The Leadership Blog

Planting a seed in the right soil and providing it with the right amount of water and sunlight is like making a good hiring decision: it sets the stage for growth and success. Finding the right leader for the right role is essential for any business to succeed and thrive. A poor leader could cost you financially, through unwanted key people turnover and reputationally. It is important to know that the person you are bringing on board has the necessary skills, experience and a

Sam is a senior accountant who had been working at the same accounting firm for years. They were concerned that despite their great work they received little recognition from either their clients or their boss. In listening to Sam describe those times they felt most overlooked, a pattern emerged where their body language indicated indecision, their voice displayed upward inflection, and their words were weakened by ‘perhaps’ and ‘sort of’. After six months of work, and seedi

Leading others can sometimes feel overwhelming. At times this can be as challenging as trying to juggling multiple balls in the air while walking on a tightrope or balance beam. Today’s leadership environment Now more than ever leaders need to become even more adept at such juggling. In doing so, they need to balance the expectations and needs of the organisation with those of the team they lead, and their own needs. In 2026, leaders are in an environment in which there is a

There are several behaviours that can contribute to being an influential communicator. From least effective to most influential, they include: just talking, lip service listening, listening, observing and listening, full understanding and shared meaning. Very few leaders engage in the last two. Building influence as a communicator is similar to constructing a well-designed building; it requires effort and careful planning, strong foundations, and attention to detail in order

Imagine that you and your co-panelists have decided on the successful candidate from the field of talent presented to you. If you have conducted a comprehensive process, it is likely that you have invested your time and money in many of the following: reviewing the position description, clarifying the qualities that you really need for this role, now, writing the recruitment ad, engaging a trusted advisory or a search firm, reviewing the applications from candidates, intervie

The echelon leadership team is thrilled to announce its continuing expansion with the appointment of Mandy Hughes as Lead Consultant (pictured left) and Nicole Ayres as Administrative Assistant.    Experienced practitioner, Mandy Hughes joins echelon as Lead Consultant Mandy brings over 25 years of commercial experience and a focus on leadership development, coaching, and facilitating impact workshops. She has a proven track record of driving personal and organisational tran