The best leadership development advice I have ever received came from an incredibly flexible, lycra-clad yoga instructor whilst clenching my teeth as I sought to hold the exotically named Sages Pose. “Relax into the stretch” she said. “Just breathe.” Even though my muscles were screaming out at me about the discomfort, I followed her advice. I focused on my breath, not the pain. I accepted the feeling of discomfort rather than fighting it and reminded myself that the signals

I have an enduring memory of one of my early bosses, and the extraordinary impact that he had on me. He was young and relatively inexperienced, having only recently graduated from the management training program of the company I was working for – a large department store. I was a casual employee, 16 years of age, and working in what was possibly the most boring area in the whole building – the lighting department. This small, brightly lit alcove was located in the furthermost