Just One Piece of Advice

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca, Roman Stoic

Last month in Darwin I had the privilege of delivering a keynote on Creating a Whole New Mindset for ASBA (Association of School Business Administrators). Tasked with just 45 minutes, I had to make the case to 690 leaders that proactively working on your mindset is the game changer - especially if we can:

1. HARNESS our inner voice
2. TAME our inner critic
3. RE-FRAME the stories we tell ourselves

Whilst pacing my hotel room in the lead-up, rehearsing and running through slides for the tenth time, it hit me. I need to start with this one question - simple but powerful!

“What’s one piece of advice that changed the way you see the world?”

Because for most of us, there’s at least one. Something someone said - maybe decades ago - that landed hard and stuck for life. It shifted the way that we think, work, lead… and also how we handle the tough stuff.

Sometimes, that’s all it takes. One line. One quote. One insight. One epiphany! One piece of advice that recalibrates your focus, and points you toward your next move - the right move!

At Proteus, when we run our Coaching With Confidence workshop, we remind leaders to be wary of the ‘Advice Monster’ (hat tip to Michael Bungay Stanier). Coaching is about helping people find their own way - not jumping in with your solution.

But… what about those moments when they are stuck? When the ‘coachee’ knows that you know the answer. You’ve tried the probing questions, the silence, the well-timed eyebrow raise - and still, nothing.

That’s what we call the Coaching Dilemma. Because sometimes, offering that one piece of advice might be the most generous, human thing that you can do.

For me, when I’m becoming overwhelmed and nerves creep in (like they did side-stage in Darwin) with my inner critic whispering, “You’re an imposter.” I remind myself of the exact advice that I give to others:

It’s not about being confident. It’s about being competent. Do the work. Know your stuff. And show up ready!

And then, when the nerves hit (and they always do), I remember to… flip nervous to service.

Because this moment isn’t about me - it’s about them. The client. The people in the room. The ones who need me to be present, not perfect.

I love it when those reminders kick in, just in time. And maybe that’s the real gift: not just receiving great advice but living it. And then passing it on when someone else needs it most.

So, this week, here’s your prompt:

• What’s one piece of advice that’s helped shape who you are?
• And who might need to hear it from you?

Wishing you a great week of staying open to one piece of advice… that just might change the game.

Richard Dore
Co-CEO - Director of Partnerships
Proteus Leadership