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I love Ted Talks.  If you have heard of Shonda Rhimes ted talk about “My year of saying yes to everything”.  Well there is a lesson a number of lessons in that talk.  But I’m talking about the essence of the talk.  One morning, approx. 6 weeks ago, sitting unassuming at my desk I take a call from an unknown number.  Its employee comms and I’m caught off guard as they mention I’ve been nominated to host the annual awards black tie gala for the company.   Wait, what am I meant to do?  “Oh, entertain the crowd, bring your best.  It’s a production, something like last year, so you’ll do it?  It’s a big secret so don’t tell anyone”.  Uhh, wait – I didn’t go last year…. Ummm ok.  And so it began.  I’ve spoken about the event in previous blogs but this was the day of the reckoning.  The culmination of 6 weeks of keeping a secret (which proved very awkward towards the end), and choreographing a dance and song routine as well as practicing lines.

It’s the day of, and my excitement abounds.  I’m writing meeting agendas and hosting meetings with a diminished enthusiasm as I start to stress about the looming sound check and dress rehearsal at Vic Park in a few hours (of course which I also have to sneak out for and keep secret).  Hair – check.  Makeup – check.  Ball gown – check.  My self-doubt kicks in and starts driving.  Until I realise it’s me who has control.  A few moments overwhelm me, but then it’s back to business as usual to be in control.

The night arrives and for all the preparation I’m still nervous. Though I take it as a notch in my belt and own the experience.  I mingle with the crowd at pre dinner drinks, wondering with them who the illustrious host will be.  I peel away from the crowd as everyone is being seated and then on cue, I enter the room to applause.  I know then – it’s about being present and taking control.  And that I did.  The formalities were just that – and the after party – well, that’s a different blog all together.

I love Fridays – they remind me that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  You’ve done well – and just one more day and a 2 day reward!  Or, this week has been tough – 7.5 more hours, 9 hours and you can have a wine!

More often than not I try to limit my Friday meetings and this such Friday is no exception.  A day to catch up and connect – back to that altruistic trait again.  This particular Friday afternoon I have a gorgeous lunch with a colleague and then the afternoon concludes officially with a Board Meeting to help define the fate of our small organisation.  It’s uplifting to finish on a positive note, and I sail into the evening with a leadership dinner to celebrate my year anniversary and Xmas in July.  Laughter and mingling in a non-corporate environment, set a positive note for what looks to be an amazing weekend!.

Well this Thursday happened three four weeks ago now – but by no means is it forgotten.  One of those Thursdays which re-invigorates you to finish the rest of the week with real gusto.  Still thinking about Altruistic leadership traits which include relentless curiosity; a deep sense of personal purpose; a burning need to connect and collaborate and humility – and for the most part these all resonate well with me as intrinsic parts of my self-reflection anyway but I find myself drawn to thinking about how I can keep this front and centre in my world.

I start officially my day at a Gartner Agile SuperHero masterclass.  It was refreshing to hear the core principles of a scrum team and how to empower them.  It always amazes me, how we know the principles yet we can get caught up in “that’s just how we do things”.  My main takeaway was actually nothing to do with Agile, but on a personal reflection what resonated with me was the humility and acceptance and willingness to change and adapt (and change previous opinions).  [Ref: Benjamin Franklin: “…I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.”

Thursday followed on to be a day of deep self-reflection and somehow a new purpose that all the gremlins in me which eat away at me such as being time poor with my children, or being short with them, or not seeing progress at work  – are all things that are in my power to change.  And tomorrow I’ll be sure to tackle them.  Until then.

Leading Well QLD initiative which is a shared collaboration between the Queensland Government, Super Friend and Work Cover Queensland held a Leadership Breakfast at the Hilton Hotel, where 300 attendees heard from Sharon Parker on the topic of Good Work Design for mental wellbeing.  It was an informative presentation which looked into the psychosocial aspects of job roles.

I would have loved to try out some of the thinking during work today and even share some of the thoughts, but they remain stuck in a mounting pile of paperwork I seem to carry around and add to but never finish.

The Leadership Team had an inaugural Monthly Lunch at a local pub – with a great steak deal where I received a card for my 1 year anniversary at work.  A small gesture but it went a long way to feeling part of a great team and I reflected on a challenging yet rewarding 12 months at a new company.

The afternoon sped by with meetings a plenty – not even any time for emails and I found myself travelling to the city (again!) for a Thought Leadership Series.  Hearing from the first female Dean and Head of UQ Business School was insightful and thought provoking about recruiting the right candidates and the research behind what selection criteria has the most success in terms of fit for role.  Sally Calder from KPMG followed with a presentation on Leading in a VUCA world where the key takeaway for me was around moving from Servant Leadership to Altruistic leadership.

Shared a casual meal (Wings Wednesday!) and then back home to finish preparing for Annual Reviews.  Sign off finally at midnight recapping that Wednesday was a success.

Tuesday comes around like a boomerang and straight into school drop off and zooming through the traffic – wondering how far away technology is that I could dictate this blog straight to being published online – How productive would that be.

Racing into the office ready to film a segment for a work campaign I write my speech whilst waiting for the lifts.  Did I remember to put lipstick on? I’m nervous standing in front of the step and repeat – but commit myself to one take so I don’t have to do it again.

Meetings fill the rest of my day along with a baked snack from a colleague who is starting her own baking company.

The creative juices were flowing in the afternoon for the *secret event*. “Wow” moment sorted – laughs a plenty.

Tuesday night attending a monthly Committee meeting at Kingston that’s I’m a secretary for and try to wrap up the Minutes in the meeting (efficiency +) then home for a home cooked steak which was the best way to wrap up a whirlwind of a day.