Here’s something we don’t talk about nearly enough in leadership: You might be running your entire company, your team, your strategy, even your calendar, based on something you unconsciously learned as a kid. I know that might sound dramatic. But stay with me. 

A client said to me recently how she’d heard the quote, ‘you write the book you need’ and how she had turned to her friend and said, ‘that’s Mari.’ In some respects she was right, and wrong about the book I’ve written – ‘It begins with you.’ I wrote the book I had needed way back when I began my journey. However, the new book I’m writing is a book I needed decades ago and yet, like the quote, it is the book I still need in some contexts and, as I’m now hearing, the one you may need.

A little while ago I was having a big sort out of my cabin and all the paperwork and course notes we all tend to hold on to. As I worked through old files, I was reminded how much I struggled when I first trained as a coach. What I found next became an unexpected reminder of how far I had come.

As many of you know, I am working towards world peace because I believe a good leader can change the world. I also believe great leaders come from those who focus on getting themselves into the best mental health they can. It might sound selfish, but my experience is that when people are genuinely well, their focus naturally turns outward towards helping others.

I work from a cabin in my garden, so several times a day I walk down my garden and back. Over time a distinct path has formed in the grass. No matter how often I notice it and try to walk somewhere different, I seem to follow it automatically. It's a perfect metaphor for why we repeat habits, behaviours and patterns that no longer serve us.

The beliefs, fears and behaviours that affect your leadership today often started much earlier than you think. A simple photo of chocolate mice demonstrates exactly how powerful those hidden associations can be.

Self-awareness affects every leadership decision you make. This article explores why awareness is the foundation of performance, wellbeing and lasting change.

Emotional intelligence in leadership is often misunderstood. This article explains why sensitivity is a strength, not a weakness, and how it impacts performance and decision making.

Some people choose therapy, others avoid it. This article explores why willingness, responsibility and identity shape that decision, and how unresolved patterns impact leadership, relationships and behaviour.

Leadership can feel isolating, especially when decisions affect others. Having the right support around you is essential for performance and clarity.

When children leave home, it’s more than a practical change. This article explores the emotional impact of the empty nest and what comes next.

Many people suppress emotion to appear strong. In reality, this often increases stress. This article explores why and what it means for leadership.