We are pleased to be facilitating the Australian Grain Leaders Program in 2018.  10th Anniversary.  This year will mark over 100 graduates.  These amazing leaders are creating positive change in the grains industry.  Eleven participants are joining the program in 2018 with a soft launch in January and a formal launch in Canberra in February.   The program is hosted by Grain Growers Limited. This year participants are being selected from right across the Australian grain supply chain.  This diverse group of emerging leaders will engage in 3 Face to Face leadership learning events and 2 Field Trips in Tasmania and New South Wales.  A highlight of this program is where each participant identifies and develops their own leadership project with key outcomes for;

1. Themselves, 2. Their Enterprise and 3. The Australian grains industry.

One of my favourite books and programs of all time is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  This amazing work of Dr Stephen R Covey has contributed to my own development as well as provided a great platform for some of the leadership programs we facilitate.  A key activity is to look at the 7 habits of effective people and then their opposites. I find this is one of the best ways to understand the 7 habits of highly effective people. Here's an overview for you...  

There is something pretty special about a well facilitated meeting - you walk away thinking that your time there made a difference, your opinion mattered and you were listened to.  But this is not always the case. These tips will help when you are next asked to Chair a meeting. The secret is in planning for the meeting. Take a look. 

Checklists are the friend of leaders, change creators and success seekers.  They provide a quick and easy call to action.  They require little time and energy to set up and can contribute to great outcomes.  They provide excellent return on investment.  You can set up your checklist electronically using your technology of choice ie laptop, desktop, i-pad, mobile phone etc.  And you can also find templates that can assist too. Here's our Spring Checklist.     

As part of a recent de-clutter project, I chose to clean out some papers in my filing cabinet. Glad I did as came across some notes from a presentation Mike Logan did as part of the inaugural Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program.  I remember the presentation as all the participants were quiet and their eyes were glued on Mike as he spoke. Mike was one of the first participants in the Australian Rural Leadership Program and was a Director on the Cotton Australia board in the early 2000s and we all knew he would have good things to say.