September 2020

Spoiler alert: Yes, it does! Which would you rather listen to: Useful feedback or constructive criticism? Think about this question in two different contexts: You have just had an argument with your partner/spouse, and are trying to resolve the issue. You’ve spent weeks preparing a presentation you have delivered to a high-profile client. When you…

Whether you are hiring a freelancer, or are a freelancer yourself, this one’s for you. I have always detested the term ‘freelancer’. It tends to conjure up images of the starving artist/actor/musician, the techie with social problems, or a ‘liberal arts’ graduate with illusions of grandeur — figuring themselves the Hemingway or Hunter S. Thompson…

Whether you are in sales, customer service, or simply deal with people every day, read this — for the good of humanity. Having worked in the educational and academic publishing sectors, I have seen truly terrible writing. I have also seen a few gems that made it all feel worthwhile — like I wasn’t chasing…

I have been fortunate enough (and in some cases unfortunate enough) to attend many a startup pitching event, and have even participated in a few competitions myself. If you have ever wondered what investors are thinking about before, during, and after your pitch, look no further. Let’s face it: pitching is brutal at the best of…

As any company founder is aware, the topics of communications, marketing, and public relations are at the forefront of many a discussion — no matter what stage your business is at. While you realise that these are crucial business functions you will need to make your company a success, the differences between them are not immediately…

I attended a training session last year and was appalled to hear a facilitator proudly announce that he “didn’t read emails”. He got them, occasionally skimmed them, but never responded. He claimed that he was far too ‘busy’ to sift through the pile of emails in his inbox, and suggested that no one worth their…

We hear about ‘hacks’ all the time – we’re told that we should hack our productivity, health, and spending habits – but the implementation process is not necessarily a simple one. We all know that change can be difficult, particularly if what needs to change has become ingrained as a habit, or is a ‘social…

The ability to ask questions is an important marker for leaders. It differentiates great leaders from good ones because it demonstrates two key concepts: Empathy and willingness. Not everyone in a leadership position necessarily has, or is capable of demonstrating, these qualities. Some get there via bullying, manipulation, and intimidation. This occurs not only in…

When people think about mentoring in a business context, they tend to see it as a means to an end: Prepare a successor to do what you do, or as you do, or to do something similar in a different context. It’s easy to get bogged down by the details, get distracted by KPIs, or…

Picture the scene: You’re at a wedding and the best man is fumbling and mumbling through a poorly-conceived and ill-advised speech. He reads the speech off a piece of paper that makes you wonder just how much one can fit onto an A4 sheet if they write small enough. His remarks are in poor taste…