Ever get the sense you're listening to a talking head, someone who is is parroting someone else's words? Does your boss ever expect you to be a human ventriloquist with him or her pulling the strings and you voicing their stuff? Welcome to the world of unengaged employees. Of staff caught in … [Read more...] about Don’t be a parrot or a human ventriloquist
Easy, free planning tools to help you get the year you want
What we see depends mainly on what we look for. ~ John Lubbock Where I work & play, this time of year the daylight hours are short, the wind blows strong & the rain falls frequently (interspersed with the odd snowfall that brings the city to a standstill). It’s a time made for glancing … [Read more...] about Easy, free planning tools to help you get the year you want
Time for audience participation (that means you): we see what we expect to see
I love traveling by train so when I found myself on the platform in Amsterdam looking for the right platform I was like a kid looking forward to an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day. (The fact that I was headed to Paris didn't hurt either.) Despite a well-organized system though I couldn't find … [Read more...] about Time for audience participation (that means you): we see what we expect to see
20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Know what Toska means? How about Jayus? Jason White wrote an article about '20 awesomely untranslatable worlds from around the world for Matador Abroad. Toska and jayus are two of 20 untranslatable (or at least tough to translate) words from other languages. Toska is a Russian word meaning … [Read more...] about 20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
Dichotomous thinking gets us into trouble. old / new love / hate either / or yes / no black / white right / wrong Forcing our brain to think along these dichotomous lines causes us to loose opportunities, get boxed into a corner and what's more makes creativity and innovation tank. How … [Read more...] about Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
The blind leading the blind … literally
Remember the old joke about 3 blind men describing an elephant? One man, holding the tail, describes it entirely differently than another man who is touching its truck, which is yet again different from the man touching its tusk. Perspective. It can be a potential killer. Limited perspective … [Read more...] about The blind leading the blind … literally
I'm listening … to you
It's been just over a year since my first blog post (My first African nocturnal visitor) and I thought I'd offer an ear up to hear your thoughts about my blog. What do you like? Not like? Want more of? Want less of? I invite you to take 5 minutes (or less) for 5 questions and fill in the … [Read more...] about I'm listening … to you
Ingunn Aursunes's views on seeing clearly
Ingunn Aursunes of Quantum Leap Consulting in Norway, talks about how to see clearly in the clip I interviewed her for below. She speaks eloquently about 'listening for other things than what our ears can capture.' Sounds like a smart Heart Life Lens® to me. … [Read more...] about Ingunn Aursunes's views on seeing clearly
Not paying attention as a trainer can make you take an unwanted bath
I once took a university course, early Friday mornings at 8:30 am, with only 3 others in the class. There was another painful aspect to it other than the early hour. The professor lectured from notes so old they were yellowed. Plus his monotonous tone matched the static nature of his … [Read more...] about Not paying attention as a trainer can make you take an unwanted bath
The view from Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter) on a bad, very bad day
The word's aflutter with the release of the new Harry Potter movie, which made my kids take the opportunity to watch a previous version, specifically the Order of the Phoenix. We were all snuggled up in bed watching when it occurred to me that the character Dolores Umbridge is a great example … [Read more...] about The view from Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter) on a bad, very bad day
Seeing clearly through the eyes of Eszter Debreczeni, HR lead for Microsoft
Eszter Debreczeni is Human Resources lead for Central and Eastern Europe, Microsoft. I met her recently at the WIN conference in Paris, where inspired by Life Lenses® a self-assessment designed to help us identify how we see the world, she spoke to me about her ideas on seeing clearly. Clarity of … [Read more...] about Seeing clearly through the eyes of Eszter Debreczeni, HR lead for Microsoft
The fine art of balance
The gorgeous video clip below came to me via Dyana Valentine. Other than wondering how the artist can manage to spend so much time upside down while looking so effortless and graceful, it's got me thinking about balance. As a learning and development specialist I think a vastly overlooked aspect … [Read more...] about The fine art of balance
