Winning isn’t a destination—it’s a process, where real progress and success come from embracing challenge and continuous improvement.

A simple but powerful reminder that real leadership isn’t built through theory alone, but through the cycle of seeing, doing, and ultimately teaching others to create true competence, confidence, and accountability.

For many regional Australians, 30 minutes in nature isn’t therapy — it’s simply part of everyday life, and that may be our greatest wellbeing advantage.

These words from Amelia Earhart capture a timeless truth about leadership. Earhart, who pushed beyond fear, convention, and uncertainty to chart new frontiers, understood that progress rarely comes from waiting. It comes from courageously stepping forward when outcomes are unclear.

True leadership lies in cutting through complexity — because when systems, strategy, and communication are simple, people understand faster, act with confidence, and organisations move forward.

Pride is earned through effort, resilience and achievement. As Australia Day invites reflection, it reminds us that our national identity has been built through generations of quiet, hard-won progress.

Silence in leadership is never neutral — when issues, standards, or confusion go unaddressed, people interpret that quiet as permission.

Progress follows when leaders provide clear direction and focus, because people perform best when they understand what matters, why it matters, and where to invest their energy.

I feel 2025 has been one of the most instructive leadership years I can remember. We have seen plenty of leadership lessons and styles on the world stage, much of it on what not to do! Many regional and rural businesses have faced uncertainty, skill shortages, rising expectations from staff, rapid shifts in technology, and the everyday pressures of running operations that never stop. Yet it has also been a year where I’ve watched extraordinary leadership rise from ordinary circumstances.

"Without continual growth and progress, words such as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning" said Benjamin Franklin. Of all the things that can boost team morale, the number one is progress (and the feeling it generates). A sense of progress requires deliberate intent by a leader, not platitudes.

Kids’ sport should be a classroom for life — but when parents and coaches cross the line from supportive to suffocating, the game stops being fun and starts causing real harm ... Junior country sport relies on the army of volunteer parents who coach, manage, supervise, and oversee children’s sport. Coaches are a powerful influence on a child’s confidence...

Gratitude may seem small, but in the hands of an authentic leader it becomes a powerful force that strengthens trust, lifts performance, and keeps regional teams connected, committed, and thriving.

Failure. It’s a word most of us try to avoid. Yet the truth is, no meaningful progress ever happens without it. The most effective leaders, whether they’re running a farm, small business, or community organisation, are those who’ve learned to fail forward. They turn mistakes into momentum, setbacks into stepping stones, and doubts into determination.

Loyalty isn’t demanded — it’s earned through trust, care, and consistency, and in small business it only thrives when it flows both ways.

Nathan Lyon has gone on a regional roadshow into New South Wales, back to where it all started, in his childhood community. Growing up in Young, and playing for Goulburn, Canberra, and Wagga Wagga, Nathan wants to give back to his community that has done so much for him. This week he hosted a children’s cricket clinic ...

A leader with a coaching mindset listens, asks, and grows people—unlocking their potential and boosting performance.

In regional towns, integrity isn’t a slogan or a rule book—it’s the everyday trust that gives small businesses an unbeatable edge over multinationals.

In regional Australia, it's not titles or talent that inspire — it's the quiet grit of leaders who show up and carry their communities forward.

If you’re a leader, you’re no stranger to the chaos of daily demands. Competing priorities, constant interruptions, and the pressure to deliver—often with limited time and resources. It can make it feel like you’re always reacting to issues instead of leading.

To move beyond crisis and inspire lasting hope, regional and rural leaders must shift from reactive problem-solving to a mindset of progress.

I was talking to the owner of my local coffee shop, and he told me he had just wrapped up a team meeting with his staff to talk about the importance of their energy and enthusiasm and its impact on the ambience they create for their customers ... so refreshing to hear how a young business owner places so much importance on team culture and the impact it has on the success of the business.

I am a co-founder and Chair of a business (My Word) that enables families to capture the life stories of their loved elders. Storytelling is the oldest and most accurate way to pass on history and wisdom. To know where you have come from is to know who you are ... The elderly, with decades of life behind them, offer unique insights into what it means to lead effectively and meaningfully.

You need to unplug your laptop, Wi-Fi, and phone every so often, to let it reset, recharge and reboot itself to ensure it performs at maximum efficiency. Everything improves once it has been unplugged. This also applies to humans. No one can work 100 per cent effectively 100 per cent of the time. It is not possible. Being available and accessible 24/7 is a learnt behaviour that has evolved with technology.

I am often pulled aside and asked how to approach a specific coaching conversation with someone. Usually, the nature of the topic may be a little delicate or uncomfortable, so they are looking for the best way to broach a topic. Often these coaching conversations are unplanned, so are in the moment and require the right tone, framework and context to be an effective and respectful moment.

Recently I attended a family wedding in country Victoria. It was a magical evening with a perfect sunset. Mother Nature really turned on a show! An observation several of us made at the recovery the next day was that a few family members did not leave a wedding gift or simple card, nor did they say goodbye to the bride and groom when they made an early departure. This got us talking about manners, and whether they are diminishing.

Let’s be clear, any team environment must be emotionally safe, respectful, inclusive, and welcoming. This should be a “do not pass go” expectation of any team in any setting. But do not confuse being nice with a winning mindset ... "Good, better, best" mindset is a key attribute of a wining culture.

No matter how you cut it, every leader must manage people. Whether you are an employer, farmer, leader of a sporting club, or head a volunteer organisation, if you oversee just one person or thousands of people, you are in the people management game ... Let’s face it, some people are easier to manage than others, but that should not be an excuse for not trying to engage, inspire, and develop someone.

There is an old saying “not a lot of sense is common!” There are things that should be taken as a given in life. Things such as manners, not talking over people, being polite, saying please and thank you, looking at people who are talking to you, and assuming best intentions when dealing with colleagues. To be respected you must first be respectful. So, when our elected Members of Parliament require a code of conduct on how to act and behave to prevent bullying, sexual harassment, and inappropriate behaviour, you have to ask what happened to common sense?

Over the Father's Day weekend I was out having a family lunch at a restaurant full of families celebrating father’s day, recognising their fathers and grandfathers. It got me thinking about my dear Dad, and how I have fathered my children and now grandchildren.   Being a dad is the most rewarding – challenging – difficult – all-consuming leadership role any father undertakes - There is no rule book. There is no greater leadership challenge than parenting.

I was recently facilitating a leadership workshop where one of the participants raised the question if we are losing the art of civility and respect in our society. The context was how we handle a divergence of views in a work or community setting. It seems nowadays the default political discord is to assume our view is right and your view is wrong, rather than respectfully listening to and exploring differing views.

As the world gets more complex, the need to problem solve is a critical employability skill. We seem to live in a world where our “patience is appreciated” but problems are not solved. An example is when you have the misfortune to contact a telecommunications, utility, financial services, or government organisation ... Problem solving and accountability go hand in hand!

The World Economic Forum and The International Leadership and Management Congress have undertaken some research to identify the critical employability skills our next generation will need to acquire and apply over their career. Employability skills are what every employer looks for in any new hire.

There is an old saying. Just because you said something does not mean they heard you. We live in the 24/7 communication age. The challenge for any leader is which form of communication is the most effective ... 10 communication tips for our next generation ...

Courage, egalitarianism, mateship, resilience, sacrifice, adaptability, camaraderie ... The ANZAC spirit is ageless. By embodying these ANZAC-inspired qualities, leaders can create a positive and emotionally safe team culture to help inspire resilience and excellence into their teams, especially as we navigate through times of uncertainty and adversity.

It is interesting watching politicians balancing the leadership tightrope of being liked versus being respected. To get initially elected they must appeal to their constituents and be liked. Then over time, they must become respected – as this is what ensures long-term tenure. Credibility is the foundation of leadership.

I've heard leaders who refer to themselves as “straight shooters,” who will "call people out", and "hold them to account". This is all well and good. However, if combined with an aggressive tone of voice and language, this approach can put people on edge. Such leaders might be challenged on the importance of being respectful, empathetic, and personable to be deemed credible.

Attracting the right staff or volunteers is difficult at the best of times. Creating the right first impression is key. This starts with the very first interaction someone has with people, and the recruitment process they undertake. If it should be a warm, inviting, and hassle-free experience. This is a key leadership responsibility.

Last week I attended a Business Leaders Round Table Lunch. I wanted to use the afternoon to observe how leaders go about active listening. After the initial pleasantries and introductions were made, the lunch moderator posed some topical business questions for each table to explore and discuss. I was on a table of eight, and soon four people emerged who loved the sound of their own voices ...