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Seven Ways to Ask Better Questions

Getting to the heart of the matter quickly doesn’t just save time it ensures that relationships are built upon a clear understanding of the whole truth.

To work effectively in and across teams it is essential to be able to connect honestly with others. Asking good questions helps to foster trust and shows genuine interest in the other person. Leaders who are able to ask better questions can expect to build stronger teams that perform at higher standards than the norm.

Whether we are engaging with customers, interviewing job candidates, talking to bosses, or requesting information from colleagues, as leaders we need to draw people out. And so often it is not a matter of what you ask but how you ask it.

Here are seven suggestions:…

Experience the wonder of nature with your team

I have struggled, writes Michael McCarthy, for the Independent, to find a way of expressing my elation at seeing the first butterfly of the year. Have you seen yours?

It was a brimstone, a bright yellow brimstone, he continues. Using science, and rationality, I can tell you quite a lot about it: that it was an insect; that it belonged to the butterfly family Pieridae, the whites… that in its caterpillar stage it had fed on the plants buckthorn or alder buckthorn; and that it had hibernated disguised as a leaf, probably in an ivy clump, until the first warm day in March woke it up….

What Should A Good Team Away Day Achieve?

A team building away day presents a unique opportunity to achieve a number of outcomes.

On occasions the potential of time away from ringing phones, interrupted conversations and pinging emails can be lost due to rushed planning, unrealistic expectations or simply a lack of energy and fun within the agenda.

A good team building away day should achieve some (not all) of the following:…

Happiness at Work – why does it matter?

Happiness at work – why does it matter is a half day event being hosted by Roffey Park with our own Dan Collins on Wednesday 6th July in central London.

According to research recently published by Roffey Park in The Management Agenda there is:

• a clear, well-defined link between the well-being of staff and the bottom line
• evidence that organisations that are steadfastly driven by their purpose – not their shareholders – are the most financially successful

Put simply, businesses that do well by their people, help them find fulfilment through their work and who demonstrate ethical leadership are rewarded by loyalty and higher performance and productivity.

Please join us, to book (external website run by Roffey Park Institute).

5 Ways to increase trustworthiness

Trust underpins all good relationships – supplier and customer, team and leader, husband and wife.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Our distrust is very expensive".

Despite the technical advances of the last century, few leaders would argue that the way in which their teams interact with and depend on one another isn’t crucial to their organisation’s performance.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Our distrust is very expensive”.

During periods of uncertainty and restructure, trust in employers, team mates and leaders can be eroded, so along the road to recovery what can individuals do to rebuild trust?…

What can teams learn from elephants?

If only there really was an elephant – or two – in the room, teamwork might improve.

Research just published by Cambridge University and featured on BBC news confirms that elephants will cooperate and work effectively as a team: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9417000/9417308.stm.
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Flip out in the office – A quick team building idea

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day to most of us. Give the sandwich man or lady a day off and make pancakes for lunch instead.

You just need a camping stove, a pan, a bit of oil and some pancake mix. For about a dozen pancakes you’ll need:…

The Rules and Benefits of Mind Mapping

Mind maps work as they use the whole brain. They appeal to left brain thinkers who like structure while right brain thinkers love the creativity of a masterpiece appearing before their eyes.

Where do you start?

There are several people who will tell you they use mind maps or have tried them – however are they following the Buzan rules? Tony Buzan is the guru of mind mapping and made the logic meet the creativity.

The Rules…

The importance of communicating using the personal touch

Although in this instance the Army was quick to admit that this was “a bad mistake” and the result of “a serious administrative error” there are many cases where similarly important and sensitive news has been communicated via an inappropriate and impersonal method such email….

Egos erode teams

Teams contain people and people have egos. Egos erode teams. This fact threatens most teams, particularly those made up of high achievers.

Unfortunately when we lack humility we fail to own up when we don’t understand what’s going on. Very often our colleagues are equally confused but they too keep quiet, so confusion reigns – silently.