The start of another year provides a good opportunity to take a little time out to reflect on the past year and assess what matters to you. This is not about setting huge new year resolutions, but more about identifying and pursuing what matters to you. A 3 x 3 x 3 framework is a useful approach, something for yourself daily, targets to achieve by the first quarter, and some goals for the year.

We all get life has its ups and downs. We all go through stages when we feel flat, negative, or disengaged. That is life. But we need work through this and try not drag others down with our own negative energy or mindset. It requires us to be self-aware of the energy we are giving out.

I always picture the empowerment process as a bit like teaching someone to drive (or a farmer teaching a working dog). Initially you are very direct, controlling, and provide clear and implicit rules for what you want the learner driver to obey and do. Then as their capability and confidence improves, you relax some of the rules, and allow them to make their own decisions ...

Every week we all have an opportunity to engage with and influence someone ... A coaching moment could be with a child, a friend or colleague, staff member, or indeed a perfect stranger. Typically, it involves a conversation where you provide the gift of feedback. And here lies the question. What makes an effective coaching moment?

Complex social issues can only ever be resolved by communities working together to address and solve them. Governments cannot solve problems, they can only resource solutions through funding and policy commitments. This requires community leaders to park their egos and focus on what is in the best interests of the community and adopt a collective growth mindset.

I often get asked by leaders how to have a difficult conversation. My answer is always the same. Don’t have one! Have a normal conversation. A difficult conversation should be treated as a normal conversation. That is, they are conducted respectfully, empathetically, with good intent, and safely ... Key is not to have a difficult conversation when either party is angry. No one can listen when they are angry.

It’s not every day you have the opportunity of trekking up Africa’s highest peak with your daughter ... The six lessons I learnt climbing Mt Kilimanjaro (whilst obvious in the cool light of day) were acquired and reinforced through experience. Learning by doing is the most effective and powerful teacher of life’s lessons. These lessons have application in everyday team scenarios.

Of all the things that I get asked the most when mentoring a leader – is to help them when they are feeling vulnerable. The chances are we will all feel daunted or overwhelmed at some stage in our lives. Challenging times will always impact our confidence. Life is uncertain. At some point, we will feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, and unsure of ourselves. This is a normal phenomenon.

Over the past six months I have travelled to every State and Territory conducting a series of Business and Community Leader Consultations. Whilst every region has their own unique issues and challenges to address, what impressed me most was the passion and commitment leaders had for their community, and in particular the next generation coming through. A key recurring message was the importance of being able to lead oneself! ... Having a personal leadership charter is important.

Recently I have been hosting a series of Business Leaders Round Tables throughout regional Victoria and Queensland. In several of the sessions, I was quite taken aback by the language used to describe our next generation by some of the leaders present. History shows that every generation has its own set of unique qualities, values, and idiosyncrasies. But describing or labelling an entire generation with broad sweeping negative generalisations is unhelpful and is a sure way to get any potential staff or volunteers offside.