The number of high profile figures who have hit the headlines recently might take issue with Oscar Wilde’s famous line: “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” I’m sure they’d be quite happy to fade from the front pages and disappear from Twitter timelines for a …
Why every business leader needs to watch Star Wars
Star Wars is based on a timeless format called the Hero’s Journey. But it’s a story structure that can also be harnessed by entrepreneurs and business leaders to great effect, writes Jon Card. Star Wars is a Hollywood classic for many reasons – lightsabers, Death Stars, dark forces and epic battle scenes. But another key part of its success is …
A TALE OF TWO SALARIES
As a woman, I feel uniquely qualified to share my thoughts on what it is like to be a woman, on this, the International Day of Women. For if the last few months have taught us anything, it is that we all have a story to tell. Even if your story, like mine, is that you’re white, middle class, …
BRAND STANDS. How to attract and win the best talent
People talk about the war of attention being one of the biggest challenges in today’s fast-moving world. I believe it’s the war for recruitment and retention which is equally important for leaders managing businesses today. How do you stand out? How do you attract the best brains and the best people? The answer is in your brand. A brand …
WTF is happening to Customer Experience?
The Caffeine Partnership’s guest blog this month is by Shaun Smith, founder of Smith+Co and an international speaker and award-winning author. His latest book ‘On Purpose – delivering a branded customer experience people love’, co-authored with Andy Milligan, has received global recognition for helping brand leaders create stand-out experiences that leave a lasting impression with purpose. According to Forrester’s 2017 …
Coach Journey
I’ve kept a diary since I was 14. Given the New Year is the traditional time of resolutions, in the interests of empirical research I took a trip up to the loft to review 30 years of progress. Turns out my observations were less Samuel Pepys, more Adrian Mole. (Example: “Went to village shop. Bought cat food.”) Every entry …
The true meaning of business success
“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” Clarence Odbody, Angel Second Class Would anyone miss your business if it didn’t exist? It’s a regular question consultants ask their clients in workshops. The answer is always ‘yes’ for some reason when probably half the time …
Why Leaders need Soft Skills
Our guest blog this month is by Neil Mullarkey. An associate of Caffeine, we work together to help leaders using improvisational theatre to enhance people’s skills in communication, leadership and innovation. Are there too many leadership books? Too many big ideas? What does it actually mean to be, say, a Servant Leader on a Tuesday morning when you’re a bit …
The ABC of a Leadership Superteam
This week we worked with a leadership team. Their story might seem familiar to you. On paper, they had everything needed to be a successful and thriving powerhouse. They were talented and experienced. They were creating innovative work. They had good relationships with their customers. They had a large team below them to deliver the work. But…they were frustrated, …
The future of business growth
I’ve seen the future… and it’s beautiful. Lisbon is also beautiful. This gloriously creative and friendly city hosted The House of Beautiful Business alongside Web Summit, the world’s largest tech conference dubbed ‘Davos for Geeks’ by Bloomberg. The House of Beautiful Business is a pop-up community for meaningful conversations about technology and humanity in collaboration with BCG Henderson Institute and …