This graph says it all. We have become far more focussed on ourselves than on others, and the world is worse for it. I’ve used Google’s Ngram to pull together the relative usage of the phrase “Yourself first” and “Others first” over 40 years from 2008. You can see how in 1968, the two phrases […]
The right order of attributes to look for in a potential team member
There is usually a strong focus during the recruitment process on a candidate’s skill and experience. This is absolutely right and important, but it really in my books isn’t the highest priority. In priority order, these are the things I look for in candidates: 1. Attitude & values 2. Aptitude for learning 3. Relevant Skills […]
UK Government Gets on the Responsible Capitalism Bandwagon
It is good to see the government making noises about the role of values in the companies which it buys goods and services from (http://bsb.tips/ukgovtvalues). Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington said that the government will “extend the requirements of the Social Value Act to ensure all major procurements explicitly evaluate social value where […]
Great processes don’t remove the need to have great people
“Turn it into a process”. Most businesses I work with are either doing this, or live in shame because they’re not! I enjoyed Sam Carpenter’s Work the System. Along with The E-myth, it creates a compelling case for proceduralising what your business does. Rightly so. But the key justification I hear leaders cite for process […]
Leaders – pause before launching your team at your latest idea
More crucial than knowing which things to focus on is absolute clarity about what to not do altogether. Because those “not quite as important” things will block out your time, energy and focus, and prevent you giving those to the things that count. And that wastage gets amplified exponentially when you’re a leader. Those “wouldn’t […]