A 2025 Common Sense summit report found 53% of parents think kids would be better off with less social media/smartphone use. Parents are doing their best to limit the negative effect that excessive cellphone use have on their children, but the latest research shows that our children are more depressed and socially disconnected than ever. Fact is...we can try to monitor our children's online safety as much as we can, using all the available tools that we have. But once you put that cellphone in your child's hand, it's like giving them a very powerful weapon with some level oversight. Children need more than oversight, they need the internal capability to understand its power, use it intentionally in a positive way and set healthy boundaries to protect their identities and mental health.

I once asked a group of people on a virtual workshop to get their coffee mugs. Bewildered, they stared at me for a couple of seconds...but they got up and fetched their favourite mug. I asked them to empty the cup, which they did...and then I asked them to break the cup by throwing it against the wall. Which they definitely did not want to do!! So I took my beautiful cup (which had a lot of sentimental value to me) and threw that damn cup against the wall. I wish I had taken a screenshot of all the shocked faces staring back at me from the screen😂 I encouraged them to do the same, but everybody kindly declined. "My son bought me this cup for Mother's Day". "I am sitting in an open office, Lizelle...people will think I'm crazy if I start throwing things against the wall!" I dared them to do it anyway. Still no takers. In the end, two brave souls broke their coffee mugs that day. And after they broke it, I promised to send them brand spanking new ones for their bravery. And I kept my promise - I sent them fabulous new mugs from which they joyfully still drink today. The lesson, however, was powerful. And it's this: what are the things that we are holding on to today that are safe, easy, comfortable and sentimental? Things that no longer serve us? Things that we know are not aligned with our values and our purpose. But because it is familiar and does not require additional effort, we keep looping in those familiar patterns. Or stay stuck in toxic relationships. Or feel defeated when we look at our bank account. So I am on a mission - let's break some shit. You may get a brand new, fantastic cup delivered to your house☕ If you want to have the courage and practical steps on how to break shit, you can now join our Healing Lab! It sounds a bit contradictory, doesn't it?🙃 Healing and breaking shit. But if you want to have the life you want, you have to get free from the patterns that are keeping you there. The Healing Lab will change your life. I am living proof of that. Because everything that I have done to break shit in my life is what I will be teaching you. And we will build a strong community around you when you feel overwhelmed by it all.

I am currently conducting research for a new transformative leadership journey that will commence in 2026. Part of my research involves reading the new book on leadership by Brené Brown, titled Strong Ground. She echoes many of the things I observe in the organisations where I work. So here is a short excerpt of a couple of tricky questions we as leaders should be asking ourselves: 1. Why is armour necessary and/or rewarded here? (Armour refers to the behaviours we employ to protect ourselves in low-trust environments, like sarcasm.) More on this later. 2. What makes it difficult to speak out and challenge ideas or strategies here? 3. How many conversations about trust have you had with your manager or leader? 4. How openly can people talk about power here? The topic of power and its impact in the workplace is a subject in itself. 5. Who is giving you cover when you're encouraged to take risks?

I always say that fear is the easiest, cheapest way to get people to do what you want them to do. But fear has a short shelf life. People quickly shift and adjust their behaviour to protect themselves - without any real imapct on productivity or engagement. This then creates an interesting dynamic. The manager/educator/parent then has to level up their cruelty and manipulation tactics to make sure that fear once again spread like a virus throughout the organisation. And so it goes on and on and on. An ever escalating situation of demeaning insults, manipulation, threats and overt anger. The people left in the aftermath are disillusioned, checked-out, disengaged, hopeless and constantly in fight/flight mode. It is only once the manager leans into healing the cause of their need to manage by fear that a shift will happen in the culture of the organisation. So leading firstly starts with the healing of the self. If it doesn’t start there, no other strategy will work. Because strategy has to be executed by people (who are mostly flawed and dealing with their past). I would love to know your ideas on this?

I listened to a podcast where Adam Grant interviewed Brené on het newest book called Strong Ground. I preempt that this will be compulsory readinh to anyone who has to take care of people in their charge. Whether you’re a mananger or a teacher or a parent. The book’s main message? You need a strong core if you want to withstand the turbulence. And that core is your values. Not the kind on a wall or in your journal. The top 2 things you value above anything else. And then dig deep into them. Even when it’s tough, or seem impossible. Do you know what yours are? Mine is freedom and love of learning. Let me know if you want to discover yours!