Supporting people at this time is about sitting with emotion – leaning into the uncomfortable, messy, uneasy task of being there for people as they ride the emotional rollercoaster.

I’ll do a short series of blogs on how to successfully navigate the tension of a cost out exercise – so you can see the bigger picture but also be clear on where to focus right now. My aim is to offer practical tips, tools and insights from my own experience.

“The world is changing rapidly, and as leaders, we have a significant role to play.”

Unlocking Leadership Secrets: Discover the game-changing insights Leah Kendall and Angela Butt brought back from the World Business Forum Sydney that are redefining the way we approach leadership.

People are at the heart of CVL’s mahi and as we go through this redundancy rollercoaster as a team, we’re aware that many businesses needing our support in doing the same may also not be able to afford it. “Walking the talk” is core to our values and it seems perfectly appropriate to share our thoughts on how to navigate these emotions as both the leader and the impacted redundee (is that a word?)

CVL Senior Consultant, Megan Sullivan, shares her thoughts on the importance of fostering Psychological Safety, and building a foundation of trust and understanding for team success.

Clinical Psychologist Karen Nimmo published a fantastic article this week on “seven terrible pieces of life advice and how to counter them”, and not only did we recognise many of them, the thing that came to mind was “there’s some awful leadership advice out there too”.

With big thanks to Karen for seeding the idea, Megan Sullivan and Tamara Mapp-Borren put their heads together to share some of their worst leadership advice and how to counter it

Did you know there is a ‘Celebrate Stupid Guy Thing’ Day? There’s also Polar Bear Plunge Day (1 Jan), World Sandwich Day (3 November), and International Accountants Day (10 November).

There are so many causes and topics (from important to fun to infuriating) vying for our attention in this world – what makes International Woman’s Day worth our energy this week?

In short because the battle for women to have equal footing in the world and in the workplace is far from won, and in some places is going frighteningly backwards.

As we keep up to date with the news, scenes coming in from Cyclone Gabrielle’s path are both distressing and inspiring. Yet another unprecedented event we’re being asked to face, with loss of lives and impacts that are both very real and unimaginable all at the same time.

Intrinsically woven within these stories of destruction are stories of incredible leadership and community coming together. In the face of adversity people coming together is not only powerful, it’s one of the best things we can do to find our way through.

If your experience was anything like mine last month, the news of the Prime Minister’s resignation ricocheted through my dinner conversations, social media feeds, and personal ponderings. Politics aside, the topics of these conversations were broad – concern regarding the vitriol that she was exposed to during her terms at the country’s helm, admiration for the commitment and dedication required to fulfil the responsibilities of the top job, and respect for recognising that her metaphorical tank was empty.

I’m a big believer in the power of reflection. It’s the moment to pause that lets us see how far we’ve come, what we’ve learnt, and what we’re taking with us into the year ahead.

I’ve been working with leaders across the world for a few decades now and there’s one thing I’ve found that effective leaders have in common: at least some level of self-awareness.

If you’re currently saying to yourself “tick, yep I’m self-aware” keep reading….

I’ve been thinking a lot about perspective lately. Mine has been poked, stretched, and expanded this past year – and I’m not the only one.

I’ve learnt a couple of surprising things the last year and it struck me that my own experience is shared with many of the leaders we work with. Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 is all about re-connecting with the people and places that lift you up. As leaders we can often feel the weight of the world on our shoulders and in the last 12 months, I’ve learnt a few important lessons around re-connecting with myself and sharing the load with those around me.

What do teenagers and leaders have in common? We are both excited to welcome Steph Charles into our CVL whanau and to hear her many leadership stories across her roles as an actress, agent to the stars, and tech CEO. First up, she’s got a great reminder for us that’s a little more personal. Welcome to the team Steph!

People are craving leadership of wellbeing. One way to sense-check wellbeing in your own world, is through a reflection on Te Whare Tapa Whā – a holistic Māori model for health and wellbeing.

As 2021 comes to a close, CVL Senior Consultant Tamara Mapp-Borren reflects upon the year that’s been, and shares some of her insights she’s committed to taking in to 2022.

Our recent CVL Team Day. NO set location, NO time, NO agenda… and NO team. Here’s why we made this decision, three months in a row! Hint: it aligns with our values

As we navigate the ongoing complexity of extended lockdown restrictions, CVL Senior Consultant Aleisha Coote shares her thoughts on how to lean in and be present for the tough stuff.

Effective communication fuelled by active listening is one of the most important areas to master. In fact, if we break it down we’d say ‘listening’ and ‘powerful questions’ are the most important tools for leaders.

In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, CVL Senior Consultant and Auckland Practice Lead, Tamara Mapp-Borren, shares her thoughts on the importance of small conversations