‘Diversity in business teams’ has become a catch-cry. Whether it is gender, ethnicity, age or ability, the inference is that great teams need diversity amongst its membership. But what value does diversity bring to the team? For good teams to become great, they need to share a common vision, and ownership in the creation of goals and strategies to achieve that vision. Teams that are harmonious … [Read more...]
Walking the Tightrope
What would you do? Here's the scenario: A customer rings up and you take the call. The customer is calling to complain about a report they received from your company. They complain that the report is poorly written and contains a number of factual errors. You check the report and see that it's written by your manager. What do you do? 'Saving face' - it's a concept that we usually associate … [Read more...]
Trust is like oil
Trust is the oil that reduces friction in a relationship. It is a platform for effective understanding, communication and relationships and the key element in all relationships at work, home and in our social lives. And because we’re human, trust is key in business and politics. The 2015 Edelman Trust Barometer study found that countries with higher trust levels overall also show a greater … [Read more...]
Just How Good Are You at Your Job?
'Staff member who is a technical expert but a relationship dunce' - was the title of the post on the Linked In site of Human Resource Institute of NZ group this week. The problem - someone who is technically competent in their work but no-one wants to work with them. It was a subject that resonated with many people - there were a flood of responses. So what does it take to be competent in your … [Read more...]
Is Your Most Difficult Team Member Actually Your Greatest Asset?
When discussing the concept of whole brain thinking with a client just recently, he replied “yes, my 12 year old daughter keeps reminding me we only utilise part of our brain”. Using our Whole Brain This took me slightly by surprise. Contrary to popular belief, this has actually been proven otherwise. Psychology and medical researchers have studied people whose brain function has been impaired, … [Read more...]