It is always a matter of curiosity to me that we are so wedded to the idea that the appropriate number of hours work in a week is 37.5 or perhaps 40. After all, this is an entirely fabricated construct, though I assume rooted in the belief in the early 20th century that people were […]
It’s 2020, and so, if you are a manager or leader, now is the time to ensure you have 2020 vision! You may already have a number of things on your radar as you come back into the swing of things: projects left unfinished, that never-ending “important but not urgent” list, and strategic ponderings for […]
To channel that Australian classic film, “The Castle”, regardless of whether your summer break this year is destination Bonnie Doon or destination Buenos Aires, the rule remains the same: Leave means leave. There is no point saying (to yourself, and others) that you will be on leave, and then actually working. It’s actually a binary […]
Artemis Fowl said: “Being in command means making tough decisions. Not being in command means shutting up and doing what you’re told.” It is fair to say most of the leaders I worked for in my military career were schooled in the ways of Artemis Fowl II, the fictional child criminal mastermind; and arguably command […]
What we choose to celebrate, and how, sends messages about who we are and what we value as a team. As 2019 draws to a close, make sure that your organisation’s end-of-year celebration is an event everyone can enjoy. Keep it inclusive Half of Australians do not identify as Christian.[1] Dr Sondra Thiederman, author of […]
Most corporations strive hard to grow and deliver profits to shareholders by providing compelling products and services to customers. Each year, a comprehensive plan is put in place to deliver on business objectives, responsibilities and accountabilities allocated, project teams created, milestones set and budgets determined. Staff are recruited and measured according to their ability to […]
Who hates email? Who doesn’t hate email? A lot of us view it as source of endless frustration – as an interruption to ‘real’ work. For many, it signifies stress and unfeasible workloads. In fact, email has been the primary platform for business communication since the 1970s and until another universally adopted system for business […]
Thinking about the emotional state of employees is not just ‘nice to have’, if you are seeking a productive, engaged and loyal workforce. Research proves that employee happiness is correlated with better goal achievement, performance and productivity. Inspired employees are twice as productive as satisfied employees, and three times more productive than dissatisfied employees (see […]
When we imagine resilience, various images come to mind. You might think of a mountain climber surviving despite freakish weather and equipment failure, or a person who has experienced significant disadvantage from a young age and who perseveres against the odds. Perhaps you imagine an army drill sergeant shouting insults at recruits to toughen them […]
Have you ever called in sick to stay home and binge watch your favourite series?? Have you ever heard a colleague address another colleague inappropriately and not commented? Have you ever “borrowed” supplies from the stationary cupboard and not gotten around to returning them? Have you ever been asked by your organisation to act unethically […]