My (mostly) weekly thoughts on leadership, high performance, wellbeing and more.

Have a read through, or you can see a complete index here

Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

6 simple tips to help you bring some clarity to your day

In 1999, when email was nascent and accessing the internet meant a visit to the specially connected computer in the library, clearing clutter meant keeping on top of the movement of physical paper and files. These days it’s digital clutter that can cloud the mind and get in the way of clear thinking.

Here are 6 simple tips to help you bring some clarity to your day.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

How to feel super good

Today I had two separate clients tell me they are feeling “super good” about their life in general at the moment. It’s not always how a coaching conversation starts!

It got me thinking about how much of our wellbeing is within our control… and how much of it isn’t.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

The Magic of Going on Holiday: 3 holiday tips that apply at work too

Being away from your normal routine can be so refreshing, not just because it allows you to relax, but also because it allows you to spend time doing new things and focusing on what’s important to you. Consider how these holiday tips might be useful for you at work as well. And no, that doesn’t include wearing your swimmers all day long.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

3 steps to solving the hustle v happiness problem

Many of my clients come to me because they find themselves at a career crossroads. They can see the brightly lit road to (more) success at work ahead of them. They know what would be required to get there. And they find themselves, often to their surprise and bewilderment, unwilling to follow it. Here’s how I tackle that one…

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

What my brain needs each working week

After couple of weeks with a sub-optimally functioning brain, I’ve been thinking about what my brain needs each working week. Here’s my thoughts in a quick diagram. There’s two big features of most people’s weeks missing, though…

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

What makes a star senior leader?

This week I’ve been thinking about what makes a star senior leader. Here’s my thoughts in a handy graphic… what do you think?

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Don't Sweat It: Why You're Allowed to Skip a Weekly Blog Post

A lot of us (myself included) can sometimes think that people are looking at our every move, judging us on everything we do. But no one is noticing you as much as you think they are. Most people won't notice you skipped your weekly post [/insert own commitment here] because they have their own lives too; most people don’t care whether or not you did a thing today.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

How to cope with anxiety after making a mistake at work

So… You’ve had an incident at work you feel embarrassed about. You may be feeling anxious about the consequences of this mistake, and worried that your performance or reputation will suffer as a result. Here are some tips on how to ease anxiety when you've made a mistake at work.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

The transition from functional expert to executive leader

The transition from functional expert to executive leader is often thought of as a quantum leap from the security of subject matter knowledge to something completely new. Really, it’s just about learning new skills – just like you’ve always done. Here’s a framework to help make sense of the shifts from graduate to senior executive leader.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

The Quick Wins Worksheet

Need some more bandwidth? Grab a (free) copy of my Quick Wins Worksheet. It steps you through a very easy, focused process for identifying one (or 2 or 3) simple, achievable changes to create that extra space.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Helpful and unhelpful thinking

Last week I wrote about ways to find more time for strategic thinking. But even when you’re not specifically out to think strategically, you’re thinking…

So how much of that thinking is productive?

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Use the Pareto Principle to give yourself time

It makes sense to focus your attention on the most critical tasks at work and at home. Identifying what inputs have the most impact and prioritising those can save you spending fruitless time and energy on the rest. Here’s how…

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Commercial acumen for lawyers

As lawyers, we hear about the importance of being “commercial” – but what does it mean?

If your legal team is known as the department for the prevention of sales, it’s probably not a good sign… 

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Not getting buy-in at work? Try this

As you become more senior, success at work becomes less about completing tasks and more about influencing other people.

That can feel difficult for people such as lawyers whose technical expertise have propelled them thus far. So what to do?

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

How to Keep Your Values Strong Amid Uncertainty

A strong connection to your values helps you navigate uncertainty, but how do you keep your values strong when it feels like everything is up for grabs? Here’s some ideas for how to keep clear on what matters.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

7 Advantages of Taking Breaks

Many people believe – consciously or unconsciously – that a break is a reward for hard work – or worse, that needing a break is a sign of weakness. But your effectiveness and efficiency will improve if you take regular breaks. Here’s 7 benefits you can expect to enjoy when you build more breaks into your day.

Read More
Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

I'm fine

This week, I’m taking a pause.

I’m fine – just practicing what I preach.

Read More