Placing values in the background and foreground

Written by Stuart Haden on October 31, 2019

In order to be at our best values are no doubt important. If ever there was a short cut the expression of one’s values has to lead to improved performance. Place importance on values, but workout where you need to place these values. That’s the workout.

Should they be in the background or foreground? The method to your madness or an operating system that may need to stay backstage. Not hidden, instead you could expose it at any time. Or it lies in wait for

Continue Reading


Flow can be learnt, not bought

Written by Stuart Haden on October 17, 2019

We all want things served up to us quickly. But taking short cuts doesn’t always get us to where we need to be. Being at our best requires a degree of struggle. We can’t buy it, we have to earn it.

The concept of an artificial wave for surfers described in Adventure Journal  proves this point entirely. Sure it might provide a quick fix, it could certainly be useful for training. But maybe it undermines all that surfing and the associated struggle represents.

No

Continue Reading


Coaching cultures or growth cultures

Written by Stuart Haden on October 2, 2019

The concept of a coaching culture it still an evolving narrative for me. I read the other day that people don’t understand what a coaching culture is because they don’t understand what coaching is. But let’s overcome that first hurdle and focus on culture.

In a recent conference presentation I broke down the word culture. Cult/cure/culture…

Cults are actually OK, coaching is taking place ‘underground’. Question is should/could you try and bring this more into the mainstream.
Coaching can be a cure, but

Continue Reading


Introducing Spontaneous Evolution by Bruce Lipton

Written by Stuart Haden on September 18, 2019

In the context of leadership, community and culture Bruce Lipton presents a somewhat whacky yet compelling message. He talks about evolution and adaptive mutation.

In the vid I talk about fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds (!?) but bringing us to the present day evolutions link to revolutions. And right now it’s our (mammals) turn.

Time to reach our potential, our revolution. Lipton particularly focuses on nurture and empathy. Two qualities that define human performance and personal development. Two ingredients for coaching. Powering up this need and

Continue Reading


Finding intersections, finding flow

Written by Stuart Haden on September 4, 2019

When things come together they often create the conditions for flow – fuse, niche, channel. An intersection. A new idea bumps into an old one. The weeds that grow in pavement cracks. One discipline collides with another. A meeting of minds.

In Steven Kotler’s ebook – The Habit of Ferocity he talks about doing 5 things….

Make a list
Hunt for intersections
Play
Go public
Turn passion into purpose

I was so passionate about the intersection between the coach and coachee I wrote a book about it. My

Continue Reading


Making and taking decisions

Written by Stuart Haden on August 21, 2019

When you make decisions you need to be at your very best. You’ll be able to spot risk, solve problems and see the opportunities for more. Pattern recognition will also increase, so your ability to join the dots goes through the roof. It feels flowy.

But before you take the decision, hit send or call the meeting it is well worth reviewing your choices in the cold light of day. Maybe the risks outweigh the reward. You have committed to do too

Continue Reading


Busting the myths of comfort zones

Written by Stuart Haden on August 7, 2019

In order to be at your best you need to get our of your comfort zone. Not true – this is a well held myth that can be a bit misleading. You do you need to stretch yourself however, but you can still operate within your perceived comfort zone.

So it’s actually stretch that defines the outcome. The paradox being you need to find a degree of stretch within your comfort zone. Enough to feel comfortable, with a hint of discomfort – not the

Continue Reading


Bring your own learning to work

Written by Stuart Haden on July 24, 2019

Many of us bring our own devices to work, for professional endeavours. If your tech outweighs that of the organisation then it is a choice you can make. There is a fusion between the two, more so than ever, phone lines are blurred.

Likewise people are bringing their own learning to work. A TED talk, social media or a video platform. We can house and reference these resources but Learning professionals have to focus on things they can’t bring to work.

It has to

Continue Reading


Introducing In The Zone by Clyde Brolin

Written by Stuart Haden on July 10, 2019

This book undeniably describes what it is like to be in the zone. On pitches, courses and courts Brolin interviewed over 100 athletes and coaches.

But for me this book does two things. It clearly demonstrates that whatever you call it (zone, flow etc) these heights of human performance do exist. It wasn’t hard for him to find people who could quickly describe it. Maybe if we treated our work more like a sporting endeavour we’d hit the ground running.

But describing how to

Continue Reading


Awe inspiring environments and why they matter

Written by Stuart Haden on June 26, 2019

The word awesome has crept up the rankings over the years, and the clue is in the name – awe. We need a sense of awe in our lives to gain a sense of perspective. Outdoor environments are great for this, they put us in our place. I have previously posted about a Place of power – or perhaps it’s the power of place.

We often get lost in these environments, literally – or more simply when time flies and our minds wander. But

Continue Reading