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The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

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Blog: Leadership & Management

An open book lies on a wooden jetty by a lake at sunset, with its pages transforming into water and a tree growing from the book, blending imagination and nature.

The Power of Storytelling in Mentoring and Career Conversations

Do you want your employees to really engage with what you are saying? Do you want to grab their emotions rather than just their logical brain? The secret is to use stories. Storytelling is the oldest and most powerful way to engage, excite and educate people. When people are inspired, they take action. That’s not

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Two hands hold up a cardboard sign with the words

Visualising a Culture of Career Development

In my last blog post, I talked about the power of visualisation for career development and the benefits to employees. But visualisation is not only helpful at an employee level.  It can also be helpful at an organisational level.  In this blog post I’d like to share my experience of helping a client visualise a

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The Seven Biggest Mistakes Companies Make With Career Management

The only effective, sustainable approach to career management involves the whole organisation.  Attitudes and behaviours filter down from leaders with reinforcement from policies and procedures.  Alongside any training, information and support, it’s important to create a culture that promotes growth and career development. When clients contact us, it’s often because of their engagement survey results. 

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Several paper boats on a light blue surface, with one red boat leading ahead of four blue boats that follow behind in a staggered formation.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Part 2: 11 Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Leaders

Welcome to my second blog post about entrepreneurial leadership. In my last post, Entrepreneurial Leadership: Why is it important? you read what it was and why we need it.  A key message was that entrepreneurial leaders need to embrace high levels of change. And they need to thrive on the unique challenges posed by growth.

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A person in a business suit holds a large poster with hand-drawn diagrams, charts, and icons under the word “INNOVATION” on a blurred background with circular lights.

Entrepreneurial Leadership: Why is it important?

Earlier this year I received an invitation from the President of the Mentoring Institute at the University of New Mexico.  The theme of the 11th annual Mentoring Conference was to be Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  They wanted me to deliver a keynote speech.  The title was How to Develop Innovative, Entrepreneurial

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Four people in business suits, two men and two women, stand in a row pulling on a rope as if in a tug-of-war, symbolising resistance to change as they lean back and work together against a plain white background.

3 Ways to Overcome Resistance to Change by Employees

Resistance to change is a natural phenomenon.  At an individual level, change can create a mixed range of emotional response. A Global Survey by McKinsey in 2006 (Organising for Successful Change Management), shows that where change had not been successful, the dominant emotions were anxiety, frustration and confusion. While those emotions were not necessarily absent

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A man in dark clothing stands with his back against a huge grey boulder, looking tired and burdened as he supports the weight of the rock on his shoulders—showing why it’s important to help your employees take ownership.

Six Steps to Help Your Employees Take Ownership and Responsibility

Are you being asked to achieve more and more with less and less? Are you under pressure to meet hard to achieve goals and targets? Do you have a queue of employees at your office door wanting you to solve their problems for them and adding to your ever-increasing to-do list? In today’s business environment,

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