I want my leader to…
Google 'Leadership' and you get 487m links, no doubt 488m by the time you read this. Stephen Walker's challenge is what to add to this colossal data storage that is worth that little extra global warming to keep the servers humming. This article addresses what a good leader would do for him, his or her characteristics, […]
Coaching models explored: ACHIEVE
The latest in Tim Hawkes’s occasional but exhaustive series exploring the various coaching models in use looks at the ACHIEVE model. Assessment: The first step is to assess the current situation. In order to get to where you want to be it’s important to know where you currently stand, and further what’s not working for […]
What makes a good leader?
Drawing on her own experiences, Leona Barr-Jones looks at the differences between leadership and management and why they are important in business. Leadership is the lifeblood of the British Army and underpins the people element of any operation in the military or business, innovating and shaping values and behaviours to ensure that an organisation performs […]
Coaching models explored: OPERA
In this edition of Coaching Models Explored, Tim Hawkes looks at a model called OPERA. This model has been described as being a ‘content-free framework’, though I would contend that all coaching models should be content free, as these should only ever be guidelines to steer the coach through a structured conversation, with all content […]
Coaching in a volatile world
Myles Downey tells us why coaching is the key to liberating your workforce in an uncertain business world. There is a generation growing up in our workplaces that has a very different sense of authority than for many within previous generations. This group have seen how older generations sold their minds and bodies to the […]
Training staff: The legal bit
Why not get your training programmes off to a good start next year? Make sure you’ve dotted all the lower case ‘j’s with some good legal advice from Monique Goodyer. There are a number of legal obligations that all employers must account for when training their staff. As an employer, you have a duty of […]
Six tips on how to question management without rocking the boat
Nick Williams gives the community some good advice on how to be tactful with the management team. Questioning the decisions your manager has made can be awkward, however with the right approach it can be done without rocking the boat. It is important to remember that a good manager will want you to show initiative […]
Gamification in modern day learning and project management
Glyn Davies gives us some gamification advice for project management success. Techniques borrowed from games are now increasingly boosting corporate training. Research company Gartner has predicted [1] that more than 50% of organisations that manage innovation processes will ‘gamify’ those processes by 2015. Gamification is the use of game design elements and mechanics to enhance non-game contexts. […]
Coaching models explored: VISTA
Tim Hawkes is back with another entry in this occasional series dissecting the industry’s popular (and not so popular) coaching models. I’ve written before in this blog about the uses and value of models in coaching, but I won’t apologise for repeating myself: Models are a great tool when coaching, particularly when you are fairly […]
Top tips for leading remote teams
Martin Baker shares best practice from the Toolkit for Managers. Managing employees in different locations is an increasingly common challenge. These tips will help you support your remote team members. Create a team plan Creating and sharing a plan for your team will help prevent misunderstandings which may arise across different sites. By having a […]
TrainingZone interviews: British Safety Council’s Neal Stone
Health and safety at work is more important than ever. We interviewed the British Safety Council’s Neal Stone to find out why. Health and safety regulation has changed considerably in the past few years. How difficult is it to keep on top of these important changes? The regulatory requirements concerning workplace health and safety in Great Britain have undergone significant review […]
Assessing Performance – the devil is in the detail
For many organisations, the annual performance review is just around the corner. This can be a formidable challenge for over-stressed managers with little time to complete the appraisal process. Assessing performance creates difficulties in getting the Appraiser and Appraisee to see ‘eye to eye’. When done right, the result can be a motivating experience for […]
The psychology of risk management in business
Thinking of taking a few risks? Read Dr Lynda Shaw's advice first. Psychologically, male and female leaders are programmed differently when it comes to risk-taking in business, but both are taking more calculated risks in 2014 following the battering the UK took in the last recession. Taking risks comes with its pros and cons – it […]
Job titles of the future
Resilience expert Joao Bocas muses over a few future job titles. Today, having a job is not just a necessity but a question of pride and endeavour. If you think that 50 years ago the focus would be on a much needed wage to deal with hardship of life, this still applies today but its […]
Culture shock: Looking at Gen Y and their managers
Sue Honore and Dr. Carina Paine Schofield from Ashridge Research give us some practical advice about how to engage Generation Y. A global survey from Ashridge Business School of almost 3000 managers and graduates shows that although managers admire the intelligence and energy of young professionals they dislike their strong focus on the self and […]
How do you double your workforce without chaos?
Saeed Sheikh shares his experience of increasing the business’s workforce. Doubling the workforce doesn’t mean doubling your headache. That’s not blind optimism; I know it can be done because I have done it myself in recent months. Opening a new office or doubling headcount in existing premises may seem like a recipe for stress, hassle […]
Coaching models explored: SCORE
Read this latest entry in Tim Hawkes’s occasional series dissecting popular (and not so popular) coaching models. In this continuing series exploring coaching models, some are widely applicable, some are more specifically ‘business’ oriented, and some – like the SCORE model – are perhaps best suited to working with an individual who is experiencing specific […]
How to hold on to talent in tough times
Martin Baker shares some good practice from the Toolkit for Managers. During periods of economic change, organisations must fight harder for survival and are dependent on top performers to give them the edge over their competitors. However, when the future is uncertain, the risk of losing key individuals is especially high. Here’s some practical advice […]
Coaching models explored: STAR
Here’s the latest entry in Tim Hawkes’s occasional series dissecting popular (and not so popular) coaching models The STAR model The idea of working to a model is especially useful when starting out in coaching, as is often the case when an organisation starts to develop and build a coaching culture. It provides both focus […]
Want to build your business? Prioritise your project managers
Project management is key to commercial success, but delivering the organisational bottom line depends on valuing and retaining people over skills, writes Lindsay Scott. In recent years project management has emerged from the traditional bastions of construction and heavy industry, permeating pretty much every sector. The Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that we will need […]
