What should business leaders change to thrive in the gig economy?
Over the past 30 years, the world has changed considerably in terms of technological advancements, economic uncertainty, political upheaval and job security, which has led to the creation of the ‘gig economy’. It has become almost normal to hold multiple jobs or only secure shortterm contracts due to the increased ability to change jobs frequently […]
Is your workplace ready for the ‘Prince Harry effect’?
By talking about the mental health issues he suffered after the death of his mother, Prince Harry has done more to destigmatise mental health than years of campaigning. Although the Daily Mail would have us believe that this is a bad thing – calling for an end to ‘emotional incontinence’ and a return to the […]
Can you really teach your people to be more creative?
Creativity can be intimidating and subjective, and the information on the subject overwhelming. At any point in their careers people can be deemed creative ‘haves’ or ‘have nots’ and this can influence the way they think about themselves and others. I first became interested in the L&D aspect of creativity when I became responsible for […]
Looking at leadership in a post-truth world
Post-truth is a new term and it is defined as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Typical post-truth strategies include fake news, constant repetition of untruths, blaming of the innocent and generally rendering the truth as of secondary […]
“Bloody difficult” Brexit? How to handle your own tough conversations
The start of the Brexit negotiations has highlighted the problems with handling difficult – sometimes embarrassing and emotionally-charged – conversations. The PM has already set out her position by promising to be “bloody difficult”. A sense of awkwardness puts people on the defensive, makes them reticent and has a negative affect on decision-making in general. […]
Five bad habits good leaders don’t have
We read a lot about what you should be doing as a leader. But what about the things you shouldn’t be doing? These five habits are a sure way to turn your employees against you, and shatter any respect that they might have for you. So if you do them, lose them. Here’s how. Stop […]
How to develop digital leaders
The uncertainty of the 21st Century demands a new breed of leader. These leaders have a digital mindset. They motivate employees and deliver results in the face of constant change. Many are missing from today’s succession plans and leadership programmes, which were built to develop traditional leaders. To find and nurture this new breed, we […]
Supporting elearning authors, an existential crisis for L&D and goal-setting for remote colleagues
Give yourself a well-earned break and take five to catch up on some highlights of this week’s L&D news and opinion. Let us know what you think of the articles we’ve shared, and tell us what you’ve enjoyed reading too! A new goal-setting framework for a team that doesn’t work on projects together (Buffer Blog) Goal-setting […]
Leadership Development – long or short sessions?
Hello Would really appreciate people’s thoughts, and also pointing in the direction of any relevant research. I’m currently working on an internal leadership programme with strands for both the front line and middle management, topics have been identified and we are scheduling in a curriculum. I’ve clustered sessions together into 1.5-2 days of delivery delivered once […]
Is ethical leadership on the line?
Since leadership behaviour fundamentally influences the development of ethical conduct, two important questions arise: ‘Will I be a champion, an exemplar or both?’ and ‘How do I perform either role?’ If you are a senior leader, such as head of a business division, in the top management team or even the CEO, others will normally […]
How can first-time managers become good leaders?
Whilst there are many factors which can influence the success of your team, a great manager is a key factor when it comes to keeping people motivated and on the road to success, either as individuals, a team, or an organization. An effective manager can make all the difference between a successful team and one […]
Women in Leadership:Despatches From The Front Line
Starting a conversation about women in leadership requires a clear head and a deep breath. It is a hot topic, raising issues and temperatures in offices and boardrooms around the world, and the subject of much academic study. The statistics are many and varied, and whichever way you spin them, the news is still frustrating […]
Tips To Motivate Yourself
Leadership? Not with these 5 practices
The highest employment percentage since records began, the lowest unemployment rate since 1975: statistics such as these are fantastic tribute to the ongoing success of UK business. Yes the future may be a little uncertain with the formal Brexit process about to start; but it seems as though we have a good platform on which […]
The leadership manifesto: developing leaders at all levels
The concept and nature of leadership has probably never been more debated than it is now. Last year saw Theresa May take over as PM in the UK after David Cameron stepped down, while the US elected a new President – where his opponent criticised him for having no prior political experience. The debate around […]
There’s only one rule for effective communication
There’s never been another point in history where so many people are reading so much and communicating so often (so, thanks Internet). Yet, for all the talking and typing that swirls both on and offline, effective communication still eludes many. Now, we all know some of the more important factors when getting your message across […]
Onboarding senior leadership – making the right first impression to ensure success
Corporate governance, investor relations, reputation….ultimately success lies with the behaviours, attitudes and expectations of the board and senior management teams. But what happens when a new leader joins the team: how do you help them to provide leadership which will strengthen the organisation? In this article we take a look at the importance of […]
Training for leadership
In March 2016 I posted an article on TrainingZone entitled “Leadership is a journey.” It was based on the John Donahoe quote “Leadership is a journey, not a destination. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a process, not an outcome.” In this article I’m going to return to that theme, looking at […]
Why Leadership Is Learned From Experience & Fails
Here’s the thing about leadership. You probably didn’t study it in college or design school. And yet here you are, an entrepreneur with a growing business, adding staff, and wondering how you are supposed to “manage” these employees. This is your first mistake. You will need to drop the term “manage” and adopt instead the […]
Soft skills analysis: Theresa May
It can’t be easy to be Theresa May. The comparisons to Thatcher, the near obsession with her shoe collection rather than her policies and the famous “bloody difficult” aspersions to name but three. But what about leadership and soft skills? May has steadfastly directed herself away from a gregarious style of leadership, some might say […]
