It’s good to talk: 82% of managers say ‘a chat’ is the best way to learn
Managers find an informal chat with a colleague is by far the most frequent and effective learning activity according to a new report. ‘How managers learn (in their own words),’ commissioned by online toolkit provider GoodPractice, questioned over 200 leaders and managers about how they assimilate information. Surprisingly, 82% will consult a colleague at least […]
TED Talks: Learning from leadership’s ‘missing manual’
This week's TED Talks features Fields Wicker-Miurin who discusses why leadership doesn't have a user's manual, but instead says stories of remarkable, local leaders are the next best thing. Wicker-Miurin is co-founder of Leaders' Quest, an organisation that brings together leaders from around the world to learn about key trends in their regions, and to […]
Coaching virtual leaders
Ghislaine Caulat explores why virtual leaders need support and development. During the last five years I have come across so many leaders asked from one day to the other to lead a team across geographies and being confronted with this new task without any preparation. One could argue that virtual working is really nothing new […]
Caption competition winner announced!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa do do do………. Come on China sign the deal Aga doo doo doo Yes obama they’re for real If they sign, will you say That you did it all your way Or will you, fly back cheap Board your humoungus air force one plane that can only damage the climate even more…(yes I […]
What does 2010 have in store for leaders?
The CMI’s Ruth Spellman gives us her predictions for a year in leadership. It is expected that official figures to be released later this month will reveal that the UK exited recession between October and December 2009. Obviously this is good news, but some commentators are already questioning how long the recovery will last. Ernst and Young’s […]
Employer reputation: A good month for…a bad month for…
In a new regular column, Simon Thomas casts his eye over some of the main employer reputation stories – good and bad- of the last month. Greggs the Bakers They may not be everybody’s cup of tea (or sausage roll) but Greggs is certainly doing something right having sold over a million mince pies a […]
Hand over the keys and let your novice leaders drive
Teaching people to drive in slippery and unpredictable conditions is a useful coaching analogy for improving the competence and confidence of would-be leaders, says Alan Ward. As snow in the UK has resulted in schools being closed and offices being depleted of commuter workers, my Canadian friends have mocked our collective inability to cope in […]
Are degrees useless?
One in 10 employers say degrees are ‘pointless’, whilst three in five choose experience over qualification, reveals study. A report has found that 61% of recruiting businesses value experience in the industry over qualification, whilst 8% say degrees are ‘pointless’ given the number of people graduating with similar grades. Student-employer matchmaking site studentgems.com, conducted a […]
Three ways to enhance the value of psychometrics
Are you wasting money on psychometric assessments? Ron Eldridge outlines three areas of focus that would help you use them to much greater effect. UK organisations spend around £100 million a year on psychometric assessments…and then use them in the wrong way. You could get much greater value from your assessments if you focus on […]
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 […]
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 […]