The days are longer, sunsets are later – the holidays are ahead. How can you make the most of this time? Reflect on the past five months: what’s gone well? What have you learned? What’s missing? Make notes about your knowledge and skills, mind and body, personal and professional. What do you need to learn?… Read more
There’s a great deal written about feedback (shameless plug for ‘The Feedback Book’). Much has been written about giving feedback – but what about being on the receiving end? Here are four tips. Some of us can feel slightly squeamish at the idea of someone giving us feedback, but we need to understand that the… Read more
I’ve encountered many people who cringe at the very thought of having to sell as part of their job. Once upon a time that included me too. Work on long-term clients? Fine. But actually sell as part of the interaction, or have sales conversations with prospective clients? Rather run a mile or even ten…. Read more
Q: Is it…that funny video? Your pointer that lights up? Maybe it’s slide #1? Or your last slide? The ‘killer infographic’? Could it be the amazing way you’ve got the room all set up? Or the whizzy interactive app? A: None of the above. It’s YOU, [your name goes here]. Yes, great visuals can help…. Read more
Just because you wrote your presentation – (OK, most of it. Or your bit if it’s a team effort) – don’t think you needn’t rehearse. Creating your content and delivering your presentation are two very different things. Ask anyone who’s ever overlooked that point – like the social media bigwig who flew in to… Read more
A major variable in whether or not training sticks is the role of the participant’s manager. Some would say the manager is the biggest ROI variable, so great is their influence on the participant’s state of mind as they embark on training and afterwards attempt to apply what they’re learned. Newstrom (1986) identified three significant… Read more
So you’ve noticed that one of your team is turning out to be a star performer. First of all, congratulations – lucky you for having a high performer on your team. Second of all, well done for noticing – all too often, great performance is barely acknowledged, with a grudging, “Well it IS their job… Read more
After Action Reviews (sometimes referred to as AARs) have their origins in the United States military. Tools and techniques that improve team performance often have a military provenance. An advantage of techniques with military origins is that they’ve been tried and tested when the stakes were very high. The idea is that after… Read more
It’s not unusual for teams to experience conflict: in team sports it can get physical, in rock bands it can end in smashed guitars and in the workplace, conflict can lead to poor performance. Ultimately, conflict within teams can see some members shown the exit. Not all conflict is A Bad Thing – it… Read more
As we wave goodbye to Q1, it’s time to compile my quarterly round-up of articles and resources based on psychology. I hope you find it useful. How are those New Year resolutions looking? It’s no surprise that we’re more likely to stick to healthy behaviours – jump on the bike, eat well, stay hydrated, etc… Read more
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