From Caspar's Chart Table
My 5 year old recently reminded me what leadership is all about.
She had a friend over for a playdate. Her friend was struggling to understand how to play a game (it was Cat Bingo). She stopped what she was doing. She went to understand where he was stuck and to help him.
Isn’t that the key attribute of leaders?
To show empathy.
To understand those around you.
To help others develop.
Leadership isn’t a title.
It’s something you live by virtue of your actions.
It doesn’t matter if you are 5, 35 or 75.
Here’s the pattern I’ve noticed.
I’ve seen it in the research I’ve read, from brilliant leaders that I’ve spent time with and learnt from, and from my own experiences.
It's that that the single most important characteristic of any leader is empathy.
Showing real and genuine concern for those in your team, for those around you.
Here's the advice paraphrased from my little one:
Slow down a moment.
Take notice of those around you and what they need.
Show compassion and help them on their journey.
This made me smile
I got to spend time with British acting legend, Joanna Lumley this week. How can you not smile when you are with one of the most inspiring people I know. She was utterly charming, energising and full of interesting questions like “who did I want to play me in the film about our story”. My answer to her amusement was that I think Nichola would quite like Colin Firth.
Be a Better Leader
Leadership tip of the week, my new book, and a lot of snow.
Thought for the Day
I delivered my new Keynote, The Brave You to a brilliant audience in Chelmsford, Essex this week. Here’s one of my thoughts from this:
Brave is when we make decisions and choices in the face of uncertainty. It’s one of the highest skill sets we need today and in the future.
We all have a Brave Part inside each of us - The Brave You.
To find out more about The Brave You and how I believe we can train ourselves to be more Brave, stay tuned.
Upcoming Events
I’ll be speaking in these locations getting ready for the launch of my book Where the Magic Happens which Bloomsbury are publishing.
Get in touch if you’re around and you’d like to meet for a coffee.
March 12-14th London - IOD Open House
March 17th Guildford - WCC After Dinner Speaker
March 24th Annapolis, MD - WCC After Dinner Speaker
March 27th - April 13th - Various in the USA for the Book Launch of Where the Magic Happens
April 14th San Francisco, CA - Book Launch Event
April 18th - Keynote in Bristol, UK
April 19th - Keynote in Northampton, UK
May 3rd - Keynote and Workshop in Kent, UK
May 12th - Keynote in Southampton, UK
“Having wasted many valuable hours in different networking events and coaching sessions on a number of occasions, it was most welcome to discover that reverse was true with Caspar. The combination of the simplicity of his system and the experiences he had shared with us gave me the WOW factor and made me discover the BRAVE in me.”