Discover strategies and insights for effective leadership, including tips for inspiring and guiding teams to achieve their goals.
It’s all in the understanding…. Do you know anyone who practices assertiveness at work, and gets it right? Ask ten people what assertiveness is and you’ll get ten different answers. Naturally passive people can see it as a hurdle to climb, yet at the same time feel small for not standing up for their rights. […]
Change is the one thing that has the greatest impact on our lives and careers and there is no doubt that communication is key to managing it. But how well do Organisations perform in this area? When we lose the security of routine and the known boundaries in which we operate, change affects us on […]
Setting effective goals Have you ever explained a task to someone, and they seem happy with your instructions, only to find that later, they’ve done completely the wrong thing? Or they’ve come close, but the end result is still not what you really wanted? Responsibility lies on both sides here. When you explained what needs […]
Flex your approach We all have preferred ways of working, and managers and leaders will have preferred ways of managing and leading. If you’re not sure about your preferred style of leadership, it’s usually the one which emerges when you’re under pressure! Not thinking first, just saying and doing, with mixed results! This is where […]
Stages of team development What’s a team? How about ‘a group of people working together to achieve a common goal or objective’? How does that sound – not bad? And if you like the definition, do you have a team? If the answer is no, then how do you get one? Questions, questions! Let’s look […]
(This blog was updated in January 2024) In our interconnected world, we often find ourselves collaborating with colleagues, clients, and suppliers from various countries and time zones. Cities and countries are becoming melting pots of diverse cultures, emphasising the need for effective communication both within organisations and with the public. Recent studies highlight the growing […]
Conflict or communication – which works best for you? Three types of Team Conflict: When the stakes are high, which one of these scenarios have you seen play out? (A) The conflict is swept under the carpet. Denial that conflict existed, or had any impact on the team or performance (B) When aggression threatens to […]
You’ve been promoted – congratulations! It’s your first leadership role, and it is something you have wanted for some time. Nearly half of all leadership transitions fail You are beginning to realise that there are things to plan for as well as celebrate. There is a shocking statistic that nearly half of all leadership transitions […]
Is there a problem here? Logically, everyone knows it makes sense to use our strengths at work, yet not all of us do. Research from strength expert Marcus Buckingham shows that only 12% of professionals use their strengths consistently in the workplace. This can have a huge negative impact on business performance. What does it […]
It takes an honest person to admit that they overcontrol at work. Maybe you know someone who has received this feedback? Maybe someone has confided in you that their team are not working at their best? They may have even suggested that their overcontrolling style of micro-management could be contributing to this? One thing is […]
Active listening is an underrated communication skill that Leaders and professionals need to develop and improve. The benefits which come from this ability will raise your reputation and help you develop empathy. This article will explore the importance of active listening and how you can develop your skill to improve communication and at work. What […]
The 4 basic Financial Statements for Success Finance for Non-Financial Managers Unpredictability of the markets and the impact of changing consumer demands can lead to serious implications for business stability. Awareness in profitability is paramount. It is imperative that a manager has the ability to understand financial processes. This article will explore the FOUR […]
The dynamic art of selling defines success. There is nothing in the world like being handed a signed contract or seeing the product you just sold being prepped for shipment. No other area of professional skills offers such gratification. It feels like you won first prize. Yet do we win as much as we lose? […]
As the most important person in the room apart from the chair, here are five tips any minute taker can use to improve efficiency and productivity when writing minutes. 1. Be an active listener Even if you are not taking part in the meeting and your role is to take the minutes it is important […]
The nature of nerves Several years ago, a survey was conducted to identify the top 10 public fears. Public speaking came up as number 1! Above spiders and other creepy crawlies, deep water, heights, illness, financial worries, open spaces, flying – death came in about number 9 on the list. The key point here is […]
The challenge of change Anything new or different in our lives means change. Isn’t that exciting? Apparently not! When asked about change, most people will answer that they do not like it. Why? Usually because their comfort zone is in jeopardy. That wonderful protective bubble that we lovingly construct around ourselves. In the comfort zone, […]
Coping with stress Stress defined? ‘When the demands placed upon us at work exceed our resources, and we feel we can no longer cope’. You’ve had a stressful day – there’s too much work, deadlines are tight and you’re worrying constantly about the consequences of not getting it done. Perhaps your manager (also stressed) is […]
Planning your presentation If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail! The success or failure of a presentation is determined long before you walk into the venue and engage the audience. Let’s consider how you can plan your presentation effectively, making it as relevant, concise and targeted for your audience as possible. If you […]
Decision making – is it mind over matter? How can we decide? German psychologist, Gerd Gigerenzer, identified ‘heuristics’ as tools for smart decision making in times of uncertainty. Allied to intuition, he argues, it is the subconscious mind which decides what our choice will be, given the overwhelming number of options available to us. What […]
Why is it down to managers to solve problems? After all staff are taken on to do specific jobs within their remit, which might include coming up with new ideas. The manager is the one who finds solutions and implements them. It is defined within the performance criteria of their role. The need is to […]
Its all about the people focus Management of your business has one crucial focus – people. It’s all about people. The great leaders and the business gurus know this. They coach their business forward with the energy they invest into others. Leaders who struggle tend to spend too much unnecessary time putting out fires. Staffing […]
Being a manager means being a good leader. Your team look up to you for guidance, and want you to give them direction, praise and assistance. They want a manager who can lead them to the correct thing to do, not just someone who barks orders and hands out discipline. To be an effective manager, you […]
Being a manager of anything is a great responsibility that needs to be taken seriously in order to make an impact. There are plenty of managers in the world that simply don’t respect what they do, resulting in poor communication between team members and a generally unproductive business. If you want to improve your company’s […]
When it comes to managing change efficiently, understanding the various stages is paramount to optimising productivity. Initially, it’s about keeping on track and ensuring that each stage has full buy-in and collaboration. The one thing that can make or break organisational change’s success is communication. Taking a few moments to consider the correct positioning of the new information will not only help the transition and […]
Doing things Right or doing the Right thing? The Key to Successful Leadership. Leader or Manager? Have you ever worked with someone you considered a good manager? Are they just a Manager or a Leader too and if so, how would you know? What does being a Leader really mean? What does a manager do […]