RYP International

I was taken by a news item over the weekend with the head of the Ferrari F1 Racing team, Frédéric Vasseur, where he said the spirit of Enzo Ferrari still lives on, highlighting any successful team must have a sense of confidence. Which got me thinking. People only perform at their best when they are confident. Likewise, people are motivated when they achieve something and are recognised for it. This builds self esteem and belief in one’s own abilities.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that an El Nino is underway for most of regional and rural Australia, which will lead to a warmer and drier Spring and Summer, increasing the risk of extreme temperature shifts. This will test all of us, as drought, bushfires, and sustained hot weather will impact many communities. Importantly this will also be a leadership moment of truth for parents, employers, and community groups.

Storytelling will always provide a window to the culture of any team or community. Storytelling is the most powerful weapon any leader has to engage, inspire and influence others ... Storytelling reveals how a leader walked their talk. Whilst storytelling is the mechanism to pass on history and wisdom, it is also the mechanism for a leader to build trust, belief, and credibility. No story, no impact!