The Hidden Source of Stress in Modern Leadership We have all heard the humourous lines about stress. One suggests that the greatest source of stress is other people not doing or thinking what we believe they should. Another describes stress as that moment when the mind overcomes the body’s desire to strangle someone who desperately [...]
Australia is in the middle of a demographic shift that is far more profound than it first appears. By 2029, every baby boomer will have reached retirement age. On paper, that sounds like a neat milestone. In reality, it marks the beginning of a much more complex chapter for individuals, employers and the broader economy. [...]
Most people prepare for interviews by rehearsing behavioural stories. These “Tell me about a time when…” questions still matter, but they’re only one part of the picture. In reality, strong interviewers use three broad types of questions, each designed to uncover a different dimension of capability: behaviour, approach, and insight. Understanding these three categories helps [...]
Redundancy hits hard. Even when people know it’s coming, the moment it becomes real can leave them stunned, embarrassed, or simply overwhelmed. Yet there’s an interesting pattern we see across the outplacement industry: Left to their own devices and without direct communication a low percentage of people reach out for support. So the question is: [...]
Most people approach retirement as a financial milestone. The number matters. The plan matters. The super matters. What often gets left out is the harder question: Who am I when my work role is no longer doing the heavy lifting for me? This is where retirement can quietly unravel — not because people lack freedom, [...]
There’s a little-known psychological study where participants were placed alone in a silent, pitch-black environment for 48 hours. No noise. No light. No sense of time. Nothing to anchor themselves to except their own thoughts. Most people struggled. A few panicked. But one participant coped far better than the rest. How? He talked out loud [...]
Across many organisations, a quiet shift happens as employees move through their late-50s and into their 60s. They care less about titles. They’re less interested in competing. They’re more interested in giving something back. They want to share what they know, support younger colleagues, contribute to culture, and feel useful beyond KPIs. In psychology, this [...]
AI in the Job Hunt: Tool, Trap, or Competitive Edge? I recently reviewed a cover letter that stopped me in my tracks—not because it was bad, but because of the final paragraph. The candidate openly stated that the cover letter had been written with the help of AI. She explained to me that English was [...]
Most leaders spend a lot of time thinking about capability: skills, systems, structures, KPIs. But one of the most powerful forces shaping performance isn’t a process at all — it’s the leader’s expectations. This is the Rosenthal Effect, also known as the Pygmalion Effect: the idea that people tend to rise (or fall) to the [...]
Ask someone what their personal brand is and the answer is often a job title. “I’m a project manager.” “I’m a lawyer.” “I’m a consultant.” That’s understandable—but it misses the point. What you do is not your brand. Your brand is the outcomes you consistently create, regardless of role, industry, or context. Jobs change. Titles [...]
Dr Susan Roberts says: