I’ve always loved books. They provide me with information and that brings me joy. It took me 45 years to realise I also love books because of what they signify. In mid-2018, after living in Singapore for 15 years the time came for me to bid adieu to the Little Red Dot. It was the peak […]
The blessing of big data can be a curse without resources for analysis. But how much computerised help do we really want? Read my first article of the new decade, published on January 7 2020 in Times Higher Education.
As the year and decade draw to a close, so too do my first 10 years of marathon running. With last weekend’s finisher’s medal still on the kitchen table and my feet appreciating the late November sun and respite, what better time to reflect on my first decade of marathon running… Over the past week […]
In these final weeks of preparation for the Melbourne Marathon I’ve been pondering: what do I actually think about during training; is all that thinking beneficial; and can I afford to spend so much time in my week just for running? After long runs through the Tasmanian winter, powered by GU gels and a 1980’s […]
We know that busyness at work doesn’t equate to productivity nor talent. We know that working to the point of exhaustion isn’t admirable. We know that being too busy at work to honour other commitments doesn’t mean you’re important. We know that working more hours than everyone else isn’t a status symbol. And we know […]
Digital tech can help us have that vacation-feeling every day. Wait…what? Vacation is by definition, ‘a time when someone does not go to work or school but is free to do what they want, such as travel or relax’. Whereas digital tech is touted as responsible for information overload, 24/7 work, lack of social skills, reduced […]
“Stay”cations are fantastic. Being a tourist where you live is a cheap and easy way to have that holiday feeling, get refreshed and find new gems. It’s fun to have a night or two away from home in a comfy hotel or AirBnB, and equally enjoyable to plan a holiday based from home. There’s only […]
The internet and social media are my main info sources these days. I don’t even have to search for news anymore — stories, articles and very important ‘updates’ are delivered to my pocket 24/7. Falling into an echo chamber is easy. Floating in a filter bubble is no effort. But easy isn’t always best. I’ve […]
Proficient leaders recognise that reducing toxic behaviour is an essential component of risk management, not an irritating minor matter. In a previous article I highlighted three aspects of dealing with toxicity: managing toxic employees; identifying underlying risk factors; and implementing preventative measures. Here we dive deeper into preventative measures and focus on those which can be initiated […]
Toxic behaviour at work “spreads like a virus” and “infects employees” so we try to “prevent outbreaks”. With numerous analogies between workplace toxicity and actual disease, I began wondering — Are there real parallels? If so, can leaders learn from the public health experience to deal with toxic behaviour? Read the full article on Medium
At work we encounter a huge range of working styles. Fortunately, diverse ideas and approaches can lead to successful outcomes and colleagues can elevate us to be our best selves. At the other end of the spectrum, toxic colleagues damage the working environment and can make life generally miserable. I’ve had my fair share of toxic colleagues. […]
Sometimes it’s just easier to ‘keep the boss happy’ by only giving information they want to hear. I’ve certainly done it. By avoiding specific details, we both got what we wanted: minimal discussion and no conflict. I convinced myself that the consequences were insignificant. I always felt a nagging doubt though. Had I acted with […]
Giving short online talks for a general audience offers benefits for individuals, subjects and the entire profession, says Kristen Sadler Read full article published in Times Higher Education, July 2019.
When I’m training for a marathon my heart reigns over every instinct and rational thought. This is in stark contrast to virtually all other aspects of my life, and just seeing this statement on my screen makes me squirm. I’m driven by logic, information and reason. How could I possibly let my heart guide anything, […]
When I switched from team sports to running marathons, I prepared for isolating, routine runs. Then I found team spirit. Read my article on Medium
The annual TED conference is an outstanding intellectual experience. Is it possible to replicate the experience at home and make every week a TED week? My latest Medium article Living a TED Life is now available.
My TEDxNTU 2015 talk In 2015 I was invited by the TEDxNTU curatorial team to deliver a TEDx talk on the theme of ‘Life – What’s the Point?’. My biological brain kicked in and I developed this short talk around the idea that we each contribute to the survival of our genetic material by passing […]