Naysayers and the hidden value of workplace pessimism
Naysayers – colleagues who see nothing but gloom – drain energy and obstruct change in almost any organisation. But do they also offer a hidden value? Quentin Millington of Marble Brook explores the root causes of doom-mongering and shows how everyone can benefit from pessimism within the team.
How HR can disrupt the drama triangle
One in four UK employees face workplace conflict, often trapped in the destructive Drama Triangle of Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor roles. Conflict specialist Jane Gunn reveals how HR professionals can recognise these damaging patterns and guide teams towards the healthier Empowerment Dynamic that builds trust and transforms workplace culture.
The games at play in your company’s culture – and how to stop them
Since Eric Berne’s groundbreaking book Games People Play, leaders are more aware of the unconscious dynamics that influence the way people work together. In today’s context of hybrid working, multi-cultural teams and AI, are games still at play? If so, how do we spot them and what can we do about them? Ella Overshott, Partner at Pecan Partnership, examines these questions below.
The QUIET Listening Framework: Talk less to achieve more
We’re conditioned to think influence comes from pushing our views. By choosing to be QUIET, we can transform the way that we lead.
Poor relationships: The real cause of growing disability disputes?
In the past year, Acas data shows that disability disputes have risen by 31%. How can HR address this? Paul O’Donnell, Managing Director of CMP, urges employers to look beyond the standard advice and get to the root cause of the issue – poor relationships.
What’s the conversation you’re avoiding?
It’s natural to want to avoid a tough conversation, but silence has a cost. By choosing Catalytic Conversations, you can learn to spark change that matters.
Expect the sticky stuff: How to overcome resistance to change
Struggling to get certain employees ‘on board’ with your change initiative? Ella Overshott, Co-director of Pecan Partnership, shares five steps to overcome resistance and make change stick.
Love bombing: How to spot and combat the issue at work
Love bombing is in the air this Valentine’s Day. But how does this play out in the workplace? Guy Thornton from Practice Aptitude Tests explains how leaders can spot the signs and how to combat the problem.
Emotional recession revealed: Key takeaways from State of the Heart’s study on emotional intelligence
State of the Heart’s annual research shows emotional intelligence has declined for the fourth consecutive year. Here, we explore what this means for the workplace, and how we can emerge from this emotional recession.
Five ways to sabotage relationships at work
Good relationships enrich the workplace and help us get things done. But human connections are fragile and common behaviours harm our efforts to build trust. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook examines how we wreck, and how we might protect, our workplace relationships.
The Traitors: Unveiling the dark side of workplace dynamics
The latest season of The Traitors has been a welcome distraction from our January Blues. But what does it teach us about the dark side of relationship dynamics?
‘Rust out’ vs Burnout: What is the difference?
Psychologist and mental health expert Dr Audrey Tang lays out the signs and differences between burnout and companion term ‘rust out’, alongside how to address these issues.
Workaholism, health and strategies to break away from unhealthy patterns
Workaholism has severe implications for a person’s health and wellbeing and has a high risk of resulting in burnout.
Defusing tensions in the workplace
Worldwide conflict, political rifts, and uncertainties around employment and living expenses are reflected in the workplace. As a result, transforming the work environment from confrontational to cooperative becomes essential.
Finding use in the magic of conflict
While it’s important to avoid negative and harmful conflict, constructive conflict can serve as a catalyst for change. Professional mediator Jane Gunn reveals how to make magic out of workplace conflict.
The power of habits and rituals in company culture
How can we encourage better workplace habits and rituals that support a great company culture? Deborah Hartung outlines five important steps.
How culture brainwashes us into mediocre ambitions
In contrast to people living under totalitarian regimes such as China, we in the West are free to make personal and business decisions. But how far are we brainwashed by old norms, new trends, social media algorithms and the values of others? And how does this limit our imaginations, and so what we achieve at work?
Revisiting the past to become better leaders under pressure
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? An internaliser of an externaliser? Our childhoods affect who we become and even impact us as leaders. Leadership expert and consultant Nik Kinley and IMD Business School Professor Shlomo Ben-Hur discuss how we can better understand these tendencies to perform well under pressure.
The de-escalation game: Empowering employees to resolve conflict
Workplace conflict can and does happen. By empowering their employees to resolve their own conflicts, organisations can promote a culture where issues are dealt with without need for escalation. Here’s how.
How to take responsibility for your failures
Owning up to your faux pas is daunting, but necessary if you want to cultivate a transparent, safe-to-fail company culture. Thom Dennis, CEO of Serenity in Leadership, explores how to acknowledge your blunders with dignity.