I frequently receive suggestions on subjects; these are always helpful – it helps me focus my writing on to topics that have value to you… and that’s why I do this: to add value to the community of technical professionals. So I’d like to hear from anyone who has a suggestion for an article on […]
If as you’ve felt that your meetings haven’t had the right spark of energy, or actually resulted in anything but a room full of hot air, then read on.
The ‘art’ of Opening and Closing meetings Read More »
A number of emails led me to write this article on communicating ‘Bad News’. This is a common issue in business, particularly in the western world where short-term results are king. Passing on information that is considered to be unwelcome fills a lot of people with angst and dread, so I want to address this
Communicating ‘Bad News’ Read More »
I’m constantly reminded how a dynamic of argument and debate is in the wrong place. A recent issue cropped up where a colleague was pushing back to a technical supplier because insufficient information had been provided against a change request. The problem though was that the phrasing of the pushback was principle-based, i.e. he argued
Principle vs Specific arguments Read More »
This might resonate with you if you’re a technical professional: how many times have you been asked to do a piece of work (often portrayed as a ‘small’ job) which disrupts planned activities and means one of both slip or are done with compromise? A study in 2002 found that IT departments can be spending
The impact of Unplanned Work Read More »
Below is a link to a great article that discusses No Excuse Leadership, which I think you should read. Why? Well I think it discusses an important aspect of leadership (and I stress leadership and not management) – creating a vision that inspires an organization to break down resistance to change and to set behavioral
No Excuse Leadership Read More »
This is a debate I often see in technical circles, mostly between technicians and their less technical managers or stakeholders. It’s a debate that often leads to conflict or a reduction in morale or motivation in each party. It has career implications too; as technical leaders aiming to build a career, its something we need
Perfectionism vs Pragmastism: Career Implications Read More »
Where does a leader get power from? A leader can use 5 types of power: here’s advice on when these powers should be used, and perhaps when not
How to Use The Five Types of Power as a Leader Read More »
In the previous installment of this series I discussed the impact of boredom on motivation, setting yourself aggressive targets and selecting some short term goals. I’ve received some good feedback on the series so far, and I welcome further comments.In this post I would like to offer a practical and implementable tip to create the
Creating positive energy in yourself (3) Read More »
