The confidence myth: Why the humble thrive August 4, 2014 A lack of humility can blind individuals to their weak spots. Confidence is a prized asset. High-octane business gurus and self-help experts often offer some variant of “fake it till you make it” as the secret to success. And a 2012 study at the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business found that [...]
What you can do if you’re being restructured out August 3, 2014 It can be a fair reason to be shown the door, explains Matt Gingell, so know your rights. It's all in the news. Microsoft is set to cut 18,000 jobs in a restructuring programme. The BBC is axing 415 news jobs. Mothercare’s boss Mark Newton-Jones, meanwhile, has warned that the retailer must modernise and [...]
How networking can make anyone a creative genius July 31, 2014 It boosts your career and your profile, but also makes you more innovative, says Judith Perle. How often have you been told to network to boost your professional profile, climb the promotion ladder, or to find a new job? But has anyone ever told you that networking will make you more creative? If not, [...]
How to make the most of to-do lists July 30, 2014 Be ruthless and think small – but don’t forget to include the unusual and personal niggles. They are the little lifesavers that many of us have out of both habit and necessity. A 2008 Microsoft survey found that nearly 70 per cent of Brits keep at least one to-do list, and report that they [...]
Which books do the giants of business read over the summer? July 29, 2014 You might be surprised how many older volumes make the cut. Most of us look at our summer holiday as reading prime time. Indeed, research from TripAdvisor found that, for nearly one in four of us, it’s the only time we manage to read a book. And even if you read more regularly, a [...]
Get the most out of the new kind of career ladder July 28, 2014 Think lengthways, and start experimenting in your current position. Getting on in the working world has never been so important. But is it still an environment where climbing the ranks yields the best returns? According to Priscilla Claman, president of Career Strategies and Harvard Business Review contributor, linear career ladders haven’t existed in most [...]
The secret to business success? Keep it simple July 27, 2014 Regularly reflecting on past failures and triumphs is what makes an organisation great. Some years ago, I was lucky enough to find myself sitting in on a McKinsey & Co lecture. The intellect in the room was so intense I considered leaving just to free up a bit of oxygen for everyone else’s mighty [...]
Authenticity is the secret of all strong leaders July 24, 2014 Authenticity is crucial for leaders. If you don’t believe what you’re saying, you won’t convince anyone. Worse, people may see your lack of conviction, realise the falsity of your words and mistrust your motives. When trust goes, cynicism sets in – it’s incredibly difficult to influence cynical people, or people who are sceptical about your [...]
No size fits all: Getting the best out of introverts July 23, 2014 Shyer staff have different needs, so cut down on background noise. There’s a problem with using stereotypes like “introvert” and “extrovert” to inform office policy. Setting aside whether or not these broad terms actually apply to all staff, how many other employee caricatures should be actively catered for? Do alpha males and females require [...]
Risk savvy: Why simple rules of thumb are best July 22, 2014 A new book lays bare the pitfalls of complex decision-making. Imagine you’re a turkey – one that understands basic probability theory. Each day, a farmer brings you a bucket of corn, and any initial wariness over the human’s presence turns into an expectation that you’re about to be fed. This confidence increases week by week, [...]