How physical intelligence can benefit employees in the workplace
We’ve heard a lot about emotional intelligence, but now it’s time to discover how physical intelligence can transform our careers and business outcomes for the better. Authors of new wellbeing book Physical intelligence, Claire Dale and Patricia Peyton, shed some light on this emerging skillset. Physical intelligence is the ability to detect and actively manage […]
2050 – Living in the algorithm era…
2050 is not that far away from us. Barely three decades… (Still remember the 90’s, right?) Of course, it is impossible today to precisely depict what our future will look like 30 years from now. But there are at least 2 facts that we can now take for granted: #1 – First, the world population […]
Continuous learning: The core of the workplace
On-demand learning may not yet be a matter of instinct for everyone but the time when it must be is upon us. Continuous on-demand learning is the only way we’ll be able to navigate the future that modern working life demands. This is not simply an employee issue, employers need to build a culture that […]
Analysing an emotional reaction during a training session
When conflict arises during training sessions, your initial reaction might be to shut down the other person immediately – but taking time to analyse their reaction can provide a greater learning experience for both parties. A few years ago, I was hired by a company to help them through a TUPE transfer (Transfer of Undertakings […]
Soft skills: the four cornerstones of a great conversation
I believe that the most important things that happen at any organisation are conversations. They are the reason we innovate, collaborate, sell, lead, coach, change, succeed, or fail. A salesperson who struggles to have meaningful customer conversations, a leader who is misunderstood when implementing strategy, or a manager who prefers to avoid coaching conversations are […]
Video: great leaders guide rather than direct
What makes a great leader, asks John Wagner? He shares an example of a great boss who has shaped his leadership style. “Reflect back on the good bosses you’ve had and why they were good: why did you feel you really wanted to go to work and work harder and do the right job for […]
The art of persuasion: the new top skill needed by employees?
What’s now the most desirable quality among employees? According to the latest global LinkedIn data on job opportunities and what employers are asking for from applicants, it’s the skill of persuasion. ‘Persuasion’, though, is often seen as being more like manipulation and lies. The kind of dark art used by sales people to pressurise customers into […]
Nonsense Wakes Up the Brain Cells!
I don’t know if it’s a sign of impending middle age – I’m 52 so I’m probably nearly an adult now – but I’ve grown tired of the e-reader that I initially embraced with the same boyish fervour as every other new gadget. My love of paper books and real bookshops has been re-kindled (sorry […]
Business after Brexit: four leadership lessons for uncertain times from military and sporting heroes
The tumultuous trading environment that Brexit has created means strong leadership is more important than ever before. Business leaders should look to the worlds of sport and the military for lessons on how to keep a level head in times of uncertainty. It is a difficult time to be a business leader and, as Brexit […]
Let’s welcome a new dawn of behavioural learning analytics
With the rise of learning experience platforms, L&D teams will be able to measure and assess the behaviour of employees as they progress through their learning journey, taking learning analytics to a whole new level. Like it or not, the L&D sector is not where it should be when it comes to proving its worth […]
Soft skills: is it really that hard to measure their effectiveness?
Measuring soft skills may seem like an almost impossible feat, but by asking the right questions before any training takes place you can produce measurable outcomes to assess the impact of your learning solutions. In the noughties I decided to move my career from IT training to soft skills training. In those days (as you […]
Marketing teams: getting the mix of people right
What’s the most important role of a senior marketer? To bring on board and develop a marketing team with the right mix of skills for driving forward the most valuable areas of the business. Twenty-first century marketing is suffering from a skills crisis. The sector is confused about its priorities – a well-justified focus on […]
Stories, Leadership and Trust
Amongst the brilliant sessions at our first Discovery Day in London was one from Andrew Kitton about creating compelling stories. My action point from the session was to use the approach to write this week’s blog. So, here goes. The point I wanted to make is that leadership is about letting go and trusting others. […]
Mindfulness for trainers: posture as a management tool
In part four of this content series on how to become a mindful trainer, Kay Bucky, facilitator at Facilitator at The Mindful Trainer, explains how posture can be the key to kindness and softness when faced with stressful situations at work. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by a stressful situation. Often, I facilitate […]
Learning at work: can procrastination ever be a good thing?
Procrastination is often viewed as a negative thing – an obstacle to effective working – but that’s because many people aren’t doing it right. Done properly, procrastination has the potential to actually make your work better. In our ‘always on’ world, we have super-fast internet, time-savings apps and intelligent tech that helps businesses streamline processes and cut […]
Trainers’ tips: how baseball players’ ‘deliberate practice’ can improve your training technique
Has your sales training hit a curveball? Here’s what trainers can learn from baseball’s art of ‘deliberate practice’. Learning and development organisations face the challenge of more training with less budget and, as a result, sales veterans and higher end performers are often left out of L&D plans in order to address more pressing issues like onboarding […]
Selecting training providers: why pilots don’t teach medicine to doctors
Too many organisations prioritise cost when selecting training providers, but there are many other factors to take into account when assessing suitability. Ignore them at your peril… Difficult though it may be for those around me to believe (since I have no six-pack or beach volleyball prowess like Tom Cruise in Top Gun), I was […]
Trainers’ tips: understanding these four body language signals will make you a better trainer
The difference between an engaged learner and one whose mind is elsewhere can be clearly seen in their body language. Here, we look at the signs to watch for and explain how to get everyone in the room back on track. As a trainer, you will find that no two delegates are the same. You […]
People management: four steps to avoid relationship breakdowns in teams
In high-pressured work environments, relationship breakdowns sometimes happen. Here are some ways managers can bring teams together to avoid this. Undoubtedly project delivery, especially within digital, has the potential to create stressful environments. With new groups of people working towards tight, non-negotiable deadlines, and long hours that drain and deplete energy levels, this environment is […]
It’s healthy to be scared of public speaking
Amazingly, 75% of people are scared of public speaking. And most of those people do it anyway! As the CEO of Motivii, I’ve given hundreds of presentations & I often hear people mention that I must not get worried or nervous about presenting nowadays. But here’s the the thing… I do! I still feel slightly sick […]
