Whatever happened to…?
Derek West from RightTrack reminisces about technology and business practices from a bygone era. Lost pieces of working life After 30 years in accounting, industry, IT consultancy and management training, it feels like it’s time to take stock. It is ironic really, as stock takes are a big part of a junior accounting trainee’s life, […]
L&D news round-up: 12 Sept
SYNOPSIS NEEDED A day later than normal due to Learning Live, here’s our news round-up. How to stop the declining trust in leadership – The Globe and Mail Right across the world, leadership practices can always improve. Lifelong learning for literacy and sustainable development – the Jamaica Observer Jamaica commits to lifelong learning for adults. […]
Five leadership techniques for the technically minded
It's essential that the technical experts in an organisation are encouraged to step into leadership roles, otherwise we risk restricting diversity in the leadership pool, warns Chris Atkinson. You are most likely familiar with the concept of the dual career ladders offered in many organisations, where employees decide whether to pursue a technical or managerial […]
L&D news round-up: 5 Sept 2014
A day later than normal, but here it is – the week in L&D. Why are doctors so reluctant to be leaders in the NHS? – The Guardian Does the NHS need more management? Food Bank Makes a Difference With Culinary Training – Liberty Voice One way to cut down on food bank reliance… America’s ‘skills […]
Leadership: The cult that led to bad management
Originally published on his blog, Donald Clark takes on the ever-popular topic of leadership, with predictably fiery results. 'Leader' is an odd word when it comes to management. It’s a bit phoney and exaggerated but does it also lead to dysfunctional behaviour? What do you do for a living? I’m a ‘leader’. Cue laughter and […]
What does leadership confidence mask?
Kate Lanz explores how the confidence trap catches men and women out differently and what organisations can do to help. Men and women can equally be confident in the workplace, yet presenting this confidence can impact others in very different ways. When speaking of a confident male leader, we tend to use terms such as […]
The one thing that trumps drive when it comes to great leadership
No matter how much drive you have – there is one thing that will always beat it when it comes to business leadership success. The extrinsic vs. the intrinsic. Andrew Jenkins explains. In other words, leaders driven by extrinsic factors will always lag behind those driven by the intrinsic. Business is like sport: the most successful players love the […]
Ten skills for the modern manager
Whether you employ one person or 1000, there are ten skills that no employer or manager should be without. If used appropriately they will enhance your work environment and make your team happy. Christina Hession from Toastmasters International details these 10 essential skills: Critical thinking: A successful critical thinker gathers information, before interpreting it, analysing […]
Are CHAVs the inspiring leaders we are looking for?
Past the provocative title, Tim Hawkes has some great points to make about what makes a successful leader. We all aspire to be inspiring. This is the goal of many leaders in business. Why is this? The word 'inspiring' conjures up imagines of kings and generals making speeches before battle, filling the troops with pride […]
Leadership stories: Did coyness kill the BBC?
Michael Maynard relays a recent story about his experiences of the BBC and its leadership problems. At the recent Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the disastrous digital project that was abandoned by the BBC at a cost of nearly £100m to licence payers, senior BBC executives were full of apologies. It was a project that […]
The art of sustainable leadership
Executive coach Kate Lanz looks at how to maximise the brain’s full potential for sustainable leadership. Not many boards consider the emotional impact of strategic decisions on their leaders. But they should. New discoveries in neuroscience demonstrate that our brains do their best thinking when we feel emotionally and psychologically safe. However, organisations can often […]
Leadership in a VUCA World
Ben Morton of TwentyOne leadership tells us about the VUCA principle in leadership. The last five years have unquestionably been difficult times for business and the public. In a short space of time we have witnessed the banking crisis, phone hacking and MPs expenses scandals and the demise of many familiar high street names such […]
What is transformational leadership?
Why is transformational leadership so important? Anne Feeney tell us how you can make that change. ‘Leadership is about followership – investing in those who get the work done…Leaders inspire people to reach beyond themselves.’ General Colin Powell, Former US Secretary of State The challenge for many organisations today is how do you engage people […]
Being Branson: A study in authentic leadership
Few people would doubt Richard Branson’s ability to lead. Like many entrepreneurs he has passion, energy and an instinctive flair for business. This article from the Toolkit for Managers looks at how his authentic leadership style has helped to make him the successful business leader he is. Being bold Richard Branson has never courted convention. […]
Heroes of modern leadership
Inspiring leadership can come from anywhere, as John Sadowsky attests. The subject of 'heroes of modern leadership is both interesting and controversial for me. In many of my public appearances and leadership seminars, I refer to the 'myth of the hero', our fascination with the solitary charismatic figure who can 'change the weather', as Winston […]
Leadership: The way you think about it is broken
Think leadership rhetoric needs reinvigorating? The Chemistry Group's Tom Quayle thinks it needs a lot more than that. Most people think about leadership in an archaic way. And as much as I don’t mean to point the finger, chances are, you’re one of them. Frankly, the entire leadership belief system needs upending. Until we – […]
Leadership is not just for the boardroom
With the rise in ExecEd, it could be easy to forget that leadership is a skill set for every part of the business, writes Erica Sosna, Author of Your Life Plan. The proliferation of material concerning leadership theory over the last 20 years, could lead one to believe that it is the exclusive concern of […]
21st Century leadership: How to meet modern business challenges
Allison Galbraith looks at the leadership skills and approaches best suited to the 21st Century and the best ways to develop them. Our view on what makes a great leader and the best leadership approaches to adopt has changed over time, partly as research has come up with new findings, but also (particularly since the […]
How executive leadership can improve anyone
James Flanagan argues effective leadership is not a trait limited to a few but one that is sown within everyone, constantly seeking the opportunity to blossom. It is the role of executive leadership not only to continually develop their own leadership skills but also to encourage others to do so for themselves. Our current dearth […]
How to ‘be’ a leader, not just how to ‘do’ leadership
Leadership is about who we are, not just what we say, say Roffey Park's Sue Binks and Tom Kenward. There is much talk of how complex and ambiguous, even volatile, the world of work has become in recent years. Leaders have to work within that complexity and make good decisions on a daily basis. As […]
