In a fast-evolving world, chances are that there will be times when communication goes awry.…
blogs and articles
Insights, thoughts and ideas to help you as a leader and – we hope – you find valuable.
Research Project: Are you a Quiet Leader?
Are you a quiet leader?
A leader who is high performing and successful in your career.
You may be an introvert or a quiet leader who gets stuff done by working quietly and patiently.
If any of the following resonates with you, I would love for you to help me out with my research.
Why is no-one listening?
Have you ever thought to yourself ‘why is no-one listening’? Listening can be really difficult…
Changing how we change
People talk about change a great deal and there’s a thirst for knowledge in how to deliver better, more lasting change. There are models (many of which have valuable content) but – as I concluded in a recent talk I gave – getting better at change might just be asking the wrong question.
Fear of rejection at work
We are all fearful of rejection at some point during our working lives. Whether that’s…
Dismantling some sandbags
If as leaders of organisations and teams, we want people to be ambitious – to be creative and drive our performance, practices or culture forward, it’s critical that we help people to set goals that will get us there. It could literally mean the difference between astonishing success and outright failure if we don’t.
Leading with curiosity or by fear?
Leading remote and distributed teams can prove challenging, particularly teams that are in isolation. If…
They need to run more trains!
A reason why many changes, transformations and projects stall: we didn’t know, or consider, where we were starting and how that impacts our approach.
Are you chasing the top 10 percent of tech talent?
Last Sunday morning I was watching my son trampolining. Undaunted about trampolining on his own,…
Unlocking the Armoury
There’s a fight coming for your team, for your organisation. It might be a new competitor, a lost client, needing a new tech or a delivery disaster. Are you are positioned to give your teams and organisation their best chance?
#5 Why do I have to get involved in everything?
The complexity and pace of our working world continue. Engaging, motivating and coaching your team is…
Beneficence in Business
Policies and processes that get created in good faith don’t always help us to get to where we want to be. Can we take something from medicine that might help our organisations?
#4 Blamed for something I’m not accountable for
Blame often comes down to the organisational culture and environment where a culprit is sought…
Ever considered why your goals fail?
Typically, at the end of every year or at the end of January, people are…
#3 Fear of failure (and then letting people down)
We feel fear when we believe we don’t have the ability to cope with something.…
#2 I just can’t work with (person)
Relationship management is important for us all but becomes essential as a leader. It’s important…
#1 Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome is a term first used by psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance…
The Same River Twice
A recent journey reminded me how sensitive we are to the cues around us, whether intentional or incidental. Paying attention could be valuable for us all.
That was quick thinking!
Quick thinking is essential for us to succeed in a busy, active world, however sometimes that same quick thinking can cause problems for us and that’s what we briefly examine in this article
The Guardian’s 1986 advert still educates
A while ago, I was part of a leadership team and we had some performance…
15 Principles for hiring into technical teams
Hire the right person and they can shift the outlook and capability of a team. …
7 Leadership Development Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Companies spend millions on leadership training and development, and for what result? If you’re considering training, here are some tips to help.
How does work REALLY get done?
In this article, I’m going to explore some things that can happen when typical (20th…
Gratitude. It’s hard.
We are entering into a world where people are starting to speak up about their…
Them, Us and All of Us
I’ve been really struck in the last few weeks about how many times I’ve heard…
Burnout – it’s official
Burnout is now a legitimate medical diagnosis, according to the International Classification of Diseases, the World…
Business Change and Newton’s Laws of Motion
This is a parallel I’ve drawn in conversation for quite a while, but I’ve never…
An IT Leader’s Journey
I’m going to start this article with my telling of a Taoist tale. A tale…
It’s all about visualisation (and pitching isn’t just for sales)
Running a business, I’ve quickly understood the importance of a succinct, clear and interesting pitch…
7 Reasons Why Individuals Struggle With Change
Over the past week we’ve been sharing our experience of change and some tips on…
All change! As you were!
In the last week, change seems to have been a theme in my conversations (notably…
5 common leadership worries
Leaders are typically described as strong, confident and assured people, knowing what to do when…
Do you like yourself?
Children are born with full self-esteem. They want you to watch them perform their next act…
7 leadership habits to make IT teams rock
Last week I wrote about seven behaviours that IT leaders need to change to get…
7 Behaviours holding back IT leaders
I’ve been working in IT for many years, the last 12 in senior leadership and…
IT Leadership and the 4th Industrial Revolution
The world of work is beginning a truly massive shift. Technologies that only a few…
How to perform on Valentine’s day
I love podcasts. They often inspire me and get me thinking about new ideas to…
Clear as a bell
This article isn’t about new information* but I see many companies continuing to link (or…
Not another rabbit!
Why would you learn another language? I’d think that for most of us, it’s because…
What’s in a name?
You may have seen the Simon Sinek video from last year, likening leadership to love…
Feeding back on feedback
Across my management and leadership experience, it’s often the simplest concepts that have had the…
Fear is why we Zoo Tiger
You can learn so much from children. My son said something that made me stop…
Open Square joins the Tech Talent Charter
Open Square is delighted to join the Tech Talent Charter’s (TTC) commitment to diversity and…
Understanding yourself will help you lead with purpose
I love coaching and being a confidential sounding board to people that sometimes don’t know…
Hiring doesn’t need to send you into a spin
I’ve spent much of my career with highly skilled organisations attracting talent and kickstarting their…
Leading Teams in Complex Environments
Today’s workplace is constantly changing with new technologies, ways of working and heavy competition for…
Is your ladder leaning against the right wall?
Someone I was talking to recently used a quote from Stephen R Covey, and it…
Many cooks, but nobody’s cooking
We are all familiar with the idiom: “Too many cooks spoil the broth”, but I…
Sharpening the Saw
Over the last month I’ve been reminded regularly about one of Stephen Covey’s 7-Habits of…
Troubleshooting With Battleships
Troubleshooting, synonymous with (complex) problem solving, is something that all of us do, and for…
Agility, Trust and Skill / Will
Quadrant warning: this article contains a few! But, as I experience more agile implementation and…