We need ‘difficult’ friends. I think everyone needs a ‘difficult’ person in their life. That awkward git that won’t shut up and tells you exactly why your brilliant idea is doomed to failure. They aren’t afraid of offending or hurting your feelings, publicly embarrassing you, treading on your toes and causing a ‘stink’. Just what’s […]
The Retirement Speech Test. “I wish I’d said that years ago”
The Perfect Retirement Speech. I’m thinking of offering a course on how to write the perfect retirement speech. Nothing fancy, clever or sophisticated, just three bite-size chunks. Part 1 is just a case of, writing down what you really think about a specific topic connected to your working life; take your pick from the following […]
The Listening Boss Starter Pack: Speaking Truth to Power Part3.
How about this, something practical to help overcome the ‘speaking truth to power’ problem: The Listening Boss Starter Pack; A picture of General Custer to hang on the wall, A Jesters Hat, A Trojan Horse paper weight / desk ornament, and A Darth Vader Lego Character (we all like a bit of fun). You receive […]
Speaking Truth to Power Pt2. Messengers: Sycophants, Axe Grinders and The Brave
Cassandra. She knew the truth but was never listened to… Stop for a moment and think about this question. “What happens to the people who give bad news, or tell an unwelcome truth to the people in charge?” [PAUSE] Now think about the question in relation to all of the books you’ve read, all of […]
Speaking Truth to Power Part 1. 2500 years of Shooting the Messenger
I was going to start this post with a link to the opening scene from the film Gladiator. You know, the bit where Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is waiting pensively for a messenger to return from telling the German Barbarians to surrender. All around his Roman Legions prepare for battle (very dramatic). The messenger does […]
What's the PONT 