Some people build you up behind your back.
Others tear you down.
Life is too short for the second kind.
You deserve to surround yourself with people who:
Genuinely want you to succeed
Challenge you constructively
Empower you to take risks
Celebrate your successes
Listen without judgement
Believe in your potential
Bring out the best in you
Encourage your growth
Offer honest feedback
Support your dreams
Stand up for you
Lift you up
It’s ok to let go of those who:
Gossip
Create drama
Are naysayers
Spread negativity
Drain your energy
Dismiss your goals
Constantly criticize
Make you feel small
Question your worth
Cross your boundaries
Undermine your confidence
Downplay your achievements
Surround yourself with those who lift you higher.
Find the courage to distance yourself from the rest.
Are you reliable?
Reliability is a foundational quality that sets the best team players apart. 🤝
Andre Durand said, “If you look at the essence of trust, it’s a one-to-one ratio between say and do.”
Individuals who clearly express this issue demonstrate to the company that following through is essential. 🔄
Some people, if they say they are going to do something, are like “money in the bank.” We don’t have to think about that anymore.
With other people, we know we have to keep their to-do lists on our to-do list. If this is how most people in an organization operate, the business will be slower.
Reliability also goes to the heart of what it means to be a team player. It removes the hierarchy and acknowledges that everyone relies on one another to achieve a goal.
Paula Long captures the spirit of this idea. “I like to say that we’re all subcontractors to one another. It’s about accountability and respecting each other’s time.”
I would build on that and add three ideas:
✅ Treating each colleague as an “internal customer” and thinking as if they will have to answer the question “How likely are you to recommend me to others?”
✅ Over-communicating and following up proactively, especially when we are struggling and in danger of not meeting a goal. It helps to build trust and transparency.
✅ Whenever possible, overdeliver, even a tiny detail like extra thorough documentation or a 1:1 short call to anticipate the results. And in doubt, underpromise (but not too much)
What is reliability for you?
What Will You Stop Chasing This Week?
Stop chasing what’s running away from you.
Start noticing what’s walking toward you.
Most people have it backwards.
They exhaust themselves pursuing:
↳ Jobs that don’t respond to applications
↳ People who barely text back
↳ Opportunities that keep saying “maybe”
Meanwhile, they ignore what’s already working.
Here’s how to change that 👇
This week, audit your energy:
1/ List what you’re currently chasing
↳ Which conversations drain you?
↳ Which opportunities require constant follow-up?
↳ Which people make you question your worth?
2/ List what’s already flowing
↳ Which clients refer you without asking?
↳ Which skills do people compliment naturally?
↳ Which conversations energize you?
Then make the shift:
Stop: Sending emails to uninterested prospects
Start: Creating content for engaged audience
Stop: Chasing people who ghost you
Start: Spending time with the ones who show up
Signs you’re on the right track:
→ Conversations flow naturally
→ People seek your opinion
→ Opportunities multiply without force
Your next breakthrough isn’t in what you’re chasing.
It’s in what you’ve been overlooking.
PS: What will you stop chasing this week?
Personality Types
20 Benefits of Understanding Personality Types
(that every leader should know)
For Your Team:
• Enhanced brainstorming sessions
• Better team problem-solving
• Easier resolution of conflicts
• Fewer misunderstandings
• Stronger team cohesion
• Efficient task allocation
• Better communication
• Tailored development
• Higher engagement
• Lower stress levels
For You:
• Sharper intuition
• Stronger influence
• Improved empathy
• Increased resilience
• Greater adaptability
• Deeper connections
• Increased confidence
• Better self-awareness
• Clearer communication
• Improved decision-making
All great leaders know:
Understanding your team is key to success.
And why is so important?
It shows how each team member:
➟ Thinks & processes information
➟ Interacts & communicates
➟ Handles conflict & stress
With these insights, you can:
➟ Improve team synergy
➟ Tailor your leadership style
➟ Increase overall productivity
What is Leadership?
Most people have it backward.
They think leadership is about being in charge.
(It’s not.)
Thinking it’s all about telling others what to do.
Real leadership? It’s about putting others first.
Look at the best leaders you know.
They don’t hog the spotlight.
They shine it on their team.
They don’t have all the answers.
They ask the right questions.
True leadership is:
1/ Coaching, not commanding.
↳ Guide your team to find their own solutions.
2/ Celebrating others’ wins.
↳ Their success is your success.
3/ Listening with full attention.
↳ Really hearing what’s not being said.
4/ Creating psychological safety.
↳ Where mistakes become lessons, not failures.
5/ Leading with compassion.
↳ Understanding that everyone’s fighting a battle.
6/ Knowing when to step back.
↳ Letting your team own their victories.
The irony?
When you stop trying to be the hero,
you become the leader everyone needs.
Because great leaders don’t create followers.
They create more leaders.
Your title might make you a boss.
But your actions make you a leader.
Choose wisely.
Be Thankful for Closed Doors, Detours, and Roadblocks
We often think of success as a straight line—a clear, uninterrupted path from Point A to Point B. But life rarely plays out that way. Sometimes, just when things feel like they’re falling into place, a door slams shut. A job offer disappears. A relationship ends. A plan derails. And in that moment, it’s easy to feel defeated. Lost. Confused.
But here’s a truth that time and perspective often reveal:
Those closed doors, unexpected detours, and frustrating roadblocks are not setbacks. They’re protection.
Roadblocks: Life’s Gentle (and Sometimes Loud) Redirections
Have you ever looked back on something you once desperately wanted and thought, “Thank God that didn’t work out”?
Maybe it was a job that looked great on paper but would have drained your joy.
Maybe it was a person you thought you’d grow with who was actually holding you back.
Maybe it was a plan that felt certain, but had no real alignment with who you were becoming.
What felt like rejection or delay in the moment turned out to be a blessing. Life, in its own mysterious way, redirected you to something better suited to your purpose.
Detours: Growth in Disguise
Detours are the scenic routes of life. They may take longer, seem inefficient, or feel confusing—but they often teach us the most. In the detour, you pick up lessons, meet people, build resilience, and gain clarity you’d never find on the “main road.”
Detours shape you.
They humble you.
They remind you that while you don’t always control the path, you can control your pace, your attitude, and your trust in the journey.
Closed Doors: Silent Guardians of Destiny
We don’t always recognize protection when it arrives. A closed door might feel like failure, but sometimes it’s life keeping you from harm. From settling. From stagnating. From wasting time in places never meant to hold your potential.
Every “no” is a hidden “yes” to something greater—something that aligns with who you are and who you’re meant to become.
So Be Thankful
Be thankful for the relationship that ended—it created space for one rooted in real love.
Be thankful for the job you didn’t get—it freed you to find work that lights you up.
Be thankful for the detour—it showed you a strength you didn’t know you had.
Every closed door isn’t the end of your story. It’s the universe whispering,
“This isn’t your door. Keep walking. Your place is ahead.”
When life reroutes you, don’t lose heart.
The delays aren’t denials.
The roadblocks aren’t punishments.
They are protections.
And one day, you’ll look back and say with gratitude,
“I didn’t see it then… but that was the best thing that never happened to me.”
The Kubler Ross Change Curve
Managing change isn’t easy; a lot fails.
But it can be done; here’s how ⬇️
Handling change effectively requires
understanding and action.
But what’s the method?
There are many change models you can use
and I’m going to cover some of the most
popular in the weeks ahead in a new series.
Today ➡️ The Kübler-Ross Change Curve
This shows you the emotional journey teams
go through during change.
From shock to acceptance.
Understanding this helps you lead with
empathy and action.
Here’s how to support your team through
each stage:
✅ Acknowledge the Shock
↳ Be transparent, answer questions – Hold meetings.
↳ Normalise emotions – Reassure feeling overwhelmed is normal.
↳ Provide context – Explain the reason for the change.
↳ Give time to process – Allow space to absorb the news.
✅ Address Denial
↳ Communicate often – Regularly share updates.
↳ Be consistent – Keep messages clear and steady.
↳ Highlight urgency – Explain why the change is important.
↳ Share real stories – Give examples of similar successes.
✅ Manage Frustration
↳ Listen, offer solutions – Set up feedback sessions.
↳ Create feedback loops – Provide a space for input.
↳ Break it down – Simplify the steps to change.
↳ Acknowledge struggles – Show empathy and understanding.
✅ Support Depression
↳ Check in, offer support – Arrange one-on-ones.
↳ Celebrate small wins – Recognise even small progress.
↳ Offer flexibility – Allow flexible timelines or tasks.
↳ Assign buddies – Pair with supportive colleagues.
✅ Encourage Experimentation
↳ Give room to adapt – Encourage trying new ideas.
↳ Create a safe space – Allow room for mistakes.
↳ Provide resources – Offer tools or training.
↳ Promote teamwork – Encourage team collaboration.
✅ Enable Decisions
↳ Empower ownership – Let them take charge.
↳ Involve early – Ask for input from the start.
↳ Delegate tasks – Give them responsibility.
↳ Recognise leaders – Celebrate those stepping up.
Each stage is crucial for navigating change.
These steps help manage change smoothly,
turning challenges into opportunities.
By understanding these stages, you can
not only cope with change; but thrive through it.
8 Wake Up Calls for Leaders
It might be time to change your leadership style:
As a leader, you won’t be perfect.
But you can learn from your experiences.
Leadership is a work in progress.
It’s important to see when you
could do things differently or better.
How do you know when to change your leadership style?
Pay attention to what’s happening around you.
There are always signs:
❗No one speaks up.
❗Your employees quit.
❗Projects keep getting delayed.
❗There aren’t any new creative ideas.
❗Your team seems unhappy and unmotivated.
❗Feedback is ignored or avoided.
❗You over-control every detail.
❗Your team is burned out.
Seeing these signs is the first step to change.
Don’t take it personally.
See it as an opportunity to grow
both as a leader and a person.
Leadership is about evolution.
Embrace the Surfer’s Mentality
There’s something deeply poetic about the way surfers approach the ocean. They don’t control the waves—they ride them. They don’t resist the tides—they move with them. And that’s a mindset we all could use a little more of.
“Embrace the surfer’s mentality. Life comes in waves.”
What a beautiful reminder that life, like the sea, is ever-changing. Some days, everything flows effortlessly—doors open, conversations click, success feels just within reach. And other days… you’re just waiting. Watching. Wondering when the next wave will come.
The Highs: Catching the Wave
Those high moments in life are exhilarating. A promotion, a breakthrough, the joy of connection, the clarity of purpose. Surfers don’t waste these waves—they ride them with everything they’ve got. They stay present, focused, and grateful for the moment.
So when your wave comes—ride it fully. Be present in your joy, your wins, your growth. Celebrate the momentum. But remember, even this will pass, and that’s not something to fear—just something to know.
The Lulls: Waiting with Patience
And then, there are the lulls. The quiet, still moments when nothing seems to be happening. Surfers know this is part of the rhythm. They sit on their boards, scan the horizon, and wait. Not with frustration, but with patience. With faith. Because they know: another wave will come.
In life, those lulls can feel like setbacks, stagnation, or uncertainty. But they are also opportunities—to rest, reflect, grow stronger, and prepare. The waiting is part of the ride.
The Wipeouts: Learning and Letting Go
Every surfer falls. They misread a wave or get caught in the undertow. But they don’t quit. They resurface, paddle back, and try again. Life will knock us down too. Failures, disappointments, grief, loss—they’re part of the ocean we navigate.
The surfer’s mentality isn’t just about optimism. It’s about resilience. It’s about trust—that even if you fall, you can rise again. Even if you miss a wave, another is always coming.
So embrace the surfer’s mindset:
- Flow with change instead of resisting it
- Celebrate the highs, but don’t cling to them
- Be patient in the quiet, knowing it’s not the end
- Stay resilient through the wipeouts
- And above all, keep paddling—because life, like the ocean, always brings another wave.
The ride isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
So sit on your board, take a deep breath, and get ready.
Your next wave is already on the way.
9 Phrases that Undermine your Authority and Credibility
Your words shape how others see you.
Stop using these 9 phrases ⬇️
Some common phrases weaken your authority without you even realising it.
Here are 9 phrases to stop saying if you want to sound more confident:
1. “I think this might work.”
Sounds uncertain. Instead, say: “I’m confident this approach will work because…”
2. “Sorry to bother you, but…”
Unnecessarily apologetic. Instead, say: “I need a moment of your time to discuss…”
3. “I’m not an expert, but…”
Reduces credibility before you even start. Instead, say: “I’ve looked into this carefully, and here’s my take.”
4. “I’ll try to get it done.”
Sounds noncommittal. Instead, say: “I will have it done by [specific time].”
5. “Does that make sense?”
Suggests doubt in your own explanation. Instead, say: “Let me know if you have any questions.”
6. “I just wanted to check in.”
Makes you sound hesitant. Instead, say: “I’d like an update on this.”
7. “I may be wrong, but…”
Undermines your point before you make it. Instead, say: “Based on my research, here’s my perspective.”
8. “This might be a dumb idea, but…”
Self-sabotaging. Instead, say: “I have an idea worth considering.”
9. “No problem.”
Downplays your effort. Instead, say: “My pleasure” or “Happy to help.”
🧠 Remember: The way you frame your words can
make the difference between sounding hesitant and owning the room.
