Dave Lewis might be tempted to dodge crisis at Tesco, but he’d do better facing up to the truth September 28, 2014 Dave Lewis found himself face to face with some wicked problems last week. Tesco’s new chief executive had only been in the job for a matter of days when he was confronted with an accounting scandal, dire growth forecasts, unhappy investors and irate politicians. The kind of wicked problems Lewis faces are common in business. [...]
Customers will inspire your staff better than you September 25, 2014 Kevin Murray explains how really savvy leaders succeed in outsourcing inspiration. Putting the customer first means ensuring that you bring customers into your firm and make how they feel a driving force behind employee behaviour. Why? Seeing how other people feel changes the way you feel. Employees are often much more motivated by hearing [...]
Four ways to get rid of fatigue at your workplace September 24, 2014 Yoga, sunlight and lots of small, fibre-filled meals could help. Few things kill office productivity as quickly as fatigue. And while the obvious answer is to get more sleep throughout the week, that isn’t always the most helpful advice for overworked City folk barely able to fit work drinks in between all-nighters at the [...]
Four of the best business books released in 2014 September 23, 2014 From the digital economy to Richard Branson, Liam Ward-Proud lists this year’s top reads. It's been a bumper year so far for business reads, with releases from the likes of Virgin founder Richard Branson, as well as several books tracing crucial trends in the fast-changing global economy. With judging panels due to start drawing [...]
Why the humble business card is in rapid decline September 22, 2014 But there’s still space for the analogue antique in our digital future. Few corporate rituals have proved as enduring as the exchanging of business cards. Some Brits may not think twice about stuffing several of them into a pocket or bag, with only the vague intention of retrieving them (crumpled and torn) later on. [...]
Bring In Your Parents Day 2014: Why it pays to listen to your parents September 21, 2014 All of us have turned to our parents for support at some point in our lives, but how many of us regularly look to them for career advice? According to recent LinkedIn research, one in three parents has no idea what their child does at work, which might go some way to explain why their [...]
How to give the perfect pitch in three easy steps September 18, 2014 Don’t depend on PowerPoint, and be sure to start confidently. Perfect business pitches are the stuff of legends. We’ve all heard stories of someone bumping into a wealthy investor in a lift or at a sports event, and convincing them to depart with several million to fund a new business. And with the rise [...]
Why business must work with politics for the good of society – ACCA Comment September 17, 2014 The relationship can be dysfunctional, but collaboration works to the benefit of all. On the day that Scotland votes on the most tightly contested constitutional issue the United Kingdom has ever faced, questions have been raised about the relationship between business and politics. The two are undeniably intertwined; arguably business and politics are [...]
Love your job and work hard. Avoid these two myths posing as career advice September 17, 2014 Hard work isn’t all, and following your heart may well end in tears. "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life,” Confucius is thought to have said. It’s a rousing thought. But like numerous other seductive one-liners posing as career advice, it hides more than [...]
How to be more influential at work September 16, 2014 Even small changes, like always using highly precise numbers, can boost your persuasiveness, says Steve Martin. Everyone wants to be more persuasive and influential – particularly at work, where the ability to build relationships, convince the undecided, persuade clients and position yourself for the next great job is crucial. But how to accomplish this? [...]