I don’t think it can. Not sustainably. I’ve been pondering this question while sitting on a plane flying back from a break in New York. I find that having a break not only helps me to find my end of year mojo, but it also clears my mind enough that these questions come bubbling up. It’s a moot point for me as I’m a list and table gal. Even my travel plans are tabled. I am very organised and systemised in all parts of life, and certainly in our business [Read More…]
When we take a closer look at why a staff member would be dissatisfied enough to walk away from a secure job, it pays to look past the income, that is not usually the leading factor. It is the way they are left feeling about themselves, usually as a result of those they work for. How do you treat the people who work for you? Do you lead them using empathy, honesty and empowerment? Are you having the discussions that will give you this information? [Read More…]
Here we are looking at the end of yet another year. I’m not sure where 2017 went, it flew by so fast. Still, it’s not over yet, November has settled in and with a little over a month before the end of year wind down, there is much to be done. The workload can be overwhelming if we let it get to us. This time last year I took my first ever solo trip away. As a wife, mother of six and a business owner, for many years it was not something that had ever entered the equation. [Read More…]
Words can be very powerful, and they can’t be taken back once they’ve been spoken. Just a few short words can have an enormous impact for those on the receiving end. Sometimes that impact has wonderful consequences, sometimes not. Choose them carefully. What we say to others not only influences how they feel about themselves, but how they feel about us. Your words represent you, and how you want to be perceived. It’s difficult to have respect for someone who cuts down others to get their point across. [Read More…]
While there is a big difference between the two, they are often used interchangeably. We all have our own responses to deadlines. Even within our office, the answers varied considerably, ranging from ‘oh, I love deadlines, it’s when I get my best work done’ to ‘I hate them! I can’t think under that sort of pressure.’ There are clearly two sides to the deadline story as some see them as a very good thing, while others see them as a stressful situation. So how do you feel about working under a tight schedule? [Read More…]
One of the best metaphors I have seen for an organisational culture was the one described by John Hoover and Angelo Valenti in their book “Unleashing leadership: aligning what people do best with what organizations need most”. They explain that workplace culture is like a dragon. It will often start off similar to Puff the magic dragon, one that is protective, supportive, and kind. BUT if it is left to its own devices, ignored or neglected, it can transform into a destructive beast, which will consume the best of intentions. [Read More…]