Leading from the bottom
According to professor Graham Jones, too many senior leaders adopt a top-down approach to their roles. We’ll let him explain. Organisational structures are almost always drawn with leaders at the top, and leaders are expected to inspire followership among ‘the people below. Too often, I come across that dreadful word ‘subordinates’ in organisations, which further […]
Caption competition
And the winner is… the caption, “Who stole my hula hoop?” Photo credit: Steven Kazlowski/NPL/Rex Features Congratulations to Fiona Bailey who has won this month’s caption competition! A bottle of wine will be winging its way to you. In order to enter our caption competitions you need to sign in to become a registered member of […]
How much core-business knowledge should our leaders have?
Nowhere more than in the leadership arena do you need to be a subject matter expert. Amanda Goodall makes the case. One of the unanswered questions in business is how much a leader needs real hands-on, nut-and-bolts knowledge of the core business. Does Ian Powell, chairman and senior partner at PwC, have to be a […]
How leaders can gain competitive advantage through employee engagement
Leadership behaviour has a significant impact on employee engagement. Jack Wiley of the Kenexa High Performance Institute offers practical tips on how leaders can create a high-achieving workforce and be seen as more effective. Charles de Gaulle, the French general and statesman, emphasised the value of a military leader when he said: "Men are of […]
Caption competition
and the winner is… with the caption “When the EU talked about fused economies, this wasn’t entirely what they’d planned. “ Picture credit: Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Martin Poole/Mood Board/Rex Features Congratulations to andrewjacobs who has won this month’s caption competition! A bottle of wine will be winging its way […]
Empathy: The surprising truth about what connects us
Psychologist Martyn Newman tells us why empathy is so important, and why it’s not only about being nice. Late last century, four Italian neuroscientists stumbled upon a discovery that twenty years later has radically changed our understanding about the way all business relationships work; and which has especial resonance for HR professionals looking to develop […]
Cultivate a co-operative rather than competitive advantage
In a period of market consolidation it’s time to focus on your customers, not your competitors. Janet Garcia tells us more. No observer could have failed to notice the scale of consolidation underway in the training and elearning industry during 2011. We saw Lumesse acquire Edvantage and Taleo take over learn.com. SuccessFactors acquired Plateau Systems, […]
How to be successful in your first 100 days
Having a plan for your first 100 days will help you get your new leadership role off to a flying start, says Fiona Rawlinson. In the current global economy, making an impact early on in a new leadership role is more important than ever. Your performance in your first 100 days can be the difference […]
Is it better to be loved or feared?
Martin Addison of Video Arts examines a controversial idea from Machiavelli and how it applies to today’s leaders. The question of whether it is better to be loved or feared as a leader is often raised in discussions around leadership development, however this is not a new debate. It was first posed 500 years ago, […]
Caption competition
And the winner is… “The latest model of the ‘Hotpointer’ dishwasher was a little lacking in design.” Congratulations to tkakadu who has won this month’s caption competition! A bottle of wine will be winging its way to you. In order to enter our caption competitions you need to sign in to become a registered member […]
Leaders prefer informal learning, says research
Leaders and managers prefer to learn informally, according to a study on leadership development carried out by GoodPractice. The GoodPractice research looked at the key challenges faced by managers in UK organisations today, where they go for support and to understand the effectiveness of the support they receive. The biggest challenge faced by leaders and […]
Closing the ‘reality gap’ to build stronger leaders
Alan Garvey looks at how organistions can close the gap between perceived and real leadership ability. Leadership requires more than technical know-how. Yet many leaders find themselves in positions of authority having worked up the ranks due to their technical abilities and not necessarily due to their business skills. The misperception that many managers […]
How self-awareness frees us to be innovative and effective leaders
Self-awareness fuels ingenuity which in turn builds better leadership skills, says James Flanagan. Bentz (1985) identified leadership styles associated with managerial derailment in the retail industry. Researchers at the Centre for Creative Leadership similarly concluded that managers who are technically competent but fail are variously perceived as arrogant, vindictive, untrustworthy, emotional, compulsive, over-controlling, insensitive, […]
What is neuroleadership?
Amy Brann explores what this fascinating new field may mean to you. What is neuroleadership? Neuroleadership is the field that uses neuroscience (the scientific study of the brain) to underpin leadership concepts. Due to advances in our understanding around how the brain works over the last twenty to thirty years more fields are turning to […]
Insight: The differences between male and female leaders
Men and women have different leadership strengths, and organisations need a balance of both if they are to be truly effective, claims a new study from Talent Innovations. The company analysed the 360° feedback results of nearly 14,000 UK leaders and managers to identify the differences in how men and women were rated against a […]
Trainer’s Tip: The barefoot project manager
Spencer Holmes has a story for the community from last year’s marathon. This time last year I had just completed the London Marathon, barefoot. Since then I have been cogitating on a comparison between running barefoot and project management. I sometimes use a method known as ‘metaphorical attribute listing’. This involves using the attributes of […]
OAP or VIP?
Simon Drury shares some insights into the continuing need for personal significance, particularly after leaving the usual workplace. Why we work Work is an integral part of our lives. It enables us to establish our credibility in society, demonstrate our skills and capabilities and achieve our goals and aspirations. It affords us the opportunity […]
The TZ interview: Charles Handy
At a recent Benchmark for Business event, we caught up with leading thinker and business author Charles Handy to get his thoughts on leadership and the workforce of the future. bits://v/aN7Zj6Wv-JeYudoL6 For more information about Benchmark for Business events, click here At a recent Benchmark for Business event, we caught up with leading thinker and […]
How to engage senior leaders in the L&D process
Wendy Brooks of Hemsley Fraser gives five tips on how to get your leaders to support and champion learning. Is your L&D process fully supported by the senior leaders in your organisation? If so, it is much more likely to be effective. If they are not engaged, it is a missed opportunity. When senior leaders […]
Caption competition
And the winner is . . . “If you ask me . . . this identity parade is rigged.” Picture credit: Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 David McEnery/Rex Features Congratulations to Audrey who has won this month’s caption competition! A bottle of wine will be winging its way to you. In […]