​We all know that effectively managing employees is key to the success of our business. We variously rely on our employees to serve our customers/clients, to market and sell the goods and services of the business and to implement the processes and systems that keep the business flowing. As business owners or managers, we can't be there all the...

​Anyone that's had responsibility for managing others will I think agree that is can sometimes be a challenge. There are days that, regardless of what you do, it's apparent that you just aren't getting the results you are hoping for. In some ways it might almost seem like you're trapped in a Goldilocks fairytale – one member of your team's complain...

​The new year begins with a personal confession.  I'm a perfectionist. I like things to be "just right". I HATE it when things go wrong, when they're not the best they can be, when I'm not in control. I tend to be quite conservative and reluctant to take risks and I grow impatient and frustrated when I can't quite get to doing the things I nee...

I'm an accountant. I'm all about making money. If you want to make money, get your culture right first. Don't waste your time on the other stuff. by Giam Swiegers, former CEO of Deloitte Australia Most of us understand its importance, but actively managing workplace culture in order to optimise results can be a tricky business. Even once you'v...

​I was watching the ABC program Q&A a little while ago, when the panellists were asked their view of Pope Francis, having been elected to the Papacy 12 months prior. What struck me most about the response of the panellists was their unanimity, particularly given that, as other avid viewers of Q&A will attest, having the panellists agree on ...

​A common challenge for many supervisors and managers when it comes to managing people is providing effective feedback.  This is particularly the case where they need to give feedback to a team member who is presently not meeting expectations and/or where they have done something wrong. Some supervisors and managers become paralysed by fear th...

​I was intrigued by a recent story out of the USA that the nation's second-largest drugstore had announced that it will later this year stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in its 7,600 stores. The move is likely to cost the company US$2 billion annually. In announcing the decision, CVS/Caremark's CEO said "Ending the sale of cigarett...

​One of the "Do not pass go, do not collect $200" items in our 8 Elements to Success Through People© Model  is Clear Vision and Strategy.  A key part of this involves articulating, communicating and reinforcing the values of your business. In the context of a business or organisation, values can be seen as statements of "the things that m...

​Much of the support we provide to clients relates to nurturing effective leadership as a means to driving business success.  Indeed, Effective Leadership is one of the two "Do not pass go, do not collect $200" elements in our 8 Elements to Achieving Success Through People © model. Of course, we know that we are not alone in our efforts to sup...

I like to think that I'm an effective collaborator. I work closely with my team on key issues, seeking their input and insight, and I encourage other business owners and managers I coach to do the same. But an article in a recent edition of Harvard Business Review ( Collaborative Overload by R Cross, R Rebele & A Grant, HBR Jan-Feb 2016) has pr...

​I was asked by a small business owner the other day "How often should I be talking with my staff about their performance?" .  It got me thinking about performance management in small to medium-sized businesses and how it's an important but frequently neglected area. Indeed, an effective performance management process is critical to several el...

​Workplace Culture – it's a term frequently used by management "gurus" and just as frequently ignored by many who see culture change programs as nothing more than the warm and fuzzy stuff - yoga classes, paying for Christmas drinks, providing fruit in the staff room and the odd "mufti day".  Sure, these things have their place, but their place...

" Performance Reviews: Get Rid of Them " – www.theage.com.au 15/02/15  " Businesses Should Boycott Performance Reviews " – www.afr.com 05/03/14  " Performance Reviews: Is it Time to Kill Them? " – www.executivestyle.com.au 30/06/14  The headlines say it all really – the performance review has been under sustained attack for the last ...

As usual, the 2015  Conference on Culture and Leadership presented by Human Synergistics Australia delivered the goodies, with some great speakers sharing their personal leadership and workplace culture experiences with an enthusiastic Sydney audience.  One of the many things on the day that resonated strongly with me arose out of a ...