Real Life versus Online Communication

One of our most important motivational needs is “connection”, through social interactions and building relationships.  If we don’t feel connected with others, we feel stress or a heightened sense of anxiety.   With our amazing technology, it’s often assumed that social media and interacting online provides what we need to feel that level of connection.  […]

Reducing Zoom Fatigue

“Zoom fatigue” – yet another phrase we would never have said or heard of this time last year! And it would be fair to say that many people are in the “I’m bored of it all now” stage.  2020 has certainly been a masterclass in seeing how mental anxiety and stress increases when we are […]

Leaving Some “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”

Nobody likes to feel left out of a conversation, or that their contribution isn’t valued. Well, I’ve not met someone yet! The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” has become increasingly concerning recently, and as we move forward with new ways of working. Effective leadership and communication will help keep the whole team engaged, […]

Why Human Nature is Anti Leadership

Can human nature be causing issues in today’s organisations by instinctively being anti leadership? The biggest challenge for leaders of today is the shift in power away from a command and control, carrot and stick management, to an understanding that their focus needs to be on others.  As organisations grow and develop over the next […]

A Cocktail for Every Occasion

In a previous article I talked about Motivational Needs and how leaders can motivate or de-motivate their colleagues and teams using psychological rewards or threats against fundamental values such as fairness, significance, variation, certainty, autonomy and connection.  Now I wanted to move away from the leadership skills and review what you can do as an […]

Amplifying Stress Down to Your Team

During one of my Financial Services Senior Exec interviews on Leadership (see video), a great observation about inappropriate leadership was raised.  And that was about amplifying the stresses and pressure from above down to your team, and the consequences of doing that to those who receive it. One of my personal experiences was during the crucial […]

Does Each Generation Expect to be Motivated Differently?

Although there are many individual requirements to take into consideration when motivating our employees, we can also find some general expectations on motivating each of the “Generations” in our teams.  Having diverse teams covering different generations, in my book, is ideal as it provides a breadth of experience, an increased ability to learn from each […]

Motivational Needs: Are You Upsetting or Rewarding Employees?

There have been many studies showing that money is not a good motivator, even though it is usually at the top of the performance-related schemes in organisations.  So, if money doesn’t work, what does?  From the research, praise and recommendation from their immediate manager, recognition, personal satisfaction, career growth and a challenging role seem to […]

The Value of Fairness in the Workplace

When leaders are developing their communication skills, it’s worth understanding how events around us can trigger a reward or threat scenario in our minds, and what this can do to our ability to think clearly. Let’s take fairness as an example.  If we feel that we’ve been unfairly treated or taken advantage of, this can […]

Self Awareness Improves Self Esteem in Business

In management, it is important to identify and value the differences individuals bring to the success of the team and the organisation; building on this where it works well.  Each manager’s style can contribute to a positive and progressive team or (as you may have encountered from some of your bosses), if unaware of their […]