Marc Figgins

"Who Am I?" As an executive or professional thinking about a career change, you might wonder. Remember - your job is just one part of your identity. You are also a son or daughter, maybe now an orphan. A golfer, cricketer, runner? A brother, mate, Scot, fearless mountain biker... whatever. "Who Am I?" isn't just about finding a new job; it's about exploring your identity, values, and purpose. In Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), we learn that our identity is at our core. Identity is stacked on top of our beliefs, our values, our skills, and where and with whom we work and spend time. When you're facing a big career shift, it's crucial to dig into this core. What truly excites you? What impact do you want to have in the world? .... If that is the dream, who would you have to become? What beliefs would you need to change? Where would you best develop towards that dream outcome? What new skills would you learn. You see, it is do-able, just takes becoming.... These insights can guide you toward new, fulfilling career paths that really resonate with who you are. Pay attention to the stories you tell yourself about your identity. The language we use shapes our reality. ("Who me? I don't dance... don't cook, don't know how to ...") Are you stuck defining yourself by your past roles? Or are you open to new possibilities? Changing your narrative can open up new opportunities. Harrison Ford was a carpenter till he seized an opportunity.... Our clients do it all the time. Tho' none have been in a Star Wars film....yet! 😉 #careerchange #newcareer #visualisation #careerdevelopment #jobchange #dreamcareer

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“Expand your Vision of Leadership: Be the Courage to lead the Way” workshop in planning for June. Just went to see this unique Venue - aligns fully with the unique workshop I planned. We will discuss hot topics of culture, diversity (moving beyond demographics), inclusion, psychological safety, motivational drives, behaviour, UNcommon sense and interpersonal clashes. If you would like more information, let me know. #leadership #challangeofleadersbip #diversityandinclusion #workenvironment #leadershipworkshop

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Throughout my career I have been asked to fix things that are broken. This has been through technology solutions, projects and organisations. More recently I took up the opportunity to move in to banking to help organizations fix a much bigger challenge. I know how annoying old systems are: ➡️ the struggle to get timely assistance, ➡️ the confusion in navigating unintuitive systems, ➡️ delays in processing funds, security concerns, ➡️ unexpected interruptions in service, ➡️ the lack of personalisation, ➡️ the challenges in managing multiple accounts efficiently. New platforms are a whole new thing, and I personally just don't see why we aren't moving faster to the newer, better solutions. It's like transitioning from film photography to digital: the decision to change can be a big one, but once done it allows the process to be quicker, more responsive and more user-friendly. #technology #solutions #banking

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It has been a pleasure to attend EX24 or the Ethnic Xchange Symposium today in Auckland. With 20% of the NZ economy or $6.5bn coming from ethnic businesses it is a rapidly growing community contributing to GDP. The opportunity is to leverage great connections with the key markets represented across the globe to drive export earnings and therein elevate prosperity for NZ. ASEAN as an example we heard represents 9-10 different markets with a combined population of c700m, 200m middle class and a combined economy of $4 trillion by 2030. Key Takeaways include: - Don’t be afraid to fail but if you fail fail fast - Focus on a true partnership - Take time to build trust and then business follows - Consider the market in the market that is the right opportunity

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Are we using AI for the right things? This post resonated with me as a professional in HR responsible for building capability with professional qualifications. The myriad of tech applications designed to streamline HR processes is impressive but the user interfaces are still clunky and frustrating. Add in the twitter chat around just now asking why AI can’t do laundry/clean your house so you have more time to be creative rather than leaving humans with mundane, less fulfilling work and it does make you wonder if there needs to be an adjustment in how we use/design tech. A greater focus on human capability could be the missing link to make sure we really understand the human experience and human design from all angles. https://lnkd.in/ep2PnF5u

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Introducing our Listening Program, designed to enhance organisational culture and leadership. 👇 ✨ Over the past two years, I’ve facilitated over 500 conversations, tailored to explore challenges and opportunities within various organisations. How Does It Work? 🔸 Facilitating individual and group conversations to address specific needs. 🔸 Exploring key challenges and opportunity areas. What Do You Get? 🔸 Detailed insights and themes developed from these conversations. 🔸 Comprehensive report format to guide your next steps. Find out how our Listening Program can transform your organisation's culture and leadership. Reach out to learn more! 📱

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For me NOTHING beats building and energising teams as they navigate through change or transformation.  Core to this is the ability for leadership to make the complex simple, concise and compelling. When the messaging is right (even if there is discomfort) there will be engagement, commitment and ownership, seeing the team adapt to new structures and ways of working. Start early.

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Many of you will know that I am already Chairman of Inspiring Workplaces because I am passionate about its Purpose of helping organisations to succeed by putting their people first. I'm delighted to announce that I am now Principal Consultant in the new Inspiring Workplaces Consulting arm. https://lnkd.in/gH5g7-wt   My specific goal as Principal Consultant is to help businesses find solutions to their biggest people-related problems by using our new PeopleFirst Matrix diagnostic. Much like BCG's Growth Share Matrix helps companies decide how to prioritize their different businesses, our PeopleFirst Matrix helps business leaders prioritise where to invest in their people.    Smart leaders know that if they put the people first they will achieve sustainable success and outperform companies who do not. But they are bombarded with a myriad of things to do from wellness programmes to technology platforms. Using our diagnostic pinpoints exactly where to prioritise action. It will save huge amounts of wasted time, effort and money by enabling organisations to identify exactly where to focus their effort.   Send me a message if you'd like to unlock the true potential of your business. #PeopleFirst #prioritisation #employeeengagement #belief #belong #inspiringleaders

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As you advance in your executive career, the landscape becomes increasingly complex, and the realisation dawns that there is so much more to learn. Many executives I’ve worked with are just trying to figure it all out! Becoming the executive you aspire to be requires ensuring you have a clear vision of who you want to be, what you want to do, and how you’re going to do it. Aligning your values with your leadership role is crucial. So too is tackling assumptions and biases, something we don’t talk about enough. Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking informed risks will enhance your visibility and impact. You’ll need to learn how to overcome barriers that hinder your best performance, as well as developing strategies to elevate your profile, while protecting your energy. Consistency is key! Setting and communicating clear operational standards and boundaries will help streamline processes and improve engagement. And a very common limiting factor in becoming the executive you aspire to be is not having a well-defined successor profile, essential for smooth succession planning, enabling you to move onwards and upwards. It's never too late to grow! #growth #executivecoaching #executive #leadership

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Wanting to learn how to better support those in the workplace experiencing infertility or loss? Join The Pink Elephants Support Network, me and an amazing panel next Thursday as we dive into what you can do to make a difference. Register using the link below. #StoriesByNiti #PregnancyLoss #miscarriage #infertility

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🍕 Ever wondered how pizza can help with better wellbeing? We’ve all got our own ways to wellbeing. For me, it’s creating memorable moments with family and friends.   ASB Bank recently introduced Your Choice, a new addition to a range of benefits for their people. I chose the option to get a preloaded Extraordinary card that I used on a pizza oven as I knew that it would appeal to our teenage daughters who like nothing better than to have a few friends over to share some food and enjoy some fun times on the deck.   Looking ahead, we’re planning at Christmas time to have our extended family over and create pizzas with leftovers.   Are you also part of the ASB team? Keen to know how you’ve used Your Choice benefit in the comments below👇 #StepForward

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"Responding to these [housing affordability] challenges with new supply, in the absence of pushing just as hard on other policies, is unlikely to materially improve affordability, even in the medium term." - Richard Yetsenga, Chief Economist at ANZ. Check out the ANZ-CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report at the link in Richard's analysis of the housing affordability challenge. #anz #mortgagebrokers #mortgageadvice #homeloans #housingaffordability #firsthomebuyers

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Last week our senior leaders across Australia and New Zealand began a six-month learning journey focussing on balanced leadership. This is part of a global investment in leadership and culture, ensuring that as an organisation we are concentrating on both people and performance, stepping out of our comfort zones and ensuring that we are leading by example. As Albert Schweitzer, recipient of the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, once said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” Culture can be seen as a bit of a buzzword. But the research shows us that organisations with a solid internal culture are more likely to achieve higher employee satisfaction, better team cohesion, and improved overall performance. They often exhibit strong alignment between their values and actions, fostering an environment where innovation can thrive and where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute to the organisation’s success. Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping internal culture; their actions, communication, and behaviours set the tone, influencing the engagement and morale of their team. On a personal level, one of my favourite parts of the day, was seeing our senior leaders leaning into the learning with vulnerability and honesty. It makes me confident that this journey is going to be personally rewarding for all our senior leaders and make a very positive contribution to the region as a whole.  #culture #leadership #balancedleadership #learning

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Do you trust your team to do their job or do you keep interfering because you believe you can do better? Trust is hard to build and easy to lose, but as leaders we need to lead by example and show our teams we believe in them. One way is to employ NIFO, Nose In Fingers Out, watch the video from Mark Fritz and use NIFO to help you let you team do their job, even better than you could!

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A very good read. These lessons stress the importance of robust oversight, diverse perspectives, effective stakeholder communication and management to enhance governance practices. https://lnkd.in/ga8jAkGe

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The life-changing impact of coffee catchups! That is the theme for #gratutudefriday (and a gratuitous pic of the beautiful Melbourne morning mist) I have been sharing coffee conversations lately as I am well and truly, optimistically, back in the market for my next career move (somewhere in the intersection of #communications #changemanagement and #projectmanagement - thanks for asking:-) Coffee of course is just the Melbourne (yes and elsewhere) short-hand for a meaningful but not too lengthy conversation to connect or reconnect, and to share ideas and life and work experiences, and maybe offer and ask for help. I do try to connect and limit the small talk (a philosophy shared with 🌊Matthew Murray and those who enjoy Commonsense Events). I love the opportunity a coffee-catchup provides to learn about people and their unique life and work experiences, and I never come away without a 'that is interesting, how could that expand my understanding?' moment. Some of these exchanges can seem minor to the sharer but life-changing to the person on the other side of the table. I exchanged a couple of anecdotes about small but life changing catch-ups this morning with a former colleague, having not caught up for a few years. You may never know the size of the impact your coffee catch-up might have on others - that's the hidden value in a cup of coffee. Just know that it is gratefully received. #optimism The Centre for Optimism Australian Business Forum ACMP Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Australian Marketing Institute Future Directors Australian Institute of Company Directors ADAPT Forrester Change Management Institute

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In prepping for a #teamcoaching session this week, I found myself picking up Jim Detert's book 'Choosing Courage'. The session I was planning was focusing on leaders and leadership teams cultivating a climate where candid conversations, delivered with care are normal and habitual. Part of the session incorporated Kim Scott's #RadicalCandor which is a brilliant framework for leading and communicating in a way that ensures challenge and direct communication is done with the requisite empathy and care. For those who like research-based approaches, Jim Detert's work is where I go to. He offers both evidence for, and practical guidance in how to speak up for the good of the organisation, team and people we work with. Key messages from Jim's book: * Courage is not a character trait that only a few possess; it's a virtue developed through practice. * We must have an enterprise mindset, being courageous enough to tackle issues head on matters to others. I'm sure most of us have a story of where someone not tackling bad behaviours for example has left a team dysfunctional or caused the organisation harm * Courage matters for ourselves. As leaders we want to have a legacy where we have made a difference. We do not want to regret the things that we didn't do including speaking up when it mattered. * We build the habit of having difficult (courageous) conversations through planned exposure and I really like Jim's 'Personal Workplace Courage Ladder' https://lnkd.in/euzSJP5f to do this. * Courage is not personality, it's a choice. My MSc research focused on employee voice and how psychological safety and psychological empowerment influence it. Jim Detert's work along with Amy Edmondson's were the backbone of my research. Their academic papers gave me inspiration and their books make the research both practical and accessible. Highly recommended. #leadership #courage #enterpriseleadership #speakingup #evidencebasedleadership #becomfortablewithbeinguncomfortable

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Introducing a Leader in Action—Meet Natalie, a seasoned leader who, despite 15 years of experience and a high-performing team, discovered the transformative power of The Executive Edge program. As a successful leader, it’s easy to assume that further development may not be necessary. After all, you have a thriving team and a wealth of management experience. However, even the most accomplished leaders face challenges that require fresh perspectives and innovative tools. “I keep coming back,” she shares, underscoring that learning is a lifelong journey. Natalie’s dedication to ongoing leadership development is what truly differentiates her as a leader. Her commitment to being a lifelong learner has allowed her growth through the program to be exponential. “I just get a lot of aha moments,” she reflects, highlighting the continuous learning process that not only helps her maintain her team’s high performance but also enhances her leadership effectiveness. “She has really great, practical tools in her courses,” Natalie emphasizes, highlighting the tangible benefits that come from participating in the program. While many leadership programs focus solely on theoretical concepts, The Executive Edge offers practical tools that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday work. Our unique approach fosters insight and actionable strategies tailored to individual leaders. Each session is designed to challenge preconceived notions and elevate your leadership style, allowing you to grow alongside your team. 👉 A Call to Action for Leaders Like You If you’re a leader with years of experience but yearn to claim the next level of influence and fully leverage your leadership style, The Executive Edge program is for you. ✅ It’s not about starting from scratch; it’s about elevating what you already know and translating that knowledge into effective practices that inspire and engage your team. Invest in your leadership journey today, and watch as you unlock new levels of effectiveness that will resonate throughout your organization. Don’t settle for “good enough” when you can elevate your excellence! Let’s embark on this transformative journey together. For a limited time, you can lock in The Executive Edge at the lowest price we’ll ever offer. Save $1,000 when you book your call by Wednesday, Oct 16—this is your best chance before we increase the price! With proven results and high client demand, the value of this program is growing, but right now, you can still get in at this exceptional rate. Our call is a no-pressure, no-commitment way to explore if The Executive Edge is a good fit for you. We’ll chat about your goals, challenges, and how this program can help you, giving you the chance to decide if it’s the right move for you. Drop “The Executive Edge” in the comments and we’ll reach out to get you set up. ⬇️

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