In some organisations accountability is tied in with threats, for some people it has become an almost meaningless buzzword. It is used so often but implemented so rarely – and everyone suffers because of it. Accountability is more than just ticking off the boxes of your job description; it is about contributing to a culture […]
Create a culture of collaboration
An unproductive, stressed team is often fragmented, unmotivated and lacking direction with unhealthy thinking patterns that block effective collaboration. APATHY: No one cares so why should I? LAZY: Not my role! Too hard … BLINDED: Too busy! One of the hardest things a manager has to do is to make members of the team they […]
How to deal with different types of abuse in the workplace
Abuse in the workplace is sadly far too common. Friction between people in workplaces is understandable – there will always be disagreements, competing goals and power dynamics that lead to frustration. But often a line is crossed where one person commits an act of aggression against another. It’s not fair, but you have to deal […]
Procrastination, paralysis and big mental logjams
There are times in our lives when we just feel unable to do what we need to do. As much as we strive to be super-efficient and get everything done on our priority list, the reality is often very different. Some things, at some times just feel all too hard. Procrastination! It’s a word we […]
Team-tuning: Five ways to rev up your team
Have you ever seen people quietly celebrate when they learn that their manager won’t be in the office that day? This is a bad sign. It means that the manager is known as someone who hassles, interferes and is generally a drain on energy. That’s far from ideal. In fact, it possibly ticks every box […]
10 ways to create trust in your leadership
For as long as many of us can remember, the leaders within an organisation have had an assumed level of trust. In the traditional military style of organisational hierarchy, leaders tell the people underneath them what to do and those tasks are carried out or else there will be some undesirable consequences. These days, leadership […]
Whistleblowers and the part they play in an organisation
Whistleblowing is often the start of a positive change – fixing something that is very wrong. A whistleblower may expose wrongful behaviour, illegal activities, dishonesty, violations, corruption, health and safety dangers and unsafe practices. Who do they tell? Someone internally – their boss, senior management, the CEO, or maybe they tell media outside or authorities […]
How do you deal with a stressed or negative person very close to you?
Moods are contagious. If you work with someone who is upbeat all the time, smiling and always helping out everyone at work you can easily find yourself shifting towards that more positive outlook. Unfortunately the opposite is also true, and if you work or live in close proximity to someone who seems to be in […]
How to manage your feelings before a public presentation of your work
We often talk about presentation skills and the need to develop those skills so we impress in a group and even a large audience. But today, let’s consider feelings when you present your work – your project, your report, your book, your film, your art, your review – to a broader audience – say a […]