This week’s 5 for Friday looks at leadership, pressure, and how people respond when it matters, from a simple moment with a 4-year-old, to how teams handle stress, to where preparation shapes what happens next.
1️⃣ She Nodded. She Didn’t Move – A Leadership Lesson from a 4-Year-Old.
A blindfolded 4-year-old. A dad calling instructions from across the restaurant. She heard every word. Didn’t move an inch. When he asked why, she said, “Because I only listen to Mommy.”
Authority doesn’t move people. Influence does. You can have the title, the position, the plan, and still get a nod and perfect stillness. The leaders who get organisations moving have built the kind of trust that makes people want to follow.
Tamryn Batcheller-Adams wrote about what this means for your leadership.
2️⃣ Great leaders don’t just manage pressure; they bring others through it.
Our ‘Building Resilient Teams’ workshop gives teams a practical, psychology-backed framework for understanding stress, navigating change, and rebuilding the trust and connection that disruption erodes – developing the emotional intelligence needed to lead others forward, not just survive.
Drop us an email if you’d like to book this workshop for your team.
3️⃣ A different side of drones, and what it means for us.
Graeme Codrington joined Stephen Grootes on the Money Show on 702 and Cape Talk to talk about a different side of drones. Not the headlines we usually see. Instead, how drones are being used across sports, farming, firefighting, transport, and even emergency medical supply. The uses are practical and close to everyday life. A reminder that the same tools we hear about in one context can be used in many others. Listen here…
4️⃣ When the pressure hits, who is ready?
Advantage does not come from reacting when things change. It comes from what was built before. China’s position in the energy shift shows this clearly. For years, they strengthened reserves, spread supply, and reduced exposure. So when pressure arrived, they had space to move. Others are now adjusting.
This is what Grey Elephants point to. Forces you can see, yet are often ignored. They shape outcomes long before they arrive. The question is not only how to respond. It is where to build strength now, and where today’s pressure can be used to move ahead.
Dean van Leeuwen talks about this in his recent post.
5️⃣ The part of leadership that quietly breaks everything.
A recent Harvard Business Review piece is a great reminder that leadership isn’t just about direction – it’s about understanding people. Too often, leaders believe their teams are aligned and engaged, but the reality tells a different story. It comes down to people skills, psychology, and the ability to really listen, not assume.
It’s worth a read – take a look at the full article and see what stands out for you.
As always, if this is something your team would like to explore, feel free to reach out.