The first time you meet someone, often the conversation opener is “Hi, so what do you do?” Your response to this innocent question will likely determine the direction and tone of the rest of your chat. The person you have just met is likely to unconsciously relate to you in a certain way based on the title or job you shared with them. Now, before you judge them too harshly, you should know that you are probably guilty of doing the same with other people and even with yourself.
Although surfing is a passion of mine as a surfer I make a really good management consultant. Once you experience the thrill of riding
that perfect wave you are hooked for life. Many entrepreneurial managers and business owners can relate to that feeling of looking for the next business wave and being ready to ride it as far as they can.
Unfortunately, not all waves are perfect. In fact, the perfect break is a bit of a rarity. But as addicted surfers we continue searching for the perfect break motivated by the potential thrill of success. From my experience in business there are some very strong similarities to be drawn between surfing and management. Continue reading “The Surfer’s Guide to Management – 10 gnarly lessons you can use every day.”
Recently a much publicised New York Times expose’ on Amazon’s work practises highlighted that it undertakes an annual culling of underperforming employees known within the company as “purposeful Darwinism”. The practice involves reviewing the performance of all employees over the year and then letting the lowest performers go. Is this poor treatment of employees or good management practice? Continue reading “Amazon culls employees. Is it right or wrong?”
We have all heard of the benefits of collaboration. The win-win compromise and partnerships based on establishing harmonious working relationships where everyone wins. However, creating this utopic vision might not be the best thing for you, your business or your long term success. Instead of always getting along, you may need to swim against the management theorists and ensure that there is a healthy element of competitiveness, conflict and tension in your working relationships. Continue reading “Competitive tension can push you to greater success”
Any major change program brings with it stress and unc
ertainty for the people impacted. They are nervous about the unknown and unsure of their futures and whether they will be able to survive and thrive in the proposed new world. To get everyone to accept the changes, and actively participate, you need to lighten the mood and increase engagement using some fun change strategies. Here are ten strategies that were hugely successful in a recent major program of work. Continue reading “10 ways to put fun into your change program”
Building a successful change management program is all about sweating the small stuff. As people going through change and move from where they are today to where you want them to be, you need to ensure they are ready, willing and able to operate in the new world. This means using the right building blocks to achieve success.
At one time or another we have all had that boss that we could never seem to please. They seemed to challenge everything we did and kept us going from pillar to post trying to figure out how to satisfy them. You may have muttered a couple of words under your breath which are probably unprintable here as they continually reminded you that your work was not up to scratch, demanding you start again and get it right this time! All you wished for was a nice easy going boss. But that #$^% of a boss may actually have been the best thing for you. Continue reading “Is your boss too nice?”
Turning insight out 