An opportunity for middle managers to create change
85% of bosses believe hybrid working is bad for productivity and 87% of employees believe the complete opposite. Who’s wrong here? Who’s out of touch? Arguably, both. On this issue, at least. Productivity is very hard to measure and we are notoriously bad assessing it, for other and for ourselves. However, it shows a massiveContinue reading “An opportunity for middle managers to create change”
Playgrounds over Prisons
Careers can be prisons or playgrounds. Mine was both, only not the best way around. The first half was a playground. I worked in two parts of the business that were small, entrepreneurial units that worked in new technology. They were innovative, creative, dynamic environments where you were encouraged to contribute ideas, try things out,Continue reading “Playgrounds over Prisons”
We need to talk about redundancy
We need to talk about redundancy. I’ve experienced it three times. Redundancy hurts. It’s a rejection, however you wrap it up. All that tosh about “It’s the position that’s being made redundant, not you, so don’t take it personally” doesn’t wash. It’s bloody feels personal. Part of the pain is realising you were not asContinue reading “We need to talk about redundancy”
Paradigm Shifts
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” “(Remote working is) an aberration that we’re going to correct as soon as possible” Three statements by three men in the process of missing a paradigm shift happening right in front ofContinue reading “Paradigm Shifts”
Why managers want to RTO
Why do senior managers want everyone back in the office? Is it because their identity depends upon it? Let’s assume most of these managers are 40+. Let’s assume they are male, white, middle-class, married with kids. This is basically me, back when I was still in corporate. I had a demanding job. I worked longContinue reading “Why managers want to RTO”
Kwasi Kwarteng copies the CEOs
Is Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget just a government version of a normal corporate board-room SNAFU? Consider the parallels: What am I talking about? Kwazi’s ‘fiscal event’ or some corporate’s change programme, or corporate rebrand, or strategic re-organisation? Conservative governments have talked for a long time about bringing business-like approaches into government. This one seems to haveContinue reading “Kwasi Kwarteng copies the CEOs”
Meetings are the fast food of work
Meetings are the fast food of work. They look tasty and alluring but are ultimately unfulfilling You can never resist another meeting, even though you know they are bad for you. If you fill yourself up with meetings, you feel bloated, tired and anxious. Your colleague’s meeting always looks better than yours. Even if theContinue reading “Meetings are the fast food of work”
The High Church of Leadership
Have you been anointed to the High Church of Leadership? You see, not everyone can be a leader. You must be chosen, selected, groomed for the role. Your potential must be identified, you must be separated out from the herd and put on the elite track. You must learn the language and the rituals ofContinue reading “The High Church of Leadership”
Leadership is a troublesome word
I have problems with the word ‘Leadership’. It is freighted with all sorts of hidden meaning and emotions and it brings up different images for each of us. Churchill. Caesar. Stalin. JFK. Genghis Khan. Mandela. Heroes and villains. Positives and negatives. Compliance and rebellion. Good and bad. It is one of those words that obscuresContinue reading “Leadership is a troublesome word”
Bosses, shut up and listen!
“I built my career by building relationships in person…” “The most significant conversations in my career began with ‘Have you got 5 minutes…’ …” “I learnt most from sitting next to older workers and going down the pub with them…” … so we must all return to the office otherwise kids today will be deniedContinue reading “Bosses, shut up and listen!”
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