(2 minute read) During 1997, after filming a documentary on Canada’s Vancouver Island, filmmaker John Christensen was shopping in Seattle when he heard cheering in the distance. Intrigued, he encountered a crowd surrounding a small fish market. Suddenly, a fishmonger tossed a large salmon to a co-worker behind the...
communication
(2 minute read) When you think of some of the world’s greatest orators – Martin Luther King Jr, Sir Winston Churchill, Maya Angelou, Barack Obama, John C Maxwell – they have certain traits in common. Each demonstrated the ability to influence, persuade and/or move their audience. They also communicated...
(1 minute read) I have a great friend, Tony, who shared this practise with me many years ago as a reminder to his kids of the need to ‘think before they speak’ – with the right, supportive intent. It is as relevant as a teaching tool for our children,...
(1 minute read) “We spend 35% of our time thinking about the past, and 50% of the time thinking about the future. This only leaves us 15% to be in the present!” Hugh Van Cuylenburg. Author, ‘The Resilience Project’ The ability to be present, regardless of what is going...
(2 minute read) There’s a popular exercise we use during sales coaching workshops to highlight the importance of emphasis during a sales presentation. It begins with writing the following sentence on a whiteboard with a marker. “I never said I saw him steal the money.” When we ask the...
(1 minute read) While the need for technical competence in select roles has little room for negotiation, the rise and rise in the demand for ‘soft’ (non-technical) competencies cannot be ignored. Soft skills encompass attributes that are crucial for establishing and strengthening professional relationships, such as effective communication, emotional...
(1 minute read) A poorly managed team can directly impact your business. In contrast, a well-managed team can improve company culture and morale, optimize production levels, enhance efficiency, while providing the company with a competitive advantage. Managers and leaders need regular reminders of the value of the ‘human capital’...
(2 minute read) Successful people ask better questions and, as a result, receive better answers.” (Tony Robbins) In the early days of information technology development, a well-used phrase was; “Rubbish in – Rubbish out”. This was intended as a reminder that if we put the wrong information in, we’ll...