So at last the election is over and we can get on with our lives. We have a new conservative government and a new Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott. Once again I would like to draw your attention to the language used by our outgoing Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, as he delivered his 30 minute concession speech. From what the pundits are saying, it seems I may not be the only one who wondered whether he had achieved a marvellous victory, rather than a resounding defeat. It seems to me that Mr Rudd was attempting to “reframe” the loss as a victory of sorts, but in my opinion it falls short for a number of reasons. [Read more...]
posted on September 9, 2013 by
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Australia’s Election is over and our outgoing PM gives a Victory Speech!
posted on August 5, 2013 by
Election Time in the Land of Oz and Ten Things you are Guaranteed to Witness
Buckle up folks, the campaign has begun. Five weeks of claim and counter-claim; five weeks of promises, promises, promises… or should I say… core promises; non-core promises; generalised promises; promises that say a lot but mean very little; promises to undo; promises to stitch up; motherhood statements; quick grabs of meaningless platitudes and so the list goes on. Call me a cynic, but as a student of language and behaviour, this next five weeks is sure to give me heaps of material to share with you. To start the ball rolling, here’s some of what you can be sure to see and hear… [Read more...]
posted on June 9, 2013 by
The Awesome Power of Focus vs the Awful Consequences of Lack of Focus
It has often been said that we consciously use only 8-10% of the power of our mind every day. If that is the case, then 90% of the most powerful resource we have may be going untapped, or at least, underutilised. Here is a tragic story I read many years ago of the misuse of focus when it mattered most… [Read more...]
posted on May 26, 2013 by
What Positives can come from a Racist Remark at the Football? More than you Think if you Look at it Differently
This weekend our papers were filled with the story about a 13 yo girl yelling a racist slur at one of our footy champions playing in the stadium in front of her and many thousands of fans. 
The champion took offense, pointed out the transgressor to security and she was evicted from the ground in front of her shocked and embarrassed parent. There are many ways to view this episode and many points of view depending on what particular attitude you happen to have on the subject of racial slurs. I don’t intend to add my commentary to the rights and wrongs of what was said and done but what I would like to do is share an important lesson we learn from this incident about perceptions and the ‘framing’ we place around situations at work. [Read more...]
posted on November 12, 2012 by
How to Avoid the costly Mistake of having Square Pegs in Round Holes
In my previous blog I asked the question whether your job is a good ‘fit’ for you I and shared with you some great questions to ask yourself if you are not sure. Here is an example of what happens when a highly qualified and fully committed executive is a poor match for his role, even though he has all of the skills and experience needed. Hopefully this is not your or your company’s experience. [Read more...]