Getting Over Brand Values

Written by Stuart Haden on April 20, 2026

Any HR Professional is bound to have on an organisation’s brand / vision / mission / values / culture etc on their mind. A good old purpose statement defining what we do and why.

The ‘guardrails’ of change are worth exploring: what we want and don’t want. But rarely do we tackle the above using the latter. Luckily for me I was perusing a bit of outdoor clothing and I came across this statement from Buffalo…

How refreshing

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Lost and found

Written by Stuart Haden on March 31, 2026

John Muir (1838–1914) was a Scottish‑American naturalist, writer, and pioneering environmentalist, best known for his passionate advocacy for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. This quote is commonly attributed to him, but there’s no evidence he ever wrote or said it. Either way it’s a cracker…

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”

 It can sound a bit counterintuitive initially. But it makes sense, in that we have to lose

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Revamping Personal Development Plans

Written by Stuart Haden on March 10, 2026

I have to be honest Personal Development Plans (PDPs) do tend to make me cringe at times. I remember collating them once in a retail organisation, and one manager had simply written in every column for each of his team members: ‘get on a course!’ They can of course be a lot more resonant and meaningful than that.

One of the best places to start is by considering your own unique situation and expertise. Are you newer to your

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Nobody comes into your life by mere coincidence

Written by Stuart Haden on March 4, 2026

Tim Leary (1920–1996) was a U.S. psychologist and writer. He was one of the most influential (and controversial) figures of the 1960s counterculture, best known for promoting the use of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD.

I’ll leave you to reflect on the following quote which reflects themes of individualism, authenticity, counterculture thinking, seeking deep connection and rejecting conformity…

“Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of

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Habit, character and destiny

Written by Stuart Haden on February 24, 2026

William James (1842–1910) was a foundational American psychologist and philosopher, widely regarded as the ‘father of American psychology.’ The following quote is widely attributed to him. However, the earliest known sources trace the wording long before him and to other authors.

It needs little commentary to bring it to life. As a starter if we can focus on actions, great, a step in the right direction will help us to think and feel better. But as you can see

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Introducing Systemic Coaching Constellations by John Wittington

Written by Stuart Haden on February 10, 2026

If you are interested in coaching and / or systems thinking then this could be a good read for you. It starts with a really strong metaphor that systems are like the spots on a peacock’s tail, the experience of joining and belonging to many different systems.

 Whittington then goes on to describe:

“These Organising forces, rather like those that influence the weather system, are beyond human intervention and exist in order to sustain a dynamic balance in systems.

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Introducing The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

Written by Stuart Haden on September 19, 2025

In this posting I am taking a break from my usual book recommendations, going with a work of fiction that I read on holiday.

The Factory is a story about a newly employed worker who from the outset (the recruitment process) begins to realise that her manager already has plans for her, that well, haven’t considered any of her plans.

She goes on to experience the futility of work, not really knowing what she is doing, and not knowing

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The Flow Cycle & unlocking the release and recovery phases

Written by Stuart Haden on August 7, 2025

In this podcast Steven Kotler provides some really simple approaches to tuning our nervous system. He suggests if you have X minutes a day then try:

5 mins – do a gratitude list

6 mins – read a novel

7-11 mins – breath work

11-15 mins – go for a walk in nature

20-40 mins – get some exercise

This aligns really well with Energy Mapping, committing to deliberate daily activity for yourself and / or others. Working across

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Cybernetic Teammates

Written by Stuart Haden on July 7, 2025

I recently came across the idea that AI is a bit like a microwave. The technology is amazing, but you wouldn’t host a dinner party by using it alone. About twice a week I fall in love with my microwave, but only to reheat leftover coffee. But it did start to mirror my use of AI, a couple of times a week I find it really helpful.

I then came across this study, The Cybernetic Teammate. Firstly, it encouraged

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The Creative Leader’s Playbook

Written by Stuart Haden on June 27, 2025

This quote from Flow Radio’s episode The Creative Leader’s Playbook is so good I’m not going to touch it.

Steven Kotler sits down with artist, designer, and serial entrepreneur Jody Levy for a conversation on how intuition, constraint, and ritual unlock creativity — and why all three are non-negotiables for high-performance leadership…

“I think it comes back to time, when I have the gift of time I’m like oh my god what am I going to do with it.

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