What If Terminator Was Really About Us?
What if Terminator the Movie was never really about machines taking over the world but about us?I’ve always loved a good sci-fi movie.And Terminator is one that stuck with me.In the beginning, the machines were the villains, cold, calculating, emotionless.But as the...
Is This a Midlife Crisis or a Mid-Course Reflection?
I recently looked up the word mid life crisis and wondered whether I might be going through one. The unrest and heightened anxiety I've felt lately had made me question my journey.My plan for the year was light, a sabbatical of sorts, to experiment. I reduced my...
People play differently when you’re keeping score…
We romanticise self motivation. We talk about trust and autonomy but let's face it, what percent of people can perform at high standards without being managed? A few years ago, I learned something fascinating while preparing for a session on strategy execution. I came...
When Work Takes You Places
I worked from London this week and I didn't plan to. A phonecall was all it took to change my week's schedule. It was the same way I landed in the US and Kenya and Ghana and Denmark and Gambia and the list goes on to all the places my work has carried me to.My work in...
Leadership without the mask
Have you ever had to hold a smile for a photo longer than you wanted to? Your face aches, and all you want is your real face back. That’s how leadership feels for me sometimes. Some days I’m aligned and energised. Other days it feels like I’m wearing a mask and it is...
Are They Really Working? The 5 Big Concerns Leaders Have About Remote Work
A CEO once asked me: “Adora, are they really working when I can’t see them?” He’s not alone. Since I began researching remote work, I’ve had countless conversations with leaders who share similar concerns. Some wonder about productivity. Others worry about fairness,...
From Heavy Thoughts to Light Snores: Finding Rest Through Honest Pages
I got up around 1am, I had been sleeping for 3 hours. I had fallen asleep in my chair, arms stretched out on my desk. I had been writing in my journal, so how did that happen? I write quite a bit, on my plans and some pursuits; especially when I decide to be serious...
The Day I Pressed Send and Ran Away
It was October 2009, six months after I had resigned from my job. I wasn’t very clear on what was next, only that I craved independence and flexibility more than the security of a paycheck. I was in my room, sitting on my bed, putting finishing touches to the first...
Reluctant Leadership: Lessons from a Whatsapp Group
I belong to a WhatsApp group of 150 members, brought together by fate after an investment many of us made 15 years ago. As you can imagine, it’s a diverse mix of people from all walks of life. Progress has been slow. Promises reneged. Trust eroded. For the past few...