Listening is the most underrated leadership skill December 18, 2014 Knowing when to shut up will help you earn the respect of colleagues. AS A leader, sometimes the most inspirational thing you can do is simply to listen to people. Speeches and tough decision-making no doubt have a place in business, but the lost art of just hearing people out is often forgotten amid [...]
Is your boss always on your back? December 17, 2014 Setting aside your emotions and getting advice from trusted colleagues can help. One of the hardest lessons in life is learning how to handle criticism. With the right frame of mind, it can be a springboard for gaining a new perspective. But sometimes it can be extremely hard to hear frank advice, especially if [...]
More QE and a possible crisis: What markets will do in 2015 December 16, 2014 UK stocks look likely to be dominated by political risk PREDICTING the year ahead in markets can be a fool’s game. Last December, fund managers’ 2014 look-aheads heralded the start of a year in which Japan’s shock and awe Abenomics tactics would finally end its disinflationary misery, while the Eurozone would begin to turn a [...]
The millionaire mystique: How to develop one December 16, 2014 Build social capital and a winning personality in order to get ahead. According to recent data from the World Economic Forum, women will not receive equal pay to men in G20 countries until 2075. Even in a workforce of highly talented, motivated women, only a small percentage reach high levels of success. But what [...]
Greek gamble: Can Syriza be kept at bay? – CNBC Comment December 15, 2014 POLITICAL risk will be a key feature of Europe next year. Elections will take place in France, Portugal, Spain, maybe even in Italy, and there’s a real fear that populist parties could rise to the fore. A manifestation of that fear sent the Greek stock market tumbling 20 per cent last week, after Prime Minister [...]
Why plunging oil has derailed the Santa Claus Rally – DailyFX Tips & Picks December 15, 2014 WHILE children look forward to Christmas Day, many grown-ups are more excited by the Santa Claus Rally. This usually entails a nice boost to stock markets at the end of the year, generating a good return. But the FTSE 100 is down this month – someone has clearly been naughty. And the culprit is said [...]
The hour-long lunch break: Is it worth taking? December 15, 2014 Even well-known executives aren’t afraid to take some “me time”. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have been known to take them together. The French often take twice as long as the rest of us (and the Italians longer still), while 20 per cent of Brits claim not to take one at all, according to [...]
Why smart people make bad decisions December 14, 2014 A company’s corporate culture can sometimes encourage dangerous herd behaviour. When asked recently to deliver a keynote speech at the ACORD Forum in Fort Lauderdale, I instantly knew my topic – it’s something that has been puzzling me for years – “Why do smart people make bad decisions?” I’m not referring to just hiring [...]
How to get a bigger Christmas bonus December 11, 2014 Some subtle boasting may be in order – even if you work at a relatively small company. It's that time of year when work calms down and Secret Santa gifts are exchanged. But while Christmas is generally a time for giving and altruism, thoughts in the City also turn to the reward you’ve grafted [...]
Career boost? Make use of Secret Santa December 10, 2014 You don’t have to splash too much cash to impress your superiors this Christmas. With the Christmas party season reaching its climax this week, Brits are set to spend over £38m on Secret Santa gifts for their colleagues. And according to our recent poll of workers in the capital, Londoners are among the most [...]