blog
just some thoughts on leadership, culture and the state of the world...Welcome to my blog! Essentially I have a thought about culture, leadership, the state of the world, and then write it here…
The blogs are written to challenge current thinking, and contain an insight that you may wish to consider. Occasionally my blogs have ‘how to’ stuff in them…not always though because I’m more likely to encourage independent thinking than tell you what to do…
Please enjoy. Michelle
What happens when a type-A personality goes on holiday?
Share with your networks Work hard, play harder is generally my motto. But last week was quite a different experience. With minimal access to internet and nothing to do other than chill out on the deck of a cruise ship, I reluctantly learnt how to relax. I reluctantly...
read moreAre you flexible enough to withstand the change?
Share with your networks The recent storms and floods in Adelaide dramatically changed the environment near my home. The river has widened, the man made bridges have been destroyed and the trees blown over. On my walk this morning looking at the mess I was reminded of...
read moreWhy waste time and money on culture?
Share with your networks Are you wasting time and money on culture and leadership programs? According to a 2013 culture and change management survey by Booz & co, 96% of businesses believe that culture change is needed. According to McKinsey and co, 70% of...
read moreLet’s kill SMART goals and leadership training… for good!
Share with your networksThere are many great ideas, there are many great thought leaders, and there are many many many great blogs you can read on the future of business, life, education, leadership and work. So what can I add that hasn’t already been said?...
read moreHow to get organised…when you are not!
Share with your networksAre you an organised person? Not me. I’m just not wired for organisation. My brain doesn’t work that way. I’m wired for creative thinking. That’s cool with me because I accept my weakness and play to my strengths. The...
read more80 Years of Making Friends and Influencing People…or not?
Share with your networksIn 1936, Dale Carnegie’s very famous self help book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” hit the book shelves and within months had become a sought after book. Since the 30s, millions of leaders, business executives, corporate types,...
read moreDo you have what it takes to be a leader?
Share with your networksWhat defines leadership? Is it a title someone bears? Or is it something more intangible, a sense of respect and loyalty that you feel for someone who you know has your best interests at heart? Peter Drucker, dynamic leader and management...
read moreHow to Be Creative and Leverage Relationships
Share with your networksNow we are entering the ‘get strategic’ realm of living creatively. Enabling great relationships. This advice is important for social relationship as well as professional ones. If you want to live a creative life you will need other people to...
read moreThat Time that I Met Oprah…
Share with your networksIts seems like such a long time ago, almost a life time from when I was in Chicago. The windy city. There with my family and my soon to be husband I was bright eye’d and bushy tailed. A young girl looking for the world to teach her about...
read moreLife is Messy…enjoy it!
Share with your networks“The middle is messy, but that’s where the magic happens.” Another brilliant quote from my girl Brene’. If you haven’t noticed by now, I have a major girl crush on Brene’ Brown. I’ve read every book, listened to every lecture and read every...
read moreIs Your Mind Getting In The Way?
Share with your networksHave you ever felt like you are heading towards something completely unknown and yet you just know that it’s going to be ok? Have you ever turned down a road that you have never been on, and you have the feeling it’s the exact road that you...
read more2015 in Review: Gazing back to move forward
2015 has been a rollercoaster of major highs and major lows. I’m going to share with you parts of my year so that, one, I can let go of them to move into 2016 fresh; two, so it gives you inspiration to share and be vulnerable; and three, so it shows you that even tough times can be some of your best for the future if you allow them to grow you.
Here’s 2015 for me: January – I went into the year with a new idea….
read moreMy top 7 books from my reading list in 2015
Share with your networksI’ve mentioned this before but I’ll mention it again. I’m a learning nerd. I love to learn and I live to help others to learn new things, exploring old things and thinking differently. I read about 1 book every week and this...
read moreHow to Create Effective Relationships at Work
Share with your networksAre your work relationships stopping you from being the best you can be at work? Does it annoy you when someone else gets the promotion, project or pat on the back that you deserve? When was the last time you thought about how your...
read moreLunch with the Governor of SA | Talking Innovation
Share with your networks “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Steve Jobs What do you do when the Governor of South Australia asks you to attend a luncheon at Government House to celebrate the achievements of a visiting Innovation...
read moreWorking Mums Collective | Motivating Mum | Michelle T Holland
Share with your networks Read the interview here Some of the highlights include: My favourite things… What I am most passionate about How I juggle work, kids and other pursuits Advice I give to mums returning to work And much more…. Read The Interview Here...
read moreInterview: Nereeda Network | Michelle T Holland
Share with your networks Read the interview here. Highlights include: My definition of success The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far The greatest risk that created success My favourite song to sing And more…. Read the interview here About the Author:...
read moreMy Answers to Daniel Pink's 4Q4 | Redefine Leadership
Share with your networksDaniel Pink‘s latest irregular and irrelevant newsletter provided me with a cool resources to use. Its called ‘4Q4’ four questions for … you. Here’s how he describes it: Four questions that cut through the clutter...
read moreI hate my job!
Share with your networksDid you know that there are about 26,000 people who type “I hate my job” into google every month. 26,000 people each month that hate their job so much that they are reaching out to the universe (through google) for help. 26,000...
read moreUnderworked and Overpaid?
Share with your networksLet's stay in...
read more7 Things "Inside Out" Teach Us About Change
Share with your networks7 things Pixar’s “Inside Out” can teach us about personal change *Spoiler alert….sorry 🙂 School holidays is upon us and like many working parents with school aged kids I’m doing the juggling act. A bit of vacation...
read moreAre you wasting time just living?
Share with your networksI’m angry. Not in the ‘throw something across the room’ kind of way. More in the ‘mum being disappointed with me’ sad kind of angry. Maybe I’m sad….nope there’s definitely anger there....
read moreAre you a fish climbing trees?
Share with your networksI truly believe that every workplace environment should be a place that it enables and rewards excellence and is somewhere that people can feel safe to be who they are. People must be able to live, lead, and work through the unique gifts that...
read moreDo you think like a freak?
Share with your networksI was listening to my favourite podcast this morning while walking the dog – Freakonomics. Yep, that’s its name and if you haven’t discovered it yet, have a listen because these economists rock. Anyway, they were celebrating...
read morePart-Time…an endangered species?
Share with your networksI follow this awesome group on social media called “The Entourage”. They provide innovative education and events for entrepreneurs and promote themselves as being disruptive to the business world… and they are really good at...
read moreUnleash the SLAYER Within
Share with your networksSo many of you that have been playing along know that I’ve been writing a book about “leadership at all levels and leading without permission” for about 6 months. I’ve been writing and rewriting and have finally nailed...
read moreFake it till you make it…what crap. Be authentic instead!
Share with your networksWhat does it mean to be authentic? We think of someone as authentic who is courageous in doing what they think is right, someone who is not afraid to speak their mind (as long as the truth doesn’t hurt anyone else), and someone who doesn’t put...
read moreManaging Expectations in a Crazy Busy World
Share with your networksIt’s the first day at that shiny new job. You woke up early, taking extra time to meticulously groom yourself before donning your new outfit. Not too business, not too casual, the right fit that has been impatiently waiting, laid out since the...
read morePlan to Succeed
Share with your networksThere are two approaches when it comes to mapping out a career. There are those who are content where they are at, only making a move when absolutely necessary. And then there are those who proactively take their future into their own hands. Be...
read moreThe Power of Momentum
Share with your networksLate last year I took my kids to Thailand. In amongst the amazing experience I had of experiencing the Thai culture through the innocent eyes of my kids, we also indulged in some fun and craziness. One of those things was Zorbing. If...
read moreWorkforce Planning (#3) – Its just how you cut the pie!
Share with your networksIn my first blog about Workforce Planning I spoke about the need to have your C’suite on board and to see Workforce planning as an essential part of a successful business model. In the second blog I may have scared everyone into thinking...
read moreWorkforce Planning (#2) – Its all Crystal Ball Gazing
Share with your networks“People are soooo unpredictable!” “There’s no point in planning, they just leave anyway!” “How can I predict who I need working for me in 3 years, I don’t know who works here now!” “I have...
read moreWorkforce Planning (#1) – Success Doesn't Happen By Accident
Share with your networksThis is part 1 of a three part blog series. Success Happens By Action, Not By Accident There is a mysterious thing that appears in management books, it’s talked about by CEOs, General Managers attend conferences about it and Human...
read moreThe Stats Don't Lie…?
Share with your networksI’ve overheard plenty of recent talk about feminism given it was International Women’s Day last week. Ie: its goes something like…”oh, why do we still need to draw attention to this? I’m a women and I’ve got...
read moreThe Perception of Value – Human Resources
Share with your networksYou’ve probably all seen this quote meme as its been floating around for awhile. Now let’s put aside the ‘hire for potential’ argument for a minute because absolutely in some circumstances it’s important, even essential...
read moreThe Rise of the Intrepreneur
Share with your networksWhen you here the word ‘entrepreneur’ how does it make you feel? Exhilarated? Curious? Terrified? Confused? Envious? Full of anticipation? Apathetic? What if I said to you that many organisations and many leaders are searching for...
read moreIts time for a new type of leader
Share with your networksBecoming A New Kind Of Leader Gone are the days when a leader could sit in an ivory tower, looking at spreadsheets and reporting back to constituents. Today’s leader must be so, so much more. The old model of leadership is based on authority....
read moreLeading Without Permission
Share with your networksWhen I say “Leadership”…what definition springs to your mind? I’ve heard it defined in so many ways I’ve lost count. The most concerning for me is when people say they are not a leader because they don’t...
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Purpose + Passion = Amazing Results
Share with your networksOver that last 2 weeks in Adelaide there have been extensive fires in our rural communities. Over 14,000 ha have been lost. The flora and fauna of the bush has been devastated. Many people have lost homes, valued possessions, and sadly furry...
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Golly….its 2015 already?
Share with your networksMy biggest take away point from this year, and on reflection one of the biggest moments of my life….is I discovered my WHY…. Let's stay in...
read moreClick here for Video Blogs.
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