Leadership and Diversity: Naming Body Parts
I remember once reading that middle-age happens when you keep thinking that in a couple of weeks you’ll be back to normal. To be honest I am not sure that I am clear as to exactly what constitutes ‘normality’ – or at least if I once was, I no longer am. This applies...
The New World of Work – Utopia for Women?
Our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought hard for us. The equalities gained by the feminist movement have resulted in a steady rise in the proportion of women working in the UK; 70% at the last count. However, all is not rosy in the world of work for...
What will be funny in Egypt? A Leadership Lesson
What will be funny in Egypt? Well right now, not much perhaps but this question isn't connected to current events unravelling in that part of the world. Rather, it is a guiding question that underpinned the making of the Mr Bean movie: What would be funny in Egypt?...
What will be funny in Egypt? A Leadership Lesson
What will be funny in Egypt? Well right now, not much perhaps but this question isn't connected to current events unravelling in that part of the world. Rather, it is a guiding question that underpinned the making of the Mr Bean movie: What would be funny in Egypt?...
All little girls grow up dreaming they will marry their prince
One little girl got to grow up and marry her prince who is also a real Prince. That little girls name is Catherine Elizabeth Middleton. I think Prince William and Kate's (as she is affectionately known by the global media) nuptials are indicative of a wonderfully...
Why a little discrimination might be useful
On the BBC news this morning there was a short report about concerns that the UK tax agency (Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs) has sent threatening letters to elderly people demanding that they pay their overdue taxes. The letters say that the HMRC has the power to...
Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?
On Wednesday 13 April 2011 in Fiksburg, the Free State, South Africa, a service delivery protest turned ugly and an unarmed man named Andries Tatane, a breadwinner and father, was allegedly beaten and then shot with rubber bullets by members of the South African...
Hello to the new boy (and girl) network
How do the new boy (and girl) networks coexist beside the old boy network that has historically existed and flourished for so long? This question is especially relevant in South Africa, which is an emerging economy and transitional society. I have had some interesting...
Popsters versus Hispters: the Millennial divide
As sub-cultures pose a potentially serious threat to the long-term survival of traditional culture (along with cultural imperialism, immigration, the loss of language and various other global phenomenons) it is important to consider the growing divide that is, well,...
What we can learn about Millennial Kids from Justin Bieber
If you are over 30 and battling to understand the mind set of your pre-teen child, or post-teen employees, then I strongly suggest you check yourself in to your local cinema for a couple of hours and watch 'Never Say Never' - the documentary style film that provides...
Conflict Transformation
This is from our archives - oldie, but goodie. Inc magazine (August 2005) had a short piece on conflict in the workplace, and a consultant that goes beyond conflict "management" and "resolution" to conflict transformation. Read the full article on "The Joy of...
Time changes our perception of what gender, gender roles and gender identity means.
I came across an article entitled Are Women the New Men? which prompted some interesting questions for me in a time of constant and rapid change. I believe both men and women are becoming more conscious of their gender identity; and what that implies in terms of...
Africa’s mineral wealth – The most important development opportunity of the next two decades
Originally published on our South African company blog in August 2010, and updated here in March 2011 One of my personal passions is trying to work out how developing countries, especially in my home continent of Africa, can help their people out of debilitating...
Where is the line between media and reality?
I read an article this week, 'At 50, Ken is Sexy Again', from Time. It reminded me of my fascination with Barbie since I was at university doing gender studies. As a child I wanted a Barbie and thought of her as a fashion icon, like most little girls. As an adolescent...
Battling cultural imperialism (a critical issue in the new world of work)
I was both amused and amazed to see this tweet a day or so ago: When will China become civilised? Chinese court confirms sentence on US man http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12502111 The news report referred to is about a Chinese-born American citizen, Xue...
Battling cultural imperialism (a critical issue in the new world of work)
I was both amused and amazed to see this tweet a day or so ago: When will China become civilised? Chinese court confirms sentence on US man http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12502111 The news report referred to is about a Chinese-born American citizen, Xue...
Adaptive Market Hypothesis
The generally accepted "truth" in the capitalist business world has been that "the market will decide". The mythical market apparently is always right, always rational, and can always be trusted. The last two years of crash have put a real dent in that theory. Are...
The Games Golf Plays
I must be honest when I say that discussing the pros and cons of golf is not something I ever imagined I would do. In fact I am almost hoping that nobody I know reads this because they will think something peculiar has happened. For you see, I have always been a...
For Gen Y, God and work (amongst others) are a choice
The subject of this post doesn't seem, at first glance, to be a very paradigm shifting statement. In fact, it seems quite normal. Take a step back, go and find people in their 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's, and you'll discover that 'normal' has changed. And in the context...
The cost of women in the workplace
For the first time in social history women are more likely to be financially responsible for either themselves, their family or their extended family than ever before. Not just women, but mothers now make up two-thirds of primary or co-breadwinners in American...