5 Reasons to Invest in Language Training
Leaders in global companies will understand that there are challenges in conducting international business when employees don’t speak the languages of current and potential future customers, suppliers and partners. Language can be a barrier to effective communication both inside and outside the company when employees lack language skills—but it doesn’t have to be. There are […]
A Mentorship Framework to Make You a Better Leader
Regardless of your industry, mentoring is a unique relationship facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills between two people, grounded in a commitment to common goals and based in mutual trust and respect. Both the mentor and the mentee have the opportunity to learn and grow from this relationship, which the recipient gaining valuable knowledge […]
Five strategies for writing an effective improvement plan
Improving quality is a critical step on the (seemingly endless) road to nirvana for training provider leaders. But what does it take to produce an effective plan to carry this out? Like many things, preparation is critical when writing an improvement plan. So is remembering to keep things simple, clear and precise when delivering a […]
What is a SADEL organisation and why should you transition towards this model?
In part 1 of an 8-part series, organisational behaviourist and learning strategist Kerryn Kohl introduces us to the Self-driven, Agile, Digital, Exponential Learning (SADEL) organisation, and highlights the need for companies to move towards this framework in order to be successful within a fast-moving digital age. Learning is fast becoming a business-critical priority. We can all ‘feel’ […]
Strategic narratives: a simple story of successful leadership
“But we’ve told them a thousand times….” This is the frustrated refrain of senior executives when we discuss survey results saying that people have said they don’t know the organisation’s strategy. Everyone would agree the pace of change in business let alone the world means that businesses must be nimble to anticipate and respond to […]
How can mindfulness make you a better leader?
I have been involved in leadership programs for many years, and have often noticed that on them, very intelligent, aware and senior people still surprise themselves by discovering uncomfortable truths about themselves, especially triggers or personal ‘hot spots’. They often feel the need for self-management tools, especially for use under stress. They understand that the […]
Leaders: Stop procrastinating & start working!
So, it is Friday afternoon and the clock is ticking. You are working hard to finish off that meeting with the client and resume the pending task that you promised yourself to finish today. But, instead of doing anything, you start cursing yourself and the time. It is not the time that is affecting you, […]
Succession Planning
I’ve recently joined an organisation in which there is not much business growth and not much movement either – especially in relation to new openings in management roles. Therefore, the non-management colleagues feel there is little opportunity for progression, so are more likely to exit the business to seek other opportunities or remain in the […]
Authority or Anarchy: What’s the Right Balance?
The business medium has become more and more preoccupied with management strategies and there are probably thousands of written and video pieces offering advice on how to balance organizational authority with employee freedom. The new generations impacted company culture, influencing the rise of a more progressive management that focuses on employee experience. The advantages offered […]
Executive Coaching? Doesn’t that Sound Weird?
The answer to this question is not a unique one. It depends from which angle you are looking at it. Undeniably, a good portion of the existing business world thinks that executive coaching is just a polysyllabic jargon which simply drinks your money and never takes a leak. It’s a hobbyhorse for the C-suite habitats. […]
How to lead when management optimism falls to its lowest level in a year
Confidence. It drives sales, forces decisions, changes culture and creates or destroys attraction. Changes in management confidence therefore have a major bearing on organisational performance. So when a study of the confidence of 3,600 managers from across the UK shows a significant drop, it’s worth understanding the implications for your people. Particularly when the reasons […]
How Leaders build Trust within their Team
Trust is a two way process. Leaders need to trust their team, and teams need to trust their Leader. As a leader, you want your team to perform and to show outstanding results, but how do you expect to show results if your team don’t trust you? Lack of trust is still a growing concern […]
Welcome to the new age of leadership development. Here’s what you need to know.
Only the most mutton-headed business leader has failed to realise that we live in a new, extraordinary, disruptive era – a digital age where new technologies, mindsets, and working cultures emerge at dazzling speed. But what of leadership training? Are the models adopted by many companies and organisations still working along traditional lines, and if […]
How to make the most of business travel
Business travel is something some of us love and some of us hate. This usually depends on our circumstances. When we are young, free and single then business travel is a great way to see the world, meet new people and experience different cultures. On the other hand, if you have a partner and a […]
Authority vs Anarchy: Freedom at Workplace
The business medium has become more and more preoccupied with management strategies and there are probably thousands of written and video pieces offering advice on how to balance organizational authority with employee freedom. The new generations impacted company culture, influencing the rise of a more progressive management that focuses on employee experience. The advantages […]
How to make business travel more efficient
Business travel is an inevitable part of company life. Whether you’re a large or small business, most companies will have to send employees around the world for meetings, research and business development at some point. Whilst there are real tangible benefits to business travel, there are also downsides, not least of which are the time […]
Leveraging Millennials at the Office
The millennial generation (people born roughly between 1985 and 2000) gets a bad rap, often described by older generations as self-centered and disrespectful. While they are often viewed in the workplace as difficult to manage, high maintenance, and disloyal, the millennial generation brings a lot of knowledge and tech expertise to the table. Millennial traits […]
How Workplace Comfort Affects Employee Commitment
In the United States, companies are always pressing to be more successful, more productive, more efficient. In many cases, CEOs believe that this press will help their companies survive. They may even view pushing these items to be their only chance of survival in a cutthroat work environment. In fact, by creating high stress, cutthroat […]
At a time of crisis: Leaders emerge
Musing on the never-ending challenge of running a household, a colleague recently propounded their steady-state theory of food shopping. Given all other conditions being equal; food consumed is replenished by new purchases, resulting in a steady stream of goods passing through the house which acts as an unchanging conduit for consumption. A small amount of […]
Investing in leadership development is invaluable
Developing leadership and management expertise and skills is an investment no business should overlook. Companies and organisations, big and small, operate more efficiently and are generally more successful when led by an effectual management team. Well-trained managers help boost morale and set clear objectives, aiding company success, amongst a whole host of other profitable benefits. […]
