Articles
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Presentation
There seems to be one inalienable truth about business presentations – they’re dull. We have almost come to expect it. Whether it is a customer facing sales pitch or an internal strategy presentation the general quality is low.
Ethics
Every now and again our moral backbone takes a blow. Given the day to day challenges we face many things are an uphill challenge. Most of us welcome a challenge; we work to live, to house our families and to educate our children. Everything else is probably an extra – such as holidays, fast cars and other material trappings.
Collaboration
Unless organisations align themselves internally and practise effective collaboration as the oil that greases the machine then they are doomed to mediocrity and decline. We know that organisations have changed shape; restructured with all the chaos and fractured relationships that come with these events.
The Rewarding Environment
The cycle of each generation of new recruits brings with it new challenges for the leadership in any organisation. One of today’s greatest challenges is the ability of any organisation to create and foster a rewarding environment.
Women in Leadership β are we fit for the future?
Organisations must act…. Now. The 10% of women in UK boardrooms could not only stagnate at its current growth rate but it could potentially reverse.
Customer Service - the Dive for the Bottom
Customer service has deteriorated considerably over recent years. Consequently Internet alternatives have grown significantly partly due to the appalling and deteriorating service levels on the High Street.
Innovation
Without innovation a business will fail. The failure will not be instant but the business will wither and die. Only true innovators will be able to compete in the future.
Leadership Profile
Organisations need to describe the Leadership profile they require to carry themselves to the future. It is quite clear in every walk of life whether it be industry, politics or the military, Leadership is so crucial to performance. It is almost a statement of the blindingly obvious.
So...why Should I follow You?
I was inspired to write this article after spending hours researching the seminal works on leadership by Professor Barbara Kellerman at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. As she points out, we spend a considerable time studying leaders (and good leaders at that); we spend precious little time looking over the fence at ‘followers’ and why they choose to follow – or not.
Change β the turnoff to the Future
Like the weather change never goes away. Sometimes it is foisted upon us by circumstances like recent events in the financial markets; sometimes it is the result of carefully crafted strategies to enter new markets and withdraw from others.
Character and Courage
There are countless aspects to Leadership, yet none so profound, intangible or valuable as strength of character and courage.
The eight stages of change
I am often asked, ‘What are the keys to creating major change?’ In my mind there are essentially eight stages in the process. Each one has to be effectively completed in sequence, and it is folly to try to skip one or to assume that you have actually completed one before moving on to the next.
Inspirational Leadership
It is sadly quite frightening. I have just reviewed the outcome of a large programme with one of our multinational clients. They are not short of academic brilliance, or indeed good ideas.
Eight reasons for failure
Last month I wrote about the eight stages in the change process. Let me address the challenges in each of these stages and where the process can go horribly wrong. Organisations tolerate too much complacency as they address change.
Tension to deliver strategies
We understand how to analyse the relative economic advantage of differentiated products and services but there is very little understanding of or attention paid to implementing strategies. Partly this is caused by the tensions which naturally exist within the company.
The challenge for the future
Last month I was invited to speak at a conference about the challenge for the twenty first century. I was coming off a major change project and the research from our teambuilding programmes.
Thanks to Darwin
It is Christmas and a time for reflection, even for those of us caught up in the stress of what we call business. For me it is time to respond to the editor’s wishes and turn to the creative juices.
Leadership in crisis
It’s official! - I was not really surprised to be confronted by the headline, ‘Executive crisis hits top firms’ from the Financial Mail.
The parable of the Boiled Frog
If you have not heard the parable of the boiled frog I will enlighten you. If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water it will understandably scramble out pretty quick.
Articles
There seems to be one inalienable truth ...
Every now and again our moral backbone takes ...
Unless organisations align themselves ...
The cycle of each generation of new ...
Women in Leadership β are we fit for the future?
Organisations must act…. Now. ...
Customer Service - the Dive for the Bottom
Customer service has deteriorated ...
Without innovation a business will fail. ...
Organisations need to describe the ...
I was inspired to write this article after ...
Change β the turnoff to the Future
Like the weather change never goes away. ...
There are countless aspects to Leadership, ...
I am often asked, ‘What are the keys ...
It is sadly quite frightening. I have just ...
Last month I wrote about the eight stages in ...
We understand how to analyse the relative ...
Last month I was invited to speak at a ...
It is Christmas and a time for reflection, ...
It’s official! - I was not really ...
The parable of the Boiled Frog
If you have not heard the parable of the ...