The rising cost of living, combined with the desire to live and work in big cities, where opportunities are more abundant, has resulted in a growing number of millennials opting to become housemates with their co-workers. In fact, this trend has become so big that several major organizations have begun to develop property, on or […]
Work is a huge part of our lives. Think about it: assuming that we work an average 39 hours a week, that's over 90,000 hours in a lifetime, or about a third of our lives! And, as the writer Annie Dillard once said, "How we spend our days is of course how we spend our […]
A big problem has somehow landed in your lap. Everyone's looking to you to make the final decision, the ripples of which will extend far beyond your little team. But the boss went on holiday with a clear "do not disturb" notice. What do you do? How Urgent Is the Decision? Is the boss's unavailability […]
Communication, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Team Management, Uncategorized
You'd think that respect is a timeless value that needs no explanation. But there have been large shifts in what it looks like in the workplace over recent years. For example, not so many years ago, male managers would likely have expected to be addressed as "Mr.," while their team members might have accepted sexual […]
Career Skills, Communication, Expert Interview, Learning Skills, Uncategorized
"You know what, Simon? I think they should fire you for what you've done." As conversational gambits go, it was a showstopper. It certainly stopped me in my tracks. I began to panic. I couldn't talk. I tried to breathe normally. This was going to be a more difficult conversation than I thought. Introducing Ralph… It […]
When it comes to motivational clichés, I've heard them all. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Or perhaps that old classic: "Keep calm and carry on." But, before you roll your eyes, clichés can work. Just look at Nike's world-famous "Just Do It" slogan. It's one that reportedly helped the company to increase its share […]
If you've never heard the expression "Death by PowerPoint," take a look at the Grim Reaper's* slide, below. I'm sure you've been there. That presentation that never seems to end. The presenter going on and on… and on. You stopped listening half an hour ago. That's when you began paying more attention to the clock […]
In Dianna Booher's view, you can't separate leadership and communication. Indeed, she believes that learning to communicate "is the essence of leadership and the reflection of your thinking." So, if you're a poor communicator, you’ll always be a poor leader, regardless of the merit of your ideas. Put like that, this soft skill packs a […]
Communication, Expert Interview, Leadership, Project Management, Uncategorized
Chances are that we all know our OMGs from our LOLs by now. But there are hundreds of acronyms out there that we could be using to make our lives and our jobs that little bit easier. They range from the weird and wonderful, to the highly technical and professional. So, if you're left scratching […]
It's not always easy to keep team morale high. Sometimes something as simple as working with a colleague who is in a bad mood or is having a bad day (go easy on them... it happens to the best of us!) can cause team spirit to nosedive. Luckily, these kinds of moods can be broken relatively […]
