We don’t believe you can pretend to be what you’re not; this is a fundamental principle when we’re coaching anyone to be a better leader. But recent research suggests you can change the way you feel by altering your body language. Can you really ‘fake it till you make it’? Take a look at this fascinating TED talk by Amy Cuddy about body language. In particular, watch out for what she… read more →
Mostly, the important work in organisations does not involve an individual creating something from nothing. Frequently it involves individuals and groups working together. So why is it so very unusual to see individuals and groups working really harmoniously together? And why do some groups stop collaborating with other groups, preferring to spend most of their energies finger-pointing the other group? Same question with individuals? Essentially it comes from the groups’… read more →
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” – Albert Einstein Take a minute to scan your surroundings. Look around you. Pick out an object or person, maybe something or someone you hadn’t noticed before, and focus your attention on it. If you really focus, it’ll get brighter and more ‘real’ than it was when it was just an unnoticed piece of the background. Now, try to view… read more →
For the last 20 years or more, I’ve operated within what I thought were the more or less universal ‘rules of engagement’ of professional service provision. But increasingly, it seems as though other people don’t know these rules, or are actually operating by a completely different set! And then I had a blinding flash of insight… If you take into account the current theory that attempts to explain how different… read more →
Are any of these situations familiar to you? An associate you ask to do a task for one of your clients (as you lack the necessary expertise yourself), speaks to the client direct, and next thing you know, they’ve taken a brief from the client to do some more work for them and not mentioned it to you…OK, or not OK? You agree a job, a price and a deadline… read more →
Likeable people have several things in common – they’re charming, they come across as genuine and they can make you smile. When we’re in situations where we don’t know many people, whether for business or social reasons, initial conversations can be a little awkward. Once you’ve got past the small-talk and chatting about the weather or traffic, where do you go from there? You want to make a good impression… read more →
This question is part of the mystery of the nature of humankind. What are we in essence? And in influencing collaboration in people and groups are we taking people back towards, or away from, their natural behavioural roots? Watching children play, the answer is ‘obvious’ – girls are, boys aren’t. Experiencing a live orchestra – a big yes. Watching the amount of violence and aggression in the media, you must… read more →
Collaboration happens when one party listens to another: Unconditionally – without dismissing or having opinions about what’s being said. Without interrupting. As a result of your asking questions (because you’re curious) about what you’ve just heard. With respect. Accepting as ‘true’ what the speaker is saying from their perspective. Could it really be that simple..? The first practical step to improving collaborative working is agreement by both parties to really… read more →
What are consultants for? The key to understanding the consultant role is to distinguish between a consultant and a manager – and it’s all about control, or power. A consultant is a person in a position to have some influence over an individual, a group, or an organisation, but who has no direct power to make changes or implement programmes. A manager is someone who has direct control over the… read more →