Posted on: 11th August 2008
Watching the Olympics and hearing so much about performance and coaching it got me wondering about what’s the difference in performance management at work?
I was putting together an invite to an event we are running at the end of the month, promoting our Challenging Conversations training nugget and was wondering how to show how relevant it is given current market conditions. It got me thinking of the 70 odd times we have run the session and how we start it with a couple of cheeky questions:
“So what’s the overall intention in having a conversation about someone’s performance?”
The unamimous answer from approximately 1000 line managers:
“To improve that individual’s performance for the benefit of the business”
Great answer which I’m sure you might agree with. Then we ask the really cheeky question: (more…)
Posted on: 21st July 2008
Last Friday I sat enjoying my breakfast at a networking event in the company of a charming lady who runs a chain of newspapers. I listened with interest as she told me that all of her managers were aged between 27 and 35, and had never worked under tough market conditions. They have almost no awareness of the last recession that many of us remember so clearly, and have never needed to develop the time-critical style of management required to ‘catch the worm’ in times of drought.
As a result of this conversation, I have begun to put together a programme for leading and managing in difficult markets. If this is an interesting topic to you right now, please drop me a line, I would love to discuss it further…
Posted on: 14th July 2008
I watch a lot of talks, lectures and speeches. Every so often one comes along that blows me away. If you have 20 minutes, check this out. It is well worth the investment of time!
Sir Ken Robinson talks about creativity.
Posted on: 7th July 2008
Have you ever noticed how much time is spent attempting to find the one ideal solution for everyone; the one message; the one slogan? This would be great if only people were as similar as we delude ourselves to think. If there is one thing that I would love our clients to take away from working with us it’s that people are not robots.
A man walks into a barber shop and says, “Can you cut my hair like David Beckham?”
The barber says yes, and then goes on to deliver an appalling haircut - half way between a short-back-and-sides and a mullet.
The man says, “David Beckham’s hair looks nothing like this!”
To which the barber replies, “It would do if he came here.”
Posted on: 26th May 2008
I heard a great quote last week from a friend who also works with FIRO theory and The Human Element that sums up where alot of people appear to be living their lives
It went something like this:
He described his life as having his foot pressed down hard on the accelerator and his gaze fixed firmly in the rear view mirror…
Wow now there’s a scary thought. It got me thinking about what The Human Element is really about. (more…)
Posted on: 29th April 2008
I have been having a conversation with one of my colleagues about pattern detection and self-calibration. In simple terms - how do you know what’s going on with you?
Have you ever heard someone shout, “I AM NOT BEING UNREASONABLE!” when you can clearly see they are. The thing is, at the time, they genuinely think they are not. Our left brain is fantastic at telling us stories, and generally has no awareness of our behaviour or attitude, only the logical part of the argument.
So, even when you are trained to spot reactions in others, it can be difficult to notice them in yourself. The only way to check in on how you are behaving is to search for the feelings in your body. When you are stressed you will almost stop breathing and there will be tension somewhere. The more you become aware of the wealth of valuable messages your body provides, the closer you will get to what’s really going on for you.
Posted on: 1st April 2008
Daryll has just returned from another week with his mentor Dr. John Grinder and is ‘bouncing off the walls’ with enthusiasm for the new coaching patterns he has been playing with.
He will be running a one-off day of New Code NLP on the 13th May at our premises in Reading.
If you have never experienced NLP before, this is a really practical introduction in ‘plain english’. Daryll will be using high performance coaching activities including the high performance game used to train pilots at NASA.
For experienced Practitioners, Daryll will be demonstrating how you can make your NLP even cleaner (with less content), more generative (working with ’state’) and more empowering for your clients (focussing on solo application).
The cost for the day is £75 (excluding VAT) and it’s open to everyone so feel free to bring a friend or colleague. The dress code is informal; ensure that you clothing allows freedom of movement.
Numbers are limited and it’s ‘first come first served’. To reserve a place today: Call Swen on 0118 900 1527 or complete the form on our contact page.
Best regards
The team at noggin.
Our premises is Davidson House, Forbury Square, Reading, Berks, RG1 3EU (25 minutes from Paddington by train).
The dress code is informal, ensure that you clothing allows freedom of movement
Posted on: 31st March 2008
I was recently asked to write a piece for an accountancy magazine on ’stress management’. The term ’stress management’ is upsetting to me in the first place - suggesting that the objective is to manage the stress you have rather than find ways you eliminate it - as if you have no choice but to be stressed.
I was asked to respond to the following five questions:
What are the most common causes/symptoms of stress in offices?
What are the Special challenges that stress poses for young, ambitious high-fliers?
What are the best ways to prevent and/or combat stress (and why) - and the worst?
Our readers are accountants - who may be regarded as more immune from stress than those in other occupations - is that nonsense and why/why not?
How should employers help their workforce de-stress? What benefits do enlightened employers provide that contribute to successful stress management?
If you want to read my rant… (more…)
Posted on: 28th March 2008
As you may or may not know we are running our next Certified NLP Practitioner course in June. “But you have a nice calendar on your website with these dates already so why is this Noggin News now?” you might be asking yourself.
Well, in March Daryll has successfully completed his New Code Trainers Training with John Grinder and Carmen Bostic-St Claire (congratulations!) and has come back full of enthousiasm about sharing some of the latest New Code developments with you on this course.
Interesting to you? Contact me to find out more!
Posted on: 25th March 2008
About ten years ago I worked in a bar/restaurant during my weekends and holidays. I guess you can describe it as a bit posh with its marble floor, black leather seats and impressive half-round, wooden bar. The main reason for me to be there (besides the pocket money) was to learn, it was during my time at Hotelschool.
This was a busy business and some days of the week there were a lot more people having their drinks at the bar than at others. After a while it occurred to me that this was always with the same guy behind the bar so of course I wanted to find out what it is that he does! “What is going on here?” One evening we were having some drinks after we finished and I asked him for his trick. He started laughing and gave me a one-liner that has stuck with me to this day. (more…)
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