simply insane discipline.
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Here is a great article from the Wall Street Journal that describes some of the mental tools they use to accomplish the extraordinary and reminds us that mental toughness is accessible to us all, and it is something we can apply in every facet of our lives, professional and personal.
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And yet, I am astonished that the business world has adopted so few of the tools and strategies that drive mental toughness...that help enable extraordinary performance that convert into outstanding business results.
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So let's enjoy the Games, celebrate not only the winning medalists, but also every athlete who has made it to these Games, for the years of effort and endeavour, failure and set backs, perseverance and achievements that have earned them their moment on the Olympic stage.

Olympians often seem to achieve the impossible in competition. But what about the rest of us? New research suggests that even weekend athletes can dramatically extend their physical and psychological limits.

25/01/2018

we have to rethink what we teach to our children.
(but not only to them...)

do you agree?

18/01/2018

how much time do you invest each week in your learning?

“In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn’t read all the time — none. Zero.” — Charlie…