Leadership in Australian agriculture is built on trust. Every decision you make as a leader affects others. Responding to competing interests is when ethical leadership is required the most. It all starts when you know or are privy to something you know is not OK. It’s when your stomach churns and you say that’s not right or you actually feel unwell. It’s incumbent on you and all of us to stand up, speak out and NOT to stay quiet. Change only happens when leaders have the courage to do hard things and not walk past things they know to not be OK.

But there’s a way to do this. You can’t go at it alone. You need to be working in really solid and trusted relationships to raise your dilemma and you need to be vulnerable enough to share your concerns and make suggestions for better ways of working through high stakes issues. Where you do this needs to offer you psychological safety and sadly across Agriculture and other industries this is not always in reach.

“Leadership isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about how you achieve it.  Ethics are a really big part of this. And at times it can turn you inside out.  I encourage you to push forward anyway.”- Jo Eady

I have had people say to me they wish they could give feedback (they’re talking about challenging feedback) the way I do. If you care for others, care for the issue or opportunity at hand and or care about the impact, then you will always find a way to offer up and share your thoughts. It reminds me of this transformational quote from Brene Brown.

“Clear is kind.  Unclear is unkind.” – Brene Brown

Here are 5 ways you should consider when you face your very next ethical dilemma.

1. Remain in tact – reduce your anxiety – Anxiety can create a sense of urgency, making you feel like you need to fix or solve everything immediately. Unless there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety or wellbeing, give yourself permission to pause. Take a breath, create some space and avoid making significant decisions when emotions are running high and your stomach is yelling “no this isn’t ok.”  Let things settle.

2. Separate the facts from your feelings – Get clear about what you’re feeling and how hyped and charged up you are. Write down what emotions you’re feeling and why. Create distance from these feelings and look at the facts at hand. Acknowledge your emotions without allowing them to become the only driver of your decision. Ask yourself: What has actually happened? What am I responsible for? What can I do to support myself and others?

3. Know and understand your obligations – Consider the professional code of conduct, organisational policies, contractual responsibilities and any legal obligations that apply. Ask yourself what’s really at stake. These might include honesty, fairness, confidentiality, accountability or respect. Where obligations conflict, seek some advice and support. This isn’t the time to rely on your personal judgement alone.

4. Seek a trusted, independent perspective – Ethical dilemmas can feel isolating, particularly when relationships, reputation or financial interests are involved. Speak with an appropriately qualified and independent adviser, mentor, supervisor or professional association. Be mindful of confidentiality and conflicts of interest when choosing who to consult. Alot of our executive coaching clients reach out to us for exactly this reason.

5. Make a considered decision and document it – Once you have gathered the relevant information, decide on the best course of action. Record the facts, write them down – include advice received, options considered and reasons for your decision. If the matter involves serious misconduct, safety risks or potential legal breaches, use appropriate reporting or escalate it to the people / places that hold responsibility for this.

A final thought

Finding yourself in the middle of an ethical dilemma can be a really difficult spot to be. You can’t always control the circumstances you find yourself in, but you can control how thoughtfully you respond. And if a situation is causing significant anxiety, remember that protecting your own wellbeing is part of making a sustainable and ethical decision.

Over to You

Have you ever found yourself in an ethical dilemma? Did you speak up? Did you stay quiet? Have you got the knowledge and skills to work through the dilemma? Are any of these questions hard to answer for you? If so, likely now is a good time to give them a go. This will be very helpful to support your leadership as well as those you lead.

The post Speak Out or Stay Quiet – The Ethical Dilemma appeared first on Ruralscope.

Leadership isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about how you achieve it. For leaders, ethics can sometimes feel like a big, abstract concept. In reality, your ethics show up in everyday decisions: what you say when someone isn’t in the room, whether you speak up when something doesn’t feel right, how you treat and work with people with less power than you, and whether your actions match your values. As your leadership influence grows, people will watch what you do more closely than what you say. And this is where it gets interesting!

Your reputation is built through hundreds of small choices, particularly the difficult ones where there isn’t an obvious right answer. So your reputation is often based around what you do and how you behave rather than the position you hold or what you say.

“Ethical leadership means having the courage to act with integrity, even when doing so is inconvenient, slow, unpopular or even comes at a personal cost.” – Jo Eady

It also means recognising that you won’t always have all the answers or know what to do. Welcome to the world of leadership. In these situations, I encourage you to ask questions, seek different perspectives and stay open to changing your mind when new information emerges. This is definitely not the time to withdraw or close down.

Here are 5 ways you can become more aware of ethics in leadership and use these to develop yourself as well as those you lead.

1. Know what you stand for – Identify three or four values that genuinely guide your workplace / organisation leadership decisions. When things get complicated, your own values and that of your organisation and team become your compass.

2. Pause before making the easy / faster choice –  Ask yourself: Is this right, or is it simply easier / faster? That small pause can change the quality of a decision. This is really important and the pause may be a day or a week rather than just a moment. Ethical decisions can and should take time to make.

3. Consider who isn’t at the table – Before making an important decision, think about who will be affected but may not have a voice. Seek their perspective where possible. Or at least take time to think about how this will impact them and what this means for them, the team and or organisation.

4. Make your actions match your words – Trust is built through consistency. If you expect accountability, demonstrate it yourself. If you value respect, show it — especially when you disagree. Truth and trust are connected at the hip, you can’t have one without the other.

5. Have the courage to speak up –  Ethical leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing to ask the uncomfortable questions, challenge poor behaviours and acknowledge when something isn’t right. It’s about doing hard things and not taking the easy way through or bowing to a colleague / friend or family member. Many of you will already know that I often use language around what’s OK and what’s not OK. In fact this is how I first learned to be able to question things that I didn’t find ethical.

Leadership in Australian agriculture is built on trust. Every decision you make as a leader affects others. Responding to competing interests is when ethical leadership is required the most. It all starts when you know or are privy to something you know is not OK. It’s incumbent on you and all of us to have the courage to see beyond how something is being presented to what is being presented.

Over To You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful to support your leadership ethics as well as those you lead?

The post Lead with Ethics or Don’t Lead at All appeared first on Ruralscope.

Boundaries are often misunderstood as saying no, being difficult or putting up barriers between ourselves and others. In reality, healthy boundaries are about being clear about what we can give, what we need, and what we will—and won’t—accept. I reckon boundaries are important for everyone and particularly so for leaders. Without them, it’s just too easy to become the person who fixes everything, answers every request, carries everyone else’s problems and slowly runs out of time and energy. Good boundaries create clarity. They help you and others understand what’s expected, reduce unnecessary conflict and allow you to focus on what really matters most. The bit I like is that they help you to keep out of stuff / issues etc you don’t need to get involved with and as a result you have more time for your own work etc.

“When leaders have healthy boundaries, they have more capacity to listen, think strategically, make good decisions and support others without taking everything on themselves. Sometimes the most powerful leadership statement is simply: “This is what I can do. This is what I can’t do. And this is what needs to happen next.” Healthy boundaries don’t make life smaller. They create the space to spend your time, energy and attention on the things that matter most” – Jo Eady.

Here are some practical ways of leading with boundaries.

1. Know what matters to you – Before you can establish a boundary, you need to understand what you are protecting. Is it your time, family, wellbeing, focus, values or quality of work? Clear priorities make boundaries much easier to define.

2. Say it clearly and simply – You don’t need a long explanation. Try: “I can’t take that on right now,” or “I’m available until 4pm.” Clear is kinder than vague.

3. Don’t confuse guilt with doing something wrong – Setting a boundary can feel uncomfortable, particularly if you are used to being helpful. Feeling guilty doesn’t necessarily mean your boundary is unreasonable. Sometimes it simply means you’re doing something differently.  You will often experience push back when you implement a new boundary.

4. Be consistent – A boundary isn’t really a boundary if you make exceptions every time someone pushes back. Consistency teaches others what they can expect from you—and teaches you to trust yourself.

5. Let others manage their response – This can be the hardest part. You can communicate respectfully and still have someone be disappointed, frustrated or unhappy. Their reaction belongs to them (not YOU). Your responsibility is to communicate your boundary clearly and respectfully.

Over To You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful in your work / relationships today?

The post Lead with Boundaries Every Time appeared first on Ruralscope.

So, when you look at it like this, boundaries are essential to you as a leader. And here’s a gem to think about – it’s just as important to communicate your boundaries with others as it is to set them.

“You have to be able to set boundaries, otherwise the rest of the world is telling you who you are and what you should be doing.” – Oprah

I wonder if you have areas of your life / work and relationships where you might need to set boundaries. If you do then read on as today I want to introduce you to LIMITS. It’s an acronym I learned from Dr Rebecca Ray and it’ll help you set and maintain healthy boundaries.

1. L = Leader – Set boundaries with others when you are thinking at your clearest. Be a leader. Set boundaries in alignment with your values.

2. I = Identify the boundary – Decide if the boundary is for you or if it’s to let others know what your limits are. Is it physical/emotional? Get clear about your boundary as this will make it easier to share it with others.

3. M = Make the boundary known – If the boundary is for you then write it down and or share it with a confidante, especially if accountability is important to you. If the boundary is for someone else then share it with them – share it verbally as well as in writing and be firm when you do.

4. I = Introduce consequences – Think through the consequences – get clear about what they are as this will then help you to not go there! Decide if communicating these will be beneficial for others.

5. T = Take a stand – This is when it hits home. If the boundary is crossed then you need to reset the boundary and implement the consequences. There must be consequences, otherwise, there’s no point in having boundaries in the first place.

6. S = Status check – Monitor your boundaries. Ask yourself these questions often, Has the boundary strengthened? Has a boundary been crossed by yourself or someone else? Do you need to adjust your boundary and communicate the change?

Over to You

Now, it’s your turn, take a minute to think of your current boundaries you have as a leader – what’s OK and what’s not OK for you. Now, find some time and work out if these are working for you and what new boundaries you might need to support you in your role as a well-respected leader. I invite you to use the LIMITS acronym to help you.

We have a free downloadable Values resource here for you. It will take you through a supportive process to uncover your values and your top two values that drive your decisions or behaviours. If you haven’t done values work before, I really encourage you to download this resource and give it a go. Please reach out and make contact here if you have any questions at all. I hope to hear from you soon.

The post Set Your Boundaries and Stick to Them appeared first on Ruralscope.

Today, I’m asking you to dial up your visibility and I want to share some quick and simple ways to do this that cost nothing and won’t take too much time. But first, here’s why I think dialing up your visibility is so important. It;

1. Gets you known for what you want to be known for
2. Builds trust and familiarity
3. Attracts people to you that matter
4. Attracts new opportunities
5. Ensures your work is recognised and
6. Increases your credibility

When you take a look at this list, these are all things that can benefit you.

“Your visibility – how you show up, what you say and how your present yourself and represent yourself to others is all within your control. From your energy, to what you wear and what you say and how you say it, all rests with you. I encourage all leaders to look at how you are currently managing your brand through visibility and ensure it’s reflecting your authentic self and values.”
– Jo Eady, Leadership Specialist

Here are some practical tips for dialling up your visibility…….

1. Let’s Talk Energy – It’s the big new leadership “thing.” Others pick up on your energy when you walk into a room or sit down at a meeting. Keep it clear and positive.

2. Eye Contact – Look around at others (not down). Eyes are one of the first ways we connect.  Looking at others means you acknowledge they are there and they feel seen and so are you.

3. Your Style – Do you know what your signature style is? Do you know what it says about you before people meet you? Is it time for you to review your style and ensure it’s consistent with your authenticity and values?

4. Be Consistent – Show up the same, with digital, in person and in writing communications, it’s important that your visibility is consistent in all forms. In fact, consistency across these helps build your “brand” with transparency, credibility as well as trust.

5. Build Trust – Build your reliability reputation – this means do what you say you’ll do and show up with integrity. Trust is built in moments and how you show up with others is trust building. 

Over to You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful for you to put in place the next time you step out for work or into a meeting?

The post Dial Up Your Visibility appeared first on Ruralscope.

I facilitate so many forums where I ask people to take a seat and they stand and lean against the wall OR where I ask them to take a seat (and there are seats available) and they wave back at me and say it’s OK I’m fine here thanks! At that moment my heart always sinks as more often than not, their presence (or lack of) is showing up as self doubt, not confident and feeling like they don’t deserve a place like everyone else in the room. Whether the person knows that or not when they wave back at me, but that’s the perception people will have of them. In fact, their presence in the room will not be seen, felt or heard as by sitting apart from or standing around the wall of the room, you actually make yourself invisible to the discussion / meeting.

So many books have been written about this, a key one being Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg who was then the CEO of Facebook.

I’m not suggesting you go off and read this book, what I am suggesting is that you value yourself enough to confidently take your seat at the table. Afterall, you have been invited (because of your knowledge, skills and competence) to the meeting to participate and not just stand around or sit on the outer.

“It’s kind of laughable that people will go to the extent of getting themselves to a meeting and then disqualify themselves from the discussion based on where they stand or sit – but they do.” – Jo Eady

So please, the next time you are in this situation, choose to sit at the table with everyone else.

Here are some practical tips to help you and to show up with leadership presence.

1. Sit at the Table – Sit with everyone else, this is your meeting too. Own your space by getting comfortable and introduce yourself to those sitting around you. Offer a hand shake.

2. Make your Body Language Work for You – This is all about sitting forward, no crossed arms, watching as people speak and making eye contact with them if you wish to show support.

3. Speak up – Now, you’ve shown up and are sitting at the table, it’s time for you to speak up. Ask a question, offer support by saying yes or offer up your opinion about the topic that’s being discussed.

4. Offer Warmth – We size each other up very quickly – in a matter of seconds. If you come across as warm and willing to connect, then people will think you are confident and competent. This is how we want to show up, so get to it.

5. Imposter Be Gone! – Imposter Syndrome isn’t a disease but it is something that may pop up each time you take something on or are challenged outside your comfort zone. Normalise it. And accept, it’s another leadership tool. Something to use and not something to fear or run away from especially when invited to meetings / forums.

Over to You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any inspire you to show up more purposefully the next time you step into a meeting or forum?

The post Show Up Sit Down and Smile appeared first on Ruralscope.

And now fancy this! Today’s Newsy falls on the first day of July and the first day of the new financial year. Every month offers a fresh opportunity to lead with greater intention, but given it’s the first day of the financial year how about setting up some financial goals as well. I think this is worth writing about.

While leadership is often associated with big decisions and major initiatives, the most effective leaders know that long-term success is built through consistent habits. Today is an ideal time to pause, reflect, and establish practices that will shape your finances across the next year! Yep, given yourself permission for them, or at least some of them to be money specific.

Here’s 5 Ways to Focus on Finance to develop some goals and practices that will return for you. And Happy first day of the month!

1. Take a Look at Your Financial Position – Know your numbers. Some people use an excel spreadsheet, for many it might be in your heads or in the back of your diary / notebook. The only thing that matters is that you know your numbers.

2. Schedule Time for Thinking all Things Money – It’s more than managing day-to-day activities. Set aside dedicated time each month to think about the bigger picture – what are your revenue targets, what’s on your big items shopping list and what investment / savings opportunities exist.

3. Read about Money and Finance – Take time to learn as much as you can.

4. Create Finance Goals – Add one or two finance goals to your usual monthly goals plan. Set a money target or two. Be as specific as you can. Set up that excel spreadsheet!

5. Daily Habits are Key – Regularly taking time to think about what’s working—and what isn’t—will help you to adapt and grow your finances.

Financial success is rarely the result of one big action. More often, it comes from small, intentional habits practiced consistently over time. Small habits. Consistent action. Meaningful impact.

Over to You

How does the finance topic sit with you? Do any of the 5 Ways above resonate for you? As you begin this new month, consider: What finance habit could make the biggest difference for you over the next 30 days and this year?

The post Focus on Finance – Freedom will Come appeared first on Ruralscope.

I know what you’re thinking right now! I don’t have time. What’s Winter got to do with Leadership? I reckon there’s a link between leadership and the seasons for sure. If nothing else a season gives us a focus for leadership and I support Winter as the season for Rest, Reflect, Review and Reset. Many see Summer and the new year as the time for this. I’ll argue it’s better in Winter and leave your Summer months for holidays, family and fun!

“The Winter months are about resting and not pushing through. They are about recognising that you might be running close to empty or experiencing overwhelm. They are about resting and resetting your day, your health and your energy. Winter is about returning to and making more time for the things that warm and nurture you.” 
Jo Eady

Today, I want to share some practical ways to support your leadership wellbeing through Winter. These are practical things for you to lean in to for the cooler and slower months. Feeling warm from the inside out is the goal. I often say leadership starts from the inside out so this is even more reason to put in place some Winter wellbeing rituals.

1. Rug up and take a walk – Take a walk. Sitting inside working all day with the heater going and a lack of fresh air doesn’t create a healthy environment. Take time to get outside. Even on the coldest of days, a walk will warm you.

2. Read a book – Grab one of the books you’ve been meaning to read all year and actually open the pages. Curl up on a chair near the window and rest and read at the same time.

3. Go to bed when you’re tired – Bank up some sleep and energy. Listen to your body and head off to bed when you feel tired, even if it is at 8 pm!

4. Eat a warm breakfast – Have a slow morning and make a warm breakfast.  Try rolled oats, a poached egg on toast or smashed avo!

5. Make three nights a week home nights – Block out three nights per week where you stay home guilt free.

Over to You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful as you head into Winter days, weeks and months?

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Let’s pause for a minute. I know that the ability to back yourself comes easier to some personality types than others. Regardless, backing yourself is a commitment to putting your best self forward and this is important for anyone wanting to develop their leadership. I saw fabulous examples of leaders doing this and there was much to learn.

“Backing yourself is a commitment to putting your best self forward and this is important for anyone wanting to develop their leadership. It’s about developing a deep trust in yourself, quietening your inner critic and taking action even when things are uncertain. It requires you to live comfortably in the grey and not the black or white of life”
Jo Eady

Today, I want to share some practical ways of backing yourself. No time here to get caught up in your own thinking or listen closely to your imposter. Instead take some actions that really do move you from passive to active, become assertive, support you to take control of your leadership image and become your own loudest cheerleader. Your leadership will shine.

1. Create Your Own Proof Portfolio – Track your wins. Recognise and write them down daily or weekly. The facts don’t lie. Read them often. This will counter feelings of imposter syndrome.

2. Nurture Your Internal Narrative –  Give yourself permission to grow, to make mistakes, to try something before its perfect and to learn. Instead of wanting to be perfect, learn to be imperfect and do it anyway.

3. Stop Saying Sorry – Swap out phrases like “Sorry I just …” to be more assertive ones like “I want to add…..” And never ever apologise for taking up space. If you’re at the table then this is where you are meant to be.

4. Move Comparison to Motivation – It’s so easy to compare yourself to others. Channel your motivation and treat their success as a lighthouse for you and that your goals are achievable. Take lessons from them for your own journey.

5. Hold Your Head High – I remember being told this by my beautiful Mum and I am often reminded of it! It’s similar to hold your ground. It’s all about being proud and showing this pride by how you show up – strong shoulders, sit up at the table and maintain an open facial expression.

Over to You

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful to back yourself better today than you did yesterday?

The post Back Yourself Big Time appeared first on Ruralscope.

As part of the Australian Grain Leaders Program, we facilitated a short workshop about ways of managing Imposter Syndrome last week. It affects around 82% of people and occurs more for women than for men. This means it’s something to watch out for as leaders set visions, challenge how and try new things. If you’re stretching yourself, out of your comfort zone and are worried about how something is going to land with others– then watch out – this is a perfect time for an Imposter to appear.

“Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where high-achieving individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as “frauds,” despite evidence of success. Symptoms include chronic self-doubt, attributing success to luck, perfectionism, and fear of failure”.
– American Psychological Association

If you want to go into detail about the types of Imposter Syndrome and why they show up for leaders then take a read of anything that Dr Valerie Young writes on the subject. Based on research, she talks about their being 5 common Imposters;

• The Perfectionist
• The Expert
• The Soloist
• The Natural Genius
• The Superhuman

If you’re interested to see which ones might be showing up for you then Click Here for more information.

A few years ago in the Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program, a researcher dedicated their time to how Imposter Syndrome shows up and most importantly what leaders can do to prepare for it, normalise it and take responsibility for working with and through it each and every time.

We know that people who feel like imposters, hold themselves to unrealistic, unsustainable standards of competence and expectation. It’s a no / never win situation. It’s really important that you adjust your beliefs about what it takes to be competent. And to accept that perfect isn’t always possible.

Here are some practical tips to help manage the Imposters when they show up in your leadership role and space.

1. Recognise the Facts. When Imposter Syndrome hits, breath and look at the bigger picture. Jot down the facts that support the out of comfort zone activity you’re doing eg on stage presenting. And monitor your self talk and override the not true things that are coming up. Facts never lie.

2. Cultivate Self Compassion. This is about shifting from external to internal validation. It’s linked to self worth. Mindfulness is key as it’s all about comfortably being yourself regardless of what’s happening around you and your accomplishments. It’s about knowing and feeling you are enough just the way you are.

3. Let Go of Being Perfect 100% of the Time. As Brene Brown says, it’s about progress over perfection. Accept you don’t (and can’t) know it all and greet each leadership challenge as something to work through, rather than something to get “right”.

4. Share Your Failures.  We usually see all the good bits and not the ‘failures’ or the things that didn’t go so well behind the scenes. Take some time to chat with colleagues about what’s happening for you, and I guarantee you, they will share right back things that didn’t work for them. There’s real power in knowing that the people you may have thought knew everything or deliver a perfect speech actually don’t!

5. Accept It! Imposter Syndrome isn’t a disease but it is something that may pop up each time you take something on or are challenged outside your comfort zone. Normalise it. And accept, it’s another leadership tool. Something to use and not something to fear or run away from.

Over to you.

Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful in the way you think about yourself, your inner chatter, in your work and relationships today?

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