In a thought-provoking post from Neil Crofts, he looks at the effect of short-term planning on the way we live and work, and whether we should be challenging our notion of this. Most of us when we are young find it difficult to think more than a short time ahead. As we mature we may begin to think a bit further ahead. Many organisations seem to struggle to think much beyond… read more →
What is it that makes some people natural leaders, and some not – and can you learn how to lead? Leadership means guiding your life and activities toward achieving your vision. We look at five ways of transforming your vision and purpose in leadership into reality. Before we explore how you can learn to be a leader, ask yourself two questions: Are you a leader of yourself? Are you leading your life or… read more →
If you’re a senior executive in professional services it’s unlikely that you yourself are one of the millennials. However if you are a lawyer, wealth manager, estate agent or similar it’s very likely that you will be recruiting and managing this particular generation, born between 1980 and 2000. There’s a danger about making sweeping statements about different generations whether they’re Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y or Millennials. I read recently… read more →
With increasing worldwide usage of social networks, smartphones and on-the-go mobile technology, it now looks as if we have to live with transparency. Everything you and I do can and may be recorded and broadcast. How do you feel about this: nervous, trapped, outraged? Or calmly certain that whatever is published about you, your conscience is clear? It looks as if the only way to live authentically and with complete… read more →
It’s easy to assume that the leaders you admire are effective and successful because of their experience,expertise and knowledge – but this isn’t necessarily so. In everyday life, you draw on two sources of knowledge and information to get through. One source consists of what you already know. It’s based on your past, and includes accumulated experience and expertise. The other source consists of what you don’t already know –… read more →
This says it all really…Lynne Cazaly‘s illustration showcases brilliantly Simon Sinek‘s ‘Start With Why’ ideas on organisation development.
At Leaders Lab, we’re great proponents of Neil Crofts‘ posts on leadership – here’s an abridged version of his most recent one on how to get full engagement as a leader: I am working with a great team at the moment, they are very capable, very professional and very well lead by their own leader. Recently they did an engagement survey of the people they lead and were surprised to… read more →
Though not a fan of war, I was shown this speech recently and was struck by the underlying courage, dignity and respect for humanity shown by the speaker, Lt. Col. Tim Collins, commander of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish, as he summed up the task for the British forces waiting to remove Saddam Hussein from power in March 2003. Here is the full text of his extraordinary and… read more →
We were sent this thought a little while ago by Neil Crofts, founder of Authentic Business, and decided to pass it on: It is very tempting to hide behind the mask of prudence, to temper our efforts with caution, to avoid exposure to risk or danger. And not just tempting, it is positively encouraged in our society to play safe. The English have a subtle double-speak to indicate when you… read more →
I don’t know who this poem is by, but it makes a very telling point. If you look at ‘how you act and how you live’, how would an observer judge you as a leader? I’d rather watch a leader, than hear one any day. I’d rather have one walk with me, than merely show the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear. Fine counsel… read more →