Inbox, diary, to-do list: now choose just two

Reading Time: 5 minutes That choice between this “trinity” of masters seems to be the reality of modern knowledge work , and for those in senior roles (C-suite or equivalent) it’s often just one of those three that you get to stay on top of while the other spiral out of control. The modern media environment with its torrent … More Inbox, diary, to-do list: now choose just two

Why it’s great to fail your new year’s resolutions

Reading Time: 5 minutes Getting comfortable with failure leads to better goals, helps you learn what works and moves away from a fixed mindset. I love new year’s. At a pinch I might even choose New Year over Christmas and all its forced consumerism. New Year is a chance to reset, refresh, reflect – looking both backwards and forwards. … More Why it’s great to fail your new year’s resolutions

Two Lessons Learnt in Pursuit of Constructive Challenge

Reading Time: 7 minutes “Your commercials suck… The iPad is revolutionizing the world, and we need something big. You’ve given me small sh*t.” Ouch. That’s what Steve Jobs reportedly told the creative head of TBWA/ Media Arts in the run up to the IPad launch. Challenge? Yes. Constructive? Probably not. Two little words that are so easy to say … More Two Lessons Learnt in Pursuit of Constructive Challenge

3 Rare Skills That Make Presentations Clear and Memorable

Reading Time: 5 minutes Bad communication is like a tax we all collect from each other continuously, every year, and every day. What can you remember from that hour long presentation you heard this morning? Can you name three real takeaways that have stuck from all the time you spent in meetings and presentations last week? Let’s face it … More 3 Rare Skills That Make Presentations Clear and Memorable

The Four Most Important Things in Investing

Reading Time: 2 minutes “Investing is the perfect example of a complex problem with no known solution. There are no secrets.” – Nick Magguili (Of Dollars and Data) So what really matters most in the volatile, uncertain and ambiguous environment of investing? Better models? Research? Skilled managers? Access to deals? These things can and do matter, and fortunes have … More The Four Most Important Things in Investing

Underrated Skills

Reading Time: < 1 minute Disagreeing well: it’s easy to disagree badly (and agree badly), and we all know the truism that different viewpoints is good, but harnessing dissenting views in practice is so much harder than you think Managing meetings effectively: many companies would baulk at an expense of several £’000, but routinely allow such sums to be wasted … More Underrated Skills

Simple, but not easy

Reading Time: 2 minutes Some simple skills I think are underrated in today’s world of work: Planning effective meetings Facilitating effective meetings Capturing actions cleanly, and following up Structuring communication clearly and effectively These things don’t get talked about much, but when you work with someone who does them well it can be literally a life-changer, and so refreshing. … More Simple, but not easy

20 Questions to Reflect Professionally and Personally on 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes The end of the year is a great time for real reflection, which can actually be surprisingly powerful in learning and developing (whether you define that as being better at work, at home being happier or more fulfilled etc). Sure you say, I know that and I’ll reflect at some point, on the train home … More 20 Questions to Reflect Professionally and Personally on 2018