Human interaction is incredibly complex. People can be very, very different and it takes time to get to know people. As a result, when we work with someone for the first time we often fail to pick up on their individual nuances of language and body language. By not being attuned to new people you increase the chance […]
Category Archives: efficiency
April
20
Could personality analytics revolutionise the way you work with others? By Max Eskell
posted by Max
April
16
What you could learn from ‘Quick and Nimble’ by Adam Bryant (2014, 251 pages)
posted by Max
“Innovation distinguishes between leaders and follower.” Steve Jobs Innovation is one of the strongest sources of competitive advantage. Staying ahead of the competition allows you to explore new products, services, and business models while also making sure you are exploiting your existing offering. Adam Bryant offers 16 well thought and well-crafted pieces of advice […]
April
15
Prioritization, how you could move from urgent to important by Max Eskell
posted by Max
Time is getting more and more precious each day. Deciding where to focus your most valuable resource is getting harder and harder. One solution is to get more efficient. If you improve the speed at which you work, you can get more done. While this works great in the short-term, there is a risk that […]
April
14
How you could use your American Express anywhere by Max Eskell
posted by Max
This post is more a life-hack than a post on learning. However, this hack has really helped me control my finances and the most from my American Express (AMEX). American Express offer great perks. Among these rewards are Airmiles, hotel point or even cash back (this is a great site to find the best card for […]
April
12
How you can get faster with Office shortcuts by Max Eskell
posted by Max
A key tool in the consultant’s toolkit is Microsoft Office. Whether it be Excel for data analysis, PowerPoint for presentations, or Word for report writing, Office is the ‘go to’ tool for the majority of consultants and clients. Getting 10% more efficient at using Office, could easily save you hours each week. Avoiding using the mouse and […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘Made to Stick’ by Chip & Dan Heath (2008, 284 pages)
posted by Max
A fantastic precursor to ‘Switch’, this book sets out a framework for getting people to remember what you tell them. Using some compelling examples, Chip and Dan argue that humans remember stories more that statistics or logical arguments. Chip and Dan provide a useful framework for checking whether your story/idea is likely to ‘stick.’ 1. […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter F. Drucker (2007, 154 pages)
posted by Max
Despite being written in 1967 the advice and guidance in this book could never be more relevant. Drucker outlines his five habits for the effective executive (that Jim Collins later uses as a basis for 8 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders). Drucker’s five habits are: Track, analyse and manage your time Focus on the outcome […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘Nudge’ by Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler (2009, 312 pages)
posted by Max
In their book ‘Nudge’, Thaler and Sunstein are among the first to set out the arguments for using behavioural insights to change (‘nudge’) people’s behaviour. By changing the context of a decision, they argue it is possible to reduce unhealthy or undesirable decisions. Their main arguments stem from making sure that choices are presented in […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘Talk like TED’ by Carmine Gallo (2014, 288pages)
posted by Max
‘Talk like Ted’ is a fantastic book for those looking to improve their ability to present, influence and create impact. Carmine Gallo combines her experience coaching CEOs and TED speakers and consolidates her advice into three areas (Emotional, Novel & Memorable) and nine tips. 1. Unleash the Master within (what are you passionate about) 2. […]
April
12
What you could learn from ‘Yes! 50 Secrets from the Science of Persuasion’ by Noah Goldstein (2007, 232 pages)
posted by Max
Noah Goldstein consolidates hundreds of research articles and condenses them into 50 secrets of persuasion. Each ‘secret’ is told in a very compelling and digestible way. The writing is concise, with supporting evidence and examples. One of the key insights is the six universal principles of social influence (reciprocity, authority, commitment/consistency, scarcity, liking and social […]
April
12
What you could learn from ‘On change management’ by Harvard Business Review (2011, 304 pages)
posted by Max
The book is a collection of ten of the most influential HBR article on change management. From Kotter’s ‘Leading Change’ to Heifetz’s ‘A Survival Guide for Leaders’, this book provides several alternative perspectives on why transformation or change efforts succeed or fail. One of the key points of the book is that competing commitments may […]
April
12
What you can learn from ‘The Heart of Change’ by John Kotter (2012, 208 pages)
posted by Max
In The Heart of Change, John Kotter outlines his eight steps to make change stick. This is a good, short read, with a strong research foundation. As with much recent work on change, Kotter argues that you must appeal to feeling and emotions. In short, he argues that you must help people see, feel and […]