The Seduction of Unrealistic Expectations
It can be frustrating when others don't heed our advice, or when they continually do things their way, even though it irritates us. But what right do we have to expect them to change? Isn't the real problem our own expectations?
Objections to Therapy – Reasons Are Not Reasons
Objections to therapy are understandable, and generally unfounded; there's an approach to suit everyone because there are so many varieties. Here's a video about mine.
Swearing at work
There was a time when the boundary between work and social life was clearly defined and only in extreme cases did anyone need to be reprimanded or corrected about inappropriate behaviour like swearing, shouting, insults or open sexual innuendo.
Life Recipes in a Bag
Ideas can spring from the most unlikely triggers.
If all that positive stuff is too much for you
Does thinking optimistically really bug you? Negative thinking has value too, don't overlook it.
A response to bullying?
I have been getting a lot of enquiries via my website for ideas on how to tackle bullying, so I've produced a Quick Reference Guide you can download for a few pence. Some of the questions I've received relate to people who think they are being bullied (it's not always easy to be sure), and some are from managers who are worried about possible complaints about bullying. An increase in accusations of bullying has been predicted for some months now as a result of the inevitable pressures and side-effects of ...
Work-life balance not all it’s cracked up to be?
The dogma that good work-life balance improves productivity is called into question by new research from leading academics. The study by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics indicates that the assumption that better work-life balance will automatically improve productivity is false. The authors say; “there is no relationship between productivity and work-life balance once good management is accounted for”. Companies that are bigger more globalised and tend to provide a better work-life balance for their employees because they are better managed. Furthermore, tough product market ...
Appreciative Inquiry
“The practice of asking positive questions not only brings out the best in people and organisations, it also amplifies and magnifies the most positive life giving possibilities for the future” (Whitney et al). This article will summarise some ideas central to Appreciative Inquiry with the aim of giving some understanding of the value of the approach to organisations working to make the most of 'their people' during challenging times. For managers interested in discussing with their teams ways of doing what they do better it is worth considering Appreciative Inquiry ...
Scapegoating
Scapegoating is a naturally occurring aspect of human behaviour. It is widespread and, left unchecked, quickly causes anxiety and misery. It is often a response to insecurity or uncertainty though ironically it aggravates both. It can occur in virtually any social context or group: schools, the family, organisations and even nations.
