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We make hundreds of decision in a day - many are minor and take very little conscious thought, some are more weighty, both in terms of the thinking needed, and the outcome. We tend to think of decision making as a process of choosing between options: A or B, yes or no, now or later, do nothing or do something. And part of our process then...
Read MoreDo you ever have the situation where someone says something, it completely changes your understanding, it makes perfect sense, and you’re left thinking, “How did I not know that?” I have always struggled to keep kitchen knives sharp - that razor-sharp edge they have when you first buy them. I’ve spent hours trying to hone my edge honing...
Read MoreThe VW Beetle has a very distinctive shape - and even over 3 generations of design covering nearly 60 years of production, that distinctive shape has been retained, and nearly everyone can recognise a Beetle. Some Beetles come in a very noticeable yellow. So, the thing is with these yellow Beetles, there are few-enough of them that you won't...
Read MoreDo you recognise this situation? You are drafting a text message on your phone. You type a perfectly sensible word and it changes it into something entirely different. You correct it and it changes it again. After several attempts to get the word you want, you slow right down to type the word one letter at a time, and carry on with the rest of...
Read MoreMost companies say they want proactive people. People who spot problems before they become crises. People who take ownership, seek opportunities, and look for ways to improve things. And people who don’t simply wait to be told what to do before taking appropriate action. And yet, strangely, many of these same organisations unintentionally teach...
Read MoreA few days ago, a hummingbird found its way into my garage and was flying around trying to get out. The strange thing is that both garage doors were fully open, as was the side window, and there was plenty of daylight coming in. And yet the bird was 'trapped' in my garage. For hours, it flew around in circles constantly tapping against the...
Read More'What gets measured gets managed' is one of the most quoted phrases in management and leadership, and for good reason. Measurement matters, because organisations need visibility, leaders need feedback, and teams need clarity about what matters and whether progress is being made. Without some form of measurement, organisations tend to use a mix...
Read MoreI'm fascinated by the way people go in search of information - or don't, and what they do with it - or don't. Some people can never seem to have enough and always seek more, others seem to have it instantly at their fingertips - and are not afraid to use it. We have this idea that information is useful and helpful - but that's not always the...
Read MoreA surprisingly large proportion of what we do each day does not directly add value to the final product or outcome; estimations of the exact percentage varies depending on the type of work. Some of this activity is actually necessary as it provides structure, control, and reliability and includes things like maintaining records, confirming...
Read MoreIt is easy to assume that if people know what to do, they will do it. In most organisations, people are capable, experienced, and generally trying to do a good job. They understand processes, agree with goals, and can often describe what 'good' looks like. Yet the behaviour does not always follow: things drift, standards slip, and good...
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