Raising your head above the parapet

I am forever, it seems, banging on about how important it is to be visible, whether you expect to get a new job, help with your existing one, to keep informed about your field or whatever. Well this random statistic… Continue reading

When bullying is just a part of the tool-kit of senior executives

This is Anti-Bullying Week.  Although I often encounter it, this probably wouldn’t have hit my radar if it wasn’t because I’m teaching some relatively young students at The Oxfordshire Business and Enterprise School (TOBES) right now. There’s a very thought… Continue reading

Planning for the New Year – planning to accomplish something – FREE annual planner

As ever, at this time of year, minds turn to the new one, to resolutions, goals, and the shimmering light of dreams at the end of the tunnel. I’ve written quite a few times about the value (or otherwise) of… Continue reading

Elevator pitches – engaging others in social talk

“I never know quite how to introduce myself…” “People never seem prepared to listen to me when it’s my turn to explain what I do…” “Well, I’m just one of those boring…” “I come away thinking that they haven’t really… Continue reading

Psychodynamic confidants in fiction – Deanna Troi – Star Trek

I realise that this is a bit of a side-issue, but a few people express surprise that my role exists, and so I thought it might be amusing to point out that it is far more widespread than you might… Continue reading

Have you tested your own Customer Care experience?

Given that I spent the first third of my career helping organisations in the pursuit of Excellence (a la Tom Peters), the first element of which was to be “obsessed with customers”, it is hardly surprising that I notice customer… Continue reading

Speed networking – not all it is cracked up to be

This evening, I received an invitation to attend a speed networking event in Berkshire. Now, I’m not particular keen on these kind of events, because I do feel that relationships are important in business, but the chance to have an… Continue reading

Business preparedness for swine flu – oh, come on!

Yes, I know that it’s easy to be cynical, but when you receive an official email from a Government quasi-Quango, with particular responsibility for business continuity in the small to medium enterprise sector, containing important guidance on how to deal… Continue reading