ARTICLES

Make networking easier by knowing how to ask great questions and make someone feel interested in what you have to say.

Decisions can be hard because they are full of unknowns and risks. Often, we don’t know what we don’t know, and that can be nerve-wracking and hard to accept. But we can’t know everything. Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith or, to put it another way, jump and accept that we might fall…or land gracefully. We can choose to think positively.

How many of us are good at faking active listening whilst our brains rush to devise solutions we can offer as advice? Two hard but vital lessons for me in my career have been to stop my brain racing and listen and think about the best solution, not the first solution.

Why questions create space to explore our motivation, assumptions, reasons and purpose - and challenge accepted thinking.

There is a powerful correlation between mindfulness and building confidence, especially so in an ever-busier world where change is hitting us with terminal velocity and being heard is increasingly difficult. Slowing down and being more aware of your brain and emotions boosts your confidence.

How do you discover what motivates you? And how do you make that work to your advantage? I used to think I lacked discipline because I only got motivated when deadlines loomed. But I learned I’m not lazy, I’m externally motivated. Some people thrive on routine, others on novelty or achievement. Once you understand your own style, you can build systems that work with your rhythm instead of against it.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Dancing at dawn or alive in the afternoon? Do you know why you hate morning meetings or prefer to...

Sometimes clients come to me because they are struggling at work, feeling like they’re not making progress, not getting on with people or...

Whether you call it persuasion, manipulation, development or influencing, a good people manager – in fact, anyone who works with people...

How do you feed your concentration? We have different ways of working and there is more than one way to achieve a result. Understand how your brain works and work with, not against it.

Whilst we can be our own greatest critic, we can also be our greatest fan. Focusing on your strengths and recounting your successes boosts confidence and a stronger sense of self.