If you sell products rather than services then the answer to the question “What do your customers buy from you?” would, at first sight, have a very simply answer: the product. But if we look at this question more carefully it quickly becomes apparent that this simplistic answer is, in fact, wrong. (more…)
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Managing Performance
Managing performance is not something that is confined to a situation when one of your team is not doing as well as you’d like them to do (when as a term it is often management speak for “disciplining”), nor is it something confined to the annual performance review meeting. Managing performance should be a daily…
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Better Interviewing – Tips for Managers
Many managers are given the responsibility for interviewing new people when their company is looking to expand their team, or because they have to replace someone who is leaving. For managers who do not do this regularly it can be a daunting process. Here are some recruitment training tips to help you interview better. (more…)
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The 5W1H Approach For Better Meetings
Senior managers spend a significant proportion of their time at work in meetings. Yet ask them how productively this time is being used and most will answer “not very!” Poorly run meetings waste hours of valuable business time and are, not surprisingly, the number one time waster identified by delegates on our time management workshop.…
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Being Productive When Traveling
It is not just sales people who have to regularly work away from home. Many managers travel routinely to meet up with colleagues who work out of offices in different locations, attend conferences or training events. Often our only time to catch up on important work projects or emails when out and about is when…
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Empowering People Isn’t Easy!
Most organisations strive to build an empowered workforce, yet despite their best efforts surveys continue to show that employees do not feel empowered by their line managers. Why is this the case? (more…)
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Research Findings: Effective Manager Development Programmes
Recent research published in November 2014 and sponsored by the CIPD, IOSH and the Affinity Health at Work Research Consortium confirms that Spearheads approach to the design and delivery of in-company manager development programmes is the most effective for achieving results. read more
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Are You a Good Boss?
A recent worldwide survey by CEB (a member-based advisory company) of about 18,000 employees revealed that one third of those surveyed would change job for a better boss! The same survey also showed that UK employees were the most likely to change jobs in the near future. This shocking figure suggests that UK managers are…
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How Effective Are Your Annual Performance Reviews?
Many companies have annual performance reviews (sometimes called appraisals) as part of their performance management process. Many managers dread appraisal time, yet the purpose of a performance review is to act as a tool for the line manager, helping them help their team, individually and collectively, to be the best that they can possibly be.…
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Managing Stress At Work
In a recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) it was reported that the number of sick days taken by UK employees per year was down. This statistic looks like good news for anyone in a managerial position, as having a member of your team missing for even just a few days…
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