A study of 288 employed American adults published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology^ found that more women than men felt they did not meet their own high standards either at work or at home. 38% of women and 24% of men said their job performance did not meet their own standards. 30% of women felt they were failing to meet their home and family commitments at a high enough standard, compared to 17% of men. Read More

Two weeks ago I attended a public address by Germaine Greer through Westpac's sponsorship of the Sydney Writers' Festival.  True to form, Greer created a storm in a teacup with views shared on everything from pioneering nations to public policy and profiteering bankers.  Love her or hate her, one thing’s for sure: when Greer speaks, she pulls no punches.  For that, she’s earned my respect. Read More

Here in Australia we’ve been inundated with Budget news over the past week.  Since most of my blog followers and members of the sphinxx leadership community are in senior business roles, you’ll know from these “leaks” that there’s not much good news for you: you are what the current Labour government refers to as wealthy individuals so you’re being asked to do your bit to get us through the GFC.  Indeed even the paid maternity leave we’ve waited (not so) patiently for decades will be means tested away from most of you.  But rather than the policies, what’s interested me most is how the bad news in this budget has been managed. Read More

You might have heard about Susan Boyle, she's the 47 year old Scottish singing sensation who’s taken the world by storm since she was discovered on Britain’s Got Talent.  (if you don’t know about Susan Boyle then check out her BGT performance on youtube before you read on!) Truth is Susan Boyle could always sing – she’s been singing opera since she was 12 years old – so why did it take her almost 48 years to be noticed?  Susan Boyle says she hadn’t made it as a professional singer because “she’s never been given the chance”. All that changed when she found the confidence and courage to step onto the stage on BGT.  Sure, she could have gone on with the internal satisfaction of knowing she's a fabulous singer; but to be noticed and recognized and to realize her potential she had to put herself out there and take a big risk, and convince the judges that she’s got what it takes. Read More

Last week I was asked by a potential client to describe what makes me different from everyone else... in just 3 words.  I blew it.  And I’m so annoyed with myself for that. Read More

Below is a great article by Connie Glaser discussing how women often sabotage themselves by conforming to the stereotypes of traditional women behaviours. There is no more important skill in attaining success -- personal and professional -- than your ability to communicate effectively. Yet women often sabotage themselves through their communication skills. Differences in how men and women communicate are rooted in social conditioning. Only by understanding the impact of this social conditioning and how it translates into the workplace can we begin to unlearn "girlish" behaviors and become power communicators.  Read More

As a manager, you're well aware of the importance of developing subordinates, and that means delegating responsibilities to them that will hone their problem-solving and decision-making powers. But when pressure is building and the clock ticking, sometimes the better option seems to be tackling a challenge yourself rather than coaching an employee in doing it. Don't give in to this temptation; in the end, you'll cheat your employees and yourself. In the HBR article, “Are You Delegating So It Sticks?” experts across a range of industries dispense tested advice for making delegation easier and more effective.  Read More

Got a great idea? Whether it's a new vision for your marketing team or a better way to handle shipping delays, your idea is only as good as your ability to get others to buy into it and execute it. Effective persuasion, say the authors of The Art of Woo: Using Strategic Persuasion to Sell Your Ideas, is about "pull," not "push." Read this article, “Take a Strategic Approach to Persuasion” by HMU editor Christina Bielaszka-DuVernay to learn two powerful strategies that will increase your chances of winning even the most skeptical constituents over to your side.  Read More

This is an interesting article from the HBR that discusses the closure of 600 Starbucks store in the US and many in Australia as being a long-overdue admission that there are limits to growth. So what went wrong?  Read More