The current COVID-19 pandemic is a global catastrophe on a scale that we’ve never experienced in business. It has forced choices upon us that a year ago we never thought possible – community versus economy, health versus wealth, freedom versus conformance, prioritising who to save and who to let die. In Australia, we are turning […]
Explaining the Action Logic Framework through the lens of AFL football
In my practice, I apply the Harthill Action Logic framework as a key teaching tool to help leaders better understand how and why they see and interact with the world in the way that they do. The Action Logic is not well known in Australia, but it should be. Developed by David Rooke and William […]
Making performance feedback work for both of you
Giving or receiving performance feedback when an outcome has been below the standard required is an uncomfortable thing to do. For many of us, we recognise the discomfort and we genuinely don’t want to offend or hurt our employee’s feelings. So we end up circling around the issue, giving non-specific or generalised feedback resulting in […]
The courage of transparency
It happens in every business, at some point. A manager oversteps the mark and the robustness of the internal complaints system is tested. It might be that murky area when legitimate performance management action becomes workplace bullying or perhaps one of the several forms of discrimination. What happens next reveal insights into leadership and culture […]
Germanwings tragedy reveals lack of understanding about mental illness
In the days following the tragic Germanwings disaster, where it appears that Co-Pilot Andreas Lubitz committed mass murder by steering his airliner into the French Alps, authorities have been quick to release their discovery that he suffered from depression and may have hidden this illness from his employer. In response to these revelations, media worldwide […]
Leading a Multi-Generational Workforce – Generation Z
They are beginning to enter the workforce. The oldest amongst this group are just 20 years of age. If you thought GenY were a handful in the workplace, then you might be surprised about the emergence of Generation Z. It is entirely possible that you haven’t even heard of GenZ, so let’s put some parameters […]
Starting Culture Conversations
We never speak about workplace culture when things are going well. Typically, we feel the need to improve culture when the recent past has been rocky or the future looks bleak. Revenues are sliding, costs are rising disproportionately, customer complaints are trending upward or industry regulations have changed and we don’t know how to respond. […]
Leading a Multi-Generational Workforce – Generation Y
Generation Y. The Millennials. Their impact on the workforce created generational debate like none before. You’ve heard the stereotypes. The 22 year old graduate telling the General Manager on Day 2 how to do his job better and was bored and looking for a transfer to a more stimulating department by Week 3, perhaps one […]
The trouble with employee engagement
It is a familiar scene. The Head of HR is presenting engagement results to the Board and the numbers look pretty good. 65% of the workforce are ‘engaged’, 20% are neutral and 15% are ‘disengaged’. Like every good HR Professional, she has done her homework and pre-empted the questions. How does this compare with external […]
Leading a Multi-Generational Workforce – Generation X
If you were born from the mid 1960’s to approximately 1980 then you are part of Generation X. If you lead Gen X’ers, then there are several characteristics of this cohort that repeat across workplaces. Gen X thinks differently and acts differently to Baby Boomers. As with each of the generations, the patterns were formed […]