June’s Learnings and Lessons

This month I’ve been working in Brisbane, Berry (NSW) and Sydney. We have commenced work with three new clients including chairing an advisory board, running two strategy days and are half way through management programs for five new senior managers in transition.  As well as this, I hosted a lunch at Pier One for the AICD Women in Leadership and presented a workshop at a Retreat on making change. I hit my June goal of 60 minutes of exercise a day including 4 yoga classes a week. No wonder Sarah and I didn’t have time for our end of financial year lunch (it’s on the 27th July!).

I feel good about our achievements. It’s all going in the right direction and Aide de MD is growing with improved internal processes and structure. It can be challenging to practice what you preach, and this year has been a year of rapid growth while building on our own infrastructure through outsourcing, collaborating and improved efficiencies.

Reading has become more important, learning from new teachers and adjusting the balance setting between home and work have all become priorities. Yet this all goes out the window when a crisis occurs, as when my youngest son went into hospital for surgery. The outcome is positive and he’s in recovery, but it was a highly stressful situation and on reflection interesting to see my response to it. I was outwardly calm, (except in front of my family!), and inwardly panicking in high stress mode. Did the wheels fall off? Nearly, but no, because of the systems, practices and boundaries we have in place. I focussed on my son and worked only at my desk or F2F with clients. The structure made it clearer and simpler.

On another level, what an amazing result from an internationally combined and collaborative effort to save the 12 Thai soccer players and their coach. One goal, one focus, clear strategies and a positive solution.

How has your month been and what learnings can you take from it?