Creative thinking exercise - something to fire the brain cells Switching On The Lateral Thinking There are three switches outside a closed room.There are three lamps inside the room.You can flip the switches as much as you want while the door is closed, but then you must enter just once and determine which switch is connected to which lamp.How can you do it? For the answer to the creative thinking exercise scroll down... ;) The answer to this … [Read more...] about Creative thinking exercise 2
Reflections on the Annual CIPD conference #cipdace17 on HR topics #hrblogs
For those of you that follow me on twitter, it will be no surprise that I have been at the #cipdace17 conference this week. What is the CIPD annual conference? The CIPD is a UK based professional membership body for people involved in Human Resources, Organisational Development & Learning & Development. It has two national conferences, this one is more focused on general HR & OD. It currently takes place in Manchester UK each autumn. Key learning from #cipdace17 The conference is … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Annual CIPD conference #cipdace17 on HR topics #hrblogs
Learning at conferences & exhibitions – why people fail to benefit #cipdace17 #hrblog What will I learn at the conference?
As I sit on the train going to what is potentially is one of the best general learning events of the year, I started thinking about what I learnt and did differently since last year. What will I learn at the conference? #cipdace17 (to see a list of the free learning sessions click here)Since then I have been on several substantial training courses building up my awareness in a range of different areas. But what did I learn last year? What have I done with that learning? What will I learn … [Read more...] about Learning at conferences & exhibitions – why people fail to benefit #cipdace17 #hrblog What will I learn at the conference?
OD Developer Profile Audit Tool
How do internal developers build and develop their skills? There is no single standard. The OD Developer Profile Audit tool was developed by Mike Morrison as part of a PG Diploma in Management and Organisational Development.Part of the development programme was to maintain a Personal Development Plan throughout the duration of the programme. Rather than just have a wide plan I sat down with my line manager. Together we worked out a set of skills required for the internal consulting role … [Read more...] about OD Developer Profile Audit Tool
Learning from the best in HR – The CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition 2017 #cipdACE17 #hrblog
Each year there are 1000s of people that pay to attend The CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition 2017 (#CIPDACE17). Unfortunately, if you have a limited budget this can be a challenge. One of the best secrets of the CIPD annual exhibition is the free session that takes place around the exhibition floor. These make great free CPD activity for busy HR professionals. Below is a roundup of what to look for this year:To find each location follow these links:WELLBEING AND ENGAGEMENT … [Read more...] about Learning from the best in HR – The CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition 2017 #cipdACE17 #hrblog
How To Write A Business Diagnostic Tool
How To Develop A Business Diagnostic — a recipe for success Almost every consulting firm you look at offer a business health check or diagnostic tool of some kind. Often these are free. Sometimes they are premium. But do they work? this article explores what is required to write a Business Diagnostic Tool. Unfortunately many look sexy and seem on the surface to offer real value. But are they what they seem? Many of these tools only look at a narrow part of your organization. But your business … [Read more...] about How To Write A Business Diagnostic Tool
Career Development and Innovation – The Missing Link For Success
Do careers still exist? Can Career Development and Innovation link together as strategies? Are careers easier to plan or harder than ever?What can people actively planning their career learn from the best in the world of innovation?Over the last 20 years, we have seen seismic shifts in the workplace. The past, present and future of work are very different environments. Success in one era will not lead to success in another. So what has changed in the world of work? It helps to get … [Read more...] about Career Development and Innovation – The Missing Link For Success
Internal and External Factors that impact the employment relationship
The employment relationship between the employer and employee can often be dynamic. There are many internal and external factors that impact the employment relationship. The environment in which we operate is in constant change or flux. To develop effective employee engagement, leadership and Human Resources teams need to be aware of the factors that can impact the relationship. What is the employment relationship? According to the ILO:The employment relationship is the legal link between … [Read more...] about Internal and External Factors that impact the employment relationship
33 Ways to develop an Innovative Culture in your org.
Ways to develop a Culture of Innovation Many organisations strive for a competitive edge, an advantage over their competitors to help ensure their sustainability. Innovation is one such way, but for too long many organisations have concentrated on developing product and ignored the possibilities of innovation as a culture. Having an innovative friendly culture can harness the innovative and creative capacities of the entire workforce (and your customers and suppliers) to your advantage. But it … [Read more...] about 33 Ways to develop an Innovative Culture in your org.
DEEPLIST Analysis – marketing acronym
DEEPLIST analysis – an alternative to the PESTLE analysis Is DEEPLIST better than PEST or PESTLE? or more of the same?DEEPLIST - Demographic, Economic, Ecologic/ Environmental, Political, Legal, Informational, Social and TechnologyIn 2000 Paul N Finlay had a book published called “Strategic management: an introduction to business and corporate strategy”. In this book Finlay used the Acronym DEEPLIST as a way of prompting readers of the key areas that needed to be explored when looking at … [Read more...] about DEEPLIST Analysis – marketing acronym
Twitter as a marketing tool for SMEs
Low cost marketing for smaller businesses on TwitterBudgets are tight, time is short and the emphasis for many businesses is sales, sales, sales. And this is correct - for today... but what about the sales next week, month, year?Gaining sales from existing customers is by far the most effective cost per sale according to much of the research, however gaining access to markets is getting harder. In the UK once upon a time it was easy:2 commercial TV stations Few commercial radio … [Read more...] about Twitter as a marketing tool for SMEs
Fad surfing – the worst form of change management
Chasing the shiny new things Last week in a tweet I mentioned fad-surfing and some of my followers were not aware of this and requested an article - so here it is! Fad surfers are the management or leadership equivalent of the magpie, they love collecting shiny new things from other people. A management or leadership style where there is a lot of sizzle but little substanceWhat is "fad surfing"?In simple terms Adopting one fashionable management style or strategy after another. The … [Read more...] about Fad surfing – the worst form of change management
Bullying at work, recognising it & its impact on innovation
Bullying at work on the increase Or so the reports and surveys tell us. What we do know is that where bullying exists, trust does not. We also know that innovation requires openness and trust. So what do we really have in our organisations - innovation OR bullying?Are you being bullied at work – or are you a work place bully?As employers we have a responsibility to our employees, customers and suppliers for them to be respected and not bullied in any way. To deliver on that … [Read more...] about Bullying at work, recognising it & its impact on innovation
Why can’t people follow instructions? #changemanagement #HRblog
Why can't people follow instructions? Or maybe more accurately why won't people follow instructions?I run an online community group and peoples inability to follow instructions cause a problem recently. It got me thinking about how we implement change, and why change management programs and initiatives often fail to meet expectations.In the worlds of project management, software updates and software deployment (CRM, ERP etc), training and in fact any change management situation where we … [Read more...] about Why can’t people follow instructions? #changemanagement #HRblog
Technology based learning – does it work (e-learning)?
Using Technology based platforms to support learning - does it work? Increasingly the use of technology to support or in some cases to deliver learning is on the increase.While reading a post on one of the forums this morning I came across a debate about the willingness for "trainers" to adopt technology to support or deliver learning.The author of the piece (Martin Addison from VideoArts) cited the following: Trainers don’t have the stomach for more preparation Here, the allegation is that … [Read more...] about Technology based learning – does it work (e-learning)?
A to Z of leadership
A to Z of leadership ideas Over the past few months I have slowly been releasing an A to Z of leadership tips/ ideas/ thoughts. I have been asked a few time for that list to be published in one place. The origional source for the list is below, our role was to find the list, adapt it to the 100+ characters that twitter could handle. A - Accessibility-find out what is really going on by getting out there to talk to everyone at every level B - Brains-half of the brains of the world are female … [Read more...] about A to Z of leadership
Why we need to explore all options BEFORE going to social media #hrblog
Social media is great, but some people need to learn to use it to complain as the last resort, not a first resort. This was brought home to me very personally in the last few days. Without knowing it, an individual went on social media and in essence attacked me. An unprovoked attack with no warning. I am not even sure the individual realised what they were doing. I suspect they thought they were attacking a large, faceless organisation. They weren't.How it started A recent comment about … [Read more...] about Why we need to explore all options BEFORE going to social media #hrblog
Employees leave their boss not their job!
Are our managers leaking talent, or retaining it? While responding to a question on a network group I belong to about employee motivation and engagement, I recalled some research about the fact that people left bosses not their jobs.Then I came across a recently published piece of research carried out by a the Florida State University that clearly suggests employees leave their bosses not their jobs.Matching employees to managers is an element of recruitment which is rarely done (except at … [Read more...] about Employees leave their boss not their job!
Universities prepare people academically but what about for work? #job #jobtips
This week I was the proud Dad watching his daughter at her graduation ceremony. She was one of many that graduated from a Gold rated university, She gained a first class honours degree. Won the faculty prize. To top it all in one of the most difficult subjects at University - Physics.Whilst at the ceremony something very strange struck me. Each graduate entered the stage, they walked across the stage to the centre. Shook hands with the Vice Chancellor. Then walked further across the stage … [Read more...] about Universities prepare people academically but what about for work? #job #jobtips
Strategic development: Are we missing the point?
Strategic development: Are we missing the point?As developers, consultants and change agents, we often talk about strategic programmes and actions, but are we taking the appropriate first steps?This article looks at the steps we take and explores if we can be more strategic and add more value. IntroductionOften we know where we want to get to, or at least have a good idea, but often as the old saying goes: “If I was going there, I would not start from here.”That is a very logical … [Read more...] about Strategic development: Are we missing the point?
