Sir John Whitmore is a pre-eminent thinker in leadership and organisational change and works globally with international organisations and leading multinational corporations to establish coaching management cultures and leadership programmes.  He has written five books on leadership, coaching and sports, of which Coaching for Performance is the best known having sold 500,000 copies in 17 languages. He is also the former British and European motor racing champion and the Executive Chairman of Performance Consultants.

I interviewed him recently on the role of coaches and leadership in the changing business and economic environment.   (more…)

We have a measure of choice and control over what we are aware of, but what we are unaware of controls us.
-Sir John Whitmore 

We are more effective in life when we exhibit high levels of self-awareness.  Self-awareness, a critical component of emotional and spiritual intelligence (EQ and SQ) is the building block for success in life.  It enables us to make insightful and sharper decisions and course-correct as we go.  It facilitates improved, authentic relationship within and with others – our boss, colleagues, team members, clients, suppliers, family and friends. 

So how do we harness and develop this core competency in business and our personal lives? (more…)

We all know of intellectual intelligence (IQ) and more latterly, the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in health, happiness and work success but what about spiritual intelligence (SQ)?  While interest in IQ is nearly a century old, EQ’s place in business has emerged only in the last decade.  EQ or EI was first popularised by Daniel Goleman in the mid 90’s in the Time Magazine article titled, “Is EQ more important than IQ?”  Since then much has been written and researched on this important subject, which includes the dimensions of self and other awareness as well as social awareness and relationship management.

So what about SQ and where does it fit into the hardheaded world of business, leadership, managing others and ourselves and our careers and working life? (more…)

If you are going through a change or transition in your life, here are 10 tips that will help.

1. Acknowledge that you are going through a “transition phase” and give yourself time to adjust to the changes.  Transition times are good for taking a “helicopter or strategic view” on your life and for taking stock.
2. During times of change and transition, you will experience a loss of control, as the known and familiar is no longer there. Feelings of grief, sadness, anxiety, exhaustion, confusion, anger and or not being in control, are normal and in time, you will move through it.
3. Understand that transition phases tend to pose more questions than answers and the feeling of being in a ‘fog or overwhelm’ goes with the terrain. (more…)