SMEs are expected to drive much of the forecast jobs growth over coming months as the economy continues to pick up. But recruiting the right people has always been a challenge for growing businesses, who often can’t compete with larger […]
There’s a real sense of optimism in the air as the economy continues to pick up and survey after survey tells us business confidence is on the rise. It looks like small and mid-sized businesses will be driving much of […]
Difficult conversations about poor performance are right up there on the list of tasks managers dread the most. It’s easy to sweep the problem under the carpet and hope it will go away. But if you don’t tell people where […]
‘Why leaders eat last ….’ was the intriguing theme of a presentation given by ethnographer and leadership expert Simon Sinek at the Vistage 25th anniversary conference. The event, sponsored by Cezanne HR, brought MDs and senior managers together to challenge their […]
What would your dream workplace look like? What environment would your employees be working in? What would the culture be like? What kind of attributes and values would be prized – and what would not be tolerated? We will all […]
How to boost your business with well thought-out training in summary: Keeping staff skills up-to-date is vital for any business that wants to expand and out-perform its competitors. But how can this be done effectively? To ensure training remains effective […]
The issue of trust (or lack of it) has been the subject of several surveys that have crossed my desk recently. The 13th annual Trust Barometer conducted by Edelman uncovered what it described as a ‘crisis in leadership’, with less […]
In a small business, having a ‘happy ship’ is vital. There simply isn’t time for the minor spats, grudges and resentment that can so easily arise simply because someone has been misunderstood or hasn’t got their message across clearly.
Indeed research has shown that a negative interaction with someone has a real impact on productivity – it can take someone several hours to recover not just their good spirits but also their concentration after a difficult or unpleasant exchange with a colleague or their manager.
There’s a definite whiff of suncream in the air this week as the pace of work starts to wind down and employees get ready to head off for their summer break.
Research from the Institute of Leadership and Management suggests, however, that the lead-up to the summer holidays is actually one of the most stressful times of the year and that many managers won’t be fully switching off when they take their well-earned break.
Pressure to cut costs and an increased emphasis on flexible working has led to a rise in the number of employees working remotely. Many managers, however, still have a tendency to see virtual working as ‘second best’ and struggle to […]
How happy are your people at work today? Are you surrounded by a team of smiling faces or is there a bit of a black cloud hanging overhead? A recent article in BizNews lists the ‘happiest companies’ in Silicon Valley […]
Last week I joined a Mind webinar, where experts from the charity pointed out that sweeping mental health under the carpet is costing businesses dearly. It’s estimated that mental health problems among workers cost the economy over £26 billion per […]
