The skills you’ll need at every leadership level August 10, 2014 Most of us intend to climb the career ladder, and there’s no shortage of advice about the skills you need to succeed as a leader. But which ones matter most, and how can you ensure you keep improving them? Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, chief executive and president of development consultancy Zenger/Folkman, surveyed over [...]
Is email dying? Some firms are betting on social August 8, 2014 But the trusty inbox isn’t set to disappear in the near future. It's so ubiquitous that it sounds strange to ask whether email might be on its last legs. But if Ofcom’s latest report (released yesterday) is anything to go by, it’s a question worth considering. The regulator found that young people are turning [...]
The parking app that’s going to change how you drive August 7, 2014 Did you know the average driver wastes 106 days of their life hunting for a car parking space? It's pretty depressing, but one London-based company is on a mission to make life better for drivers. JustPark, an online platform that lets you park wherever and whenever, has just announced a global first in motoring technology: [...]
It’s a mistake to take Pareto’s 80/20 law too literally August 6, 2014 The Pareto principle is a rough rule of thumb, not a silver bullet. Business books tend to be full of seductively simple rules for achieving success. But few have proved as enduring as the 80/20 law (or the Pareto principle, after Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian engineer and economist who provided the germ for the [...]
Investment Comment: European earnings could be set to come back with a bang August 5, 2014 There is a question mark looming over European equities – when will companies deliver on earnings? So far, underwhelming earnings growth has done little to support the market’s upward march. In our view, that is poised to change. The Eurozone has a real and sustainable economic recovery underway, following four consecutive quarters of positive [...]
What the extreme survivors can teach us about business August 5, 2014 It’s important to manage your emotions and have an achievable goal. We're all used to picking up work – even life – tips from the business greats. But what about other exceptional groups? As business and lifestyle blogger Eric Barker recently pointed out, there is much we can learn from extreme survivors – people [...]
CNBC Comment: Why markets are drowning in uncertainty August 4, 2014 It’s been a hot summer for some, with US stock markets breaking out to fresh highs in July, and European investors debating whether to dip a toe in the water on the back of more European Central Bank (ECB) action. But as thunder clouds roll in, and after Wall Street suffered its worst week since [...]
The confidence myth: Why the humble thrive August 4, 2014 A lack of humility can blind individuals to their weak spots. Confidence is a prized asset. High-octane business gurus and self-help experts often offer some variant of “fake it till you make it” as the secret to success. And a 2012 study at the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business found that [...]
What you can do if you’re being restructured out August 3, 2014 It can be a fair reason to be shown the door, explains Matt Gingell, so know your rights. It's all in the news. Microsoft is set to cut 18,000 jobs in a restructuring programme. The BBC is axing 415 news jobs. Mothercare’s boss Mark Newton-Jones, meanwhile, has warned that the retailer must modernise and [...]
How networking can make anyone a creative genius July 31, 2014 It boosts your career and your profile, but also makes you more innovative, says Judith Perle. How often have you been told to network to boost your professional profile, climb the promotion ladder, or to find a new job? But has anyone ever told you that networking will make you more creative? If not, [...]