It’s time that inclusion and diversity was human-centric, how one person can change an organisation, are you being influenced or manipulated and more.
Thank you for reading my latest leadership newsletter. In my work as an advisor, coach and consultant to ambitious and leading boards, CEO’s, executives and teams, I come across important developments and people that are shaping the future of business and leadership. Every week I share my round-up of interesting stories so you can find the most important leadership and business thinking. I hope you enjoy them! If you haven’t already, feel free to follow me on LinkedIn or Twitter. Happy reading!
Are You Being Influenced or Manipulated?
There is a thin line separating influence from manipulation. And while the difference may be nuanced, it’s in your best interest to understand these subtleties from the early stages of your careers. What is unfortunate is that manipulation is most likely to occur in relationships where the person knows you well. Research shows that close relationships are more susceptible to manipulation because the parties involved know each other’s vulnerabilities, desires, needs, and weaknesses.
How to ensure people don’t feel used when you’re networking with them
Dorie Clark explains that there are three strategies you can use to build mutual and fulfilling long-term professional relationships.No one wants to find themselves in a networking situation where they feel taken advantage of— and indeed, most professionals don’t want to be in the opposite position, either, where their colleague questions their motives.
How To Avoid Investors’ Pet Pitching Peeves
Investors have high expectations of startup founders pitching for their cash, and given the number of pitch decks they are reviewing, they have little tolerance for those that fail to hit the mark, with pet peeves that range from a reliance on buzzwords to a lack of exit strategy. It’s important for entrepreneurs to be aware of these potential pitfalls, and to help them, five VCs share their top pitching gripes. If you want to road test your pitch deck first then Axelerants offer a deck hack.
Is Leadership An Art Or Science?
Many business executives view leadership as a scientific pursuit: a repeatable, proven process that can be learned through literature and practice. Taking a systematic, well-established approach to leadership drives results, ensures the safe stewardship of a company, and enables leaders to rally employees around a common cause. Or does it?
What Choices Do You Have When There is a Serious Work Dispute?
Workplace expert, Acas, estimate that workplace conflict costs UK employers £28.5 billion every year, an average of just over £1,000 for every employee but that isn’t the end to the costs of workplace conflict according to internationally renowned mediator and conflict specialist and president of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Jane Gunn.
Why Highly Efficient Leaders Fail
With ever-increasing demands at work, being able to get things done can be a key driver of success. But, the irony is that it can also deter success, because a focus on tasks often comes at the expense of a focus on people. Things like building relationships, inspiring a team, developing others, and showing empathy can fall by the wayside.
Wellness And The Future Of Work: Some Of The Best Companies Share Their New Solutions
Wellness and wellbeing have been on the radar screen for a long time and it’s a rare business leader who couldn’t recite why they are important. But a year later—after the beginning of the pandemic—there have been big changes to the work we do and how we do it. As a result, leaders and companies must think in new ways and implement expanded and creative solutions to support wellbeing for the future of work.
Stop Wasting People’s Time with Meetings
Some organizations are trying to get a grip on wasteful meetings, introducing no-meeting days, empowering people to make their own decisions, and improving the way meetings are planned and facilitated. At their best, meetings are purposeful, inclusive (of the people who actually need to be there), and participatory.
The Fastest Path to the CEO Job, According to a 10-Year Study
A 10-year study of more than 17,000 C-suite executive assessments looked at who gets to the top and how. A close look at “CEO sprinters” — those who reached the CEO role faster than the average of 24 years from their first job — shows that formative experiences play a key role. Specifically, these ladder-climbers made bold career moves that catapulted them to the top ahead of others.
Is it time for the conversation around inclusion and diversity to take a human-centric approach?
It’s not just about the numbers, KPI’s, scorecards etc — it’s about the people. Storytelling, one of the most universal human experiences, gives us a rare chance to look through new lenses. Perspective-taking is a life skill, not just a workplace one. Companies that prioritise inclusion will emerge from crisis stronger, and stories are one major vehicle to help them get there.
How One Person Can Change the Conscience of an Organization
While corporate transformations are almost universally assumed to be top-down processes, in reality, middle managers, and first-line supervisors can make significant change when they have the right mindset and focussing on those people within the organisation that are less privileged and not shying away from challenges that are “too big”.
Whether you are a new CEO looking to embed your leadership, an organisation undergoing major strategic and transformational change, or an executive team that wants to improve performance, I can help you and your team overcome your challenges and address your most important opportunities. Let’s discuss your key opportunities and challenges.
