☀️ Sometimes I practice what I preach!

I took a short break in Christchurch and Canterbury last week.

Autumn colours, fresh air, sunshine, mountains, grass, trees, coastline, small country towns, sheep, cattle, and art galleries — a chance to take a breath.

I was only away from work for a few days, but my energy completely shifted. Now back at my desk I have more enthusiasm, creativity, and clarity — picking up what I’d been working on with fresh eyes and ideas.

Different perspectives help us find new perspectives.

I know it’s hard to justify breaks when we’re busy. I often hear clients say:

“We just don’t have time to stop.”

“Rest and reflection won’t help us meet our deliverables.”

“It’s a luxury we can’t afford.”

But teams who constantly operate at full speed rarely deliver their best work - or think at their best, or make the best decisions, or innovate, or strengthen relationships.

Intentional perspective switching is a critical investment. But if time is short, it doesn’t need to be complicated.

💠 It can be as simple as working outside or talking a walk. 

💠 Choosing a space to work where customers, suppliers, or the wider system are visible. 

💠 Meeting in a different room,

💠 Removing tables from meeting rooms or switching where people sit in your usual space. 

Try it!

If you’d like more information on the importance of different perspectives, or you’d like to build perspective-switching techniques into your team’s routine, please get in touch.

PS Aotearoa New Zealand is a stunning place — I feel incredibly lucky to live here. ❤️

“So Special Special” to be a Kiwi!

Over the past two weeks I’ve had the opportunity to experience live: Split Enz; 3 budding young artists performing acoustically in a church nearby; Six60, Synthony (dance music with DJ and orchestra), the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and multiple Kiwi vocalists all in one show (“Once in a Lifetime” in the new Christchurch stadium - Te Kaha). 

All New Zealand performers — all world-class! 

Two things stood out:

🎵 How proud I am to be Kiwi and what incredible talent we have here — it’s not just rugby we’re good at!

🎵 The hours and hours of planning, rehearsal and preparation behind the performances. From those on stage, yes, but also the amazing work behind the scenes - sound, lighting, production and the constant adjustments being made in real time to create something exceptional.

It's similar to the work of building strong teams and leaders - individual talent matters, but it’s the coordination, preparation, adaptability and shared commitment behind the scenes that really creates something "Special".

Proud to celebrate New Zealand Music Month here in Aotearoa!

🐘 Elephants in teams are common.

Some are cute. Some aren’t - like the ones that show up when things aren’t being said or addressed.

You can tell when they’re around. There might be tension in the room, silence around a particular topic, a shift in body language, or a change in energy.

When I sense elephants during a team coaching conversation, an actual elephant might appear.

I’ve got all kinds—big ones, small ones, smooth and rough ones, fluffy and leathery beasts, some with dangerous tusks, some without, some on wheels, some nearing retirement, and a few young calves.

They might be on the table. Or in the middle of the room. Or lurking quietly in the background. And there’s often more than one!

I’ll ask whether my elephant radar is on point. Whether they belong. How they got here. Whether the team would be better without them. And, most importantly, what it would take to move them on.

These conversations are critical because elephants don’t forget—they don’t go away. They linger. They grow. And sometimes they multiply, and you’re dealing with a whole herd. 🐘🐘🐘

Team coaching supports these conversations and encourages psychological safety - building collective elephant-wrangling capability.

If your team includes an elephant or two, and you're not sure how to manage them, please get in touch. Happy to have a chat.