Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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How to crack the secret of winning one-to-ones
I’ve just seen The Imitation Game. (Great film. Watch a taster here). It’s thought-provoking on so many issues and, of course, stars the brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing the World War Two code-breaker. As for being a lesson in how to motivate people to do amazing things… Well, what can I say? Never have…
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Speak up, Shut up – how to influence in a meeting
So, your manager would like you to have more influence in meetings. She says you need more ‘presence’. She wants you to make more of yourself and make more of an impact. She wants more ‘oomph’. Well, that’s easier said that done, isn’t it? You do your best. You’re always prepared. You think you know…
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Too much to do? It’s all in the mind
Adam, one of my coaching clients, recently told me he felt as though his working day at a fabulous third sector organisation was a “waking nightmare from start to finish”. He has so much to do that he is in a constant tizz, his mind whirring and his heart beating super fast. He rarely takes…
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Who stole all my time? How to foil the Time Thieves
Do you ever get to the end of the day without achieving anything you’d planned? You arrive at your desk, bright-eyed and raring to go, nicely focused on your priorities for the day, and slowly, slowly, without really noticing, your focus goes awry, the hours slip away – and you don’t get to tick…
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Feel like a fraud at work? Here’s the #1 solution
So, you’ve had a bad day You’re feeling overwhelmed, full of doubt and, quite frankly, pissed off. How come your colleagues are just getting on after that horrendous meeting? How can they do that? They look so together and professional. How do they manage to say exactly what they want and it all comes…
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Why you want your third sector staff knocking off early
Wow, are your people dedicated Aren’t they amazing!? You know how much your people love their jobs, and the organisation. You know they’ll willingly give up a weekend to get something important done – and you often see them leaving late and working through lunch. One on the one hand, you’re delighted they’re so into…
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Email etiquette – ten top tips
I was chatting with an old colleague last week and she was despairing of her charity’s massive email problem. What she was saying was not new. It seems there is a major epidemic of ’email overwhelm’ breaking out in the third sector. The symptoms? Too many emails flying back and forth, too much time taken…
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Micro-management? What a turn off
I’m about to work with a fast expanding third sector organisation where one or two managers are a little too keen to micro-manage their reports. The Chief Exec has identified it’s going on and is keen to help his people find alternatives so that everyone can flourish and grow. I can absolutely see why.…
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Have you got the email habit?
So, who’s in charge of your email in-box? You are. Who gets to decide when you look in there? You do. It’s as simple as that. Interrupting what you’re doing to check emails breaks your thought flow and throws your planning out of kilter. You also allow yourself to get caught up in the idea…
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