Blog | Leadership HQ

The first step to answering that question is knowing what exactly a legacy is, and how you can leave one…

I sat there at the edge of my seat.. Biting my nails.. Sweating.. Light-headed.. Nervous as a cat on a…

One of the most asked questions we are asked at LeadershipHQ is what makes a great leader and CEO? In our leadership…

When analysing management styles, all too often commentary is centred around what makes for a bad leader, and not much…

I am burnt out I hear you saying!!! I am hearing you loud and clear…. We all know what stress…

Have you ever been or have you seen leaders been thrown into leadership roles too soon or without the proper…

Leadership Habits As human beings we are all creatures of habits and daily routines. Yes, even you and even me.…

In these economically fraught times, as we’re hit with headline after headline detailing the sad collapse of Australian home builders,…

I remember just before COVID we had launched our Outstanding Leadership Awards. What a time to launch a global event.…

With the world changing and evolving, more and more people are looking for courageous leaders who are empathetic to their…

So, you think your boss is a narcissist.  Research shows there are a large number of narcissists who become leaders. If…

I’ll be honest. In the past I was not a fan of doing things twice. If you are like many…

According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, the majority of people surveyed reported having a bad boss at some point in their careers. Working with a bad boss can be a challenging and stressful experience that can make going to work each day feel like an uphill battle.

Whether your boss is micromanaging, abusive, or simply ineffective, the situation can leave you feeling stressed, demotivated, and unappreciated. However, there are ways to navigate this difficult situation and maintain your professionalism while working with a bad boss.

We all know how it feels to be courageous. Whether standing up for a cause, taking on a challenge, or facing our fears, courage is essential to grow and thrive. But how can you show courage in everyday life?

Nelson Mandela once famously said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

This quote reminds us that true courage is not about the absence of fear but the ability to push through our fears and take action. After all, it is only human nature to experience fear. But it takes courage to make you do something even if you are afraid.

Building courage is like cooking a recipe. You can’t just bake a cake. You need the right amounts of ingredients and to follow the cooking instructions step-by-step to cook something delicious.

Well, the same is true for how to show courage in everyday life! If you follow our ‘courage recipe,’ you’ll learn how to take small but meaningful actions that will build your courage over time. So let’s get started!

As aspiring and existing leaders, have you ever asked yourself, “How do I build my character?”

One thing that remains certain when it comes to success is the power of character. No amount of ambition or drive can make up for lack of character in life and in the workplace—it’s something that no one should underestimate.

Why Leadership Is Important in Life (And How To Develop Leadership Skills) Ready to learn more about being a Great…

HR trends are continuing to evolve at an unprecedented rate thanks to the ever-changing work landscape due to the pandemic.…

There’s no escaping it – culture is a huge iceberg looming in every organisation’s path. It’s unavoidable and incredibly daunting,…

The Great Attrition: How the Talent Shortage is Making Hiring Harder The Great Attrition is making hiring harder than ever…

Does your workplace have a great culture? Are your employees happy, loyal and productive? Creating a positive culture can take…

Leadership Development & The Importance of Psychological Safety At Work When it comes to the workplace, psychological safety is one…

How To Overcome The Challenges & Frustrations of Leading Gen Z With Empathy What’s the deal with Generation Z? Many…

Leadership development is a must-have in today’s fast-paced, changing world. The most successful businesses are those that can attract and retain talent. So what do they all have in common?

How To Be a Positive Leader and Inspire Your Team If you’re a leader at any level of your organisation,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way our young leaders of today and tomorrow see their lives and future within…

How To Manage Your Time Better as a Leader There seems to be no shortage of responsibilities facing our leaders…

How To Let Go of Perfectionism…. Should a leader always be perfect? Should a leader never make mistakes? Should a…

How To Cope with Stress as a Leader Stress. We’ve all felt it at some point in our lives. Sometimes…

Ego trip: a journey to nowhere. – Robert Half In the leadership world there are leaders with confidence and then…

  As human beings we are all creatures of habits and daily routines. Yes, even you and even me. Have…

                    Today, Australia goes to the polls to decide who will…

The Bad Boss Departure The “Bad Boss Departure” is here to stay and post COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, we are…

How To Revitalise Up Your Company’s Core It’s a brand-new year. The world is still recovering from the COVID –…

A Leadership Legacy and Awards Countdown The first step to answering that question is knowing what exactly a legacy is,…

How Being a Good Follower Can Make You a Better Leader To be frank, the best leaders aren’t born, they…

What We Can Learn from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy The whole world has been watching the terrible crisis currently unfolding…

How to Stay Kind and Courageous for Our Kids The COVID-19 pandemic and its government-mandated lockdowns has affected people of…

How To Survive the Great Reconnection I remember a time when we used to be really good at connection. We…

What To Prioritise in 2022 If You’re a Small and Medium Businesses Owner Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone…

LeadershipHQ’s Outstanding Leadership Awards are changing the face of Leadership  Are you that great leader or team? With so many…

Transactional vs. Transformational Leadership | What’s the Difference? Numerous forms of leadership exist. No two leaders are identical, yet leaders…

Leaders VS The Pandemic – How To Be A Successful Leader Through Any Disaster How have you adapted to the…

How to Lead Your Virtual Team Kindly and Courageously The world is changing and the need to lead kindly and…

Leading In the Digital World and the Five Daily Leadership Habits to Adopt The digital revolution gained momentous traction and…

The one question on every Australian’s mind is “when will this end?” The cycle is never ending. Australia has been…

Why A Lack of Leadership Can Lead to an Even Bigger Crisis Whether it’s the current pandemic wreaking havoc across…

The Top Ten Most Inspirational Leaders Who Led With Courage Real leaders lead with courage and kindness. As we celebrate…

The Ultimate Office Makeover – How to Create a More Cohesive and Caring Workplace With many employees leaving their jobs…

Start off Your Leadership Journey Right in 2022 It’s hard to believe that Christmas is done and dusted, 2021 is…

How to be (or become) a Courageous Leader You may often hear people refer to someone as “a natural born…

Great Trends for Organisation in 2022 The turmoil that has occurred in the last 18 months has had a huge…

The Keys to Leadership in 2022 The turmoil that has occurred in the last 18 months has had a huge…

The 2022 Outstanding Leadership Awards champions and shines a spotlight on the greatest leaders from across the globe. Partnership Spots…

The Great Cancellation – Shining the Spotlight on Great and Bad Bosses I have spoken at length about ‘The Great…

Courageous Leadership will be the change we all need in 2022 Former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate plans to shake…

Leadership and Moving Back to the Office Post-Pandemic Heading out to brunch with your friends. Going on international trips with…

Taking Back Control as a Leader There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic and government mandated lockdowns has changed the…

Courage to Deal with Backstabbers Has this happened to you? It’s happened to me. It’s funny how some people are…

Courage – The Most Leadership Important Skill Needed in 2022 Challenging times calls for challenging leadership and an opportunity for…

Do you feel appreciated for your hard work? Does that happen very often and if so, do you do the…

Leadership Lessons from Science Have you ever considered inspiring leaders from the past and how they can change the way…

Good to Great Leadership Have you seen any good leaders lately, how about great leaders? During the 2020/21 turmoil, there…

Leadership, Olympians and Gold Medals How do you perform under pressure? Do you put yourself to the test very often?…

Have you ever been at the receiving end of bad hiring, either for yourself, someone who joined your team, or…

I truly beg us all to leadership love, support and be kind to one another and have the courage as…

Leading with VALUE Have you thought about how you can make a difference at work, in your community or globally?…

Embedding Values Ah Yes! You’ve just landed a new role, how exciting: Congratulations! New people, new ambitions and a new…

Leadership Training Values! Who Cares? Leadership Training Who cares about values! This is what I used to think. Can anyone…

Escaping a Toxic Work Environment I am having a bad Monday at work every day the week! I feel restless,…

Leadership Space: Give Them Some Space Leadership Space is interesting! On one hand you’ve got Elon Musk, Richard Branson and…

Leadership Lessons We Learn TOO LATE If only………………….., knowing what I now know I would have done ……………….A, B, C,…

Journaling can create your BEST LIFE Life is a journey and we can either focus just on the end destination…

The real cost of losing a STAR performer Feeling restless? I’m glad you’re owning up to it. So now what?…

Leadership or Management? There are managers and there are leaders. I’m sure there have been times when you have asked…

Leadership: Thrive with your Core Values Do you feel you are thriving or merely surviving leadership? In the words of…

The Secret Behind Great Leadership Everyone likes secrets, then the secrets turn into rumours and before you know it, an…

BUSY AS or TIME FOR! I’m busy as, super busy, crazy busy! Have you heard this from someone recently? Sounds…

Have you ever had a courageous conversation? What was the outcome? Did you shrink in size or stood up for…

The Peer to Manager Move The Peer to Manager! Congratulations, you’ve been promoted! Once a co-worker, now a boss, how…

How to Deal with Bullying We live in a stressful world and on top of that, leadership bullying can show…

The 8pm Club Last year leadership was a sh*t show for many of us and it definitely wasn’t a walk…

How to Manage a POOR LEADER In your time in the workplace, I am sure you have experienced many challenging…

We have been through many significant developments in history and there is a new one here right now, “The Fifth…

Positive Cultures are MORE Productive Are you experiencing a positive culture in your workplace, or, in view of what has…

Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness Let’s follow the leadership of kindness. Times of uncertainty can lead to individuals…

Leadership Intelligence Where is your attention at the moment? What are you focussing on? Will your immediate focus accumulate and…

Kindness Business Case Have you noticed when you achieve something that your perspective changes? This is because you are viewing…

How to Manage your BOSS Organisations are complex! There are wide fluctuations in skill sets, dynamics with people and teams…

How to build “High Performance Virtual Teams” When is a team a high performance team especially when it is virtual?…

How to Build a Culture Charter for SME’s Small business is exciting! You have an idea, you build a plan, gather…

Top 10 ways to “Make a difference with Leadership” Leaders needed! The turmoil that has occurred in the last 12…

Top 10 Ways to Innovate Innovation is leading us in new directions, many of them being driven by technology and…

Top 10 Ways to Motivate a Team Where would we be without your team? Leadership is a journey and while…

Ghosting In Business – It’s Not Over Seen that movie – He’s just not into you? We need a movie…

Top 10 Questions to ask Yourself? I should have done better! Sound familiar? We are all human and we are…

Become A Leader Or Your Money Back We are so passionate about this Leadership Program and Micro-credentials that if it doesn’t…

Are you effective as a leader and how do you know? Are you effective as a leader and how do…

Management vs Leadership: Is your Focus Right? In 2021, are you continuing in an existing role, seeking a new one,…

A true leader achieves results through others and if you have every team member there with you at the end of…

Now come on, you know I am joking right? However I do say you can learn just as much from…

Courageous Parents This is an excerpt from my latest book FIRST COME COURAGE. At the end of the day, the…

Goal Setting for 2021 Did you achieve your goals in 2020? And, what have you learnt from 2020 that you…

Thought leadership is a definite buzzword in today’s business world, but that does not make it any less relevant. However,…

Everything about the workplace is changing. In just the last few years, the world has become even more interconnected and…

Leadership is Scary. No, this isn’t a Stephen King type article on Leadership…no scary music or creeping up on you…

The concept of collective leadership is that we each, within us, have the capacity to be a leader. Thus, organisations…

Recently I Worked With Kylie Hammond From The Directors Institute On A Fast Track Masterclass For Boards During Which We Covered Board…

I always say that Leadership is an Attitude and Mindset not a role or title. However what happens when we…

As each generation takes up the reigns of senior leadership, they bring with them their own lessons and sensitivities concerning…

What would you say to your younger self about Leadership? Becoming a confident and courageous leader is both an attitude…

Is the development and focus on our Future Leaders the globe’s most critical challenge? I know this might seem to…

Leadership is an Attitude. Not a Role or Title. Self Leadership starts with YOU. Tip No 1 – Self Awareness…

Great leaders know that planning is an indispensable process that can improve their organisation’s growth and sustainability. This is why…

Or Why You Should Take Lessons In Leading From The Dark Lord Of The Sith This Star Wars Day If…

Jack Nicholson Once Said, “When You Stop Learning, I Believe You Are Dead!” One Of The Things That Helps Me…

It’s not something we might spend a lot of time considering but the ‘‘why’’ behind what we do has a…

Attitude, Not Aptitude Determines Altitude Zig Ziglar A few months ago I was speaking about Leadership and Confidence to 200…

Always Be Yourself, Express Yourself, Have Faith In Yourself, Do Not Go Out And Look For A Successful Personality And…

Creating Leadership That Works! So much discussion centres on leadership. We at LeadershipHQ know as well as anyone, because of…

One of the top challenges of leading change in your organization as you leave the “bloody waters” of direct competition…

I remember when I was little driving from Brisbane to Cairns with my family. I was sitting in the back…

2018 will be a year of change so it promises to be very exciting. While there are many possibilities ahead,…

Being A Leader Can Take A Lot Of Courage And Putting Yourself Out There. You’re Not Only Expected To Produce…

Are you a responsive leader? I used to hate it when I’d make a suggestion or recommendation to my team…

Now I rarely do this but I am so excited about the launch of some amazing Leadership Innovations – FREE Leadership…

We’ve always said that although there are certainly some born leaders in our world, there are many more great leaders…

When it comes to designing learning experiences we need to know how to make certain that the learning is understood…

If you think about it, being a leader is not much different from being the captain of a sporting team.…

A fantastic executive or personal assistant to a CEO, or high-achieving entrepreneur, is a gatekeeper as much as an assistant…

Nurturing Performance with Open Communications Any leader knows that in order to gain optimum performance from employees, they need to…

It occurred to me today that maybe we are making Leadership bigger than what it is. Today I ran a…

What is it about Leadership in the 21st century? I rarely hear the term management, even though it is as…

Do you think we have too many leaders on this planet? I think no. Lately, we have been bombarded with…

Today’s inspirational and exceptional leader featured in our “Inspirational Female Leaders” series is Ali Sherry.  Ali Sherry works in HR…

Henry Ford was right on the money when he famously said “If you always do what you’ve always done you’ll…

It Was A Long And Stressful Week. I Was Tired. I Wasn’t Sleeping And I Knew I Wasn’t Operating At…

The weight of leadership derives from many elements when in a management position, but one traditional point of view is…

Life is full of conflicting priorities, or at least modern life is. We want it all, we expect it all, and the…

Finding solutions to productivity and leadership in Brisbane is simple with the services provided by LeadershipHQ, the region’s premier leadership…

Team productivity, confidence, and self-reliance come from many sources, but the primary influence is the atmosphere created by leadership. Employees…

Thank you to Tony Wiggins for this post. View the original here: https://tonywiggins.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/leadershiphq-leadership-challenges-and-insights/ Sonia McDonald was proud to facilitate and hold…

Leadership For Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs are, by their very nature, big picture people. They can clearly see, and define, the end…

Leadership key to Mental Health was the heading of an article I read recently in the Sydney Morning Herald by Jan-Louise…

How would you feel if you felt successful even after you failed at something? Pretty awesome hey? Success has been…

Are you an executive, a Vice President, a manager, a politician, a sole practitioner or simply a worker? No matter…

Understanding the brain in terms of leadership effectiveness has been one of the most powerful learnings I have encountered in…

You may know Seth Godin as the author of Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us in which he says that: “A…

Parenting is the most challenging job you will love. It also takes a lot of leadership. For those who don’t…

I read the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra a number of years ago and I was instantly…

Within some corporate structures, the leader is at the top of the pyramid, on higher rung than others, without peer.…

According to the Australian Board of Statistics, women make up just over 50% of the population and 46% of the workforce,…

Recommended Reading: The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World ~by Ronald Heifetz, Marty…

Happy New Year! I have to say I am so excited about 2011. Don’t ask me why…maybe because I know…

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss.’ In essence, it refers to the concept that a…

Why Is It That We Have So Few Female Leaders? What Is It That Holds Us Back From Reaching The…

Our Leaders of Leaders interview this week is with the amazing Cameron McIntyre, CEO carsales.com Limited and he is featured in…

Board Leadership by Sonia McDonald CEO & Founder LeadershipHQ The ability to oversee and govern your organisation, define its values,…

Being true to yourself and having strong values and beliefs that you stick by is essential if you want to…

This week I am the keynote speaker at the Ignite Conference at the Gympie Chamber on Leadership for SME’s, Start-Ups and Family…

Each workplace has a culture unique to it. A culture is, essentially, the shared perceptions, values, group norms and objectives/goals…

As each generation takes up the reigns of senior leadership, they bring with them their own lessons and sensitivities concerning…

Many of us have seen poor leadership in action – those bosses that drive away your colleagues and new hires…

“The Level Of Our Success Is Limited Only By Our Imagination And No Act Of Kindness, However Small, Is Ever…

I have put together these laws (when I say ‘laws’, I mean more like guidelines) for any leader who is…

Following on from my popular 7 Laws of Leadership blog, I’ve put together these 7 Laws of Courageous Leadership to help you…

While facing any loss isn’t pleasant, when you’re a courageous leader you have to remember that how you react is…

I am on a mission to build a world of courageous leaders and leadership (remember Leadership is an Attitude and…

As a leader, you are who people in your organization look to for guidance, and this means you’re also a big influence…

It seems that just about anyone can be given the title of ‘leader’ these days, doesn’t it? But you know…

Forms Of Courage Emerging Leaders Need Taking the next step from team member to an effective leader isn’t easy. Leaders…

When you look at the state of the world today, you will see a lot of fear, judgement and negativity.…

Great leaders grow more great leaders. We love great leadership and we love building building great leaders. Our Award Winning…

The team at Sonia McDonald Inc. takes leaders and organisations to the next level, thanks to an extensive background in…

What I’d Tell My Younger Self About Leadership What would you say to your younger self about Leadership? Becoming a…

As leaders, it’s not just your words that affect those around you. You have to walk the walk, as the…

Global consulting firm Korn Ferry released a research report with some interesting findings about corporate leadership in Australia. The research…

When faced when a crisis – how do you lead? My mantra during this time is “Crisis can lead to…

How do we make time to learn leadership when we are too busy? I wrote a blog a while back…

This week my leadership was absolutely tested. We were getting caught up in the panic around what is happening around…

We do have YOU covered (not with toilet paper mind you!) with our Online Leadership and Learning programs and coaching!…

LET’S BE COURAGEOUS TOGETHER. *puppy isn’t free as I thought such a cute photo… We are committed to inspiring, supporting…

Are we exhausted leaders? I think I am. However even though there are days we might feel like we don’t…

Rule #1 Leadership Isn’t Easy Being a leader is so much harder than it looks. It’s not easy however it’s…

The No. 1 Mistake Leaders Make In A Crisis I’m sure you have had to deal with a crisis at…

Remote working is a challenge for leadership! As a leader of a remote team, how did you respond in a…

In a year of uncertainty and devastation, leaders from all walks of life are facing their toughest test. Our test…

The No. 1 Mistake Leaders Make In A Crisis I’m sure you have had to deal with a crisis at…

Throughout time, individuals have created change in significant ways, for example Mahatma Gandhi, a leader who brought justice and harmony…

Empathetic Leaders Needed! It’s been rough at work, your workmate is struggling, they have financial pressures, less work and they…

Become A Leader For The Future Of Work At this point in time, we are facing huge issues globally – a…

Communicate To Lead Does this sound familiar? You receive a text message: HOW R U? Your response out of a range of possibilities:…

How would you cope as an astronaut in space when you are on the way to the moon and a…

No one is ever really 100% prepared for parenthood especially during COVID. You can read hundreds of books and talk…

Communication. Is this a gap for Leaders today? We think so and it was apparent during 2020. Great news –…

This is NOT a dress rehearsal. We are all at a Cross Road, with the economy slowing, productivity sluggish, employment growth and…

Do you ever have time to consider your leadership future with the pace of change, the increased speed of business and…

One of my favourite songs by Black Eyes Peas is GET READY! Are you ready for this – Leadership Matters…and…

What routine do you have as a leader? Do think about your regular routines, or, just get “caught up” in…

LEADERSHIP PLANNING 2021 – time to start now! 2020 has been an unbelievable year and the holiday period is an…

10 Best Books to Read Right Now One of the things that helps me to conquer the imposter syndrome is…