While enjoying a cup of coffee, I was reflecting on the many leaders I have either worked under or met during the past five decades. Which were the leaders I had the most respect for? What specific management or leadership qualities or skills did they posess? A few of these people mentored me during different seasons of my life. Here are ten strategies I collated from my experiences. Value all colleagues: treat all colleagues equally and fairly; set time aside to affirm them personally and collectively; thank them sincerely when they have gone the extra mile; always use the words, “ple ..read more

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I flew to Cape Town to participate in a Memorial gathering for my closest friend Peter Van Ryneveld. Pete had been diagnosed with a brain tumor about eight weeks ago. He went into hospital for a biopsy and never recovered consciousness. Doctors discovered stage four cancer spreading like a wild fire. Pete was a successful businessman, visionary, philanthropist, conservationist and idealistic dreamer (like me) with whom I had communicated for fifty-one years. As teenagers we set out to change the world, and Pete had achieved so much before his untimely death ..read more

The powerful image above has been shared a great deal on social media in recent days, as have the words of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” In the mid-1980s I was living and teaching history in South Africa. I believed that the oppressive apartheid policies would eventually crumble, though had no idea when this would occur ..read more

I continue my writing journey, racing towards the deadline to send the completed manuscrip to my publisher, incredibly grateful for the positive words of encouragement I have received from people who were interested in reading an early draft. I am so conscious of the global context within which I am writing, and the significant challenges the world is facing at the moment. The pandemic, the lockdowns, environmental catastrophes, and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine have added more challenges to the world of mentoring which I believe will become increasingly important in the next decade and ..read more

I am well into the writing of a new book promoting the spirit of mentoring which is due out in 2024. There is a lot of doom and gloom in the global marketplace. We seem to be desperately short of global leaders with integrity who genuinely care and are striving, no matter the cost, to see world peace attained. Instead, the East/West divide seems to be gathering momentum, the toothless United Nations seems to be increasingly inept in so many areas of its jurisdiction and so often I feel overwhelmed simply thinking about what needs to happen to transform our global community. The change begins ..read more

I have such gratitude for the people who moved alongside me and guided me in a variety of ways when I entered the workforce during difficult and challenging economic and political times. There were so many unknowns – what was the future looking like? How do I budget? Who can I trust? Who do I approach for guidance? Am I really up for this job? Can you remember the people who influenced you the most when you joined the work force? How has the work place today differed from when you entered it for the first time? How would you motivate and encourage a young adult joining your team in their fir ..read more

“Create a school community in which every child can experience unconditional love (care), and feels listened to, respected, valued and special; a community offering a relevant and meaningful education.” (Robin Cox) How our global community has changed since the advent and impact of the Covid-19 virus. The world will never be the same. Education institutions – especially schools, universities and other tertiary institutions – have an opportunity to review how they operate, and to explore whether or not they have the courage to implement more relevant, fresh thinking, and more dynamic educatio ..read more

How challenging is life for teenagers today? How do they cope with an increasingly changing global community? How many of their relationships have been either positively or negatively impacted by the pandemic during the past two years? I love sitting on the deck of our home, as there is always a flurry of bird life arriving at our feeders, or visits from the New Zealand Tui (see photo) to the drinking bowl a couple of meters from my seat. Then a Blackbird will appear for a thorough wash in the birdbath. I sense that these visitors feel safe and secure in their familiar surroundings, yet the ..read more

Recently I shared research on the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns on youth with some local mentors. While the impact will vary from country to country, there were some common themes which I will share in this blog, ending with some strategies and tips anyone guiding youth can adapt to their particular relationship with a young person. Most studies reported mental health deterioration among youth due to COVID-19 pandemic control measures. 75% of mental illnesses first appear before the age of twenty-four. Most young people are living within an environment of fear and division which will ..read more

Proven Tips and Strategies for Youth to Live the Best Post-Pandemic Life My recent research highlights how the pandemic and lockdowns has led to increased anxiety among youth which, if not handled positively and carefully, can lead to depression. This is a reality and different people will react differently as well. So much depends on the individual’s experience during this pandemic, having someone they trust to talk to, and having someone to journey with them as they set new goals, possibly create new dreams and work hard to create a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I have spent time reflecti ..read more