When are you ready to give feedback to a subordinate or colleague? At Raising the Standards we have ‘Feedback Friday’s’. We also have “Make it Happen Mondays” and “What’s New Wednesdays ”. But ‘Feedback Fridays’ are my personal favourite. It is on this day that I get to sit with each team member and give them feedback on: What I…
“I want to tell you something but can I really trust you?” I was surprised by Mr X’s question because I had been coaching him and his team for the past 7 months. I thought I had proven that I am trustworthy. After getting over a brief moment of indignation, I realised that it was…
Everything we do, create or launch as professionals has two possible outcomes – maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. When you write an article, put together a programme, start a project or launch a new product you are always faced with both of these possibilities. The trick to being successful at anything is to accept…
If I was forced to make a list of my biggest failures in the past 44 years, I can honestly say that my divorce would be on top of that list. Standing in court and citing ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ as a reason for dissolving a long term relationship just felt like such a cop-out because I’m one…
“Leading by fear gets things done! You know how ‘they’ are, if they see any sign of weakness they take chances “. This was the response from a senior manager (let’s call him Mr Boss) who had just received feedback from yours truly, highlighting concerns regarding the morale and learned helplessness behaviour of his team. Ironically,…
It’s about the HOW, not the WHAT When you are asked to describe what you see in the picture accompanying this article, you may be transported back to a recent course you attended. Depending on the energy and competence of the facilitator, you will also probably remember some of the exciting role plays or exercises that…
Well in my case, I have exactly 1353 marbles left and I can prove it! Before you start questioning my sanity, let me explain. The amount of marbles represents the number of weeks I have left until I am 70 years old. Why 70 years old? According to United Nations World Population Prospects 2015 Revision, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for…
I am by no means what you would call an Adrenaline Junky … but on my birthday this year I went skydiving and yesterday I bungy jumped off Bloukrans Bridge (yes, the pic is of me) – by now you may be questioning my sanity or the validity of my first statement. The truth is that…
October has been one of those months where the hours were too few, the demands never ending, and the midnight oil spent – along with my sunny disposition. And guess what? It gets worse from here as everyone scurries to meet silly season deadlines before South Africa shuts down for December. Have I had such…
“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me, And just be my friend.” Albert Camus We often have those moments where we are determined to change, one of mine happened a while ago when I read these simple words by Camus. Sadly, despite…