We are currently exploring the subject of stress at work and have compiled a brief survey to assess how stressed people feel and how they feel they could reduce their stress levels. The survey can be completed in about two minutes, and results will be compiled anonymously and broadcast on this website. We would be [...]

I’ve recently asked lots of people whether they’ve made any New Year’s resolutions and, to my surprise, the majority have said no. The conversation tends to go like this: Me: Why not? Them: Because I have given up making them Me: Why? Them: Because I never stick to them Me: Why? (my vocabulary is limited) [...]

There’s a Dilbert cartoon I like where Pointy-Haired-Boss concludes a presentation on the company priorities for the year. One of his team asks whether it matters that none of his projects relate to any of those priorities, and Dilbert tells him he is overthinking again. I often find that when people are trying to write [...]

I was listening to Eddie Jordan on the radio yesterday talking about Lewis Hamilton and his outstanding achievements in his first Formula 1 championship on the McLaren Mercedes team. Eddie commented that both Hamilton and his team mate Fernando Alonso are so determined to beat one another that the team’s performance is improving with each [...]

Newsflash: it’s almost the end of April. That means one third of the year is already over! A good time to take a step back and review how things are going for you and your team. Two suggestions:

When it’s a group of people with no common purpose. I know, I know, I never stop talking about ‘clear, common purpose’, but it’s true: if a group of people goes about its work every day and no-one asks themselves how what they are doing contributes to an overall goal, they are not working as a [...]

At this time of year we are all busy setting goals and objectives for the coming year, and it can be a difficult process.  In working with teams, I observe several typical challenges that can hinder the process, but can be countered by observing a few simple rules:

I’ve noticed that many people I’ve been working with this week seem to be, well, somewhere else, for want of a better description.  The holiday period is looming fast and thoughts may be more on ‘what on earth will I get Auntie Betty this year’ than ‘how can I use the remaining time in December to [...]