Work-Life Balance – it‘s become something of a buzz phrase, but what are the facts and myths that surround this topic? Misconceptions around work-life balance can develop false expectations. These can encourage leaders to set unachievable standards for themselves and their teams, which can result in feelings of disappointment and low morale when they are not realised. Individuals can chase the […]
Also known as a performance appraisal, performance reviews are a formal assessment that provides an opportunity for managers to evaluate their employees. This includes their work performance, identify strengths and development areas, offer feedback and set goals for future performance. But recently, this type of appraisal has received negative feedback, with publications from The Economist to Forbes calling these meetings ‘pointless and insulting’, pouring doubt on their relevance in today’s workplace. In light of this, is it possible to make the performance review a […]
Are you truly dedicated to constantly learning? It will help future proof your career! Have you heard of the five-hour rule? It’s a system utilised by many well-known leaders to enhance their learning. From Mark Zuckerberg to Bill Gates, the world’s smartest – and arguably busiest – people find one hour a day each working week and set it aside for deliberate learning: Bill Gates reads 50 books per year Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every […]
All organisations are made up of talented individuals with a variety of different skills. From IT wizards to super talented creatives, scientific genius’ to standout salespeople; everyone comes with their speciality skillset. Unfortunately, even the smartest individuals with advanced skills and great achievements can find their career coming to an abrupt halt for no apparent reason. So, what could be the reason for hitting a metaphorical wall in your career aspirations? One factor could be due to the way your brain functions: the […]
Creating a successful team isn’t easy – it takes good leadership. The current Deloitte research suggests that companies are continuing to move from a traditional hierarchy in business towards a team-based model of operation. This move reflects the nature of work today; as repetitive individual tasks give way to a preference for solving complex problems in creative ways, it’s much more beneficial to use the ‘hive mind’ – benefitting from a combination of experience, skills, capacity and insight that a group of […]
Even in the 21st century, there are still many more men in C Suite roles than women. And yet those women in top roles show high levels of success; seeming to deploy a range of abilities that their male counterparts do not. So, is it time to encourage men to embrace their inner female to effect more successful results in the […]
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry Truman Those of you who know me well will know that I’m an avid reader. As I travel a lot as part of my job with Excel, I spend more than my fair share of time in airport lounges and what better way to pass the time than with a good book. And […]
How to move from being a colleague to becoming a leader? It’s elating; that feeling when you’ve just achieved a promotion. At last, a chance to implement your plans, to see your ideas come to fruition and the opportunity to lead your team to great things. And then it hits you. You’re going to have to manage the same people who used to be your colleagues. The ones who you’ve – let’s be honest – spent more than an occasional five minutes gossiping with by the coffee machine, or had a few nights out with celebrating. […]
Resilience; what does it mean to you? Resilience centres on the ability to adapt in the face of adversity, disappointment or uncertainty. It could be small scale such as managing stress in your day to day work, or more significant such as making difficult decisions that could affect both the future of your business and your employees. Resilience allows you to adapt your plans, be flexible […]
