Cybercriminals now pick on people their own size — you
A useful reminder from Augi Woo – who runs a great IT business supporting businesses – noting that cyber criminals are targeting small business (like yours). No scaremongering, but worth considering for your systems into 2022. — Unfortunately, when it comes to cyber threats, no company is safe now —…
Do you secretly want a member of your team to fail? Self reflection.
I’ve worked with owners and founders for a long time, and during that time I’ve found one thing is almost always true, and that is founders find it incredibly difficult to let go. It’s unsurprising, given that the business they’ve built or are building is their metaphorical baby, but as…
Best of… Rambling On 2021
Would it be Christmas without a ‘best of’? For the last 12 months, I’ve demolished countless articles and books, I’ve saved them, added them to Trello boards, analysed and drafted (and then re drafted) at least three articles a week for my weekly Rambling On email. Conversations and ideas have…
Overton Window – a reminder to stay curious
I read a tweet the other day that mentioned Overton Window. Not only a great name for a Eton school leaver, an Overton Window describes how public opinion is nudged along a spectrum so that something unthinkable becomes, at the very least, up for discussion. I know readers of my…
Changing your relationship with your ‘to do’ list – a simple idea
There will always be too much to do. How do you feel when you read that? Fear? Anxiety? Despair? When confronted with the truth that it’s unlikely you’ll ever ‘complete’ everything you believe needs to get done – there’s a tendency to reproach yourself or question your abilities to be…
How to say ‘no’ and not feel guilty about it
In general, we all struggle at times to say no. Saying ‘no’ to our family, ‘no’ to our friends, ‘no’ to our boss, clients or even just those people who are persistent or borderline pushy can be challenging, but inevitably, if we’re saying ‘yes’ when we really want to say…
Simple ideas to boost your mood through helping others
Every now and then I feel compelled to include some content in the etc Playbook that is less work, more life (you can argue the two are one and the same but you get what I mean) and this staggeringly strong and simple idea from the clever and lovely people…
Building an apprenticeship environment is key to unlocking continuous skills development
A manager asks a team member to prepare a presentation. The draft falls short of what’s needed, so the manager expresses her disappointment and offers feedback via email, then waits for her colleague’s second try. The next iteration still misses the mark; the manager, pressed for time and concerned that…
Thriving despite imposter syndrome
This article on Medium is part of a series of pieces looking at how accomplished leaders have thrived despite imposter syndrome. A condition often talked about and cited as extraordinarily debilitating, this Q&A with PPC Executive coach Gia Storms is an interesting and potentially more helpful take on it. Instead…
You’re more likeable than you might think
A reassuring article if ever there was one, I liked this piece from Worklife on the BBC which considers that you might – actually – be more likeable than you think. Less tools and techniques, more conversation comfort blanket, if you’ve ever looked back on a chat with an acquaintance…