A day after Saint Valentin, the day that celebrates romantic love, I feel inspired to talk about our need to feel supported and nurtured at work. Given that we spend the mind-blowing 23 percent or more of our total lifetime working, it’s only normal that we want a tiny dose of that fuzzy special feeling that we automatically expect from … Read More
Leadership
Six Golden Rules for Successful Goal Setting
How does it feel to be back at work after summer holidays? Are you feeling full of energy and enthusiasm or frustrated about being in the same place and same role? Or are you feeling like… Jean-Paul, a senior executive at a private finance firm, who’s been dreaming of launching his own business for years yet does nothing about it? Or Christine, a … Read More
What is your brand?
Being an avid networker, I meet new people all the time. For example, in the past few weeks, I met a woman who is looking to change a career direction but is not sure about what would be the best fit for her and how to get there in France. Another woman told me that she felt fed up working for a low salary … Read More
On the Power of Story-Telling
Last week during my trip to London, I was reminded of the incredible power of story-telling when I saw was The Encounter by Simon McBurney and his Complicite group. It was a transporting show and the story-telling in its most imaginative form. For days afterwards, I kept on thinking of its multi-dimensional plot set deep in the Amazonian rainforest. That’s what a well-told story … Read More
How to reach your goals in 2016
Over last month I met quite a few people who told me they were motivated to change their lives or careers this year. “It’s now or never” said one woman I met. She was determined to leave her job of 10 years this year before she hit 50. I must have heard this phrase so many times, and especially in … Read More
9 Blind Spots That Sabotage Your Career, and How to Beat Them
Sophie had been feeling frustrated and stuck in her current position for a few years now. Yet, leaving behind the good salary and stable position for something unknown scared her, so she procrastined and did nothing. When company-wide restructuring was announced with cuts across all levels, she was caught off guard. In the state of … Read More
Dealing with difficult people in 6 simple steps
‘Difficult ‘ or unreasonable people and situations are part of our life – both at the workplace and outside. People who can’t stop talking and have an opinion on every issue. People who are demanding and critical, and intimidate others. Grumpy people who complain non-stop. People who don’t deliver or follow through. Or those that are quick … Read More
7 mistakes new managers make and how to avoid them
At some stage in your careers, most of you will reach a point when you are promoted to manager or find yourself in charge of a team of people. If you feel inexperienced and unprepared for this transition, you could make a few mistakes that will cost your organisation time and money. Not knowing how … Read More
Expat Executives: the Secrets to Being Happy and Successful Abroad
As more and more companies are expanding operations across borders, there is a growing need for executives to become global managers with a global perspective. It often means a global mindset with a deep understanding of international perspective, cultural portability and cultural intelligence. The biggest challenges faced by global managers working in a 24/7 interconnected … Read More
Ten Habits of Highly Confident People
A famous American tennis player, Arthur Ashe once said « One important to key to success is self-confidence, and an important key to self-confidence is preparation ». What is self-confidence? For one, it’s the biggest differentiating factor between people who obtain what they want and those who don’t. Self-confidence is all about believing in your intrinsic unique value, … Read More