productivity demands self-reflection
how self-reflection will propel you forward Read More
What makes a great communicator?
Almost everyone claims to have excellent communication skills, and almost every job you see advertised will require candidates to have them. But what does it mean to have excellent communication skills in the workplace? Read More
Do you really need to collaborate?
Collaboration Read More
Strategic Thinking, not just Planning
At least half of my work these days is facilitating planning workshops for Boards or senior teams. I am noting the smart ones are making the shift from rushed ( and often boring) days where we mechanistically work through a traditional planning framework, often resulting in a bit of twiddling around the edges of the current plan. Instead of rushing to dot points on butchers sheets, my best Boards and Executives are engaging in strategic thinking before they land a plan. Read More
Don’t lift the digit as you say good bye
Many of our favourite clients have left organisations for reasons or in time frames not of their choosing in the last year. Cutbacks or redundancies have sometimes resulted in sadness, fear or anger. I have watched even the best of people leave with the equivalent of their middle finger lifted to the heavens as they express their frustration in various ways. I have observed some decide to go slow, or to do the minimum possible in their final days in the job. I have witnessed others badmouthing organisations, leaders or processes. Do I understand this very human response? Yes. Do I sometimes join them in their feelings of unfairness? Yes. But do I recommend you burn a bridge as you leave? NO! Read More
Can you tell your organisational story?
Everyone is under so much pressure now that sometimes fundamentals can lapse unnoticed. I am finding that if I ask senior managers to tell me the plain English story about what their organisation is on about, and what it is trying to do now, and into the future, I tend to get either a blank stare, referred to a strategic planning document, a lot of management speak, or a less than well formed story. Read More