Welcome to Margie's Insights and Interviews

Sep 02, 2023
Without psychological safety, fear stifles truth and courage
NASA Challenger disaster. BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Volkswagen emissions scandal. What went wrong? Investigations produced multi-layered findings. Yet beneath the complexity lay a common element. Fear. People were afraid to speak the truth. And so, they didn’t. Concerns weren’t shared, mistruths were rewarded, and
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Jun 01, 2022
How might you be wrong? Chances are, in more ways than you'd like to think
Which do you value more: the truth or your own beliefs? Because they are not synonymous. It’s pretty safe to assume that people reading this will have different opinions about many topics. Fiscal policy. Abortion. Parenting. Education. Climate change. Racism. Religion. Gun control. The leadership
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Dec 06, 2019
Be Brave In Your Conversations
When I was in my twenties, I left what could have been a promising job (and career path) largely because I was too afraid to confront an issue that was weighing me down. It was all just too hard, too scary, too awkward. So I
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Feb 02, 2019
Lead From Within
The tone of political discourse, particularly in America, has descended to new lows in recent years. Little wonder so many Americans (and non-Americans) I meet share their dismay and express a deep desire for leadership that transcends partisan bickering and for leaders to elevate debate
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Jun 15, 2018
Mental Illness: Let’s Extend Compassion and Remove the Stigma
The last time I spoke to my youngest brother Peter was on his 31st birthday. Six times, I had tried to get through, but each time the phone connection dropped out. Finally, on the seventh attempt, it went through. I was at my home in
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Jul 10, 2017
Handle Criticism Better
“It is important to learn how to take criticism seriously but not personally.” ― Hillary Clinton It’s great advice. Yet if you’ve ever been criticized (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?), you’ll know that being told “not to take it personally” often does little to
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Jun 15, 2017
Let No One Play You Small
While I wish it were different, there will always be people who seek to lift themselves up by pulling others down. They aren’t necessarily bad people – more often they are operating out of a deep-seated fear of their own inadequacy. Making others feel inferior,
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May 15, 2017
Your Words Shape Your Reality
“I can’t break up with him. I just can’t,” Sue told me, “It will just kill him.” “Sue I’m not a doctor but I’m pretty sure breaking off your engagement won’t kill him. It may be very upsetting for a while, but his heart will
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Jan 24, 2017
Don't assume. Ask!
Ever find yourself feeling resentful at people for what they do... or fail to do? Perhaps your boss just puts too much on your plate or doesn’t pay you what you're worth. Maybe a co-worker, friend or family member continually oversteps boundaries, or continually asks favors of you but
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Dec 01, 2016
Spread Joy, Not Stress
Nearly every person I've spoken to over the last week or so has mentioned to me how much they have on this merry month of December. Holiday parties. School concerts. Travel planning. Teacher gifts. Card writing. Present shopping. Christmas decorating. Gift wrapping. Work deadlines. Party
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Oct 20, 2016
Make The Best Of Your Mistakes
I’m sure, like me, you’ve made your share of mistakes over the years. Times you’ve made a bad decision or taken too long to make any at all! The word mistake comes from the Latin to “miss-step.” Mistakes are, literally, nothing more or less than
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Oct 05, 2016
Be Trust-Worthy: Stand By Your Beliefs
Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. We were both keynote speakers at the same conference and ended up having time together between speeches and afterward at a reception. Like every political leader, during his eleven years
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Jul 20, 2016
Listen Up! You May Just Learn Something
Ever been in a conversation where you felt like the person you were talking to wasn’t listening to a word you said because they were too busy trying to convince you of their opinion? Yep, me too. It’s a common phenomenon. So much so that
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Mar 23, 2016
Don't hide behind technology
Communication technology. It's the best of tools when used well. It's the worst of tools when it's not. Last week I received a 'not-very-nice' email from a man who didn’t like my reference to Donald Trump in my recent blog. He wrote, and I quote, “You
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Oct 14, 2015
Name Fear To Tame Fear
Need to find some "Tall Poppy Courage?" If you live in Australia, or have ever travelled here, you’ll have heard of the Tall Poppy Syndrome. It may sound like a medical condition, but it’s actually a cultural one, whereby people who become too successful (or aspire
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Aug 21, 2015
What Makes A Marriage Last?
Yesterday I signed up on the dating website AshleyMadison.com. If you hadn’t heard of it before this week as the place married people go to cheat on their spouses, then you probably did this week after a cyber attack by some morally righteous online vigilantes
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