PurpleLine Consulting

A couple of weeks ago, I heard John Bird, founder of the Big Issue speak.

It was very different from what I had expected…

One of the keys to success at work is understanding what makes your boss tick. Yet surprisingly, this is something we often do not pay enough attention to.

When I started working for one boss, he told me in our first meeting ‘I want you to focus on solutions, not problems’ and this completely changed the way I approached my work. This knowledge helped me prepare well for our meetings and built our relationship on solid foundations. I didn’t always get it right, but knowing his criteria for a successful relationship helped me focus on what was important to him and therefore how to get the best from the time we spent working together. This also influenced his perception of my performance – critical for the end of year appraisal.

Have you noticed how good it feels to set a goal for yourself and then go on to achieve it? So what is it that makes the difference between those goals we do achieve and those we don’t?

One thing is certain - that if you know what you’re setting out to achieve you are much more likely to accomplish it. This may seem obvious, yet all too often the goals we set ourselves, both personally and in business, are extremely vague and therefore unlikely to be achieved.

If you are one of the many people who hate making presentations, read on.

I was recently talking with my brother about people with ‘bottle’. We were discussing it in the context of television presenters, some of whom appear to have little talent for what they are doing but supreme confidence to do it anyway. My brother’s ‘bête noire’ is Ian Wright, whereas mine is Dominic Littlewood.

According to the Times of India, beware of being too nice at work. It can make you a pushover and out of touch with reality and, it concludes, gullible, hardworking employees do finish last if things are taken to the extreme.