We’ve all sat through countless meetings. Here’s how you can make them more effective.

Even Super Heroes need advice about holding constructive meetings

Thou shalt: Read the rest of this entry »

Regardless of the team’s level – youth, high school, college, or the pros – players need to be consistently motivated to be successful, even winning teams.

How will Spain motivate themselves for the next tournament?

Teams that are not motivated are flat and, unless they can totally overpower their opponent, unlikely to succeed. Motivation is giving players a reason to perform to the best of their ability to achieve team goals. This responsibility falls on the coach and the players. It takes a team effort to be mentally and physically prepared to play and to maintain a level of interest that puts your team in a position to win.

Try these four ways to motivate your players: Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the scary sounding name, users of psychometrics often report that they enjoy the process and feel encouraged by the output.

Psychometrics are not the daunting prospect many think they are. Facilitated properly they can be quite the opposite

In simple terms a psychometric is a questionnaire that helps the user better understand themselves. In a team this is an excellent way to identify colleagues’ strengths and preferences. For instance a questionnaire might say that Sue is creative and sociable who works best when given regular feedback by her manager whilst Dave is disciplined and analytical, preferring to be set a task and left alone to get on until he’s completed the work. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you a “good” boss?  One of the most important aspects of an executive’s/manager’s/boss’s job is to manage employees; it is also the most challenging.

Bonus Rule 6: Don't dance in front of staff, especially if you can't dance.

A boss can either create a team unit or keep herself apart. All of us are given choices every moment of every day. How we respond to difficult situations is a choice. How we choose to react in a moment affects not only us but our employees. Employees perform best in an environment that is supportive, consistent, has good two way communication, and where everyone helps each other.

Follow these five tips to become a “good” boss: Read the rest of this entry »

It’s always going to be the case that you find some people easier to work with than others.

Rule 4: Avoid micromanagement

Sometimes you can pinpoint the problem immediately (if, for example, your employee is lazy or unresponsive, comes in late and leaves early, shirks responsibility, or constantly questions your authority without cause).

But there are times when your personality just isn’t compatible with those on your team. Unfortunately, you still have work with these people and find a way to motivate them so that the whole team can realize success.

To that end, here are a few simple ways to keep the peace and get everyone working towards the same goal: Read the rest of this entry »

Ever wondered what motivates people.

This lively RSA Animate, adapted from Dan Pink’s talk at the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace.

Over the years we have asked numerous leaders in well known organisations What could be better? In virtually every case they say: “we don’t communicate as effectively as we should”.

How will Fabio Capello communicate with the England team this world cup?

It seems as though weak internal communication is a virus that has infected most organisations, often the larger the business the worse the condition. Strangely high tech systems and gadgets, rather than help seem to make the problem worse, so put your Blackberry in your drawer and try some of these low tech approaches: Read the rest of this entry »

In just a few days thirty and forty somethings all across the land will be covertly buying popcorn and taking their seats in darkened auditoriums to relive their youth with Hannibal, Faceman, Murdock and B.A. Baracus.

Yes that is Liam Neeson as Hannibal!

During my first week as an intern at Fresh Tracks, I followed Dan Collins to London to observe the launch of the brand new training film, Innocent Success. Being no ordinary company, it is perhaps unsurprising that Fresh Tracks chose to launch this exciting new venture in an extraordinary way.

If only BA Baracus had heard of webinars

After experiencing my first ‘webinar’ (which, after a small amount of research I discovered was not in fact a German composer, but actually an interactive live seminar on the web), I’ve been contemplating the enormous effect of the communications ‘revolution’ that has followed the development of the internet. Read the rest of this entry »

The Frankie Goes To Hollywood anthem was a rousing classic in the midst of the cold war. A time when US and Soviet leaders would stand side by side seemed impossible but it happened. And last week’s coming together of Liberal and Conservative politicians seems like an equally unlikely breakthrough.

It's important for partnerships and teams to be able to embrace conflict in order to resolve differences and move on

Unlike Glasnost, Clegg and Cameron don’t just have to shake hands and smile to the cameras, they must govern, together, as one unit. Can they be a team? Read the rest of this entry »