Tips for your learnscape this spring
March 13, 2013
The term learnscape was coined during the 1970s to denote areas set aside in schools where pupils could interact with the environment and learn from that interaction. It could have been a special plot in the grounds where they planted seeds, a frog pond to observe the frog’s life cycle, or an ant farm in [...]
Read the rest of this entry »How do I love thee?
March 11, 2013
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” This is the first line of Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Browning, one of the most famous love poems in English literature. As a manager, how much do you love your team? More specifically, how many ways do you make it easy for them to do [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Does your ‘but’ get in the way?
March 4, 2013
Your ‘but’ is really rather dangerous, and here’s why. The word ‘but’ undoes the impact and meaning of the preceding statement. Consider… You did a great job on that report, but… You messed up that report, but… I will help you with your new project, but… The company vision is to expand operations globally, but… [...]
Read the rest of this entry »The secret to changing your life
February 24, 2013
Do you want to change something in your life, in your work, in your relationships; your health, weight, happiness, job, confidence…? Here’s the secret. You can change your life only to the extent that you can tolerate a little discomfort. That’s all. And it is that simple. As soon as we start to try and [...]
Read the rest of this entry »It’s not over until you quit
February 17, 2013
Have you given up on something you still want? Some of us could write a long list of abandoned goals! Did you quit? What was the barrier that stopped you? Look at that barrier again… …How is it now? …Changed? (It has probably changed since you last really thought about it because you have changed) [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Great managers play this bigger game
February 10, 2013
All managers should be making use of individuals’ talents, but great managers play a bigger game; they understand the potential of entire teams. A great manager needs the skills to manage ‘combinations’ more than ‘people’, and the skills to plan for the short term and long term development of these combinations. How could you switch [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Would you want to have a boss like you?
February 4, 2013
When was the last time you stopped and tried to get in tune with what it feels like to work for you? Go on. Stop right now and imagine that you have a boss who is just like you… What does that feel like? Are you motivated? Dismayed? Engaged? Ignored? Grateful? You need to ask [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Are you really that bad?
January 27, 2013
Many resolutions and goals we set for ourselves are about ‘keeping up with the neighbour’. We often compare our weaknesses with other’s strengths, and see ourselves as less than what we think we should be. We then try to ‘close the gap’ by focussing on our weakness. Instead, try focusing on your strengths. You’d be [...]
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