Starting a conversation with a stranger is one of the most difficult things to do for many people - often, but not at all exclusively, for those who identify with being introverted. I used to be just as reticent to do so. But, then I discovered

030 - The Secret to Dealing With Angry People

Oct 14th, 2018 4m 45s

How do you react when you’re confronted by an angry person? I know it doesn’t happen often (unless you’re in the Police!) but when it does, what’s the best way of dealing with the situation? Using an idea from Mark Goulston’s excellent book Jus

029 - 3 Powerful Leadership Traits We Don’t Often Talk About

Oct 7th, 2018 4m 52s

Leadership is probably one of the most used and over-used words in organisations (and LinkedIn!) today. Everyone says it’s important and there are clusters of agreement as to what it is. However, going against the norm today, Rob describes thre

028 - Running Projects? Avoid These 3 Mistakes

Sep 30th, 2018 5m 21s

Most people, in most organisations, are at one time or another involved in projects. The trouble is, sometimes they can fail for some quite fundamental reasons. If you run projects, or are involved in some, then make sure you avoid these three

027 - Where Not to Invest Your Time and Energy

Sep 16th, 2018 5m 13s

Audio:Content:You have limited time and energyYou need to choose where to invest it so you don't waste opportunitiesStephen Covey introduced us to the idea of the circle of controlYour inner circle is your control - what is entirely, and on

026 - Why Your People May Not Be Performing

Sep 9th, 2018 5m 41s

Audio:Content:Performance is an outcome of a number of factors working togetherBe specific in the task/outcome you're looking atAscertain the level of the person's Direction - they know what is expected and whyAssess their actual ability ag

025 - Make it a No-brainer

Sep 2nd, 2018 3m 49s

Audio:Content:Value = benefit - costMost people can't easily see that value up frontSpell it out - make the value more obviousCompare the costs now, with the investment needed and the results laterThe more you highlight that value, the more

024 - The Magic of Clarity

Aug 26th, 2018 5m 7s

Audio:Content:Clarity is king when it comes to explaining ideasBut it's more important for the listener than the speakerAn unclear mind leads to unclear talkDrive clarity with the 60-30-10 second testTime yourself explaining your idea in 60

023 - Forget Goals. Try This Instead.

Aug 19th, 2018 8m 22s

Audio:Content:Goals don't always workUse a quarterly personal theme instead - direction vs finishing pointMake it meaningful to what you want to developWhat do you want to learn over the next three months?Make it quarterly to enable new hab

022 - Happy? If Not, You May Have This Problem

Aug 12th, 2018 7m 48s

Audio:Content:We act in line with our real values (not stated ones)Saying one thing, and doing another, brings stressOur behaviour showcases our true valuesMarriage problems are often unresolved values clashesClarify your own actual valuesE

021 - How to Be Credible in Person

Aug 5th, 2018 8m 57s

Audio:Content:If you don't look credible, you won't beMake sure the way you dress is not a problem to the other personConsider your posture - upright conveys more authority than slouched doesShow sufficient energy in your enthusiasm and voi

020 - Establish Your Credibility Before You've Even Met Someone

Jul 29th, 2018 7m 30s

Audio:Content:Credibility determines trustCredibility can be developedIncrease your qualifications in specialist areasEnsure you have good online visibilityUse LinkedIn even if you think it's not worth itCreate authority pieces to showcase

019 - Unlock Your Leadership Potential

Jul 22nd, 2018 8m 4s

Audio:Content:You have even more leadership potential in youHow organisations commonly develop leadersAct more authenticallyStop copying othersOnce your magic goes, you're easily replacedGive yourself approval, don't wait for someone else t

018 - Gain More Control - 5 Ways to Say No

Jul 15th, 2018 7m 34s

Audio:Content:Why being busy is good and badWhat being overly committed costs you and othersExercise more control over requests that come to youThank you and divertLet me check my calendarThe awkward pauseDon't let their urgency become your

017 - How to Cope With Tough Times

Jul 8th, 2018

Audio:Content:We need to navigate challenges, not avoid themChange brings improvementsChallenges are not abnormal, they're how life worksWelcome challenges - make them your friendAlmost everything you'll face is temporaryTell yourself, "Thi

016 - How to Push Back on Stakeholders (without Threatening Your Career)

Jul 1st, 2018 9m 8s

Content:Dealing with urgent requests from seniors when you're already overloadedThe need to balance control and reputationWhat the stakeholder may not be aware ofListen and acknowledge - meets their need for feeling heardRecognise their potenti

015 - Let Things Percolate

Jun 24th, 2018 7m 13s

AudioContentCoffee can taste better (even in a plunger) if you do three thingsIf we also let our thoughts and responses percolate we can improve them tooDraft, pause, walk away, revisit - it allows time to reconsiderNo one sees all the best

014 - Three Levels

Jun 17th, 2018 8m 24s

AudioContentThere are three levels of contributionThe operator does a great jobThe leader helps others do a great jobThe influencer helps shape the jobs of everyoneThe key is to look for, and propose, ideas for imprvoement.ResourcesOnline c

013 - Information Detox

Jun 10th, 2018 7m 41s

AudioContentTwo-thirds of managers struggle under information overloadOne third say most information is uselessWhy getting 150 emails a day is not coolThe key issues with information: amount and omnipresenceFour things you can do to detox f

012 - How to Hire the Right Person

May 27th, 2018 6m 35s

Content:The difference between title and outcomesRecruit hard, manage easy. Recruit easy, and you'll end up managing hard.My top three criteria for hiring new people.Complex recruitment processes sometimes miss the boat.Resources:n/aTranscript:

011 - How to Show Authority (Without Being Pushy)

May 20th, 2018 9m 59s

Content:The story of the off-site group and who stood outWhat composure is and why it conveys authorityHow composure helps you, and othersSeven simple ways to develop composure, improve your presence and convey authoritySpecific ways you can ta

010 - A Common Communication Mistake

May 13th, 2018 5m 39s

In this episode:The difference between the best IT people and the rest (!)Why we get confused so easilyA key principle that drives understanding in communicationHow to win someone's interest in hearing more.Resources mentioned:Online course: Th

009 - First, Get Into the Tent

May 7th, 2018 5m 26s

In this episode:How to gain access to the leadership group, even if you don't know anyone there.Starting with an influential individual you do know.Concentrating on adding value as the main currency - everyone wants value.Strategies for buildin

008 - The First Thing You MUST Do to be More Productive

May 6th, 2018 4m 32s

Listen:You'll Learn:Why we are always wanting to feel more productiveThe initial problem you have to solveHow to take more control of what's on your plate.Resources:Download this free ebook with further tips to help you get more (of the rig

007 - Do You Make This Basic Sales Mistake with Clients?

Apr 29th, 2018 4m 25s

Listen:In this episode:The two tendencies that can wreck the sale earlyThe one question to use insteadExactly how you might do that to get richer informationHow this will make potential clients feel heard.Resources:n/aTranscript:If you’re