With so many new updates coming out here, you may well be overwhelmed with great ideas. I make no apology for the volume, because with so many people following me with different needs, I have to try to cater for all. So, here's a suggestion. Read More

One of the big challenges with exciting new opportunities is their propensity to hide the negatives. While you are excited about all the new things you will be doing, the meetings you will be attending, the results you'll be achieving, you will probably dismiss or at least downplay the drawbacks. Once you spot the drawback, you can potentially negotiate clear boundaries, with your new (potential boss) or even with co-workers as you begin to get moving. Here's a quick example that had an amazing impact. Read More

When looking to develop your power and influence, a key factor you need to consider is that it has less to do with you than you may think. The most profound impact (or influence) takes place in the mind of the person you are attempting to influence, because of what they think about you. Specifically about power, they are likely to imagine what power (capacity to influence) you have, and likely exaggerate it out of all proportion. If that exaggeration is going in a positive direction for you, it will help you at least in the short term, but may cause problems further down the line when the ultimately realise that you cannot deliver what they expected, such as putting in a good word with the CEO who they think you know well, but in reality you only nod to them in the corridor. So, today's post is about building greater awareness of how other people perceive you. Read More

When I published Feeling Powerless in a Relationship last week, a great many of you jumped on the opportunity to complete the online Power Profile. Using this to build awareness of where you get your personal power from is quick and easy, but only the very start of your journey to greater power and influence. However, there are two things that just about everyone has missed, and these are critically important if you wan to become more influential. Read More

Earlier today I was engaging with a connection on LinkedIn. We were discussing his reaction to my recent article Fire Fire! Controlling the Unseen Threat to Organisational Survival. An important point he made is that in any organisation, stress is inevitable. Read More

On a recent workshop with the National Health Service, a director approached me to say how pleased he was to be able to attend – because he had recently discovered my approach to stakeholder mapping and had used it with the board. Later in the day he confessed that it had not worked as well as he had expected, and now he understood why. During the workshop we had practiced using the whole Stakeholder Influence Process, including the mapping, and now he understood some of the nuances that he had not understood before trying to use it with his colleagues. Read More