I had the most enjoyable lunch at my brother and sister in law’s home on Saturday. Feisty discussion and debate over great food and laughter. My nephew was (suitably!) intrigued by my consulting in what I call “workplace justice”. Lots of closed questions like:”So, Aunty Lee, do you believe there should be quotas for women in leadership positions?” Much to … Read More
Be the Change You Want to See In the World
My younger daughter is on a gap year away. Next week she begins a preparatory seminar for a trip to the Nazi camps in German occupied Poland. Some may think the trip ghoulish. But the Holocaust is a big part of her heritage. Her late paternal grandparents were survivors. She needs to know and wants to know and perhaps it … Read More
The profound perils of unchecked rage
There have been too many tragedies that have rocked us to our foundations lately. There are plenty we don’t know about or think about. Like every death on the road to which we are habituated unless we knew those that died. There are others the media won’t allow us to ignore. Like the death of young Luke Batty or the beautiful … Read More
Are you really successful if you haven’t planned for succession?
It was novel in football when Eddie McGuire announced Collingwood was establishing a succession plan to Mick Malthouse as coach. The emerging leader was clearly identified and so was the timeline. I believe the same move was a little less explicit a few months ago when Kevin Sheedy after his stint at GWS was named Essendon Football Club Ambassador. I don’t … Read More
In denial and in the doldrums – the PM’s coming last
No, you won’t get me to declare my political leanings because it is neither relevant to this discussion nor appropriate. However there are many editorials attempting to dissect the goings on in Canberra as we blog; filling column inches trying to make sense of the disharmony between Cabinet and back benchers on the actions and opinions of our Prime Minister … Read More
A Tale of Two Mindsets
Well, there went my last excuse for pizza in 2014. My five week stint presenting in communication and change leadership for some of the best and brightest at Monash University Engineering has wrapped up for another year. I think about this bright hard working group of young people making the best of their talents and putting their hands up voluntarily … Read More
Stand up Australia. Be proud (It’s not what you think!)
As the sun sets on Tollcross Swimming Centre we can learn some valuable lessons from the Aussie swim team in Glasgow and how the team has transformed its culture to produce the most wonderful esprit de corps and exemplify the best flow-on effect of shared goals, great strategy and sublime teamwork- outstanding results. If we think back to the last Olympics, only … Read More
Bystander apathy in all its forms
Working extensively as I do in the area of equal opportunity, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying, sadly not a lot surprises me anymore. I’ve seen it in the board room and the boiler room. But I was filled with compassion and admiration for Jane Marwick this week when I read her gutsy piece in which she claimed to have been sexually … Read More
Attitude and avocado for breakfast
So there I was, feeling like a hero not a zero. My 20 year old graciously agreed I could drive him to soccer this morning. It’s premier league. The standard is high. It’s therefore great viewing. Now I think it’s great he invites me. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact hat he’s required in Parkville at 0915 … Read More
You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
A prominent Melbourne sports journalist made a pronouncement a few weeks ago on radio. He said he could virtually guarantee that either suspended Essendon senior coach James Hird, or CEO of the AFL Andrew Demetriou would not still be in their roles by the end of the year. Well the journo proved to be a prophet when, at a packed media … Read More