Monthly articles on career success, leadership and productivity
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A crushing culture of overwork
Teachers are popping pills to keep up with their excessive workload, a recent UK teachers’ conference was told. The 24/7 culture is driving teachers out of education. School leaders were called out as the biggest culprit, messaging teachers...
Why your people don’t speak up
Do you need people to share more ideas, challenge the status quo, point out opportunities and generally speak up more? This is a common challenge I’m encountering now: employees need to be coming up with suggestions but seem to have become...
When shouldn’t you follow your leader?
Would you obey an order that felt wrong? Why good people commit evil deeds. It feels wrong to write my usual article on career success or productivity at such a distressing time. Instead, let’s see what we can learn from a famous...
How to get high on work
I frequently give Crazy Busy masterclasses at corporate wellbeing events. Cash is spaffed on yoga, massages, kombucha, vegan buffets and of course mindfulness. These definitely make us feel a bit better. But their impact is wiped out if you spend the rest of the week...
Does your organisation have an ego problem?
Stop validating your Sally Show-Offs and start supporting your Steady Eddies I’ve observed a Crazy Busy character popping up in organisations. Sally Show-Off is motivated by promotion, praise, followers, likes, drama. She’s all about ‘look at me’...
If silverback gorillas can manage their emotions, so can we
Successful people control their emotions. There’s no excuse for bad behaviour. Emotional intelligence is the ability to tune into your own feelings and the feelings of others. Learning these soft skills is as important as learning the...
Do too many layers slow you down?
Many organisations over-collaborate in a well-meaning desire to be inclusive: to hear every voice around the table. It’s a noble cause but not every voice has something meaningful or different to add. At a time when businesses need to be at their most nimble, are...
Loss Aversion: our greatest fear
When the fear of losing outweighs the thrill of winning.
Post Holiday Blues: where do you go from here?
Post-Holiday blues are cruel payback for having a good time. Use the blues to figure out where you go from here.
Bullied into Busyness: are unreasonable demands a sign that you are being bullied?
Most of us tread a very fine line between coping with our workload and being over capacity. What happens when your manager isn't a source of support, but the cause of the problem? Do they make excessive demands on your time: such as calling you early in the morning,...
Hybrid Humans: circadian rhythms and the beating heart of real human connection
Organisations which adapt quickly to hybrid working will balance efficiency with innovation. Front and centre of their strategy will be profound, productive, happy, human relationships. Will your hybrid plan help people flourish or is just a...
Have you lost the ability to think? Why people prefer an electric shock to quiet contemplation.
What happens when you have a quiet moment to yourself, without distraction? If being left alone with just your thoughts for company sounds like hell, then you are not alone. Some people even prefer an electric shock to a spot of quiet reflection. Researchers...