When Something Goes Wrong, There Are Only Ever Two Causes
When something goes wrong at work, most people jump straight into fixing mode. But as Keith Cunningham says in The Road Less Stupid, smart leaders don’t rush – they think. They stop long enough to ask one powerful question: Is this a people issue or a process issue? Cunningham calls this “thinking time” – taking […]
Turning Learning into Lasting Change
In October, we delivered The Gift of Change as part of the Elevate programme – and it’s been incredible to read the feedback. It’s tough out there right now, and seeing how much energy and confidence people are taking away from these sessions is genuinely inspiring. Which is why I wanted to share one of […]
Perfectly Imperfect – Why Letting Go Drives Real Growth
For many of us, imperfection feels like something to fix – we apologise for it, hide it, or work harder to cover it up. But what if imperfection wasn’t a flaw – what if it was a gift? Perfectionism is often misunderstood. It’s not just about wanting things done well – it’s about tying our […]
Staying Motivated When the World Feels Challenging
The world feels like a challenging place right now. Change, uncertainty, and competing priorities are part of daily life. That’s why keeping your motivation on track is so important – it helps you stay focused, resilient, and ready to move forward in your career. At Elevate, we’ve shared many tools over the years to help […]
Leadership Is Broken: Why Old Models Don’t Work Anymore
For much of the 20th century, leadership followed a predictable formula: hierarchy, control, and stability. Leaders stood at the top, decisions flowed downward, and success was measured in order and efficiency. But the 21st century has torn up that playbook. The pace of change in just the first quarter of this century has been extraordinary […]
Finding Your Epic: Evolving the Conversation
When we launched our podcast Finding Your Epic®, it began as a space for female leaders to share their journeys – the challenges and opportunities that shaped them. Each episode revealed the richness found in the small details: a subtle tweak in approach that makes a big difference, a piece of feedback from a colleague […]
Does Being in the Room Matter? Lessons from Zelenskyy’s Two Oval Office Encounters
“Having a seat at the table.” It’s a phrase we all know. The truth is: simply being in the room isn’t enough. Presence is more than attendance. It’s how you arrive, whose support you’ve cultivated, and what you say. The First Ride: A Diplomatic Meltdown President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offers a striking case study. His first […]
How Do Companies Measure the ROI of Their Training?
Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of training is a constant challenge for companies. It’s a question every HR and L&D team faces: “How do we know if it’s working?” The answer is rarely straightforward. Business impact, behaviour change, and performance improvement are often complex, long-term outcomes influenced by multiple factors. But while true ROI […]
Is There a Missing Ingredient in Trust?
In a recent Elevate session on building trust in professional relationships, we explored a range of well-known models and frameworks that aim to define and demystify this essential – yet often elusive concept. We all know that trust is the foundation of effective teams, meaningful collaboration, and long-term influence. But while the word itself is […]
The Leadership Stat Everyone Quotes – But No One Checks
A few weeks ago, during our special webinar “The Leadership Gap No One Mentions”, I ran a quick poll asking attendees a simple question: Where did you first come across this often-quoted stat?“Women apply only if they meet 100% of the qualifications; men apply at 60%.” The results were striking. While almost three-quarters recognised the […]