John the MD has three work stations in his office. Station 1 is dedicated to Project A. Station 2 is dedicated to Project B. Station 3 is dedicated to Project C. He will typically work on Project A at Station 1 for a set period of time (might be 3...
Read More
A smart CEO once said to me management have a tendency to ‘chase the torch light’. Shine an enticing opportunity or challenge on the wall and they’ll be mesmerised and knee jerk react to the stimuli. (E.g. A sexy project, new workstream, sector, threat or initiative). Harsh, but it goes...
Read More
Avoiding a performance conversation, not intervening in obvious struggle or tackling damaging behaviour is dishonourable and grossly unfair to staff. An awful lot of that goes on. People know when they are struggling or failing and they’ll know that you know that too. That’s a pretty horrible place for two...
Read More
People who tend to make the most headway and those who tend to spend less time waiting – don’t rely on corporate endorsement before taking action. That’s not to say they take mad, irresponsible decisions and buck the system just to be rebellious. No, they are considered and are 99.9%...
Read More
The work that you will judged on when it comes to your annual review – that’s what work. The work that your bonus may be riding on. Those half a dozen or less objectives you agreed with your boss will be the bottom line for you my friend. Time...
Read More
Bring your year end to a definite conclusion and start 2012 with a clear direction. (Why wouldn’t you?) Myself and Mrs. Fox sit down every year about this time with a glass of sherry and a mince pie and run through the following ‘completion exercise’. In doing so we have...
Read More
Ambiguity is reality. There is no such thing as a linear plan or a worthwhile project that did not veer off course. Being OK with ambiguity is a great quality; it allows space to reflect within the uncertainty, choices to be made from judgement not from fear or panic. We...
Read More
Change is not difficult – Transition is difficult. It’s not starting something new that is tricky, we are good at that. It’s leaving what’s old and familiar behind that we find painful, messy, awkward or just in the too hard category. Change is easy…Transitions are hard. Yesterday you were single,...
Read More
Most of us are much better and more prolific decision makers than we give ourselves credit for. After all, our day is but a sum total of constant decision making: Should I get out of bed and go to work? Should I take the back road and avoid the traffic?...
Read More