We often see TV ads and billboards depicting happy people at work: individuals and teams smiling, saying positive things – even professionals making heart-shapes with their hands. Some are actors, some are real. You could be cynical and hope they mean it, especially in today’s volatile work climate. On the other hand, loving what you do […]
We ache as we read about the death of chef Anthony Bourdain and too many others we know and love driven to suicide. It is tragic, no matter who it is. Depression is frightening and often hidden from those closest to us, sometimes even unrecognised by individuals themselves. Many people suffer depression at times of their […]
The old saying “never complain, never explain” could be changed to “never blame, never complain”, but would people ever do this? Of course not. Blaming and complaining causes stress We all do our best, but standards and expectations vary. It often boils down to the fact that while people might share a common language, there are codes, […]
The borderline between disrespect and workplace bullying or harassment is when negativity becomes habitual, concentrating on one person. Snide, snappy, dismissive? A manager whose snide comment dismisses that you were late because your child was sick and the babysitter cancelled, or the know-all in a group workshop who says your summarising is “too slow”: these […]
Good performers, high achievers: we all think we ‘know’ one when we see one. Years ago, it was remarked of a young Barbra Streisand that “she’s great but she’s not yet good”. Streisand was about to hit the big time with Funny Girl, thrilling audiences with her melting mezzo-soprano. But she hadn’t yet acquired the technique of […]
There’s a word for collaborating with people less skilled than you: it’s called “mentoring”. While it’s true that you up your own game by practising with those who are more skilled and experienced, working and sharing ideas with people who have less “skin” in the game is valuable for a host of reasons. In an […]
You’ve worked hard to get where you are, therefore you’re entitled … to what? Does it depend on what and how you deliver? An interesting survey of the top 50 chief executives looks at people who have delivered the best results for their respective companies over the long term. We are talking in terms of […]
With so many women now in the workplace and feminism’s early victories (it’s been over a century since women were first given the vote, more than half a century since the advent of the Pill, and there’s at least 50% female graduation in today’s university courses), you’d think that old glass ceiling would be badly […]
You have my attention. I’m listening! I’m all ears. Few of us like to admit we’re poor listeners. The truth is, in our distracted society, most people are not particularly good at listening, and a vital tenet in human evolution is slipping away, unnoticed, as we become busier and paradoxically less focused. Any conversation or […]
