Management

I recently had an experience where someone took me flying and nearly killed me!  I am a pilot and regularly fly in our North East home, and I am fortunate enough to experience flying frequently.  The pilot in charge was very experienced in terms of operational procedures but unaware to me, had real issues with the runway we were using that day...

I want to share a recent experience which happened to me.  As I am sure, you can appreciate being a trainer within a training company we use hotel and venue facilities regularly.  The majority are, in my opinion, good and offer an excellent service and reasonable value for money; I want to point out that I am always the first to comment...

One of the critical areas of our management development courses is the elements we cover on understanding behaviour.  We get so many comments regarding this aspect of the training including the fact that we may be using some ‘dark art’ regarding how we can understand how a person operates or how they behave and communicate. Unfortunately, there is nothing dark about...

When you ask "What motivates you in the workplace?" a quick-fire response is often "Money" but is that really true?   Of course, we all need money and if we don’t have it then life can become very difficult. However, I am not talking about that, I am talking about what really motivates us and it may be surprising for you to hear...

As a manager, there is one skill set you will have to improve almost immediately when you undertake a management role; it's the skill to make decisions.  It is common for people to struggle with making decisions; we want to ensure we make the right ones!   Unfortunately, and I am saying this not because I want you to make them, but you need...

As I travel around our wonderful country, I meet some fantastic people, some people you really warm too and some who you would be happy to sit down and have a beer with. I would suggest most people whom you would sit down and have a beer with. Of course, sometimes you meet people who you don’t necessarily warm to straight...

We all face pressures in our professional lives and no doubt there are always going to be additional stress and pressure when you are promoted into the role of a manager.  Like any new job we start we think we are being scrutinised and become paranoid regarding our abilities. Some key tips regarding taking on a new management role: Be yourself...

On many courses, we discuss the difference between management and leadership.  Unfortunately, most don’t understand the difference in the beginning but leave the class with a much better understanding of the traits of a leader vs the characteristics of a manager.  I then ask them what do they consider themselves to be a leader or manager? In my experience leadership is either...

All managers are required to listen to others; this could be a member of staff with a particular issue or concern.  It could be a customer with a complaint.  The reality is we are all going to be involved in listening to other people. When we are listening to people, it is easy not to listen.  Most people listen for one reason, to...

As many people know I am a massive fan of having goals.  I believe goals are dreams with deadlines and I believe you can achieve anything you want if you put your mind to it.  I find goals give me a structure and I think the best things I have ever achieved are the things I have set as goals. I have...