This morning one of my favourite clients explained the challenges she is facing in supporting one of her own clients. She has been called into to help fix and support a dysfunctional team.

As I listened, I noted this team has low trust and an absence of real collaboration. Despite strong technical capability in the leader, the team is not functioning well and the strain is showing up in both performance and morale.

Three patterns stood out.

Despite appearances, the first was a lack of authenticity from the business owner. The owner leads in a tough, boss-like way and rarely shows any genuine vulnerability. While this may feel protective or necessary to her, it means the team never truly trusts her. People comply with instructions, but they don’t commit emotionally or intellectually. Without authenticity, trust never takes root.

The second pattern appeared to be a lack of empathy. This leader, through no fault of her own, has had to protect herself from the world for much of her lif...

The Next Evolutionary Leap won’t be Biological

At a recent event at the Pullman Reef Hotel in Cairns, I met Jacob Perrett from Great Energy.

When I asked for a volunteer from an audience of hundred and fifty people, Jacob put his hand up and joined me on stage. Together we explored the difference between the shape of a Neanderthal skull and a modern human skull.

Neanderthals were exceptional at sensing and perceiving their environment. Homo sapiens evolved differently, with a larger frontal cortex that enabled social organisation, collaboration and shared strategy. That difference explains why Neanderthals became extinct and why Homo sapiens dominated.

With modern sensory technologies and the rise of Artificial General Intelligence, these evolutionary patterns are worth paying attention to.

AGI will increasingly perform functions once central to human identity; sensing, predicting, thinking, writing, planning, remembering and creating. Over time, our doubting AI may feel inefficie...

After 35 years as a professional educator, this week I was reminded of something simple yet meaningful: it’s okay to pause and quietly acknowledge when you’ve arrived.

ICMI is now one of three trusted bureaus that champion me as a speaker. 

For those who’ve joined me in the lecture theatre, on stage, in the boardroom or beside a flip chart, you’ll know I love to customise every session, blending participation and insight with humour and heart.

You may also know this: my own ethic of continuous learning has been nourished by you, in those very moments.

Communication is always a two-way process, even when nothing is being said. 

Every time I walk into a room, my goal is to help surface and shine a light on the untapped and often unspoken wisdom that already exists within the group.

My ICMI listing is just another affirmation that my years spent sharing ideas, coaching leaders, teaching students and navigating complexity have added up to something valuable. 

Something that resonates.

I am gratefu...

One of the things I enjoy most about keynote speaking is solving the puzzle every organiser faces: "How do we deliver content that truly lands with our audience?"

It’s a challenge that lights me up. Here’s what I’ve learned - and why I love designing talks that rise to the moment:

RELEVANCE
We’re all navigating volatility, AI disruption, and global shifts. I enjoy the challenge of making complex change feel navigable. My talks help leaders spot patterns, stay centered and move with intent rather than panic.

SUBSTANCE
I get a buzz from bridging inspiration with implementation. My job isn’t just to lift the room - it’s to leave people with tools and frameworks they’ll actually use. I love watching the penny drop when a leader sees a better way forward.

RESONANCE
Whether it’s a first-time leader or a seasoned CEO, I relish crafting messages that resonate across the organisation. Strategy is a universal conversation - but how do you frame it? That’s the art. That’s the joy.

STICKINESS
There’s nothi...

It was an absolute pleasure to meet and work with the top talent at Origin Energy last week in Sydney for their Accelerate Talent Masterclass series and support their emerging leaders to get energy right for their customers, communities, and planet using the Strategic Mindset Process.

Meeting Andrew Thornton, Executive GM of Integrated Gas, was a highlight, and I appreciated the insightful comments Andrew shared about line of sight with respect to implementing strategy in large organisations, as well as hearing his strategies for overcoming this dilemma.

A huge thank you to Lena Lennartsson and her amazing team for organising such a fantastic couple of days.

A big shoutout to the storyboard artist Alice Edy from livedrawing.com.au for capturing my presentation so brilliantly on one page (see blog image)—your work brought my strategic mindset concepts to life!

I look forward to future collaborations with Origin and continuing the strategic conversation.

 #livedrawing.com.au
#origin...

Invite to Sydney

I am delighted to be presenting at a special combined Business Sydney and Sydney CBD Chamber next month!

I will be sharing important insights, connecting with fellow professionals and contributing to this vibrant business community.

I will reaffirm the need for a Strategic Mindset in the face of an increasing array of disruptive business models.

Those business leaders attending will realise that their dominant logic and existing worldview (however successful) can act as blinders to weak external signals and rising opportunities, ultimately impeding strategic renewal.

Shifting regulation, consumer preferences, technology platforms and new connected business models are pushing out efficiency frontiers within many industries.

No industry or firm is immune to this.

hashtag#BusinessSydney hashtag#SydneyCBDChamber hashtag#Networking hashtag#StrategicMindset hashtag#TheStrategyGuy hashtag#johnhalespeaker

I'm excited to be presenting to AFILE next month in the vibrant Brisbane CBD on how to navigate the future. In these dynamic times, navigating the shifting landscape is crucial. We will dive into some thought-provoking questions:
 
As leaders, what should we be doing in an increasingly complex world?
How can you stay agile amidst challenging and 'wicked' problems?
What strategies can you use to build resilience?
 
I look forward to seeing you there and sharing ideas!
 
#thestrategyguy
#navigatethefuture 
#AFILE

For the first time in ages, my event calendar is filling fast.

Even more stages are opening in 2024.
Some conferences have not been held for 5 years!

Face-to-face engagement, entertainment, strategy facilitation and education are back.

Whether you are a corporate, government, not-for-profit or business chamber client from before, I look forward to sharing future trends, strategic thinking and digital business models with your leaders and teams.

Click below for my keynotes and workshops: 
www.halecg.com/keynotes 

#thestrategyguy 
#thestrategybook 
#johnhalespeaker 
#conferencespeaker

Gratitude and commendation for Joe Pezzano and Garth Taylor. 

These two remarkable individuals form a dynamic duo called 1E Group that can transform your National Conference into an absolute hit.

Last month, I had the privilege of being a keynote speaker at the Advantage Conference hosted by Garth and Joe in Perth. 

I must say, Joe and Garth's dedication and hard work in orchestrating a flawless and impactful 4-day event surpassed all expectations. From start to finish, they ensured that every attendee experienced a seamless and memorable conference.

Garth and Joe's unwavering commitment to creating an exceptional experience for all participants truly deserves applause. Their attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to handle any challenge that arose throughout the conference was truly remarkable. It was evident why Advantage and numerous other clients trust them year after year to deliver outstanding events.

For your upcoming event, I highly recommend reaching out to Joe...