Creating new leaders: From firefighter to strategic visionary
When it comes to finding great leaders, we need more than troubleshooters and firefighters, argues Andrew C. Marshall, we need visionaries. "To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan… believe… act!" Alfred A. Montapert The complexity of organisations today reflects the inter-connectedness of systems, processes and people. Absent a path that […]
Caption competition: Winner announced!
“I don’t like liars, I don’t like cheats. I don’t like bullshitters. I don’t like schmoozers. I don’t like arse-lickers.” So what am I doing here? Congratulations to ianmcbrown who won November’s caption competition – he fought off some strong competition but it certainly made us here at TZ Towers chuckle. Well done – a […]
Would you pass the leadership test?
Paul Kennedy, HR director of global sportswear brand New Balance poses the questions every great leader should be able to answer. Since 1990 we have operated with a calm economy, successful organisations, low unemployment and generally a good warm feeling about everything that we do. In the last 12 months, the world has gone mad, […]
Finding the future leaders
Rumours of an upturn are all very well but whichever way the economy moves next, the hunt for the next generation of great leaders is on, says Roger Martin. But will leaders of the future be the same as the past or do we need to rethink what leadership looks like post the recent […]
Managers behaving badly
Almost two-thirds of managers consider staff Christmas parties a behavioural minefield while one-third don’t enjoy them at all. 61% of managers think that company Christmas parties are a behavioural minefield, with one in five knowing someone who has been disciplined or fired thanks to overenthusiastic festive frolics, according to a new survey carried out by […]
The ‘he-cession’ sees women boosting skills to break glass ceiling
Women are increasingly using the recession as an opportunity to improve their business skills in a bid to break through the glass ceiling, new research suggests. Despite the downturn taking a heavier toll on men than it is on women, research gathered by IT training company Indicia Training has reported a 54% increase in the […]
Bonanza book giveaway: Question 3
How well do you know your training? We are giving away two books a week between now and 18th December in our bi-weekly quiz, all you have to do is keep your eye out for the question which could appear anytime. The winner will be selected at random from the correct answers posted on the […]
Bonanza book club giveaway: Question 2
How well do you know your training? We are giving away two books a week between now and 18th December in our bi-weekly quiz, all you have to do is keep your eye out for the question which could appear anytime. The correct answers were any three of the following: Tim Hawkes (Unlimited Potential), Laura […]
Unexpected great leaders
Mark Walsh identifies what makes those unlikely candidates into such successful leaders. Leaders are freaks. Leadership is an individual matter and leaders may stand out from the crowd, or paradoxically, be unusual in how well they blend into one. In this article I would like to highlight The “common sense” or “heroic” model of leadership is […]
TrainingZone animation competition
Are you a closet animator, bursting with creativity? Well why not take part in our new competition to find the best short training animation using the free online animation program, XtraNormal. Just watch the short film below and be in with a chance of winning some great goodies including a bottle of wine and a […]
MPs speak out on leadership
Last week, the CMI launched its Better Managed Britain campaign, TrainingZone’s Verity Gough was there to ask the burning questions. Here’s what was said. bits://v/oBxwQJsT-58072-36800 Last week, the CMI launched its Better Managed Britain campaign, TrainingZone’s Verity Gough was there to ask the burning questions. Here’s what was said. bits://v/oBxwQJsT-58072-36800
Britain is failing women leaders, warns report.
The number of directorships held by women on the FTSE 100 corporate boards has remained at the same level of 12% as in 2008, a report has revealed. The 2009 Female FTSE report from Cranfield School of Management that details the number of women directors in the top 100 FTSE companies has revealed a discouraging […]
Mind the gap: The recession is no excuse for poor pay parity
Despite the Queen’s Speech revealing new moves to close the gender pay gap, Ruth Spellman warns that the fight for equality is not yet over, not by a long chalk. Much of the news in the run up to this year’s Queen’s Speech suggests that the government will press ahead with plans to require large […]
Organisational change – which model should I use? Part five
In the fifth article in his series, Larry Reynolds looks at the ‘Appreciative Inquiry’. Many approaches to organisational change are based on two key assumptions: first, that the change will be somehow led from the top of the organisation; and second, that the reason for change is that there is some kind of problem to […]
I’m a trainer – get me out of here!
Being in a recession is a bit like being in a jungle – the more you look at it; the harder it is to see a way through! TV presenter Ken Hames tells Ruth Moody how expeditions have given him inspiration as a leader and a trainer. Ken Hames has spent years in the jungle […]
CMI’s ‘Better Managed Britain’ campaign launches
More than 1,500 leaders and managers have pledged their commitment to a new manifesto launched by the Chartered Management Institute in a bid to nurture a nation of strong leaders and managers. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Synergy Health and the RSPCA have already pledged their support of the Manifesto which is also being backed by government. The Better […]
When bad things happen to good leaders
Despite our best efforts, sometimes life at the top can be cruel. Gregg Thompson says it’s time to take matters into your own hands. You’ve done all the right things. You’ve provided crystal clear direction to your organisation, rewarded courageous risk-taking, encouraged innovation, honored diversity, demanded personal accountability, put the customer first…but it all just […]
Leadership Lessons from Supernanny
What can a reality TV personality tell us about leadership? Owen Smith argues that Supernanny could teach L&D a thing or two. Jo Frost, aka TV’s Supernanny, could easily make the leap into business turnaround/performance management coaching if she wanted. OK, so I’m not suggesting that she starts putting the finance director on the ‘Naughty […]
You can’t learn leadership from a book (or google, or PowerPoint)
Becoming a great leader is about more than having an MBA or swotting up on the latest ‘how to lead’ guide, says Mark Walsh. You don’t need to read books on leadership to be a good leader – I know this as I’ve worked with some exceptional leaders in developing countries who didn’t read at […]
Organisational development – which model should I use: Part 4
In the fourth article in our series on organisational change models, Larry Reynolds examines the pros and cons of the ‘Systems theory’. Most people who want to bring about change in their organisations think in terms of cause and effect. If we introduce a new performance management process, then performance will improve. If we send […]