SEPTEMBER 2025

The power of a beginner's mindset

September feels like the real start of the year, doesn't it? There's something powerful about this season's "back to school" energy that we can leverage as leaders.

I've been thinking about beginner's mindset lately, particularly after a humbling experience with my colleague Pete Stoddart. We were pursuing a potential client, and in my head, I had it all figured out: they didn't have the budget, they weren't ready, it wasn't going to happen.

Pete, bringing fresh eyes to the situation, kept suggesting we follow up.

Guess what? The client signed on.

It was a stark reminder of how easily we lose the very thing that makes us most effective – the ability to see possibilities instead of limitations.

Here's what I've learned: a beginner's mindset isn't just valuable when you're actually beginning.

Our Using the Coach Approach ™ program returns in October – and this time there’s an added incentive.

Register for all three modules by Sept. 19 and you’ll be entered to win a Pivotal Leadership Diagnostic experience – a personalized report plus a 90-minute debrief with a certified coach.

Led by Vision Coaching’s Jill Brown and sponsored by Pivotal Growth Inc., this interactive program equips leaders with practical coaching skills they can apply right away. Participants leave with an action plan to strengthen their leadership and inspire their teams.

You’ll discover what coaching is (and isn’t), learn when to have coaching conversations, and practise the Using the Coach Approach™ framework – a proven model for making leadership conversations more impactful.

It’s an engaging, hands-on way to build the confidence and skills you need to lead more effectively.

Seats are limited. Learn more and register online today.

Why leaders loose sight of strategy

Strategic plans often start with big energy and ambition – only to get buried under the daily grind of urgent tasks. Sound familiar?

In this archival episode, Boiling Point co-hosts Dave Veale and Greg Hemmings talk with Vince Marsh, author of Get Out of the Weeds, about why senior teams so often lose sight of strategy and how leaders can change that.

Drawing on 15 years of experience, Vince shares common pitfalls he’s seen and practical solutions that help teams stay focused on the bigger picture. He explains how leaders can carve out the space needed for strategic thinking, keep their goals front and centre, and break the cycle of starting strong only to stall out.

Tune in via the Boiling Point website or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

In Harvard Business Review, Now Is the Time for Courage highlights five strategies leaders can use to act boldly in uncertain times, showing that bravery is not innate but a skill that can be cultivated through practice and mindset shifts.

Inc. magazine features The 5 Rare Signs of Truly Great Leadership That Most People Miss . It argues that servant leaders – those who connect authentically, foster psychological safety, lead with compassion, act transparently, and empower others – create teams people don’t want to leave.

Forbes features Three Leadership Mistakes That Could Hold Your Team Back, outlining common pitfalls – underrating humility, neglecting consistent recognition, and approaching learning without structure – and offers practical ways to build trust, motivate teams, and drive innovation.