Are you solving the right problem? Reframing should be an essential part of your problem-diagnosis toolkit. I have been reading HBS professor Bharat Anand’s highly acclaimed book, The Content Trap, on digital transformation. One of the fascinating examples that Prof. Anand talks about is the impact of digital on the newspaper industry. The conventional view is […]
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Feedback isn’t a threat – it’s an opportunity for personal improvement and increased organisational trust. We recently concluded our 360 degree feedback process, which was, like most years, met with mixed reactions. Not surprising though; because receiving feedback is always tricky. As leaders, we often think that we are required to have all the answers. […]
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Curiosity and everyday experimentation keep you at the cutting edge. “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better” – Ralph Waldo Emerson How does a chess player go from good to great? What sets an extraordinary classical musician apart from the crowd? Why do some cricketers achieve legendary status, while others lag […]
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Turning a blind eye to uncomfortable truths makes you a poor decision-maker. In recent years, we have seen new types of players emerge in the FMCG industry. For many incumbents though, the first reaction was to ignore. This was in spite of alerts from the sales teams on the ground. Several large players got into denial model. Teams took comfort […]
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Connect with your “reason to live” and cherish small joys for a happier, healthier life. Over the last few weeks, we have been sharing some perspectives around the different aspects of our purpose and values, as a company. Today, I want to bring that conversation of purpose to an individual level and ask you to […]
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The surprising benefits of having a chat with yourself – greater clarity, recall and focus. I find it delightful to quietly watch my four-year-old daughter, Mitchell Njeri Ndiema, play by herself. Mitchell can spend hours talking to her toys, stuffed animals, dolls or characters from her books. She asks them questions and answers back on […]
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Resilience is the secret to weathering the storm and coming out on the other side. The last few weeks have been tumultuous for all of us in Kenya as we have been in the midst of the most radical financial experiment in recent times. The withdrawal, practically overnight, of 86 per cent of the currency notes in […]
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Unlock new perspectives with a ‘learning holiday’. This is the time of the year when many of us take some time off for vacations, to unplug and rejuvenate. Some of us head to the beach to frolic in the sun or the mountains to escape the heat. Some just unwind and chill out. Others visit family members […]
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If the voice inside your head is constantly pulling you down, it needs to be disciplined. Most of us have a voice that lives inside our head, permanently poised to offer its two cents. For some of you, this voice may be a tireless cheerleader, encouraging you and boosting your morale. But for others, it […]
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Don’t flee from embarrassing moments – they can be great opportunities for learning and connection. Have you ever hit Reply All by mistake, sending out an email to the entire office instead of the one person it was meant for? Or made a silly observation during a meeting or social event? Or realised you had […]
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