In today’s fast-paced corporate world, the success of an organisation often hinges on the effectiveness of its middle management. Yet, a surprising number of these managers find themselves in leadership roles without the necessary people development expertise. This gap can lead...
During my visit to Vietnam, I had an insightful encounter with a tailor that reshaped my perspective on self-promotion and confidence. The previous day, I had met another tailor, but when I returned, his shop was closed. As I stood there, Heung approached us. "I'm a tailor," she...
Fostering a culture where ideas can flourish is crucial for growth and innovation. However, how many organizations allow their staff to truly tap into their creative potential without fear of judgment? To encourage freethinking and spark imagination within a team or workplace se...
On International Women's Day, it's fitting to reflect on the remarkable life of inspirational women before us, and due to her recent passing, the legacy of Iris Apfel. Known for her fearless self-expression and vibrant personality, Apfel's influence extends far beyond the ...
Nina utilises her management experience and skills to tailor a program to achieve your goals and maximise your business performance. Specialising in development planning and goals alignment, contexts where she has particular expertise include: Assisting mid to senior leader...
In today’s rapid-paced and constantly evolving world, drawing inspiration can be a challenging task. Yet, it is during these challenging times that we need it most. Inspiration fuels our motivation, sparks creativity, and aids us in overcoming obstacles. It is what pushes us t...
1. Building the right remuneration and Reward Have you ever waited with anticipation for the Christmas gift you were waiting for to open something entirely different, or received an online order that was nothing like the quality on the post? It’s the disappointment ...
In today’s dynamic work environment, stress is an inevitable part of the equation. However, it is crucial to distinguish between positive stress that fuels productivity and detrimental stress that hampers performance.
In his study, “Stress at Work,” Stranks highli...
Eight hundred years ago, Shakespeare wisely quoted: “Be true to yourself”. We’ve all heard those words repeatedly, with phrases like “just be yourself” and “be authentic” echoing. But have you ever wondered why such a simple concept needs to be emphasised? Why do we...
Today, I am sharing a pivotal moment in my life, a moment that challenged everything I thought I knew about success and goal setting.
In 2010, my life was on an upward trajectory: I excelled in my career and was recognised as an expert in my industry, making a positive impac...
Do you find yourself scrambling to prepare for staff performance reviews at the last minute? Do you feel rushed when meeting with your staff, armed only with a hastily updated review and a few notes?
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting with an academic from a univers...
One of the hallmark traits of exceptional leaders is their ability to build high-performing teams. They understand the value of harnessing external expertise when needed.
Their primary focus is driving their organisation towards achieving their vision and fulfilling the...
An inclusive workplace not only fosters trust internally, but has the power to influence business results, helping businesses capture new markets and retain existing clients. At A Perfect Plan, my objective is to collaborate with our clients on the relationship between employers ...
In my coaching practice, one of my favourite – and most effective tools – is Values Cards. Among all the values, 'success' is a very popular one and stands out as particularly intriguing. Success can mean different things to different people. So, to truly gauge success, we mu...
Authenticity has become a prominent topic of discussion lately and for good reasons. It begs us to question the current state of affairs and explore the significance of us showing up as our true selves. In this article, I want to explore the meaning of authenticity, its profound ...
Just last week, I attended a funeral of a wonderful man, who was an academic I had the pleasure to meet and know over the last 12 plus years.
During the service, David's favourite quote was read;
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent wil...
When a discussion is affecting your business or another’s career you need to get it right. I recently sat with a client, a Vice President in a multinational, who was preparing for a difficult conversation. He had a laundry list to discuss with an employee. He knew in detail ...
“The first time I sat in Gallup Strengths coaching training, I felt everything I had understood and experienced for years as a people manager was confirmed. Aligning and working with team strengths, and focusing on what your team can do brings results. This was a system I could...
How building an inclusive organisation not only builds trust internally, but influences business results to capture new markets, and retain existing clients. In my background in Financial Planning distribution, my passion was to increase advice distribution in Australia...
As an advice practice, you invest in establishing long-term trusted relationships with clients. In the same way, you need to build enduring relationships with your client-facing advisers. The future viability of your practice depends on it.
There’s a debate over who ‘ow...
The financial planning industry has focused on quality with all good intentions in recent years including quality advice delivery, fee disclosure, communication and education. While many initiatives have been successful, providing an overall higher quality outcome that has...
Are your staff performance reviews a last-minute action? Are you rushing into a meeting with a staff member with a hurriedly refreshed review and a few notes? I just finished a meeting with an academic at a Victorian University; I’m genuinely excited about this meeting. Of co...
What I bring to you today is extensive experience, knowledge and a sincere desire to help you achieve your personal or professional desires. I started coaching during my corporate career, in 1999 as a financial planner I was nominated Planner of the year by St George bank. Whil...
Melinda Livingstone of ' Income Connection ' recently shared her perspective on 'A Perfect Plan' and we thought it was worth sharing with you,... "This clever entrepreneur sliced out the genius zone of her corporate job to create her innovative business. Nina Witenden's story is...