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When The Cost of a Tweet is Too High

  The rules of the road in tradition spheres apply to modern channels of communication. Defamation rules attach to tweets, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, instant messaging and the like. Some people might sniff of this and think anything goes, but a recent ruling against Katie Hopkins will focus the mind. The case also demonstrates that the […]

The Critical Friend – to keep or to forget?

Evidence shows that criticism is helpful provided it is constructive.   For even greater effect, encouragement should go hand in hand with criticism. The environment for everyone should be nurturing and supportive. So why are critics sometimes perceived as being not so helpful? Critics point out what is wrong and can leave others feeling bad about […]

What Do You Make Ok?

A leader who does not excel for a brief period of time, but impresses over decade can be a rare find. What distinguishes this leader is their passion, their attention to every detail. One of the hallmarks of great leaders is how obsessed they are by their pursuits and their willingness to push every distraction […]

Reframing Leadership

As we start afresh in 2017, here are 5 tips on reframing leadership: Be respectful If you are going to raise a concern, make sure it is specific (versus being vague and general). It is an issue that can be addressed and the individual can influence Carry out your role well (and be willing to […]

How to Engage your Trustees with Social Media

Charity trustee boards don’t always see social media as an essential communications tool. The use of social media in organisations over the last few years has grown dramatically among charity staff and trustees, according to Onboard’s report Governing with Intent. But even with this growth, social media is not high on the boardroom agenda. According […]

Make Minutes Count

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) has published a new guidance note on minute taking.   The guidance rather than being prescriptive is principle based offering suggestions that are tailored to each organisation.   The purpose of minutes is to provide an accurate, impartial and balanced internal record of the business transacted at a meeting. […]

The Culture of Conflict – Part 2

Bridging those really sticky situations We have two ears and one mouth.  In listening well we can build stronger, sustainable and healthier relationships.  Why listening can be more tiring than talking? Even positive and constructive relationships can be riddled by tension and conflict.   These can be interpersonal,  indicative of systemic, structural,  cultural difficulties or a […]