Strategy rules: Five key lessons from tech titans April 20, 2015 Focus on platforms rather than products and be smart about risk. There's no shortage of advice on how to run a business like Steve Jobs. Anecdotes abound about how the titans of tech have designed products, managed people, and charted their companies’ growth, but it can be hard to distil practical lessons from them. A [...]
Why “I am what I am” is a hymn to mediocrity April 19, 2015 You will only lead a remarkable life if you aim for perfection. I am what I am, and what I am needs no excuses,” sang Gloria Gaynor. I disagree. Who I am needs a lot of excuses. I am generally lazy and unmotivated. It is hard for me to get interested or follow a task [...]
How to build workplaces fit for Generation Y April 16, 2015 You don’t need the budget of Google to ensure your office attracts new talent. The UK population is ageing, and as older employees edge closer to retirement, the less influence they will have on how the workplace of the future is shaped. Instead, it is Generation Y – those under the age of 35 – [...]
How to stop groupthink in the office April 15, 2015 Improve decision-making by fostering a culture that welcomes dissent and accountability. Success is all about making better decisions than your competition. But as all companies rely on collective decision-making to some extent, business leaders should be on the lookout for negative group dynamics that can prevent their teams from making the best choices. But [...]
How to make employee wellbeing count April 14, 2015 Follow successful firms in offering exercise, expert speakers and even calling staff “guests”. Given that the workplace is where the majority of us spend a huge part of our lives, it should come as no surprise that there is a growing bank of evidence showing that the office environment can have a substantial effect on [...]
How to deal with the office bully? An anti-harassment policy is a must April 13, 2015 Office bullies are an ugly feature of the workplace. They can significantly harm those that they corner; they can create poor morale among staff; and they can cause poor productivity, absenteeism and resignations. And on top of all that, they may seriously affect the reputation of the organisation. So how should employers protect the working [...]
Why your office space really counts: How your workplace environment can impact your productivity April 12, 2015 Creativity, collaboration and contentment are determined by the environment you build. British employees work the longest hours in Europe, and 70-plus hour working weeks are the norm for many in our major cities. With the majority of our waking day spent in the office, it’s never been more important for employers to ensure that their [...]
How to develop a personal brand April 9, 2015 Write out how you want others to see you, focus on your values and stick to a timeframe. We all know how powerful a brand can be. Whether it’s a logo that can sell millions of products, or the perceived values that secure a legion of followers, the importance of having a strong brand is [...]
How to ensure your meetings are productive April 8, 2015 You can’t end them for good, but they need not be a waste of time. How long do you spend in meetings each year? Do you, like many, think they’re a total waste of time? A group of partners from Bain & Company studied the time budgets of 17 corporations and found that, on average, [...]
Three myths on what makes the ideal workplace April 7, 2015 Get the incentives right and you won’t need to splurge millions on it. When we think of extraordinary workplaces, the offices of Google or Facebook – with their lavish amenities and juicy benefits – might come to mind. But you don’t need to invest in fancy furniture or hotdesking to create the ideal workplace. In [...]