I’ve seen this happen time and time again. Managers and business owners who hire people like them, because naturally, we like, trust and respect people who are like us. It’s familiar, safe, and predictable. I read this article on Women’s Agenda this morning – “Why focussing on the team could lead to greater diversity” *, and it got me thinking …
I am a firm believer in strategic alliances and the power of collaboration, and am in fact in the midst of setting up a community of small business owners to help them leverage off each other’s strengths and experiences. As a result of my brain being in “collaboration fever”, I found myself susceptible to a marketing email that I would …
I had written a post about the part Carrots and Sticks plays in motivation, and this post has languished in my drafts folder for almost a year. It was complete, at least, I thought it was, but it has never seen light of day because I felt that something wasn’t quite right but I couldn’t put my finger on it. …
Introverts are people who draw energy from the inner world, a world of ideas, pictures and memories. If you are an introvert, you would probably relate to most of the statements below: Being an introvert does not in any way mean that you are shy, socially inept and any other negative stereotypes that are commonly used. There are many myths …
If you saw a plumber advertise in the following way, you’d probably think it was a joke. “I have the latest xyz spanner which can tighten your nuts and bolts with 30% greater efficiency” And sadly it’s not a joke. Many businesses advertise like this, especially therapists and health practitioners. The assumption is that your audience knows what your tools …
Consider what happens when you hear someone use your name. If you are within earshot, your ears prick up. Whether you intend to or not, you start to pay attention. So when you send emails to your customers or prospects, use their name if you want them to pause before hitting “spam” or “delete”. Using a person’s name implies that …
A couple arrive at a restaurant. They are told there is 15-minute wait and are offered a spot at the bar while they wait. They decide that they are ok with a 15 minute wait, but as they head towards the bar, they start to look a little surprised. The path towards the bar is lined with unoccupied tables. Some …
Having core values that are clearly articulated sometimes means making difficult choices. It is about taking a stand and having conviction. When questioned about their core values, many people have difficulty responding. They either can’t pinpoint them or produce generic answers that are “nice” words and ones often used for the purpose of developing “core values”. But words mean different …
You would not give it a second thought if you heard the words “cost-benefit analysis” used in a business context. It would be expected. Weighing up decisions, proposals has been a necessity in my career so cost-benefit analyses have been a natural part of my decision making process, and unfortunately, a part of my vocabulary. When I use the phrase in …
Is there anything that I can do to help you do your job better? Such an important question and so scary for the person conducting the appraisal! What if it opens up a can of worms? What if their request is unreasonable? If it does open a can of worms, then good! It was a time bomb waiting to explode …
