A few years back we decided to visit Highgrove and I was introduced to What3Words. You could get to the address of the exact entrance by keying in three words to your What3Words app.
Using the what3words app
Enter the what3words address into the search bar.
Select the correct option from the drop down options.
Tap the Navigate button at the bottom of the screen.
Select your preferred navigation app to get directions to the destination. You can also select what3words Compass and simply follow the arrow. This even works offline!
How incredible that the whole world has been broken down into 3m square blocks. What a major help to navigating in the world.
My3Words
Then through my coaching support group I learned about using just three words to describe your business. Then in everything you did or communicated you would look to reinforce those three words.
I really liked the idea and introduced the concept as part of leadership coaching but applied to the preferred style of leadership. I would get my coachees to identify the three words that they would use to sum up the type of leader they wanted to be/become. Then they would identify the actions and behaviours needed to reinforce their three words. One could argue that this was an over simplification. But, it was so simple and more important it worked!
Now for the big reveal :)
Using My3Words to navigate life
I think this exercise is a very simple yet powerful way to help anyone at any age navigate their lives. It applies to my young granddaughters moving on in their education into a more challenging world. It also applies to retirees such as myself.
So I asked my partner what three words would she use to summarise me and her answer was:-
Kind - Enthusiastic - Fun and I am very happy with that because that is what it feels like from my side. (My words for her are Caring Adventurous Fun but I'm just biased)
I was chatting to a pal and he was talking about a fellow retiree who has children and grandchildren but lives a very lonely life even though her family live close by. I asked my friend what three words he would use to describe her and his reply was Whinging Negative Self-centred. It's not a surprise people don't want to spend time with her as she must be a bit of an energy vampire.
If you really do want to change your life then change your three words, seems to be a very easy to access and powerful exercise.
Your challenge
If you asked a caring but straight talking friend what are the three words he or she would give you? That would give you a starting point to work on.
What are your three words you want to live by?
What behaviours do you need to stop?
What behaviours do you need to start?
What behaviours do you need to do more of?
I know its a discussion between you and your coach, but just have a go and see what you come up with.
If you want to find out all about Artificial Intelligence watch this excellent video explanation.
Generative artificial intelligence (generative AI), also known as GenAI or GAI, refers to a fascinating field within artificial intelligence. Let me break it down for you:
Definition:
Generative AI encompasses machine learning systems capable of creating new content—whether it’s text, images, code, or other types of data—in response to prompts.
These systems learn from existing data patterns and structures and then generate fresh data that shares similar characteristics.
How It Works:
Generative AI relies on generative models, which are trained to understand the underlying patterns in input data.
When given a prompt, these models generate new content by extrapolating from what they’ve learned during training.
Examples:
Chatbots: Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and LLaMA can engage in conversations and generate human-like responses.
Text-to-Image Generation: Systems like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL-E create images based on textual descriptions.
Text-to-Video Generation: Tools like Sora generate videos from text prompts.
Applications:
Generative AI finds use across various industries:
Software Development: Code generation, bug fixes, and optimization.
Healthcare: Medical image synthesis, drug discovery.
Finance: Risk assessment, portfolio optimization.
Entertainment: Music composition, scriptwriting.
Customer Service: Chatbots for efficient support.
Sales and Marketing: Personalized content.
Art and Fashion: Creative designs.
Product Design: Prototypes and variations.
Concerns:
While generative AI offers immense potential, there are concerns:
Misuse: Cybercrime, fake news, and deepfakes.
Job Displacement: Automation replacing human roles.
I have a Microsoft Office 365 family subscription and (unless I pay $ 20 a month for the Pro version) I only have access to the free version of CoPilot. Having said that the free version is available to everyone and it is still quite amazing what it can do.
This video will give you some idea of what you can get once you have downloaded the app.
I asked CoPilot to create an image of a chocolate brown doberman driving a tractor and mowing a field. It did this but created an American version of a doberman with pointed ears, so I asked it to change the ears to floppy ears as we have in the UK. Then put a barn on the field and blur the background.
Then I asked CoPilot to write a poem about a Doberman called Luka who learned how to ride a tractor and mow a field. It came up with a poem in which Luka was mowing wheat in an unnamed village, so I typed in the village was Shackleford and he was mowing grass.
Certainly! Let’s revisit Luka’s tractor adventure in the picturesque village of Shackleford:
# Luka's Tractor Serenade
In the quaint village of Shackleford, where daisies danced,
Lived Luka, the chocolate brown Doberman, entranced.
His floppy ears perked up at the distant tractor's hum,
And he dreamed of mowing grass under the golden sun.
**Luka**, with paws like cocoa shovels, had a plan—
To ride that green beast, be the village's canine man.
He'd seen the farmer steer it, zigzagging through the fields,
And Luka's tail wagged, "Oh, the joy this tractor yields!"
One dew-kissed morning, Luka trotted to the barn,
His eyes wide with mischief, his spirit set to yarn.
The tractor stood there, patient, like an old friend,
And Luka leaped onto the seat, ready to transcend.
"Vroom-vroom!" barked Luka, paws on the wheel,
His tail spun like a windmill, a canine zeal.
The engine roared to life, and off they went,
Luka and the tractor, a duo heaven-sent.
Through emerald meadows, they rumbled and rolled,
Luka's tongue out, ears flapping, oh so bold.
He mowed the grass with precision, a four-legged pro,
Leaving neat rows behind, like a well-pressed tuxedo.
The cows mooed their approval, the sheep bleated cheers,
"Look at Luka go!" they exclaimed, wiping tears.
He circled the haystacks, did figure eights with grace,
A chocolate tornado on wheels, a wild chase.
But Luka's adventure wasn't all smooth terrain,
He hit a molehill, bounced high, tail like a plane.
His paws left the pedals, ears flapping like wings,
Landed in a haystack, hay strands in his bling.
The farmer arrived, scratching his head in awe,
"Who taught my dog to drive?" he wondered, agog.
Luka grinned, hay sticking to his chocolate fur,
"Life's too short, my friend, not to tractor-purr!"
And so, in Shackleford's fields, Luka became a legend,
The Doberman who mowed grass, no need to pretend.
He'd rev up the engine, bark at the sun's golden ray,
Luka, the tractor-riding dog, forever at play.
So next time you visit Shackleford's rolling green,
Listen for the tractor's hum, the joy unseen.
And know that Luka's legacy lives on, oh so grand,
A chocolate brown poet, mowing grass across the land. 🚜🌾🐾
May Luka’s tractor serenade echo through the meadows of Shackleford forevermore! 🌟🍫🌿
What can you do with the free version of CoPilot?
Certainly! With the free version of CoPilot, you can:
Generate code: I can help you write and optimize code snippets in various programming languages.
Compose text: I can create essays, poems, stories, and other written content.
Provide information: I can answer questions, summarize articles, and offer explanations.
Assist with writing: I can help improve your writing, suggest synonyms, and provide grammar tips.
Create songs and lyrics: I can compose song lyrics or parodies.
Offer creative content: I can generate imaginative content based on prompts. Remember, while the free version has limitations, it still provides a wide range of useful capabilities! 😊🚀
I have just read the book IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret To a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. I read it on a beach at the Sandals resort on Barbados. In fact when I did my 7:00 am walk to book a couple of sun loungers I would lay our towels on the beds and leave my Ikigai book to prove our 'live' booking. It obviously scared off all bed thieves as we never had a problem.
My interest in the book was not based on wanting to live to a 100, although having recently turned 80 there were some interesting pointers. No, my interest was in the need to have a purpose to your life. Many years ago I was on a senior management programme at the London Business School and I can remember the message the HR professor was passing on to us. It was the fact that there was a very high incidence of men passing away within a few years of their retirement. Their jobs were their whole purpose in life and when they lost it through retirement they no longer had a reason to get up in the mornings.
I'm sure that is not the case today as there so so many opportunities to continue living a full and satisfying life. In my own case when I retired at 66 I set up my coaching business 'Release the Magic' and ran that for twelve years up until the covid pandemic hit us.
The book concludes with 10 ten rules of ikigai that the author’s distilled from the wisdom of these long-living residents.
The Ten Rules OF IKIGAI
1. Stay active; don’t retire. “Those who give up the things they love doing and do well lose their purpose in life. That’s why it’s so important to keep doing things of value, making progress, bringing beauty or utility to others, helping out, and shaping the world around you, even after your“official” professional activity has ended.”
2. Take it slow. “Being in a hurry is inversely proportional to the quality of life. As the old saying goes, “Walk slowly and you’ll go far.” When we leave urgency behind, life and time take on new meaning.”
3. Don’t fill your stomach.
“Less is more when it comes to eating for long life, too. According to the 80 percent rule, in order to stay healthier longer, we should eat a little less than our hunger demands instead of stuffing ourselves.”
4. Surround yourself with good friends.
“Friends are the best medicine, there for confiding worries over a good chat, sharing stories that brighten your day, getting advice, having fun, dreaming . . . in other words, living.”
5. Get in shape for your next birthday.
“Water moves; it is at its best when it flows fresh and doesn’t stagnate. The body you move through in life needs a bit of daily maintenance to keep it running for a long time. Plus, exercise releases hormones that make us feel happy.”
6. Smile “A cheerful attitude is not only relaxing – it also helps make friends. It’s good to recognize the things that aren’t so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities.”
7. Reconnect with nature
"Though most people live in cities these days, human beings are made to be part of the natural world. We should return to it often to recharge our batteries."
8. Give thanks
“To your ancestors, to nature, which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat, to your friends and family, to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive. Spend a moment every day giving thanks, and you’ll watch your stockpile of happiness grow.”
9. Live in the moment
“Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering.”
10. Follow your ikigai
“There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end. If you don’t know what your ikigai is yet, as Viktor Frankl says, your mission is to discover it.”
I started this blog as a way of providing access to my granddaughters to some of the most important coaching and training material and ideas that I have built up over my years as a coach.
I asked the CoPilot 'What are the most important life skills my granddaughters could learn that would help them to maximise on their university experience'.
Certainly! Life skills are essential abilities that help individuals navigate various aspects of life. These skills empower us to handle daily challenges, make informed decisions, and lead fulfilling lives.
Here are some crucial life skills:
Communication Skills:
Effective communication is vital for expressing thoughts, understanding others, and building relationships.
It includes active listening, verbal expression, and non-verbal cues.
Time Management:
Balancing responsibilities, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
Efficiently allocating time for work, study, leisure, and self-care.
Financial Literacy:
Understanding budgeting, saving, investing, and managing money.
Making informed financial decisions.
Problem-Solving:
Analyzing situations, identifying solutions, and implementing them.
Creativity and adaptability play a role.
Critical Thinking:
Evaluating information, questioning assumptions, and making reasoned judgments.
Essential for decision-making and problem-solving.
Emotional Intelligence:
Recognizing and managing emotions in oneself and others.
Empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills.
Self-Care and Well-Being:
Prioritising physical and mental health.
Practices like exercise, mindfulness, and stress management.
Cooking and Nutrition:
Basic cooking skills and understanding balanced diets.
Cooking at home saves money and promotes health.
Digital Literacy:
Navigating technology, online safety, and using digital tools.
Critical for work, communication, and learning.
Interpersonal Skills:
Building and maintaining relationships.
Active listening, conflict resolution, and empathy.
Adaptability and Resilience:
Coping with change, setbacks, and challenges.
Staying positive and learning from experiences.
Remember, life skills are continuous learning processes. Encourage your granddaughters to develop these skills—they’ll serve them well throughout their lives! 🌟🌼
Conclusion
I will use the blog to capture all the ideas, tools, skills and habits that will help my granddaughters and anyone else interested to become good citizens with good values and skills who will contribute and grow into inspiring leaders.
I like to think of the four inspiring leader skills as superpowers.
Lets get into the detail by explaining what each skills is, the importance and 10 examples of key behaviours supporting each skill.
Explanation: Building trust involves creating an environment where team members feel safe, respected, and confident in their leader. Trust is the foundation for effective collaboration and open communication.
Importance: Trust fosters loyalty, encourages transparency, and enhances team cohesion. When trust exists, people are more likely to share ideas, take risks, and work together harmoniously.
Key Behaviours:
Take time to find out more about people
Demonstrate a genuine interest and desire to help
Be honest, open and consistent
Stand by your principles and values even if this makes you unpopular
Ensure your actions match your words
Once you commit to do something then follow through
Don’t sacrifice hard earned trust for short term gain
Be prepared to take risks to prove your trust in others
Ensure that what people see in you is what they get - very authentic
Care enough about people to challenge and confront them
Explanation: A good leader actively seeks input by asking relevant and insightful questions. These questions encourage critical thinking, promote dialogue, and help uncover valuable information.
Importance: Thoughtful questions lead to better decision-making, innovative solutions, and a deeper understanding of team dynamics. They also demonstrate genuine interest in others’ perspectives.
Key Behaviours:
Ask open questions for exploring and information gathering
Ask closed questions to confirm facts or test understanding.
Ask probing questions to gain additional information on what has already been said.
Ask leading questions to gain acceptance of a view.
Use questioning to challenge people to take on difficult or stretching tasks
Look to identify performance blocks and to encourage self-belief
Ask powerful questions that help people see things differently and to challenge you
Ask questions to get both sides of the story - the full facts
Use the power of silence to draw out answers to questions
Ask questions to understand the difference between fact and speculation
Explanation: Empathetic listening involves truly understanding others’ feelings, experiences, and viewpoints. It goes beyond hearing words; it means connecting emotionally and showing compassion.
Importance: Empathetic leaders build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts effectively, and create a supportive atmosphere. When team members feel heard and understood, morale improves.
Key Behaviours:
Give all of your attention when talking to people
Create a positive climate for people to be candid
Let people share their views and opinions before offering your own
Summarise what is said by people in conversations
Be focused and patient when people talk
Be sensitive to people's feelings
Put yourself into the 'the shoes of others'
Work hard to understand the perspectives of others
Study people's feelings and emotions and looks for any mismatch with the words they are using
Become good at spotting when others need help or support
Explanation: Constructive feedback is about providing specific, actionable insights to help individuals improve their performance. It focuses on behavior or outcomes rather than personal criticism.
Importance: Effective feedback enhances growth, clarifies expectations, and boosts motivation. Leaders who give constructive feedback contribute to a culture of continuous learning and development.
Key Behaviours:
Provide concrete and specific examples to help people understanding the key messages
Recognise and celebrates people's successes when they occur
Follow up to see how well they are progressing
Help people focus and build upon their successes
Guide people to seek feedback from a wide variety of different sources
Avoid giving destructive feedback or comments
Make people feel positive even when giving them tough feedback
Give feedback that is critical or negative in a constructive way
Be direct and straightforward when giving positive or negative feedback
A big chunk of my life has been devoted to developing inspiring leaders. Now in my retirement, thanks to social media, I am able to follow former students and admire how their careers have progressed. Yes, they have done it themselves, but I know from the feedback I have received over the years, that in some small way I have helped them.
Now in my retirement, I am helping my granddaughters with their next stages of their lives, as they progress from senior school to sixth form college and from sixth form college to university. I love that I am being given the opportunity and I'm sure it will help them in some small way to succeed in their work and lives. Bearing in mind that during my working life I coached many younger managers progressing up the career ladder, so my experience and content is very tuned into their needs.
The Inspiring Leader model I developed is summarised below and which formed the overview of all the training and coaching that I delivered. It is an amalgam of the many things that I have learned during my years of working.
At the 'heart' of the model is Know Yourself which is a fundamental to becoming and Inspiring Leader.
Then comes the four most important leadership and life skills. Being able to Build Trust, ask Thoughtful Questions, Listen with Empathy and deliver Constructive Feedback.
Then four roles that a Inspiring Leader should be able to use and master. The role used is driven by the situation presented to the leader. I have used the concept (myth) of the Left Brain / Right Brain to split the roles. Left brain: Smart Manager and Engaging Facilitator. Right Brain: Inspiring Leader and Nurturing Coach.
This is the model aligned to the left and right brain activities with a more detailed explanation of the tasks likely to be done by each role.
Smart Manager
Clearly defines roles and responsibilities
Ensures that people understand what is expected of them
Provides clear direction and priorities
Supports people to succeed, particularly when things get tough
Juggles multiple priorities and issues thoughtfully
Delegates effectively though planned transfer of know-how and power to others
Invests the time to effectively communicate key messages and maintain a two-way flow of information
Shares thinking behind strategy and decisions
Deals with poor performance in an effective way
Celebrates success and recognises the contribution and achievements of people
Engaging Facilitator:
Able to align the team to the goals of the organisation
Understands how to get the best from a team
Runs highly effective meetings
Challenges teams to focus on adding value to the customer and eliminating waste
Guides teams to become high performing, getting their commitment to bold actions
Encourages open expression of ideas and for disagreement to emerge and be openly discussed
Guides the group to effectively solve problems and make decisions
Able to manage time effectively
Helps teams to identify the right areas to focus on and the right actions to take
Able to optimise the energy of the group, maintaining focus and a high level of attention
Inspiring Leader
Communicates a compelling vision that people want to commit their time and energy to achieving
Involves people in the shaping of strategy and the decisions that will affect them
Takes bold decisive actions despite risks and uncertainties
Communicates with a high impact - able to adapt style and messages to fit a variety of audiences
Conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure
Able to influence people in a positive way
Knows how to manage change effectively, getting people to move from resistors to champions of the change
Able to resolve conflicts and maintain unity
Applies 'big picture' thinking but still manages the detail effectively
Practices what he or she preaches
Nurturing Coach
Able to give constructive feedback in a sensitive way
Is willing to take the time to listen and understand what people have to say
Keeps connected through eye contact and body language
Asks insightful questions that help people to solve their own problems and/or see issues in a different way
Shows empathy for the other person's situation
Able to effectively transfer know-how to others
Knows when to 'show and tell' and when to 'guide self-discover’
Able to open people's eyes to new possibilities
Helps people to improve their performance and realise their full potential
Able to help others to increase their confidence and self-belief
This model now is the core thinking that will underpin all of the skills for life programme. Because, to be totally honest the world is desperate for better leadership!!!
Consciously or not, the leaders who truly inspire people do so by following a naturally occurring pattern that Simon Sinek calls The Golden Circle.
The Golden Circle provides compelling evidence of how much more we can achieve if we start everything we do by first asking a simple question: “Why?” It finds order and predictability in human behavior. Put simply, The Golden Circle helps us understand why we do what we do.
The Golden Circle can be used as a guide to vastly improve every aspect of your business or organisation—from leadership and hiring, to product development, sales, and marketing.
It even explains loyalty and how to earn more. And it all starts with WHY.
Let’s define the rings of The Golden Circle, starting with WHY (of course!) and moving outward.
WHY
Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do what they do. When Simon asks WHY, he’s not referring to making money—that’s a result. Your WHY is your purpose, cause, or belief. WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care about the work you do?
When most organizations or people think, act, or communicate, they do so from the outside in (from WHAT to WHY). We say WHAT we do, we sometimes say HOW we do it, but we rarely say WHY we do it. But the WHY is the most crucial part of any endeavor or communication.
For example, the WHY of The Optimism Company is to inspire people to do the things that inspire them so that, together, each of us can change our world for the better.
HOW
Companies and people know HOW they do what they do and can typically communicate these processes clearly. HOWs are often utilised to explain that a product or service is better than a competitor’s—but HOWs can be so much more than that.
Our HOWs are the actions we take when we are at our natural best and are living out our WHY. It’s HOW you bring your WHY to life that makes you and your company unique. As a result, the combination of your WHY and HOWs is like your organization’s fingerprint.
Revisiting our example, these are the HOWs of The Optimism Company: keep our offerings simple, adopt an infinite mindset, try to see things from unconventional perspectives, and always find the silver lining.
WHAT
Every single company and organization on the planet knows WHAT they do. This is true no matter how big or small, and no matter what industry. Everyone is easily able to describe the products or services a company provides or the job function they have within that system. WHATs are easy to identify and important to have, but are less impactful than the WHY.
To round out our example, the WHATs of The Optimism Company are our classes, courses, keynotes, podcast episodes (and so much more) that encourage people to learn and grow their human skills of leadership, communication, and trust.
The inspired leaders—every single one of them, regardless of their industry—think, act, and communicate from the inside out.
People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.
Applying the Golden Circle to my life
I love the Golden Circle and see it as something we should just build into our day to day life. Through my coaching business I have encouraged many people to take on a new powerful habit, always start with the WHY. Essentially, find out the excitement in the work that they are doing.
When I was working my WHY and my passion and excitement was about releasing the magic in people.
WHY:
We believe that in everything we do we will seek to release the magic in people
HOW:
We will dare to take people out of their comfort zones and experience new things
We will put nurturing coaching support at the heart of all our programmes
We will ensure that what people learn is easy to grasp and that it has a lasting effect
We will look to energise and excite people about what can be done, rather than weigh them down with what can’t be done
We will support our learners to become teachers and coaches, so that they may release the magic in others
The WHAT were the different programmes that we designed and ran and in every case they had to fit in with the WHY and HOW. To me this was the 'emotion' that drove me to continue running my business deep into my 70s. Even now it is what drives me to help my granddaughters and friends. I love it because it is a win-win, as I help people to improve something in their lives and in the process I feel values, happy and fulfilled.
Meeting up with SimpleMind
I have just recently bought the Pro version of Simple Mind at a cost of £9.99 and I'm bust getting learning by doing. It's perfect for creating a Golden Circle for your life, your job or a project and the joy is everything fits on a single page if you want to print it out and keep it in a highly visual place.
In the example the central theme is the WHY that I used with clients who wanted to develop a Coaching Culture. The HOW are the high level drivers and I have listed 7 key drivers.
Then for one of the drivers 'Get sustained high level support' I have listed a few examples of WHAT which you can see at the top. Simple Mind gives you the facility to add a check mark (you can tick it when the job is done) and set a date for completion. You can even get the date for completion dropped directly into your calendar.
It's a great combination and for £10 it provides you with a wonderful tool that you can use to simplify and clarify the important things in your life.
I've just turned 80 and still loving my life, so I still have a life golden circle and yes, its largely based on leisure but it still provides me with the right things that make a difference to my life at this stage.
Unleashing Your Creativity with Apple Freeform on iPad: A Simple Guide
Freeform on iPad is your digital playground for brainstorming, organizing, and collaborating on anything that sparks your imagination. Here's a quick guide to get you started:
1. Dive In: Open the Freeform app on your iPad. You'll land on a boundless canvas, ready to be filled with your ideas.
2. Add Your Magic:
Text: Tap the "Aa" button and type anything you wish - notes, lists, headlines, quotes, you name it!
Drawing: Unleash your inner artist with various pen and brush options. Scribble, sketch, or create diagrams to visually represent your thoughts.
Photos & Files: Tap the "+" button and explore your Photos app, iCloud Drive, or other file sources to add images, documents, web links, even PDFs.
Stickers & Shapes: Spruce up your Freeform board with playful stickers and various shapes to highlight key points or add a touch of fun.
3. Organise & Connect:
Drag & Drop: Move elements around freely to arrange them according to your flow of thought.
Zoom & Pan: Use your fingers to zoom in on details or pan across the canvas for a broader view.
Connectors: Draw lines between elements to visualize connections and establish relationships within your ideas.
4. Collaboration Magic (Requires iCloud):
Invite Others: Tap the "Share" button and invite friends or colleagues to collaborate on your Freeform board.
Real-time Updates: Everyone you invite can see and edit the board instantly, fostering dynamic brainstorming and teamwork.
Communication: Chat directly within the board to discuss ideas and coordinate edits.
5. Beyond the Basics:
Backgrounds: Choose from different background colors or images to set the mood for your board.
Search: Tap the magnifying glass to search for specific elements within your board.
Export: Share your finished masterpiece as a PDF, image, or even a Freeform file for others to open and interact with.
Remember:
There's no "right" way to use Freeform. Experiment, explore, and let your creativity flow!
Use gestures like pinching and swiping for additional options and controls.
Don't hesitate to explore the app's settings for further customization.
With these simple steps, you're ready to embark on your Freeform adventure! So grab your iPad, unleash your imagination, and see where your mind takes you.
