How to make it easier for everyone to say what they think
Psychological safety is the start of so much that is important in leading and working well together. It builds safety and connection, which in turn nourishes trust and motivation, and that contributes in turn to growth, initiative and autonomy. For some of us, the...
Knowing the difference between stress and burnout
Burnout can reduce people’s ambitions and sense of worth while decimating the will to work. In my October CEO Magazine article I investigate the fine line between healthy stress and burnout in today’s round-the-clock work culture. Read the full article...
The simple pleasures of a life in lockdown
Lynda Grattan says ‘There’s a ‘silver lining’ to the pandemic: the opportunity to make work lives more purposeful, productive, agile, and flexible.’ My silver lining, as we’ve lurched from one version of lockdown to the next here in Melbourne, has been my...
A 70% rule can help increase your tolerance for error when you delegate
A key reason for increasing how much you delegate is that often too many low risk decisions are made at senior levels and that means that you lose focus on strategy and oversight. Delegating helps to rebalance the amount of time devoted to low risk/importance vs high...
Can someone else do the work at least 70% as effectively as you
A key reason for increasing how much you delegate is that often too many low risk decisions are made at senior levels and that means that you lose focus on strategy and oversight. Many of the leadership challenges profiled in this book highlight this problem....
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it takes structure to be flexAble
What does it take to love your work? A strong focus on structure. Structure your work so that you do what you love. The Figure below highlights the sequence of organising, prioritising and digitising work. Organise your work to maximise your best skills and...
How to make sure you do what matters
In my June article, I outlined a number of ways in which to avoid work’s hidden burnout crisis. In my July CEO Magazine article I’m sharing six hacks to make it easier to achieve more, rather than less, and to feel the satisfaction of doing what matters most. Read the...
How organisations can take responsibility for the prevalence of burnout
Between being engaged, feeling vital, and feeling burnt-out, there’s a lot of stress and pain that may continue for some time. In their research, Michael Leiter and Christina Maslach found that one of the factors that commonly tipped workers into burnout was a sense...
Avoid work’s hidden burnout crisis
There’s no question that COVID-19 has increased the level of anxiety and burnout in our lives. UK research showed that levels of distress in the community doubled in 2020. The rate of mental distress in the Australian community was 2.5 times the rate prior to the...
Avery is achievement-oriented, conscientious and agreeable
She’s a high potential, ready for promotion to the next level. But she’s not sure if she wants that. She’s not just a leader, she’s also a human. She has a partner, two kids, a dog, a father who has just been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Life is full –...
How inclusion can become detrimental to your business
Diversity and inclusion is being championed by today’s most successful businesses, but there are consequences for those simply using it as a trend to boost their bottom line. With something of an explosion in the growth of diversity and inclusion over the past year,...
Leaders need to lead by being more caring, empathetic and human-centered
Being caring, empathetic and human-centered is the best way to counteract the issue of heavy workloads and expectations of more, more, more. I thought we’d reached the limits of what was reasonable to expect from others, and from ourselves, some time ago…. Last year,...
Why bad is 5 times stronger than good is not a bad thing
After a rocky 2020, and a rollercoaster emotional start to 2021, it’s again time to dust off the wheel of emotions. There are so many different emotions – maybe there should be a prize for how many of them we all experienced during Covid-19! Of course,...
Why consistent kindness makes you a good leader
According to Boris Groysberg and Susan Seligson, the manager’s toolkit needs to expand in ways not seen before. The most effective strategy for leaders might also be the most innately human: be kind. ‘Kindness is an investment that never fails’....
If Scotty really was from Marketing, he would be fired by now
Recent events have shown exclusionary, toxic cultures go right to the very top. Women have become braver in speaking out, raising their voices with emotional intensity, demanding change. But Scott Morrison still doesn’t seem to get it, it is as if he couldn’t relate...
You can ignore the principle of focus but it won’t ignore you
Work momentum is starting to reach a new normal as we recover, or at least get used to the impact of COVID. As things return to normal, and some return to the office occurs, how do you avoid getting caught up in the fray of busywork and relentless meetings. Make sure...
Why we should stop expecting leaders to be exciting
I was staggered recently to see a news article entitled ‘Joe Biden isn’t exciting’. I read past this headline to discover the article claimed it was a good thing he wasn’t. When we promote extremes – exciting versus not exciting – we fixate on the binary, and...
A clear purpose is the path to a flexible life
As this year gets underway, we probably all have one thing in mind – we hope it will be easier than 2020 was! This post focuses on a few key tips for making this year a successful one for you. Aligning with purpose, managing stress, and keeping a sense of hope are a...
Are you a free spirit, an achiever or a care giver?
Given the uncertainty and change that’s been in our environment for a while, how well aligned are you with your core values and purpose? Are you keeping them in mind as you go about your routine, or do you find yourself getting caught up in the uncertainty and hype...
Welcome!
My name is Dr Karen Morley and I am passionate about accelerating leadership careers and inspiring inclusion in the workplace.
Using the latest evidence, validated benchmarks and inspiring coaching methods, I work closely with executives and organisations in Australia to optimise their leadership skills and accelerate their growth.
The most effective leaders use everyone’s talents to the full, and my programs promote inclusive leadership strategies and practices. I also engage gender balanced leadership and help women to succeed in senior organisational roles.
