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 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 […]
Too many managers forget the importance of encouraging their teams, and motivating them to higher performance. With this year’s Commonwealth Games now concluded, it’s interesting to reflect on how much the cheering of crowds spurs athletes to greater heights of achievement. Lots of them talk about it, and you don’t have to be a champ to imagine […]
You can walk into any workplace and know pretty quickly how good its team morale is — especially after a few days off for some public holidays. How often does a charismatic leader stride into a room, spray sparkly ideals and directions and have everyone dazed in some kind of afterglow? Rarely! Often those in […]
Can I be of assistance? You hear that a lot, often when you haven’t asked for it. Very often it’s part of a call centre script; the consultant’s bot-like responses are the giveaway. Or you’re shopping, and there’s a retail assistant helicoptering when you want to be left alone. These aren’t exercises in being helpful, […]
Workplaces are like families – there’ll always be those whose communication style you love and others who rub you up the wrong way. How do you feel coming in to work? Happy to see your colleagues, looking forward to communicating with everyone? Or do some people at work feel tedious and an effort? Open plan […]
Have you ever been confronted by a co-worker about your annoying behaviour? Are you considered an annoying co-worker? Do you change your ways? A recent survey of 2,000 American workers showed that when asked “Have you ever been aware that you’re annoying a co-worker, but done it anyway?”, an astounding 24% said ‘yes’. These people were most likely to […]
How often do we see a person on a mission trying to get their detailed points across and failing miserably? People tune out and may even get angry. A principal analyst, a diligent man in his 50s, was trying to convey a series of important points to a meeting of bored subordinates. Watching him struggle […]
When someone is not interested in what you have to say, cuts you off, or ignores the way you are feeling, it blocks a productive relationship from developing. For great internal and external business relationships, we need to build rapport when we meet face-to-face, on the phone and even in writing. If you’re shy or […]
