Fed up with bureaucracy? Might be time to reform your meetings March 21, 2019 Every organisation is either struggling with bureaucracy or terrified of becoming one as they grow. But when companies reach a certain size, it’s not uncommon for them to have countless policies, practices, and structures in place that have accumulated over time. Business leaders should think of this as an operating system. And just as a [...]
Beware of these Tube terrors if you’re travelling on the London Underground March 20, 2019 Only the bravest explorers traverse the London Underground. The tunnels of the Tube have their own microclimate and ecosystem, and are inhabited by a wide array of eccentric species. Most of these specimens are placid, if not friendly, but recently I have observed a worrying trend of hostility from Undergrounders. It’s rough out there, so [...]
For once, John Bercow’s egomaniac meddling actually has a point March 20, 2019 John Bercow is a pompous, smug, self-important showman. The only thing he likes more than the sound of his own voice is being in the limelight – and he isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers in his never-ending search for it. He has turned the centuries-old office of the speaker of the House of Commons into [...]
Can Beto O’Rourke lead the Democrats to victory against Donald Trump? March 20, 2019 Beto O’Rourke lit up the 2020 US presidential election race last week by throwing his hat into the ring. The Democrat shot to fame last year when he ran for the US Senate and only narrowly lost out to his rival in the deeply Republican state of Texas. His failure in that election was counter-intuitively his [...]
Putting sustainability at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution March 19, 2019 The first, second and third industrial revolutions all forged paths for momentous progress, driven by human ingenuity in manufacturing, science and technology. The unintended consequences, however, were that each revolution became markedly more detrimental to our planet, and – in many cases – people and their communities. The clock is running down to the point [...]
Four common mistakes that can ruin your chances in a job interview March 19, 2019 | City Talk By Dr Janina Steinmetz, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Cass Business School If you make it to the job interview stage of an application process, the prospect of a new job is very much in sight. Make a good impression and you are likely to get the opportunity you want. But imagine you get to [...]
No, you’re not ‘innovative’ – you’re lazy March 19, 2019 Companies are engaged today in what can only be described as the wholesale destruction of meaning. They overwhelm us with dreary, overused platitudes that serve only to obscure the messages that they are trying to communicate. So why is it that companies continue to hark on endlessly about their innovative solutions, unique insights, enhanced experiences, [...]
Advertising Week Europe begins today, so let’s remember that the creative industries are the unsung heroes of the UK economy March 18, 2019 When people think about television, they probably think of the BBC and UK programmes with global appeal, like Downton Abbey and Killing Eve. And even in literature and film, British characters are at the top of any list of the most memorable and loved creations – from James Bond to Harry Potter. Past and present, [...]
Want to break the Brexit deadlock? Change the negotiating terms March 18, 2019 Who knows, Theresa May’s deal may yet get through parliament at the third attempt. It seems unlikely given the scale of previous defeats. But making predictions about what will happen next in the Brexit saga is a mug’s game. If the deal fails again, the UK will request a long extension to the Article 50 [...]
Formula One legend Bruce McLaren is a racing role model, but what can business leaders learn from his life story? March 15, 2019 When Bruce McLaren, the founder of the motor racing team named after himself, was just nine years old, he was diagnosed with a hip issue that left him bedridden, with his legs encased in plaster for three years. This devastating experience left him unable to do what every youngster should be doing: playing with friends, [...]