Why your wellbeing strategy matters July 1, 2015 "Workplace wellbeing” has always been regarded as a fluffy term, often engendering fluffy acts. But it is increasingly rising up the corporate agenda, as companies begin to realise the value the right strategy can make to employee engagement and the bottom line. Employees who feel cared for by their employer are 27 per cent more [...]
The weapons for dealing with a narcissistic boss June 30, 2015 Always avoid blindly following the whims of a big personality Much advice on leadership focuses on the benefits of strong leadership. But actually having a good leader is another matter: many employees regularly come face-to-face with leaders whose egos take centre stage, so-called narcissistic leaders. In 2004, psychoanalyst Michael Maccoby wrote an essay for [...]
Deadlines are good for productivity June 29, 2015 Don’t fall into the common trap of wrongly estimating the time a project will take WORK expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” First highlighted by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in The Economist in 1955, this has become a common complaint among the very busy. Sixty years on, many of us still [...]
Six behaviours for women to get ahead: If you aspire to leadership, you need to show ability June 28, 2015 Gender diversity. Every organisation is grappling with the issue. There’s a regular drumbeat of reports about how women are performing in the workplace and how businesses are supporting – or not – gender diversity. At the heart of the issue is culture. If an organisation is truly committed to increasing the ratio of female [...]
Office etiquette for new starters: How to make an excellent first day impression in a new job June 25, 2015 Fresh-faced and full of optimism, new graduates are streaming out of their degree ceremonies across the country. LinkedIn data shows that a quarter of the “class of 2015” will take the well-trodden road to London, where many will start their first roles in the City of London. Financial services, IT, accounting and management consulting were [...]
Don’t be so British: Why being direct is vital in business June 24, 2015 Everything works better and faster when we all know where we stand INTRODUCING the two closest people in her life for the first time, the formidable detective Saga Norén from the Danish drama The Bridge said: “This is Martin, he is staying with me because his wife kicked him out for cheating. This is Anton, [...]
Why taking a holiday is vital to productivity June 23, 2015 Putting in those extra hours to advance your career is common practice in the City. Yet many overlook taking a proper break, underestimating how vital it is from a psychological perspective – recharging your batteries can fuel creativity and improve your decision making. Some high fliers even take pride in being available and working [...]
How to retain female talent in the workplace: Offering agile working and tailored support is crucial June 22, 2015 Lord Davies’s report, published in March this year, showed that representation of women on FTSE 100 boards has almost doubled in the past four years to 23.5 per cent. The government’s target for 25 per cent of board positions to be held by women by the end of this year is in sight, and there [...]
Six CV mistakes that could end up costing you: Including personal details could leave you vulnerable to fraud June 21, 2015 In the fight to distinguish yourself from other job applicants, your CV should be your principal weapon. But with recruiters looking for any reason to bin your application, it is easy to shoot yourself in the foot. Here are some crucial errors to avoid. TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFO It may seem like a formality [...]
Why corporate culture fads don’t work June 18, 2015 Flat organisations may inspire creativity, but they’ll quickly deflate if staff feel directionless. There are certainly advantages to open, forward-thinking corporate cultures. Mark Zuckerberg hosts weekly Q&A sessions with Facebook staff. Richard Branson has offered unlimited holiday to employees in London, New York and Geneva. These are motivating ideas, but back in the office, [...]