Our inboxes and feeds have been filled with emotional responses to our leaders and Brexit. The result took everyone by surprise – even the leaders who planned it all, but then failed to have a follow up plan for the outcome, they ...
Just One Little Thing – Learning to Listen
It’s just one little thing. But it’s also a big thing. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: the greatest gift you can give someone is to truly listen to them. Last year I learned to listen. I mean, really listen. Listen without ...
Trust and how the VW scandal is a lesson for business
In the wake of the VW emissions scandal, I have been thinking about the role trust plays in relationships, both private and corporate. One of the worrying things about the scandal is the fact that the device installed to defeat ...
Acknowledging improvement
I heard a comedian on the radio talking about being present at company events where awards are handed out. He mentioned that the worst, in his opinion, was the “most improved” award. He went on to explain, that although all the ...
Being mindful – communication in a digital age
Earlier this year I had one of those rewind moments when I was not being mindful and lived to regret it. I was merrily, but hastily, chopping firewood and managed to part with the end of my left thumb. The painful result was a ...
How to recognise effective leaders
This TED video provides a fantastic illustration of the dynamics of a critical element of effective leadership. There are some great insights into the shape of leadership in this clip. It illustrates some of the qualities we see ...
Highlands Ability Battery – Making the most of Me
I currently have two careers. I run creativity sessions, helping people to use creative, off the wall ways to gain new insights or potential solutions to difficult problems. I always see the big picture and I tend to treat the ...
Company league tables – are they an effective measurement tool?
A search for company league tables will take you to some well-known global publications with myriad headlines that are the business equivalent of the “click-bait” you see in more popularist publications: “10 sexiest men for 2014”, ...
Corporate Integrity Lapses
Integrity is defined as ‘the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles’. It is an attribute universally coveted by companies and senior managers. One that needs constant nurturing because it is fragile. As Tom ...
The three pillars of leadership development
We had an interesting discussion with a client recently about models for leadership development, specifically how the approach to identifying and nurturing potential leaders has changed over the years and how it should be tackled ...
