In its simplest form strategy is planning. We have a goal, we develop a plan, and we march toward it. And sometimes that’s all we need. It’s those times when there’s only one clear focus; when we don’t have to take account of conflicting interests; or...
Leadership is vital for the success of any business. Leadership teams, after all, don’t just set a vision; it’s their actions that drive a business forward. I doubt many would disagree with that. But there’s a flaw in that second sentence and it’s this: a leadership...
If the January gloom is getting to you and you’re looking for some frivolous fun you could do worse than try out this corporate bullshit generator. You can have a laugh at the nonsensical corporate speak it generates. “Intrinsically transition seamless relationships” and “holistically simplify...
The idea of learning to love your failures has a long history. Just think of Thomas Edison and his journey to the first light bulb. But since the financial crash a decade ago “embrace failure” has become one of the mantras of modern business. Failure...
The idea that leaders should encourage different points of view isn’t new. A range of viewpoints leads to better decision making, and people suppressing any dissent from the party line results in groupthink. And groupthink can often have disastrous consequences. The financial meltdown in 2008...
We’re living and working in an age of disruption. Automation, digital transformation and geopolitical instability are becoming the new normal. And of course there’s plenty of advice from consultants and commentators: successfully adapting to the new disruptive age takes flexible and agile leadership. But when have...
If we want to lead we have to start at a personal level by leading ourselves first. This is true whether we’re heading up senior teams that make decisions affecting large numbers of employees. Or we’re nervous teenagers braving the first day of a new...
What’s the purpose of an employee engagement program? If we took a straw poll of HR professionals we’d probably get a few different responses. Maybe it’s to deal with silo working; a corrosive ‘us and them’ mentality; or teams not sharing best practice and competing...
When was the last time you read an article about leading in the current business climate that advocated ‘softness’ as a leadership attribute? Not often I would guess, even in pieces about mindful leadership. Instead there are countless articles telling us leaders and organizations need...
Keeping hold of high performing new talent is a challenge many organizations are facing. Replacing new hires is a costly business, not to mention the negative impact on company culture. So what’s the solution to retaining high performers? Well, any HR professional worth their salt will...