When I first began work, the rules were very clear and inflexible. You had to wear a suit. You could smoke at your desk and only had an hour for lunch. You did things...
Most year’s we will wake up with a hangover on the 1st January and decide on our New Year’s Resolution. We then spend a few days failing entirely to achieve it and by the middle of...
I had an enquiry earlier this year from a growing organisation with 300 salespeople, they didn’t call them salespeople. They called them Customer Service people. Their job was to take incoming...
A common theme in coaching conversations is people who have achieved what they initially aimed for and are unsure of what comes next. Sometimes, they take on a high-profile role, with seemingly...
Uncertainty has been hanging around the UK economy for over 3 years now. We're used to it - and many of us plan way ahead on purpose, to 'work through' this period. Then, when we think it may be...
This is the famous maxim of Elmer Wheeler who made it number 4 in his 5 Wheelerpoints. The original book which contains this gem is ‘Tested Sentences that Sell’ first published in 1937.
The...
This week has been brilliant. I am approaching a significant birthday and certainly enjoying the lead up!
During the week several people have really made me smile. One was a flight...
As I approach a significant birthday I have started pondering this conundrum. Many people talk to me about their mid-life crisis. They take a number of forms, worrying about age (and trying to be...
This is the last in a series of short blogs on observations taken from Arthur Miller’s play, which I was lucky enough to see the latest revival of.
I’ve written two other short posts see ...
This follows my previous Blog following my trip to see a terrific revival of Arthur Miller’s play. See https://www....
When growing up, there comes a point when you realise you can earn money for work. You look for suitable weekend or evening employment and learn to stack shelves, serve coffee, serve drinks or...
Today, I read that the UK economy is doing a bit better than expected and not heading for the recession everyone was predicting a few weeks ago. In one way that’s great news. In another, what has...
One of the highlights of going away for me, is eating in new restaurants. The pleasure felt when you receive great service is wonderful - and to eat well means you are enjoying your time away and...
It was once observed by a comedian that ‘many people work in the dullest jobs and as if that wasn’t painful enough, we now expect them to enjoy their jobs as well!’
So much of L&D...
A cautionary tale and how you can use this true story to make your teams more profitable straight away.
Retaining customers or winning new ones requires skills that some firms are investing...
As a father of two teenagers, I do sometimes worry that we’re creating a generation of people who lack genuine empathy with their fellow human beings. Interactions that we take for granted, like...
As a regular traveller for business I am used to booking my airport parking well in advance, so I can get the car park as near to the terminal as possible, for the lowest price. The Gatwick...
There’s a famous scene in ‘Peep Show’ where two of the characters, Mark and Super-Hans are at a country pub, trying to get a late-night cab back to their hotel. Mark is on the phone to the taxi...
One of the disadvantages of being a trainer and speaker is that you are sometimes forced to eat, in restaurants, alone. On a recent trip to Newcastle I went to one of my favourite chains and asked...