Your hero to the rescue
November 28, 2009
“John would know what to do. If only he were here right now.” Have you ever said something like that to yourself? Next time you are in a tight spot, and wishing for a hero or heroine to come and save the day, conjure up that person in your mind. Make believe that they are [...]
Read the rest of this entry »How is your boss different?
November 7, 2009
We choose our friends, but we seldom choose our boss. And our boss has a huge effect on how much we enjoy our work… or not. However we get on with our boss, there is always room for improving the relationship, and in my opinion, it is always worth the effort to do so.
Read the rest of this entry »Questioning skills
November 3, 2009
We all want to be understood. Paradoxically, this will happen much more readily if we seek first to understand. And the way we can understand is to ask good and respectful questions. Follow the link to see a list of things that stop people questioning effectivly, plus some other tips.
Read the rest of this entry »Handling Ethical dilemmas
October 25, 2009
Employees are increasingly voicing their opinions on what they see as actions taken by colleagues or management that they consider unjust or immoral. I am sure you can think of examples. Consider this quote by Plato… “Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Influencing, and your mind
October 12, 2009
It can be difficult to influence another person, and maintain a positive outlook when you don’t actually like them. But it would be surprising if we did like every single colleague or customer. To overcome this challenge, separate the person from the issue. Focusing on the issue helps you to think rationally and express yourself [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Networking a room
October 12, 2009
Networking is a skill that can be learned. Like everything, the people who are good at it have practised. When Networking > Focus on building trust and rapport > Look for the common ground > Be warm and approachable > Learn to listen and question You probably go to lots of events where you won’t [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Motivating with recognition
September 19, 2009
Time after time, surveys show that people want recognition from their job, and this is often highest on the list, well ahead of an increased pay packet. Employee recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people. Employee recognition is a communication tool that reinforces the most important outcomes people create for your [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Leading beyond authority
September 19, 2009
People who lead beyond their authority can produce change beyond their direct circle of control. To do this requires a different kind of leadership, with a different set of perceptions, skills and talents. It is about leading within a larger network, not just leading your team or your department. The wider your sphere of influence [...]
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