Two employees: Employee 1: Jane When faced with an issue Jane will improvise and adapt her approach. She doesn’t bother her manager or others. If Jane notices that somebody else has made a mistake she fixes it. There is no noise or palaver, she keeps things moving. Jane never makes any mistakes herself, or at least never […]
Innovation and Old Fools
Story 1. My eldest daughter (11) has just joined Instagram. She spends her evenings with her nose firmly pressed against the screen of an iPad flicking from one picture to the next. I decided to find out what Instagram is (after all, she is my eldest daughter, a little parental care would be a good thing). […]
4 Ways to Change Behaviour
There are 4 ways to change people’s behaviour: The first is the stick: Beat people until they do what you want. The stick works, but people hate being controlled, they will rebel — sooner or later. Repression is not a great strategy. The second is the carrot: Provide an incentive. Incentives work beautifully, until you remove […]
Bonsai Management
I have started growing bonsai trees. It is immensely satisfying and the results are beautiful. It is not too difficult, this is how you do it… Pick a plant species that responds well Carefully trim back its roots and branches Choose a small container to constrain growth Plant in well-drained soil Feed and water regularly […]
You are so Predictable
My Father studied History at University. I studied Genetics. This, in my brash young mind, made me a superior person. After all a science is useful, you can apply a science and make money out of it. History however, well what exactly can you do with that? I challenged my Dad once with this very […]