Nine Reasons Why You Must Improve the Environmental Performance of Your Business
Whether or not you’re convinced by science and media reports on global warming, there is no doubt that our planet is under pressure at the moment. Things must change, and the governments of the world – not to mention increasingly vocal activists - have started to put...
The King’s Dilemma: Leadership & Control
In her book, ‘Open Leadership: how social technology can transform the way you lead’, Charlene Li defines the concept of open leadership as,’ having the confidence and humility to give up the need to be control while inspiring commitment from people to accomplish...
So close yet no cigar!
I recently moved house and needed to have my mail redirected. The Royal Mail has an awesome service that automatically redirects your mail to a new location for just a small fee. It's great as it means no worrying about important mail not getting to you on time or...
The Business Book you should read, but probably wont
I've recently finished reading 'Orbiting the Giant Hairball', by Gordon MacKenzie. I was given the book to read by Che Mckay, the Head of Grayston Prep's Pre-Prep. She also teaches Thinking Skills at the school. I must be honest, I've had it for a while and based on...
The author as performer
The FT (Financial Times) had a great piece recently on how authors are now using the art of dramatic storytelling to enhance the value they add when doing live presentations based on their books. Specifically focusing on Malcolm Gladwell (who seems to be living my...
Seeing the world through your customer’s eyes – your key to growing your business
I regularly write articles for magazines and journals. Some of these really strike a chord, and just "work". Here is a recent article that has been getting a lot of comment, and has been helpful to business leaders trying to cope with the economic downturn. See the...
Secrets of success in The Emotion Economy
The industrial economy was based on 'make and sell.' Take, for instance, the massive production of Henry Ford's cars and his dictum, 'you can have any colour you like as long as you like black.' But, back in Henry Ford's time there was little regard for the customer....
John Kotter on Icebergs, Penguins and 8 steps for leading change
One of the best books around on leading change must be John Kotter's business novel "Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions" (Buy now at Amazon.co.uk or Kalahari.net). It's written as a parable about a group of penguins. At the end of the...
John Kotter on Icebergs, Penguins and 8 principles for leading change
One of the best books around on leading change must be John Kotter's business novel "Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions" (Buy now at Amazon.co.uk or Kalahari.net). It's written as a parable about a group of penguins. At the end of the...
FourSquare in Space – it had to happen
If there was any doubt left as to whether Social Media had the kind of reach of traditional media, then the answer arrived last week by way of Doug Wheelock who checked into the International Space Station on FourSquare, unlocking a 'NASA Explorer Badge' There’s a new...
How YouTube manages copyright
I wrote about this on my blog a few weeks ago and thought it was worth sharing withthe connection economy audience as well. Youtube is often under the microscope regarding it copyright issues. Essentially uploading copywritten material (TV and Music) can can have a...
How teenagers consume media (UK report)
How Teenagers Consume Media: the report that shook the City This is the full copy of the research note written by Matthew Robson (aged 15 years and seven months), an intern at Morgan Stanley, which caused a stir after it was published by them. Reported in The...
The mess that airlines are in
In today's S+B newsletter, there is an excellent article highlighting the structural and institutional changes that the airline industry is facing over the next few years. You can read the original in the S+B newsletter or an extract below. The Airlines’ Global...
Your Next Recruit
Intel has employed a cultural anthropologist. At first glance that seems like Ferrari taking on board an estate agent. Why would a chip-making tech company rope in the services of an anthropologist? Genevieve Bell (the cultural anthropologist in question) goes by the...
Customer loyalty schemes should be the cream not the cake
I’ve noticed recently that Loyalty schemes are making a come back. Following the recession, companies have discovered that coupons and points schemes are a good way to entice struggling customers back to their shops. The trend of developing a points based system that...
It’s time to get rid of appraisals
Forced rankings and other merit ratings that breed internal competition are bad management because they undermine motivation and breed contempt for management among people who, at least at first, were doing good work. These systems require leaders to label many people...
It's time to get rid of appraisals
Forced rankings and other merit ratings that breed internal competition are bad management because they undermine motivation and breed contempt for management among people who, at least at first, were doing good work. These systems require leaders to label many people...
Are you getting the ROI you need from your conferences?
A manifesto for the future of meetings As the global economic meltdown struck in September 2008, one of the first things that most companies did was to cancel all their conferences and staff development. This was an instinctive response for many companies, probably...
Diminishing differences between East and West businesses
Lynda Gratton is Professor of Management Practice at London Business School, and writes regularly on the future world of work at her blogsite. She does a lot of work internationally, and is currently completing a global research project on key issues related to the...
Twitter, FaceBook and Social Media are just like a Fax Machine
The interest in Social Media in the business world is growing. And it’s growing ‘upwards’ in the organisation. I say ‘upwards’ because increasingly I’m engaged in conversations with the Gate-Keepers around whether they should our shouldn’t jump in? The weight of the...