It’s amazing, isn’t it, how quickly we become creatures of habit? Starting my role with CommsMasters has meant that I now have a daily commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow (when I’m not out visiting clients) and, on reflection, I’m a little bit worried about how soon I’ve got into a ‘routine’. Up at the same time, out at the same time, arrive at the station, grab a latte and jump on the train – heading for ‘my’ seat. It’s only ...
By Steve Mostyn >> Working with business leaders over the years, it seems that the relationship leaders have with the future is a key one. It underpins all their activities from day-to-day, ‘just in time’ challenges to capital investment and assumptions about talent shortages and ‘pipelines’. However, the future is such a deeply embedded assumption it is often not brought to light in day-to-day conversation outside of the project review and calendar-planning processes. Yet those leaders who are in a ...
By David Mason >> One of the key strengths that successful leaders share is that they’re confident. To get where they are they’ve had to have confidence in their own ability, confidence in their strategy and the confidence to ‘hang in there’ when others gave up. However, when strengths are over-used they can quickly become weaknesses, and to put this into a very current context we only need consider the case of the banking industry. In a scenario reminiscent of the one ...
By Heather Campbell >> Being a good listener is one of the skills most frequently cited as essential to good communication. And the majority of people want to be good listeners. On the surface, it seems like an easy thing to do. After all, it’s just about shutting up, paying attention to the other person and keeping an open mind. Isn’t it? If only it were that easy! Here are some of the glib statements people make about listening – and why ...
By Heather Campbell >> John Lewis Christmas adverts have become such a hit that the 2012 commercial had its own trailer on Channel 4 before it was first aired. Wow – an advert for an advert – that’s something! I like the ad even though it’s a bit schmaltzy. And its popularity highlights that, even in the hard-bitten 21st century when cynicism so often seems to rule, at heart we’re a tender lot. So, as well as reminding you to pop to ...
By Heather Campbell >> Lord McAlpine has spoken out strongly about the terrible impact on him of being wrongly accused of a heinous crime. And he has decided to hold to account those individuals who tweeted or otherwise broadcast the wrongful allegations – most of whom will have done so without stopping to think that there was a real human being affected. Technology allows anyone with an internet connection to communicate information – that they may have no proof is accurate – ...