Category: Personal Development

1. Don’t Check Your Email First  It’s very tempting to check email first thing in the morning.  It’s the prevailing culture these days. Most of us check email first thing when we get to work. Some even check it before they get to work. And some check it even before they get out of bed!  You’ve probably been checking email ‘first thing’ […]

Why Effective Decision-Making Matters  Every decision, whether selecting a supplier, preparing a board report, managing diaries, or streamlining processes, shapes outcomes. Effective decisions:  Rather than seeing decisions as obstacles, you can approach them with clarity, intention, and structure.  The IDEAL Decision Model  Adapted from well-known problem-solving methods, the IDEAL model provides a simple, repeatable framework for tackling decisions of any size.  […]

Hearing the word “downsizing” or “restructuring” often leads to fear of losing one’s job. Personally, I have been laid off several times from small to large size organizations. At the time of writing this article, I was laid off again for the fourth time in my career. Whether the organization is based in the US or internationally, it is never easy to go through this experience. However, I’m here to let you know you are not alone. Let […]

Taking stock of your profession at a point where you feel routine has taken over, when you feel like a robot that gets switched on at 8am and off at 5pm, and when your profession has now become a sense of duty rather than a passion, is vital.  It is essential that we fully recognise […]

Congratulations! You have landed a new job after being laid off for many months. With interview after interview and many rejections, you finally landed a new opportunity. You took the knowledge and experience gained from every interview and rejection, dug deep, and persevered.   It is only natural that you may be concerned and nervous about starting a new role. Here are my top tips to help you through the first few […]

Cultivating a diverse network opens doors to international opportunities with introductions, leads, and referrals. Establishing a diverse network allows for deeper relationships and fosters understanding. These types of benefits encourage empathy, self-awareness, and additional soft skills for professional, social, and business development.  How can professionals develop global networks and communities to take advantage of these opportunities? How can professionals utilize resources to sustain and grow […]

SMART is the simple and effective framework to ensure your goals can be defined, measured and achieved.   S = Specific  Is my goal clearly defined and can it be interpreted correctly?   M = Measurable  How will I measure my goal so that I have tangible evidence that I have achieved it? Is there a number associated with it?   A […]

Creativity is often misunderstood as a talent reserved for artists, writers, or musicians. In reality, creativity lives in all of us—and it plays a vital role in how we solve problems, improve processes, and navigate everyday work challenges. For administrative professionals, creativity isn’t about “thinking outside the box” for its own sake; it’s about finding […]

“Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.” — Gandhi Two elderly men once sat quietly on a park bench, enjoying the sunshine. After a long silence, one let out a deep sigh. The other immediately stood up and said, “If you’re going to talk politics, I’m leaving.” It’s a lighthearted story but it […]