Beware Scope Creep

Scope creep is a rare term for those unfamiliar with project management lingo: it means exactly what it says. So you scope out a project: what, how many, by when, for how much, from whom and so on. Then other stuff creeps in – if you let it. The savvy project manager doesn’t let scope… Read more

Manager Say, Manager Not Do

Here’s a cute quote from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development’s latest Employee Outlook survey: “There is a significant contrast between how managers say they manage people and the views of employees toward their managers.” (it’s on page 9 under ‘people management practice’). Hmmm. Do you meet each person you manage on a weekly basis?… Read more

Ask A Coach: Who’s Doing All The Coaching?

OK, I’m confused. According the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD)’s latest Learning and Talent Development survey, 46% of their 700+ respondents put coaching in their top three most effective learning and development practices (note this is down from 53% last year). And when asked what three talent management activities their organisation used which were… Read more

Ask A Coach: How Can I Be More Business Savvy? Part 2

OK, so you’ve started creeping round the web, you’ve watched a few videos of professors explaining strategy, checked out some different resources (and if you haven’t done any of the above, check out Part 1, then come back). Maybe you’ve chewed through the business section of your weekend newspaper – well done. Now you want… Read more

Ask A Coach: How Can I Be More Business Savvy? Part 1

This is something I’ve been hearing a lot lately. For people who’ve found themselves working in a highly commercial, entrepreneurial environment, yet whose further education was anything but commercial, this can be a tough one. Watching reality TV shows featuring people in suits might be entertaining, but it won’t really fill the gaps. (It’s also… Read more