Just back from a really informative 10 days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

With big help from our collaborator Richard who has 19 years local experience we have begun to find out what is important to businesses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Seemingly similar challenges that people are having over there - in a different context and culture.

A good example of the importance of stepping into someone else’s world!

Watch this space……

So Mike Ashley has finally shown his cards in the ongoing soap opera at Newcastle United after the departure of Kevin Keegan last week. It’s funny how some of the things we teach about communication are applicable in any context - even premier league football clubs…

I came across a great quote the other day that we now use a lot in our sessions - it goes something like this;

As humans, we tend to judge ourselves by our intentions and other people by their actions

The trouble is our intentions are so obvious to ourselves that we rarely communicate them.

A 1600 word retrospective statement of his intentions seems a little late for Mike Ashley at Newcastle. Shame since his intentions were and are so positive for the club. I wonder how the fans would have reacted throughout his ownership off the club if he had taken time to make them clear earlier…..?

It is truly amazing how in this multi media age a sculpture can capture the simplicity and complexity of life and evoke profound reactions within you. I left the Tate Modern last Saturday inspired and in awe of how you can learn something about yourself from a sculpture. (more…)

Last Saturday was one of those days that goes down in the books as very different. Let me share this with you.

Do you have a group of friends you meet up with on the weekend to catch up and talk about what’s been going on? Well, we figured it would be really good fun to do something different and go into town on Saturday afternoon dressed as Santa. All this with only our own fun in mind so a bit selfish, really.

However, fun things happen when you’re dressed as Santa this time of the year. All of a sudden everyone around you smiles, walking down the street complete strangers start a conversation. You and your mates can have your picture taken with a police officer without getting arrested, you can go the front of the queue and spend less time in outside in the cold. The list of fun moments just goes on!

Is it just me or is it fun to do something different?