In work, and in life, it is common to find people trampling all over your boundaries. Stomping through the flowers beds of your values, standards and tolerances.

When someone does that, you’d be pretty normal if you got angry (at least inwardly).

Why do people do this so often? Read More

One of the inherent problems with the notion of stakeholder management is in the title.

Does anybody want to be managed these days?

It implies, to me at least, someone taking control.

Would any stakeholder want you to be in control? Read More

Always be living (and working) in threes.

1. Keep things simple (thought, word and deed).
2. Three main rules for life (values and brand words too)
3. ? (What would the third be for you?)

These create brevity, clarity and results. Read More

Be kind to others, for you know not what is in their heart.

Be especially kind to yourself, because you’ll live with your heart forever.

Have high standards, but give yourself a break too.

Reflect on all you have yet to do, but balance that with how far you have come.

Stop inflicting negative emotions on your life (and body) especially when they serve no useful purpose.

Learn from your past, but don’t allow it to blight your future.

Now come on, it’s been a tough week, go put your feet up and switch off for 30 minutes. The world will still be here when you get back.

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When you strip away all the nice words written about trust, the whole thing boils down to one very personal judgement: predictability.

Does someone do what you expect them to do?

From maintaining confidentiality to delivered on time, we all have expectations of others, but how do they measure up?

And, others have expectations of you too.

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Quick as you can, make a list of all the individuals who have a big influence on your life.

Split your list into those who have a big influence on your professional life, your personal life, or on both.

Next to each, make some notes about what influence these people have on you.

Reflect on:

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How do you trust others?

Are you like Luke, who will trust someone until it is proven that he can’t.

Or, are you more like Isabel, who holds back her trust until she is absolutely certain.

Readiness to trust is a continuum and your preferred position will impact how you are perceived and trusted when you meet someone.

It will affect their readiness to trust you. Read More

Why are you so gullible?

I don’t wish to be rude.

You may choose to take it that way, but that’s up to you.

Today it seems like the majority of people are far too gullible, and that poses a problem.

Even the term “fake news” is likely to be sleight-of-hand. Almost all data is presented to suit the agenda.

Why do they do all of this? Read More

When it comes to influence, if you do not know what's on the other person's mind, you are shooting in the dark. You cannot do anything other than take aim – and fire into the darkness of their hidden agenda, issues and priorities. This is wasteful and stupid. Read More

There are many reasons why you may well struggle to handle the politics, though these three are hard to beat.

Top of my list, your attitude to workplace politics.

If you hate it you will shy away from it and fail to learn how to do it properly. Read More