#mentalhealthspeaker #resiliencespeaker #leadershipspeaker #psychologicalsafetyspeaker Archives

I helped start R U OK? Why we need 2 more questions

Most organisations treat these as three separate issues. Wellbeing owns loneliness. HR owns engagement. Operations owns productivity. Three different reports, three different owners, three different fixes. I helped to start R U OK? We now need 2 more questions. Thirteen years ago, I helped Gavin Larkin build something that got Australians asking each other one […]

Loneliness, disengagement, poor productivity: one problem, not three

Most organisations treat these as three separate issues. Wellbeing owns loneliness. HR owns engagement. Operations owns productivity. Three different reports, three different owners, three different fixes. Two major research reports released this year suggest that’s the wrong way to see it. Too many ineffective meetings EnterpriseWorks’ 2026 Workforce Productivity Report found that 45% of the […]

Burnout isn’t a workforce crisis. It’s a leadership one.

The New South Wales Government recently revealed that the average distress claim now costs $288,000, doubled in just six years. This article first appeared in HRD on 23 April 2026 Alarmingly, these workers compensation claims, are only a fraction of total absenteeism costs. But also consider presenteeism – people showing up depleted and disengaged – costs organisations […]

Why Green Zone leadership is the ultimate AI advantage

When Bob Chapman became CEO of Barry-Wehmiller in 1975, he did what any accountant and MBA would do. He looked at the numbers. This article first appeared in CFO Magazine on 28 April 2026. The company was a $20 million supplier to the brewing industry and in financial distress. People were inputs. Efficiency was the […]

The Care Mindset That Separates Great Leaders From Burnt-Out Ones

The highest-performing teams aren’t built on pressure—they’re built on care, trust, and the psychological safety that unlocks real results. This article first appeared in CSQ on 27 April 2026 In my work with leadership teams and corporate clients, I’ve asked thousands of managers and team members (via an anonymous live survey) to think of a […]

Why caring leadership isn’t soft, it’s a competitive edge

The organisation Todd spent years building was at genuine risk of sliding backwards. What he did next is one of the most informative leadership stories of the pandemic era. This article first appeared in HR Leader on 2 April, 2026 In March 2020, Todd Harper AM, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria (CCV), was facing every […]

Science reveals 7 lifestyle factors to reduce your risk of depression. But why?

Do you like our matching Shetland beanies? Very warm. I just must share one more photo of our holiday before it drifts from my memory. 😊 In a previous newsletter I shared the joys – and benefits of walking in nature. Below I share a fascinating article which shows that not all bouts of depression […]

Why Self-Care Isn’t Selfish – especially at Christmas

Be kind to yourself these holidays. Self-care is ultimately about setting priorities, boundaries, and finding purpose (Resolve to read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Victor Frankl). Practice self-compassion. It has been a tough year for many of us. Research by Dr Kristen Neff’s shows us that self-compassion has all the upsides of self-esteem – but […]