Blog

Don’t Just Tell Your Team What to Do – Tell Them Why

For such a small word, why has a tremendous impact. The presence of a reason, for example, makes it easier for people to reach out to others. The power of why extends to other scenarios....

Professional Relationships

7 Relationship Mistakes That Cost Leaders Influence

In today's fast-paced and increasingly interconnected professional world, leaders who fail to approach their professional relationships strategically risk more than just missing potential opportunities. Influence, impact, and innovation all hinge on the strength and depth of those relationships. Here are seven common and costly mistakes that can erode your leadership capital - and some practical advice on how to avoid them.

AI

Are You Using Authentic Language?

I recently ran a prompt on Chatgpt, asking it to identify ten blind spots in my business based on what it knows about me. It's an interesting exercise, one I recommend, and I'm working through the suggestions to see what I can take from each to further develop my work.

Teamwork

Surrounded by Idiots!: How to deal with badly behaved people at work

We've all worked with a Kevin. Maybe you’ve even been a Kevin. Kevin, who features in the book Badly Behaved People by Zena Everett, was the head of a computer services sales team, managing 15 people in an open office environment. He was a good manager - except for one blind spot: Kevin had a habit of losing his cool, often unleashing angry outbursts directed at his computer, phone, or even frustrated customers.

Asking for Support

‘Networking Advice Needed’

I was walking through the City of London on my way to a lunch meeting last week when I saw a young woman standing opposite The Bank of England holding up a homemade sign. Something about the sign caught my attention....

Mentoring

When the mentor feels like an imposter

Two-thirds of people have imposter syndrome, according to a 2011 article published in the International Journal Of Behavioral Science. These are people who often feel like a fraud or believe their achievements were a fluke....

Mentoring

How Small Talk Unlocks Big Potential in Mentoring

When somebody asks you to mentor them at work, it can be very tempting to get straight to the point. After all, you’re busy, you’re giving up valuable hours for no tangible reward, and there’s a clear objective you’re working towards...

Mentoring

Why Mentoring Programs Fail — and How to Make Them Worthwhile

Despite the fact that 98% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, only 37% of professionals actually benefit from them. This disconnect is exacerbating retention issues. So, why are mentoring programs failing to deliver on their promise?