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

Build trust before you need it

If you find yourself facing a high-stakes situation without trust in each other, it’s like entering a freeway before you’ve mastered the basics of driving. The results can be predictably chaotic. Investing time in building trust is not just about improving current dynamics but ensuring you have that safety net when you most need it.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

How your mood impacts your team

As a leader, you’re only human – you will have highs and lows just like everyone. But your impact is outsized – so be aware and take care to adjust accordingly – especially when you’re busy!

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

How to manage emotions through change

A mistake I often see leaders make is to try and snap people from the point of first hearing about a change to being totally on board with it, skipping over all the uncomfortable complexity in between. Here’s why that doesn’t work

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Hit a plateau? Try this

Hitting a plateau when you’re trying to make a change can be frustrating. Here’s some ways through it…

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Empathy as a leader - some tips

I sometimes hear leaders worry that empathetic leadership is some kind of soft and squishy nice-to-have thing that trades off performance. Are we really still having this conversation?

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Alone in the tundra? Here’s your compass

Figuring out your true north is a bit like trying to tune into a radio station while on a road trip. There's a bit of static, some stations come in clearer than others, and every so often, you hit that sweet spot where everything comes in loud and clear. Your compass questions are there to help cut through the static, asking you to consider not just the job title you want, but the impact and fulfillment you seek.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Instead of goals, try compass questions

As we return to our professional lives after the summer break, it’s a perfect moment for introspection and setting the tone for the year ahead. This year, I’m shifting from setting traditional goals or resolutions to embracing what I’m calling “compass questions”. Here’s my 4…

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

Dial down for summer

Are you tired? Me too. The festive season isn't just about celebration; it's an opportunity to dial down, reflect, and prepare for the year ahead. Here are five ways to make the most of your summer break.

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Madeleine Shaw Madeleine Shaw

5 tips for giving feedback to your boss

Need to give some potentially unwelcome feedback to your boss? Some will welcome the direct approach, but often a little tact is more effective.

Here are 5 tips for giving feedback to those above you (or really, anyone) …

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