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<h3>One year of Elevative.&nbsp;A year that changed me.</h3><figure id="figure-riof9odyinmfappe54"><img id="riof9odyinmfappe54" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30Cs2KpkRuySTwxX14fraBOoTWM5pcj5HIxh5Vn7W141oA5HzSNiOXS1AKfurKSm.jpg" alt="the founder of elevative holding the brand's plaque celebrating one year of Elevative" title="the founder of elevative holding the brand's plaque celebrating one year of Elevative" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 25% 85%;" data-corners="medium" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="25%" data-positiony="85%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30Cs2KpkRuySTwxX14fraBOoTWM5pcj5HIxh5Vn7W141oA5HzSNiOXS1AKfurKSm.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 25% 85%;"></figure>Twelve months ago, I left the safety of full-time work and took the leap.What nobody tells you is that building a business is also about rebuilding yourself.It’s been fulfilling, yes — but also messy, weird, and at times… a full emotional rollercoaster. Not the fun kind with seatbelts and safety instructions. The kind where you realise you’re the one who built the ride… and forgot to test the brakes.You won’t see the crying in the video. I don’t prop my phone up for those moments — though I’ve definitely had some Oscar-worthy performances over emails that never got replies.But I’ve done my part.The Inner Voice: Señorita Should I’ve argued with Señorita Should more times than I can count.You know the voice: “You should play it safe.” “You should tone it down.” “Are you different… in the wrong way?” “You should stop wearing bright colours to serious meetings.”Some days, she wins. But most days, Captain Courage shows up — with curl cream in her hair, a coffee in hand, slightly underprepared, slightly overdressed, and always determined to remind me: “You didn’t come this far to whisper.”The Real Lessons This year has taught me to:- Trust the leap, even if I can’t see the net - Reframe rejection as redirection - Turn impostor thoughts into data—and into direction - Ask for help—because I built a network simply by reaching out - Shift from scarcity to abundance, from perfectionism to excellence with room for collaboration - Experiment even with fear—because clarity often comes after action And no, I didn’t film the tears. But they happened. Because building something from the ground up is personal. It cracks you open in ways you didn’t expect.Who I’ve become Twelve months in, I can say with full honesty: I’m not the same woman who started this.I value different things. I trust myself more. I speak softer to myself when I fail.And my new mantra?<blockquote>Show up with purpose. Ask for help. Aim for excellence, not perfection.Because perfection leaves no room for joy, collaboration, or humanity.</blockquote>For anyone standing at the edge To anyone thinking of starting something: Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s scary.But what if the version of you waiting on the other side is so much more whole than the one who’s afraid?🎥 Watch the video. The smile is real, even if the story behind it is layered. 🎤 And if you’d like to meet Señorita Should… she makes a cameo in my keynote, Unmute Yourself. 😉

One Year of Elevative: the leap, the lessons, and Señorita Should

<h3>Elevating leaders: lessons from the Hogan Assessments certification workshops</h3>As someone deeply passionate about leadership development, I'm always on the lookout for ways to inspire and uplift those around me. Recently, I attended a Hogan Assessments workshop in Sydney as part of my accreditation. Two days filled with insights left me reflecting on the evolving landscape of leadership. One of the standout moments was hearing from Peter Berry, the Managing Director of Peter Berry Consultancy (PBC), who shared some truly thought-provoking perspectives. I also complemented my thoughts with PBC's research on this topic.&nbsp;Let me take you through a few key takeaways that really resonated with me:1. Capability: bridging the gap between leadership and managementJohn Kotter's distinction between management and leadership is profound. Kotter paints a vivid picture: imagine managers ensuring trains run on time while leaders envision the future of transport. It's about finding that sweet spot where you're working both in and on the business—balancing the day-to-day operations with a clear, strategic vision for the future. Quite a challenge, right?Reflect with me: Are you merely keeping the trains running on time, or are you also laying down the tracks for your organisation's future?2. Emotional Intelligence: The heart of effective leadershipEmotional intelligence (EQ) is a game-changer in leadership. The workshop reinforced the idea that while IQ might get you in the door, EQ keeps you there and helps you excel. Peter Berry's research expands this further, linking passion and motivation with outcomes from others. It's about tuning into your emotions and those of your team, leveraging that understanding to foster better relationships and drive meaningful results, and utilising tools like the Hogan personality and 360 assessments to gain insights into one's natural behavioural traits and motivations.&nbsp;Let's pause for a moment: How well are you tuning into the emotional undercurrents within your team to strengthen those vital connections?3. Achievement Focus: balancing people, customers, operations and resultsAchieving success requires a balanced focus on people, customers, operations, and results. It's not just about meeting financial targets; it's about creating an inclusive environment, listening to customers, and ensuring operational excellence. Superior performance, it turns out, is all about balancing these elements to drive sustainable success.Think about this: Are you balancing your focus across all these key areas, or is one aspect getting more attention at the expense of others?4. Strategic Thinking: Level 5 leadership and competitive excellenceDrawing from Jim Collins' concept of Level 5 Leadership, the most effective leaders channel their ambitions into a larger mission. The American Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework further emphasises the need for competitive leadership—understanding your strengths and weaknesses and taking intelligent risks to stay ahead.Ask yourself: How are you channelling your ambitions into your organisation's mission, and are you taking the right risks to stay competitive?5. Inspiring Engagement: the true measure of leadershipLeadership isn't just about achieving results; it's about inspiring your team to go above and beyond. Research from AON, Glint, and Mercer/SIROTA highlights the alarming level of disengagement in the workplace, with 24% of global employees no longer going beyond their basic responsibilities.Leadership is the most consequential force in driving engagement, retention, and performance. WHY?! Effective leaders create a positive work environment where employees feel valued and motivated. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, and committed.Leaders who understand and leverage their employees' strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses can significantly improve morale and job satisfaction. This approach not only makes employees happier but also reduces turnover rates.Let's consider this together: What steps are you taking to transform your team from disengaged to fully engaged?Attending the Hogan assessments workshop enriched my understanding of these concepts, and I'm eager to continue exploring how we can all elevate our leadership game. How are you applying these essential building blocks in your leadership journey?Let's connect over coffee! ☕Whether you prefer a virtual chat or a face-to-face meeting, let's make it happen! Let's schedule a time that works for you. I'm looking forward to our conversation!&nbsp;

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One Year of Elevative: the leap, the lessons, and Señorit...

Elevating leaders: lessons from the Hogan Assessments cer...