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 […]
What is it to motivate? The Macquarie Dictionary tells us that the meaning of motivate is “to enthuse or inspire”; that the meaning of motivation is “purpose, drive”; that the meaning of motive is “something that prompts a person to act in a certain way or that determines volition, an incentive”; and that the meaning […]
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 […]
“I’m always aware of writing around things I can’t do, and I’ve come to think that that’s actually what ‘style’ is – an avoidance of your deficiencies.” George Saunders I love this quote. It is self-deprecating in a highly original and intelligent way. George Saunders, by the way, won the Man Booker prize in 2017 […]
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 […]