Category: management
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Are you ready for the workforce of the future?
The future of work isn’t just about technology – it means a different workforce too. So often, articles about the future of work focus on the technology. That’s not surprising bearing in mind the transformative role that generative AI will have. But there’s an equally important transformation that will occur in the next few years…
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“Being a leader is not about you.” How leaders can achieve performance success
You’re a leader with a great organisational business strategy, operational plan and team objectives. So now the big question is – how do you get your team to perform and deliver success? One approach I encounter is focused on command and control. Some industries, companies, leaders and team members seem to favour a directive model…
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Get it right first time: setting up for success, not debriefing disappointment
I think the traditional approach to setting objectives for team members is back to front. Most managers set out the what when of the task. They monitor progress and provide feedback at the end. But this doesn’t mean that the job will be done right, let alone right first time. So, rather than waiting to…
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Use your doubt productively: a new approach
Conventional wisdom says we want our leaders to be decisive, confident and certain. Whether politician or business leader, we’re reassured by their communication of a clear vision and how it will be achieved. But our desire for certainty has drawbacks. “We mistake charisma and confidence for competence” says Tomas Chamorro-Premuzi in Why Do So Many…
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Successfully manage hybrid team performance with 3 proven strategies
It’s the big problem that everyone is talking about, according to surveys, research and my own conversations with managers. How do you ensure your team is performing now you no longer see them daily in the office? A common mistake is building over-complex top-down monitoring systems. The more you check on people, the less trusted…
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You can’t turn back the clock – you need to adapt to hybrid working
I am still hearing managers talking about when or how they will return to pre-pandemic ways of working. “We need to get everyone back into the office – we need to manage performance.” “There’s no point investing in our hybrid working approaches, it’s just a short-term blip” “We are more creative when we all work…
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The missing keystone of hybrid working?
When people talk about hybrid working, you usually hear the positives – better work/life balance, greater freedom. And if they do talk about the challenges, you’d be forgiven for thinking the main concerns are logistics: IT systems, satellite offices. Challenges around productivity are disputed as signs of an old-fashioned, controlling mindset. But what about the…
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Reinventing the workforce – 6 themes from the Future of Work conference
The recent Future of Work conference, Reinventing the Workforce, hosted by Management Today, featured great speakers and engaging ideas. I’ve pulled out some of the most interesting and important themes and ideas from the presentations that can help you with implementing hybrid working and creating workplaces and workforces that meet the demands of the future.…
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“I just wanted to say that was nicely done” – a 3 step approach to catch remote workers doing things right
When I was developing the 5C model for best-practice remote working, I revisited Ken Blanchard’s book which introduced us to the concept of ‘catching people doing things right’ – placing as much attention and energy on identifying when people are doing their job well (and praising them for it) as we do looking for and…
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3 ways to get your remote team performing well
“When we were in the office I could always sense how people were doing, if they were overloaded, taking too long on something, or were happy and motivated. It wasn’t any formal system, I just knew.” Does this sound familiar? One of the biggest challenges of remote working has been maintaining staff performance. In one…
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How do you create a virtual coffee machine?
Since the pandemic began, many organisations have flagged up their fear of losing the creativity and relationship-building that came from chance encounters. The happenstance conversations that came from making a coffee, waiting for a lift, or getting some water are seen as vital for forging connections within and between teams and sparking novel solutions. And…
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Even the little words count – what your communications say about you
Show your values in every communication: lessons from lockdown notices