» Hints, Tips & Techniques

Lesson 4:  “What would people think?” We all live inside invisible walls constructed by our society, we are self-policing to the degree that we care and worry about what others would think and this has its positives.  However, often it constrains us in ways that limit us.  We judge ourselves and project that judgement on […][...] read more » Four lessons from our self-talk: lesson 4

Lesson 3: “They are smarter than me” or “I couldn’t do that” We often feel like this or say it ourselves and others and guess what?  Sometimes it is even true.  Of course there are more talented or more intelligent people out there; we can’t all be Stephen Hawkings or Bob Dylan!  However, the good […][...] read more » Four lessons from our self-talk: lesson 3

Lesson 2:  “I  don’t like them (or that)” When you hear yourself saying or thinking this you should pause and ask:- What exactly is it that you don’t like about them? Does something they do remind you of yourself?  Perhaps something you don’t much like? Does what they do or who you perceive them to […][...] read more » Four lessons from our self-talk: lesson 2

Lesson 1:  “I can’t do that” or “I’m too lazy” When you hear yourself utter or think either of these phrases you need to pause and reflect.  It is easy to say them in a self-depreciating way and think you are joking, but it is worth asking what is really behind this convenient cop-out.  Ask […][...] read more » Four lessons from our self-talk: lesson 1

I have often told my clients that whilst it is crucial to measure the things you want to change, you also need to be careful what you measure (and how you measure it.)  Think about the experience in the National Health Service, it is an object lesson of how not to do it.  They decided […][...] read more » Some thoughts on measurement

This blog is adapted from Fairness is Overrated: And 51 Other Leadership Principles to Revolutionize Your Workplace by Tim Stevens. When I first heard the phrase “company culture” it was over 20 years ago, and I was working for a global  pharma corporation whose cultures mainly produced yeast!  Back then few people, including me, would […][...] read more » 9 signs of a really good company culture

This a useful TED talk by Dr Guy Winch.  He is a psychologist who is worth a listen.  He sensibly posits the thought that despite all the evidence that mental issues affect our physical state and health, we constantly ignore them.  Young children are schooled in the importance of looking after their bodies, but we […][...] read more » It’s all in the mind… Only it isn’t!

I was out walking the other day in an area which was pretty boggy, and where I have been caught out before.  We had had heavy rain and though most of the paths were dry, in places they were flooded.  So, as I approached one of these sections I was confronted with a path that […][...] read more » Bogtrotters beware!

A Harvard Professor in the 70’s, called Ellen Langer, conducted an experiment, in which she got an actor to barge into a queue of people waiting to make photocopies.  In the first experiment he said “Excuse me, I have 5 pages, may I use the copier?” and 60% of the time he was successful.  When […][...] read more » Hints and tips: Be more persuasive – bonus Tip No 7

A pair of psychologists called Alan A. Cavaiola, PhD, and Neil J. Lavender, PhD surveyed more than 1,100 employees and captured their thoughts in a book called “Toxic Co-workers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job”.  This is the sixth in a series of short blogs with  tips based on their work. 6.  […][...] read more » Hints and tips: Dealing with awkward people–Tip 6